The word for today is – desire.
The Bible begins with a cautionary tale – before Adam ate the fruit, the fruit had eaten Adam. He was eaten up with desire.
Psychiatrist and philosopher Dr. Neel Burton says the problem with desires is perception. We desire more things (including sex) when we perceive we don’t have enough. How much we have isn’t the point, but our perception of what we have.
For example, a man who makes $50,000 a year and thinks himself rich is generally happy. But a man who makes $200,000 a year and thinks himself poor is not happy. Desire is based on perception.
The Bible has a warning about desires. It reads, “Abstain from evil desires” (1 Peter 2:11). Notice, that God didn’t say to abstain from evil behaviors, but evil desires.
Recovery Step: Learn to be real in your desires.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
