On Halloween, 1900, a ten-year-old boy wanted to go trick-or-treating with his older brothers. But when his mother told him he was too young, he flew into a rage. The boy stormed out of his house and punched an apple tree until his knuckles were raw.
His mother sat down with her son that night, and read from Proverbs 16:32. “He that conquereth his own soul is greater than he who takes a city.”
The boy would continue to fight his temper for years. In 1915, when he graduated from West Point Military Academy, he ranked 125th out of 164 for discipline. But the words of his mother never left him.
With the inspiration of his mother’s voice, and the Scripture behind it, the boy would learn to manage his emotions. He became pretty successful in the military and beyond.
His name was Dwight Eisenhower.
Recovery Step: “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26).
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.
