One of the biggest strongholds that many believers battle is falling into sexual sin. If you’ve read my testimony, you know that I found myself falling into sexual sin at a very young age. I was addicted to pornography and battled masturbation for many years from childhood to my young adult years. I know it’s not too common to hear women admit this but I had to endure many trials due to this addiction.
Before I start providing scripture, I want to express the severity of sexual sin is. Not only does sexual sin damage personal relationships with others but it also ruins the covenant that you have with God and His purpose for sex. 1 Corinthians 6:9 states “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” Now, this is a long list of sins but we are just speaking solely on sexual sin for the purposes of this post. Sexual sin doesn’t just happen out of nowhere. It first starts after being exposed to it. However it may happen, once you have been exposed, it plants a seed in your mind and thoughts start to form. From the thoughts, you start to act on them. This is why it is so important to be cautious of what you watch and listen to. James 1:14-15 says “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is full-grown, brings forth death.”
I was exposed to pornography and sex at a very young age. Those images enticed me and created perverted thoughts in my mind that would eventually lead me to sin against my body. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and engaging in sexual sin is sinning against your own body. The devil would be so slick by enticing you to sin than making you feel guilty after you’ve done it. I would feel so guilty after looking at a pornographic website or fornicating with someone. God did not intend for sex to be random and with a lot of people. Sex is meant for a man and a woman inside a marriage. It is not a bad thing but abusing outside of what God intended it to be is.
Now, I want to share 3 tips on how to overcome sexual sin!
1 Corinthians 6:18 says “Flee from sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who committed sexual immorality sins against his own body.” Pay attention to the patterns of this addiction. I knew my patterns in what lead me to sin so I had to find ways to avoid them at all costs and I would switch up my patterns. So instead of turning on my laptop when I didn’t need to, I would read my word or listen to a sermon. I had to restrict my time on my computer/phone. I had to get out of relationships that would lead me to fornicate. I stopped listening to that type of music or watching certain shows. All of these things needed to be done for me to not fall into temptation. If you’re wondering if that was hard for me to overcome because it was something I did for so long, the answer is yes and no. Yes for obvious reasons, breaking addiction isn’t easy. And no because fear came upon me when I heard a sermon from Pastor Mike Todd. He mentioned that watching pornography would open a door that will never be satisfied. When those words processed in my mind, I realized that I would never want that to happen. Now, what kept me from ever falling back into that temptation is that I fear the Lord more than anything.
This might be a little hard because it requires us to let go of our pride and let a brother or sister in Christ know we are struggling in this particular area for us to receive prayer. Never underestimate the power of prayer from a brother or sister in Christ! James 5:16 states “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” This is meant for someone you trust who is a believer. The enemy loves to keep sin in the dark so when you share with another believer, you expose that sin to the light where it can no longer hide anymore.
I mentioned before that I would need to watch a sermon or read the word of God and fill myself up with the promises of God to avoid falling into the temptation of sexual sin. God will never allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1Corinthians 10:13.
Jesus has overcome all temptation and knows exactly what we go through. Lean on Him and trust His word for He is our deliverer and wants to set you free of sexual sin!
Ashley Atkins
This is such a raw and unfiltered post! I love your transparency and honesty about something that many people, including myself, have dealt with. These tips are on point! Once you admit and stay connected to God, he will deliver you and set you free!
HerWisdomPersonified
God bless you, sister! I truly appreciate your feedback and I’m glad this post blessed you! Jesus is the only way!