October 4
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word. With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments. Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee.” (Psalm 119:9-11)
The next item on our list of things I am recommending that you do to help you overcome addictions to lust, pornography, and immoral behaviors is to make a list of “Helpful Verses to Keep in Mind.” Especially include any verses that hit you between the eyes and arrest your attention when you are tempted by immoral lusts. Here are a few possibilities for your list:
“But I say to you that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality…those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19, 21
“Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.” 1 Corinthians 10:8-9
“Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” Ephesians 2:3
“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come,” Colossians 3:5-6
“Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.” Revelation 22:15
There are many, many more verses one could quote to help them keep in mind the gravity and seriousness of these sins. Make a list of at least a dozen verses that are most powerful and meaningful to you. Certain verses, when read and brought to mind, will quench fleshly, lustful desires within us. Write these out in table format.