Here’s the deal. You can’t stop, and won’t stop, watching porn on your own. But you can. I know, sounds contradictory, but stick with me here.
Try as you might, resolutions and reform and rhythms can’t do the heavy lifting you need in this area. We are all for self-control, but merely finding ways to avoid porn or deny yourself the usual opportunities to indulge in it—Just. Won’t. Work.
“Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom…but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (Colossians 3:23 NIV).
Behavior modifications can suppress what you want, but they can’t stop what you want. Sure, you might break your habit for a month, or six, but you won’t get rid of the hunger, the emptiness and reason behind why you watch porn. Before you stop watching porn, you have to stop wanting to watch porn.
And we all know the heart wants what it wants—you’re going to need a miracle. That’s just what you’re offered.
There’s a tiny verse in the Bible filled with hope for you. It says this: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 ESV). See that word grace? It’s not a churchy word or just a girl’s middle name. That word can change your life.
You find yourself enslaved to porn. You’re not alone. “The Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:22 NIV). Friend, there’s no sin that we can escape from by merely trying harder. God has to perform miracles in our heart to make us love what we don’t love and want what we don’t want. Rescue from sin—for anyone—can’t be earned (Ephesians 2:8). But it can be received.
That’s why God promises grace to the humble. He will give you what you cannot earn or deserve on your own if you just ask him.
A proud person won’t receive God’s help, God’s Word, or God’s gifts. A humble person knows their need, their inability to improve. So they ask for help.
How will you stop watching porn? God will stop you if you will yield your life to him, confess to him your need (1 John 1:9), and ask him to do the miracles in your heart you cannot do for yourself. He will replace your spirit with His, your loves with his (Ezekiel 36:26).
If you’re serious about this, then grab your Bible and take a look at Galatians. It’s a letter written to a church who keeps trying to earn God’s favor. They keep trying to do for themselves what only God can do for them. Pick it up and read about the freedom God offers you.
God promises his grace to the humble person. This includes forgiveness for your past sins. God paid the penalty you owe in the crucifixion of his own son for your porn addiction (John 3:16). God can give you the grace of his presence—offering to clothe you in his perfect Son’s righteousness (Galatians 3:27). God says he will come make his home within you and will change your heart to love what’s good and hate what’s evil (John 14:16-18). God can give you the undeserved gift of freeing you from the chains you prefer (Romans 8:2), for if you ask him, he will change your whole identity—making you no longer a slave to sin, but his own son (Galatians 4:7).
by Bibles.net
