Are You Tempted And Struggling With Impure Thoughts?

Are You Tempted And Struggling With Impure Thoughts?

"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis, 6:5).

At times everyone struggles with impure and evil thoughts, but as Christians what can we do to overcome and control them from running our lives?

Jesus said;
"Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” ( Matthew, 26:41).

When Jesus made this statement, He was at that very moment in the garden of Gethsemane, being tempted more than at any other time in His earthly life. He was being severely tempted by satan, to go against the will of His heavenly Father, and not drink of the bitter cup of the Cross, which He did indeed drink on our behalf.

Jesus Made A Firm Covenant To Obey God

The tender plea made to us above by Jesus, is touching in that He, being found in a body of flesh just as we now are, was then obviously well acquainted with human frailty, feelings of natural desires, as well as physical weakness and infirmities. (Hebrews, 4:14-15)

Yet according to Hebrews 12:2, for the "joy" that was set before Him, Jesus did not sin by giving into the temptation of their demands, but instead obeyed God by enduring death, even death upon the cross.

Job Made A Covenant With His Eyes

Job Said;
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman" (Job, 31:1).

Jesus Said;
"But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman (or man) with lust has already committed adultery with her (him) in their heart" (Matthew, 5:28).

Have We Truly Committed Our Hearts and Minds Over To God?

King David Wrote;
"I will not put anything wicked in front of my eyes. I hate what unfaithful people do. I want no part of it" (Psalm, 101:3). GW.

Do We Ever Place Wicked And Vile Things Before Our Eyes?

Like King David, do we hate what is wicked and evil, wanting no part of it? Or do we, because of our impure thought life, indulge our lustful fantasies and their passions in things like pornographic images easily seen on our computers?

Do we watch movies on TV, or in theaters that contain suggestive and even explicit sexual content? Further more, would we dare to go against God, by allowing our children to view such wide spread, and easily accessible immorality? And, if we refuse our children seeing such things, then what are we doing watching them?

What Can We Do Then To Avoid Evil Thoughts And Desires

Keep in Step with the Spirit

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do" (Galatians, 5:16).

Each Man And Woman Is Enslaved By Their Own Sinful Desires

"But each person is tempted when he/she is lured and enticed by his/her own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James, 1:14-15).

Have We Made Our Thoughts To Become Obedient To Christ?

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians, 10:5).

Thinking Only On Those Things That Are Worthy Of Praise

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians, 4:8).

Can We Truthfully Say That We Have The Mind Of Christ?

"The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?” But we (Christians) have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians, 2:15-16).

If we honestly possess within us the mind of Christ, and have taken every thought captive, making them obedient to Him, and are thinking only on those things that are praise worthy, then when tempted to think impure thoughts and commit evil against God, we will rather be empowered as Jesus was, to submit and surrender everything we are and have, over to our heavenly Father.

Are You Submitted And Committed To God And His Perfect Will For Your Life? Let Us Now Agree Together, To Begin Serving Our Savior And Not Our Selves, Amen?

By Chaplain Mike @Straight Talk by Chaplain Mike