Lust and Trusting God

Today I listened to the pastor preach a sermon on the destructiveness of lust. It was such an important message for both the women and  men in the congregation. The pastor talked about how people sometimes brush off looking at images that they shouldn't be looking at and listening to or watching certain types of programs thinking that it is simply innocent fun, but if we truly look at such things deeper it has the ability to change and influence our thoughts and actions. Today many men struggle with issues of pornography and a filthy thought life urged on by pictures on the internet, magazines, movies and television shows that continue to flash images of sexual impurity. I listened intently as the pastor shared the testimonies of a few men who admitted to literally being unable to love women as daughters of God or see them as anything, but objects because their consciences and entire thought life had been corrupted with images from magazines, pornographic videos and other images that did not express women in a positive light. 

Personally I never realized that men struggled so much more with lust and that simple images could stir on a whole set of feelings and reactions that could leave them in bondage for seeking more. Today the sermon really made me think about the fight of faith and discipline and self control to do what is right and pleasing to God. Today I thought about the core of discipline in my life centered on hating sin as God hates it. I also realized that this is wisdom, to fear God and to continuously fear sin. 

As a woman I am going to make sure that I dress modestly at all times, especially knowing what I know now and the struggle for men. I want to be pleasing to God and be sure that I help my brothers in Christ and not be a stumbling block in how I dress. God is good, no matter how deep away someone is drawn away with their pornography God is bigger than their problem and He is a good that can change peoples lives from the inside out. Jesus came to save the world from the bondage of sin, including pornography.

Apart from this sermon, I listened to a few others online at oneplace.com and I hear God telling me to be persistent in prayer. I have big visions to see world revival starting with some of the most outreached populations, such as Japan and journeying throughout the world. I have often been a dreamer of goals and visions and sometimes I get discouraged to follow through because at times it does not seem realistic or too far fetched. I am encouraged now that if I am going to walk in this life I must do so by faith and although I do not have all the answers, God is God and He can do anything. feed thousands with a few loaves and fish, make a donkey speak, part the red sea. I am learning now to walk in faith and it is okay to hold onto the visions that God has given me, but to persistently pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. 

I am not sure where God will lead me next, but I understand that if I choose to follow Him into unknown ad known avenues, I must deny myself (deny the desires that take away time from God, that make me stumble any desires that affect my personal relationship with God in a negative way) take up my cross and follow Him daily. Sometimes this might mean giving up internet, cable, certain foods in order to not be drawn away from God. In everything I cannot deny my mission to share the Gospel message of God's love and eternal salvation through sending Jesus to die for the sins of the world. Amen!