With Christmas just around the corner, what better time to make a list...and check it twice. But the list I am challenging you to make is not of presents under the tree, but rather a list of your Top Ten alternatives to porn. It is one thing to say, "Don't Use Porn" but what will you do instead with that time? You need a strategy, some solid ideas that you will commit to whenever you say no to the temptation of viewing porn. Sit down today and start on your list. You don't need all ten right away, but start generating healthy alternatives to the destructive habit of porn. Go make your list!

There is an old saying that says, "Those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it." As you live your life, and pursue purity, who are your heroes of faith that have paved the way for you to see what integrity, perseverance, and faith look like? We need to learn from such lives, those who made sacrifices for the sake of the ones who would come after them. And as you press forward in your life, what sacrifices are you making for those who will come after you? Make wise decisions today by emulating those who laid the foundation before you, so that those who come after you will have the markers they need to navigate the trail of life wisely.

Give us aid against the enemy,
       for the help of man is worthless.

With God we will gain the victory,
       and he will trample down our enemies.

Psalm 108:12-13

The battle against your lust is real and it can be fierce at moments. Sometimes you may wonder if victory is even possible, let alone a sure thing. But God is above it all. His power is unbeatable. And, as His child, you have access through prayer and humility to His power against every enemy you face. Lean into your heavenly Father and rest in His powerful victory.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Eph. 4:29

Words matter, so let's talk with one another with that assumption. Everything you say to another person carries weight. Some words may be lighter than others, but ultimately everything we speak matters. So, be careful to craft your language in such a way as to build others up, not tear them down. Say words that matter...

Living a life of consistent, daily purity is a learning process - one that never ends! Too many folks start off really well, enthusiastic (sort of) about the opportunity for a life without the burden of sexual addiction. But along the way, as behaviors start to clean up and thought processes are transformed, it can become easy to think that the learning process is over. Wrong! Every day offers a new opportunity for learning and growing. Don't assume that just because your behaviors are better that you don't need to keep learning. Never stop learning!

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." - Galatians 5:16

There is a promise of purity for those who choose to "live by the Spirit." When we choose to surrender our will and our desires to the control of God's Spirit, we are promised that our natural lusts will not overpower us. In fact, living by the Spirit and gratifying our lusts are mutually exclusive, they cannot occur simultaneously. So, begin today to surrender yourself to the power of God's Spirit, and enjoy the peaceful fruit of purity.

It can be easy to just not pay attention to your surroundings. You sort of wander through life, only occasionally looking up to see where you are, emotionally, physically, or spiritually. But if you are not aware of your environment it can become extremely easy to get sucked into lustful patterns and inappropriate circumstances. Begin to take into account where you are in life and make the adjustments necessary to ensure that you are living above reproach. Be aware of your environment!

Lust is only skin deep. Pornography appeals to this fact, making sexuality nothing more than the physical acts it can encompass. But we all know on an intuitive level that sexuality is much deeper than that. We are comprised of body, soul and spirit. To view another person as only a body is to neglect or ignore the realities of their inner, emotional and spiritual being. Stop denying this truth when you view another human being. Every time you are tempted to see only skin, remind yourself that everyone is more than what you merely see on the surface. Have the courage to see beyond the surface.

One of the most powerful delusions that lust seeks to create in us is that lust is necessary, that we NEED to say "yes" to lust. If we keep giving in to these appeals of lust we will actually experience the opposite of what lust promises. We will have diminished desire in our marriages, we will only promote false intimacy, and we will eventually end up alone and empty. Lust destroys, but love builds. Remind yourself today that you do not need to lust, but rather you are invited to engage love. Say no to your lust, and ask God to help you become a great lover.

Who do we really thinking we are fooling when we present ourselves as unbroken and without need? The truth is that we're only fooling ourselves if we believe such a lie. We are ALL broken, we all need help, and no one can live life well in lonely isolation. Unfortunately, it isn't easy to swallow our pride, admit our guilt, and ask for help. The key is to embrace the truth and commit to uncovering the real you. Don't hide the truth any longer. After all, it is the truth that will set you free!

Healing from any addiction is much like healing from a physical sickness. You need a doctor and caregivers to help you regain your strength. But once you have reached a certain point in your recovery, there comes an invitation to give back, to express gratitude for the health you now enjoy. As you journey through the recovery process, realize that ultimately true joy comes from giving away what has been given to you. Don't be greedy with the insights you learn or the grace you receive from God. Commit to being a great giver, and you will experience abundant joy in the process.

What do you value in life? Everyone has a value system and it can be most easily determined by what you spend your time doing. The bible says that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." We may say we value family, faith and serving others, but our actual behaviors may reveal that we value self, stuff or fame. To live a life of purity will require that God's view of sexuality be embraced as a top priority value. Take some time to assess your values and see if there may need to be an adjustment made so that you can close the gap between what you say you value and where your heart actually resides.

Every behavior originates from the heart. Proverbs 4:23 states, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." If you muddy your heart with porn and sexually inappropriate ideas, your behaviors will follow suit. We need to be vigilant in protecting our hearts from these sinful influences. May we come to echo the cry of King David when he wrote, "Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wiked deeds." Keep your heart pure and its overflow will bless you and all those around you. Protect your heart today!

Are you in relationship with someone who is emotionally unhealthy? If one of your loved ones has a sexual addiction, then you are, and it can be tempting to push and push and push for them to just "get it together" and become healthy. But rather than focusing all your energy on changing them, take the challenge to work on modeling health. How can you become healthier emotionally, spiritually, physically and even mentally. As you model health, it might just prime the pump for your loved one to follow your lead. And even if it doesn't, you have still gotten healthier in the process.

We live in a fast-paced, tech-driven society. Facebook, Blackberry, and TV-on-Demand are part of our everyday lives. Ironically, with all these points of "connection," there can actually be a decrease in meaningful, face-to-face conversations with those we love. And since sexual addiction thrives in isolation and secrecy, one must be extra vigilant against being lured into only communicating through electronic devices. Rediscover the joy and closeness that is part of having meaningful conversations about the real issues of your life. Resist the temptation to try and live life through a machine.

Sexual addiction, like most addictions, is fundamentally an attempt to escape (or avoid) pain. Life, however, is full of emotionally difficult circumstances and relationships. There are disappointments, fears, and many other emotions that addicts tend to dub "wrong." In reality, these are simply uncomfortable emotions and need to be expressed and resolved in healthy ways, not through medicating them with addictive behaviors. Don't beat yourself up when you feel these uncomfortable emotions. Instead, take a deep breath and seek to resolve these emotions through constructive connections with those people who love you. It is OK to FEEL!

Lust is the ultimate counterfeit of true love. It promises what it is incapable of delivering: peace, contentment and real love. As you begin to get "cleaned up" in your recovery, I challenge you to also promote true love to your children, your family and your friends. Encourage honest dialogue about difficult emotions, move toward your relationships when tension arises, and don't isolate from the need for appropriate human touch. True love exists in honesty, truth, and persistent endurance. Don't bail out to the easy route of simply promoting an image of perfection, but rather take the courageous road of transparent honesty. True love is worth the effort!

The journey to purity is tough, isn't it? It requires sacrifice, honesty, humility, accountability, and just plain persistence. Your body and mind might grow tired on this journey, begging you to "take a break" or just indulge your lust a little. But there is good news for those who choose to remain faithful in their unrelenting pursuit of purity. Joy awaits you! Just as Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, because of the joy that was to come as a result of his sacrifice, so too you can press on with full expectation that there is true joy in living a life of purity. Remain faithful today!

How might your marriage improve if you adopted the phrase, "The search is over?" There are innumerable distractions in this life; things that want to pull you away from your spouse. If we entertain those thoughts, we allow a wedge to work its way into our relationship. But what if you chose to dwell on the thought that you are no longer searching. You have the person you need, the person God brought to you. Learn to press into your spouse, forsaking all other thoughts and temptations that want to distract you. "The Search is Over!"

Life can get busy. There are deadlines at work, demands at home, stresses in relationships, and all other sorts of challenges in everyday life. And often our sleep is where we borrow time to address all these issues. But depleting your sleep can have a direct negative impact on your sexuality. Not only can lack of sleep diminish your arousal but it can even become a trigger for misusing your sexuality. When you are tired you become more vulnerable to temptation which, in turn, can lead you away from your spouse, thus resulting in less intimacy and increased stress. Make good sleep a priority and you just might become healthier sexually.

God has made us spirit, soul AND body. We cannot assume that because we are working the spiritual and emotional components of recovery that magically all the physical symptoms and problems will disappear. True recovery involves taking care of our bodies and learning what is necessary to be healthy. This involves eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, regularly exercising and saying "no" to those foods and activities that are detrimental to our physical health. Eat right and you will improve your overall recovery plan.

Trust is always damaged when sexual sin enters a relationship because trust is based on the truth and sexual sin thrives in secrecy and lies. Trust is absolutely essential to growing a healthy relationship, therefore, if a relationship is to heal, trust must be restored. God is the ultimate "Trustworthy One," always keeping His promises and telling only the truth. As you seek to heal your broken relationship, first place your trust fully in God, leaning on Him and His truth. This will allow you see clearly and gain wisdom in rebuilding trust in your relationship. Trust God to begin trusting others.

Have you ever hoped that all the good things you desire in life would come easily? Sure you have. We have all wanted that. Now, how many of those good things actually did come easily, if they came at all? Rather than growing angry and bitter over the lack of achieving those goals, try a new tactic. Begin to commit to doing the difficult things that are required to develop good friendships, a better career, a healthy lifestyle. There is work involved in building a life of purity. Roll up your sleeves, learn the fundamentals, and begin to practice them, even if they are uncomfortable and difficult. You will be glad you did.

Sexual addiction invites a person to cover over who they really are. They learn to mask emotions, hide their behaviors, and isolate from accountability. The truth, however, is that we all have fears, we all believe lies to varying degrees, and we all want peace, true peace that isn't dependent on circumstance. The only way to truly recover from sexual addiction is to begin uncovering the real you, the you with all the warts and imperfections and shame. As you uncover the real you, allow the grace of God to wash you clean and begin the purifying journey of building strong accountability relationships with others. The results are worth it!

We all need good counsel. No one lives life perfectly or without the need for help. If you are engaging in behaviors that are compulsive, unhealthy, and sinful, you could benefit from seeing a qualified counselor. Many counselors have been trained to know what questions to ask to help you get to the root of your struggles and formulate a plan for living a whole new life of purity. Push past your fears and reach out for help. Go visit a counselor...soon!

Everybody needs a break from work. "All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy," right? But be careful when you gather at the water cooler that you don't linger too long. Sometimes our legitimate need for a break can turn into a lustful moment if we are not careful. If you find yourself looking for ways to take a break to be with a particular co-worker or just for the opportunity to "check out" the opposite sex, get back to work! It is better to miss a break time than to break your commitment to purity.

We've all heard the saying, "The best things come to those who wait." Unfortunately, it is this very thinking that prevents many who are trapped in sexual addiction from ever experiencing freedom. Their relationships remain cold and distant, and the very things they want to be rid of continue to eat away at them from the inside out. If you want to break the power of lust and sexual addiction, you must take the initiative and proactively seek out help; for your purity, for your relationships, for your health. Take initiative today!

How well would your car operate if you never changed the oil, checked the tires, or responded to gauges warning you of a problem? Not too well. The same is true of a life of purity. It's important to regularly get a "purity checkup" to ensure that your plan for living every day in purity is working. This checkup needs to include assessing your temptation boundaries, evaluating your connection with God, and inviting some accountability friends to give you honest feedback. Get a checkup today!

Sexual addiction is fundamentally an intimacy disorder, not a sexual disorder. Unfortunately, many who dare to travel the path to a life of purity focus solely on modifying behavior and then grow frustrated when their relationships don't fully mend or heal. This happens because they don't realize that the primary obstacles they face are not physical, but rather emotional and spiritual. As behaviors improve, don't neglect the underlying emotional and spiritual cause. Break down those barriers and you will experience true freedom in your recovery.

For the one who struggles with sexual lust, fantasy is an easy way to escape the real world. Simply start "playing the tapes" in your head and you will quickly leave the frustrations and responsibilities of the very real world around you. But fantasy never brings lasting contentment. If you want to live a life of purity and peace, break your fantasies with reality. The truth is you can't live in fantasy anyway - that's why it's called fantasy. Live in the real world and you will break the cycle of fantasy.

It isn't easy to break an addiction. But it is even more difficult if you think the goal of recovery is perfection. It's not. If you have been struggling with a secret addiction to porn, sex, or lust, the goal of your recovery is progression. There is a big difference between perfection and progression. Perfection is impossible, as there is only one who is perfect, Jesus Christ. Progression is a model that is consistently and persistently moving you in a direction of health, purity, and accountability. If you want to gain momentum in your recovery, think progression, not perfection.

There are over 25 million people in America who struggle with various degrees of sexual addiction. Each one of these individuals has someone in their lives who love them, but sometimes don't know how to express that love. Oftentimes, addicts bear an extra burden of shame when well-meaning friends and family try to "tough love" them into a particular mold of behavior. But this type of "love" only begins a war of manipulation and most likely will drive away the addict. Try something different. Commit to loving the addict no matter what. Listen, learn where they are coming from and the shame and fear they struggle with, and be willing to embrace them where they are. Love covers a multitude of sins...

Laziness comes easy, especially in a culture where comfort and convenience are worshiped. Many men are lulled into the deception that fulfillment in life and contentment in relationships should come easily and with very little effort. It is time we leave the world of fantasy and enter the real world where men who want to taste the fruit of a great marriage or a satisfying career roll up their sleeves and get to work. It takes time and hard work to build a great marriage. There are costs involved and sacrifices to be made to find and enjoy a truly satisfying career. Don't buy the lie that says life should come easily. Put your nose to the grindstone and reap the rewards of one willing to work hard, in life, in love, in ministry.

Life is full of tension, conflict, disagreements and questions. This truth is often intensified in our marriage relationship. Those we know and love the most can also be the ones who know exactly how to frustrate us and tie us up in knots emotionally. It can be easy to retaliate with harsh words, manipulative behaviors and a combattive spirit. But God invites us to be one in our marriages, not seeking ways to be divided but rather desiring to do that which brings unity. May we be humble, gentle, and long-suffering in our marriages. Be a peacemaker today and strive for unity in your marriage.

One of the building block behaviors of sexual addiction is masturbation. It is an easy, cheap substitute for the hard work of developing close, intimate relationships. Such activity also fosters an unhealthy self-focus in the arena of sexuality, when God designed sex to be a beautiful gift to freely give to your spouse in marriage. If you want to be free and live a life of purity, you must learn to say no to yourself and the lusts your body craves that pull you away from healthy relationships. Say NO to yourself today.

Are you sometimes afraid of what it takes to build solid relationships? If you are, you are not alone. Many of us struggle with moving toward others in a transparent, honest way. We want to hide our weaknesses and accentuate our strengths. But God invites us to a different way of living, a way that involves risk with great reward. So, be courageous and trust that God will sustain you as you move toward your loved ones in truth and grace. Gain the courage to connect - today!

Jesus said, "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matt. 7:12)

How might your life change if you developed more consistency in treating others the way you want to be treated? What if you initiated kindness, humility, peace-making, love and truth-telling? And what if you did all this with pure motives, not in a self-seeking manner? I would venture to say that whatever is frustrating you the most in your life right now would begin to look different, for your attitude would shift from what you think you deserve to what you are privileged to give.

It is natural for us to want to drift away from that which feels threatening or whatever is unfamiliar. This is often one of the reasons sex addicts engage in the isolating, disconnected activities of pornography and other sexual behaviors. But we can't live satisfying, fulfilling lives when in isolation. Therefore, in your pursuit of purity, begin to train yourself to drift toward relationships and not isolate when things get frustrating and confusing. Redirect your focus from "disconnection thinking" to "connection thinking" and over time you will learn to drift toward intimacy.

Don't keep your struggle a secret. Sexual addiction thrives in secrecy. Confess your sins to other safe people. God encourages us, "Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed." (James 5:16)

This purity pointer is taken from our 40 Days of Purity workbook.

God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

How often on this journey to purity do you feel like you were made to win? If you're honest, probably not that often. But God has a different perspective. He didn't make us to cower in fear, but rather to engage life in power, love and soundness of mind. So, don't be afraid to stand up and fight for purity; at home, in your church, at your workplace. You were made to win this battle, and winners fight for truth.

There are many distractions and temptations in life, some external, some internal. In our battle to be men and women of purity, we must commit to truth being the foundation upon which we build our lives and make our decisions. Truth is found in God's Word and it doesn't change, regardless of circumstance or emotion. If we want to win, we must be grounded in truth.

Want to develop a long-term habit of sexual thought purity? Then learn to bounce your eyes away from sexually tempting images. As Job said, "I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl." (Job 31:1)

Are you in control of your Internet use, or is it controlling you? Don't allow yourself to be put in tempting situations online. Find out how you can take control of your Internet safety.

Life is full of noise, both external and internal. A life of purity, however, is marked by peace. One great way to invite peace into your life on a daily basis is to embrace the habit of getting quiet. Make time each day to be quiet, soaking in the presence of God free from the distractions around you. As God has said, "Be still, and know that I am God."

In our daily battle against lust it can become easy to buy into the "just get by" mentality that only asks us to exert just enough effort to stay short of the line of impurity. But that isn't the attitude of a winner. Those who win in this battle are the ones who pursue excellence, always seeking to do more than "just enough." By pursuing excellence you will ensure that your feet never come close to even touching the line of impurity.

2 Timothy 2:19b, 22 - "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

The most fundamental first step to living a life of daily sexual purity is to turn away from our evil desires. Every day there will be various temptations that will try to lure us away from a life of purity. We must commit to the discipline of turning away from them, even running away from them, in order to pursue our true calling of righteousness, faith, love, and peace, flowing from a pure heart.

Passion is a strong desire, a focused commitment to a wanted goal. Lust appeals to your passion in directing those desires at selfish, sexual pleasures. One of the keys to overcoming lust and living a life of purity is learning to focus your passion on that which moves you toward God's desires and expectations. Don't try to kill passion in your life, but rather allow God to direct it in ways that will honor Him.

Overcoming lust is a daily, moment-by-moment battle. And it can be extremely overwhelming at times. Wave after wave of temptation crashes into your life and you wonder if it is even worth the fight. This is when you must cling to hope, the certain expectation that God is faithful and does not break His promises. He will complete the good work He started in you, so don't let go, press in to your network of accountability, and breathe the fresh air of purity as the storm passes.

Gal. 6:2 - Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Do you know someone weighed down by their lust or greed or pride? We all have struggles and need help. One of the marks of believers in Jesus is their love for each other. A tangible way to show love for a struggling brother or sister in Christ is to come alongside and help carry their burden. Let's not pass by those in need of a lift. Share the load.

2 Cor. 5:7 - We live by faith, not by sight.

Lust will always appeal to our flesh, those sinful desires within us that are opposed to God's holiness. But as believers in Jesus Christ, we are no longer under the power of sin. What often keeps us tripped up in our battle with lust is that we try to fight the battle "by sight," using only the tools that make sense to our natural minds. God invites us, however, to live by faith, in total dependence on his Holy Spirit to daily, moment-by-moment, overcome the "lusts of the flesh." Walk by faith today!

...put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand[/I]. (Eph. 6:13)

In your battle against lust, you aren't actually fighting a physical or biological battle. It is a spiritual battle against "the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." But God has provided us with His own armor for this fight. Therefore, put on the armor of God and stand firm in the victory through Jesus Christ. You can win this fight!

Pursuing purity will test your faith. At almost every turn you will be tempted to take control and just do things your way. But God is looking for a different response. He is looking for endurance, for faith. Jame 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Don't bail out of your testing by taking control. Pass the test by enduring.

Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

If you struggle with lust and sexual addiction, recovery is not merely about purity. We often assume that simply focusing on whatever is opposite of our primary weakness, that such a focus will produce a life of righteousness and peace. Not necessarily so. If you want a life of purity, you must humble yourself and devote all of your attention and energy on God's kingdom and his righteousness. It is only through a totally surrendered life to Christ that purity is possible.

How often do we hear a well-meaning person exhort us to "just say no" to sexual temptation? While this instruction is not wrong, I think we often misdirect where we are applying the "No!" Rather than saying no to the temptation, why not direct your no against the lust that is rising up inside you. Temptation isn't the problem, it is simply appealing to your lustful desires. Learn to say no to the lust inside and temptations will have less and less power over you.

Many times those who struggle with repeatedly succumbing to their sexual lusts falsely assume their problem lies with the various inappropriate behaviors they are engaging. But the root of the problem with lust is not the behaviors, but rather the pride underneath them. We believe we can handle temptations in our own wisdom and our own strength. That is foolish pride. Begin today to kill your pride, surrender to God, and ask for help.

Many times those who struggle with repeatedly succumbing to their sexual lusts falsely assume their problem lies with the various inappropriate behaviors they are engaging. But the root of the problem with lust is not the behaviors, but rather the pride underneath them. We believe we can handle temptations in our own wisdom and our own strength. That is foolish pride. Begin today to kill your pride, surrender to God, and ask for help.

One of the most damaging effects of giving in to lust repeatedly is that it causes us to believe that people are merely objects. Pornography objectifies women as nothing more than a commodity to be bought, used, and discarded. But every woman, whether posing for Playboy or taking a jog around your neighborhood, is somebody's daughter. And most importantly, she is the daughter of God, a precious, priceless person created in His image. May we not treat God's daughters as mere objects any longer.

If you struggle with ongoing sexually addictive behaviors, it is easy to conclude that God might reach a point at which He will "let you go." But the Bible is clear that once we have been adopted into the family of God, there are no returns. You are secure in the mighty hand of God and nothing or no one can snatch you out of it.

John 10:27-29 - My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Part of the goal of living a sexually pure life is to abstain from that which is sexually inappropriate. In other words, not sin! King David shared a powerful secret for how we can accomplish this worthy goal: to hide God's Word in our hearts. Feast on the Word of God, digesting it deep into your soul, and over time you will taste freedom from your sexual sin.

2 Peter 1:3 - His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

If God has given us everything we need for life and godliness, why then do we not live lives of godliness and purity? The answer lies in us not living in balance. We have a responsibility to respond to what God has offered through simple, obedient faith. As the apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:1, "...live a life worthy of the calling you have received." We are called to be men and women of purity, so let us live up to this calling by faithful obedience to what God has already provided.

The movie business is getting increasingly more provocative in its display of sexually inappropriate images. You cannot rely on movie ratings to warn you accurately of the sexual content that might be present in a particular film. As a part of your purity program, go on a 90-day movie fast. Don't watch any movies, in your home or at the theatre, for 90 days. Make this an offering of purity to God. It will be an offering that is most pleasing to Him...

Isolation is deadly when it comes to sexual lust. When you are alone you are most vulnerable to accepting the lies of sexual temptation. You need a handful of safe people with whom you can connect in those moments where you are feeling weak. Have a phone list handy of these individuals and make the call to break the power of isolation and invite the peace of community into your battle for purity.

Do you sometimes feel like you will never achieve consistent success in your pursuit of purity? It may feel like you take one step backward for every two steps forward. But don't throw in the towel or beat yourself up. God's grace abounds. He wants you to keep trying, to keep getting up, to keep pressing in to Him and drawing on His power to accomplish what you cannot do on your own. You can be pure today!

"The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer." - Psalm 6:9

Do you have a hard time believing you are acceptable before God? Maybe you think you have fallen too far or too often to receive the mercy and goodness of God. But God isn't like us. He doesn't accept you based on your worthiness, but rather on the finished work of Christ. Faith in Christ guarantees your permanent acceptance of the living God, and since He finds you acceptable you can breathe easier and truly live life to the fullest.

Did you know God wants you to focus on beauty? Not the sexualized beauty you see in pornography, but rather the beauty of His creative image that is stamped over all of creation. All things beautiful are meant to point us to the supreme Father of beauty, God Himself. In your pursuit of purity, begin to train your mind to focus on Beauty, for nothing compares to gazing at the Lord. (Phil. 4:8)

God wants us to live honestly and transparently, but he also wants us to become wise. Living wisely means we understand who we are in the presence of God - this produces a sort of joyful terror ("fear of the Lord"). To live wisely also requires that I recognize evil and flee from it - quickly! What areas of your life are you living foolishly? Ask God today to give you wisdom in surrendering these areas to His loving guidance.

This purity pointer is taken from the book Untangled: Insights to Simplify Your Complicated Life.

Integrity is doing the right thing in the absence of an audience. Integrity insists that I reflect God's character in my life regardless of my circumstances. This inevitably produces discomfort, even ridicule and suffering at times. But as I sow seeds of integrity, I reap a harvest of peace. What seeds of integrity are planting in your life today, especially when you are alone? Plant seeds of integrity today so you will one day harvest true peace.

This purity pointer is taken from the book Untangled: Insights to Simplify Your Complicated Life.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 - "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Do you view your body as God's property? If you are a believer in Christ, then you do not have the right to do whatever you wish with your body. This includes your sexuality. If you want to live a life of sexual purity that is pleasing to God, begin today to view your body as a "rental." Any decision you make with your eyes, your mind, or your sexuality must first pass the approval of your Savior.

If you are living in secret sexual sin, then you are a divided man, unable to give yourself fully to your wife. This dividedness prevents you from truly loving her. The Bible exhorts you to "love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her..." How have you given yourself up for your wife lately? Turn away from your divided life and love your wife today.

God calls us to love one another. Love is selfless and giving and focused on the good of another. Lust, on the other hand, is only focused on self-centered thoughts and behaviors. Lust produces a "users" mentality, whereas love seeks to sacrifice for the sake of improving another person's life. Begin today to be a great lover, not a lousy luster.

Surrender really has more to do with focus than it does activity. Behaviors will always follow priorities, or beliefs. So, if we surrender our will to our perfect heavenly Father, we will act in accordance to His direction. Humble yourself before God and He will lift you up.

This purity pointer is taken from the book Untangled: Insights to Simplify Your Complicated Life.

Do you play around with temptation, allowing it to linger? Run! The Bible tells us, "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body." (1 Cor. 6:18) Don't mistreat your own body today - run from temptation!

Your life was designed by God to "run" on purity. "For God has not called you to be impure, but to life a holy life." (1 Thes. 4:7) Every time you put pornography, lust, fantasy, or some other form of impurity into your life, it's like dumping sand into your emotional and spiritual gas tank. You weren't designed for that. Fill up on purity and you will operate as God intended.

God is in the business of setting captives free...in order to serve others. The Bible reminds us, "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love." (Gal. 5:13) Who could you serve in love today?

How can you be transformed into a new man or woman of purity? By renewing your mind with truth. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the patter of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Life change happens when you renew your mind...

Your true need is intimacy, not isolation. You are called to practice intimacy and oneness, not to chase the lure of false intimacy and dividedness offered by pornography and lust. Shift your thinking today.

Have you spun the lies of sexual addiction and lust so long that you believe sex is dirty? Probably so. But God designed sex as a most beautiful expression of intimate love in the covenant bond of marriage. Sex is good! God made it that way...

One of the best phrases an addict can repeat is, "It was my best thinking that got me here." (introduced through Alcoholics Anonymous) When left to our own wisdom, in isolation and continually ingesting the lies of pornography, we will most definitely get off track. So, begin today to pursue and listen to wise people. Listen and then apply the insight and truth they offer.

Fathers play an enormous role in the overall emotional and spiritual health of their daughters. Dads, you must step up and teach your daughter what a real man, a godly man, is like. One way you can do this is to regularly "date" your daughter. Spend time one-on-one listening to her dreams, her struggles, her heart. These encounters will enrich your life and lay a solid foundation for your daughter to enjoy a healthy future.

Sexual addiction thrives in secrecy. You have to lie to keep the addiction going. But God tells us to "walk in the light" so that we can have true fellowship (friendship) with others. If you want to break free from sexual addiction, you must stop lying and commit to no more secrets.

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45

What is on the inside of us eventually comes out. So, the question is, what comes out of you when the heat is turned up in your life? What comes out when temptation knocks at your door? Let us be men and women who are filled with the Spirit of God, allowing His goodness, truth, and grace to overflow on to those around us.

Want to improve the likelihood of you living every day in sexual purity? Then begin to adopt the habit of thanksgiving. Every day is full of reasons to be thankful. Look around. As you learn to be a grateful person, you will find that your hope is renewed (you become a more positive thinker) and you can see more clearly the possibilities of a life of sexual purity. So, jump start your purity program by being thankful!

Sometimes there can be the tendency to overemphasize emotional and spiritual disciplines as part of the purity process, and forget (or ignore) taking care of our bodies. Physical health is important in living a life of sexual purity. Get proper rest, eat healthy, and exercise.

1 John 1:5-7 - This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Walk in the light and you are free to enjoy true friendship with fellow believers and experience the cleansing power of Jesus.

Living a life of purity requires accountability. A group offers a place to be accountable, a place to be answerable to someone else. Plugging in with a group allows you to be sharpened by receiving encouragement and challenge from like-minded people. A group also gives you opportunity to sharpen others by sharing your story of God's work in your life. Take a bold step today - join a group!

Most individuals who struggle with sexually addictive behaviors have had one or more traumatic events occur in their histories. Whether it be abuse, abandonment, or some other form of trauma, these events left scars. Don't ignore the effects of trauma. Get Help.

James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

The difficulty of recovery will test your faith. But press on in endurance, knowing that your faithfulness in the midst of the difficulty will eventually produce a harvest of joy and peace. Never give up - your reward awaits!

Do you sometimes grow weary in your daily pursuit of purity? You are not alone; we ALL grow tired at times. But keep in mind that the rewards of a clean conscience and a pure heart are worth the effort to push forward. God promises to honor those who honor Him. Press on toward the prize - it's worth it!

How much noise is in your life on a daily basis? In your car, at home, in your office, even in your head? Noise, both external and internal, often distracts us from fulfilling our purpose in life of loving God and loving others, not to mention increasing our likelihood of seeking relief from the persistent noise through inappropriate use of our sexuality. Find ways to reduce the noise in your life. Moments of silence will refresh your spirit and give you clarity throughout the day.

Two of the greatest assets you have in your battle for sexual purity are your legs and your eyelids. God commands us to FLEE sexual immorality. In other words, RUN. Get your legs moving when confronted with temptation. If you are unable to physically leave the temptation, then close your eyes (unless driving, of course!). Begin today to use the resources you already have to fight, and WIN, the battle for purity.

One of the keys to overcoming sexual lust is understanding the triggers that trip you up and weaken your system in resisting temptation. A good exercise for learning your triggers is to use the AA acronym HALT; Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. We have also added Bored and Stressed to this list. Determine which of these internal moods is most often present prior to your acting out, then develop a plan for responding to that trigger. Attack the triggers and you won't fall to temptation.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of primetime network TV shows contain sexual content, not to mention just how much time can be wasted from engaging in more productive activities. Give this a try: turn off the TV for one week and see if that doesn't help clear your head and get you focused on better activities. What do you have to lose? Pull the plug...

We must establish at least one to three supportive relationships for the purpose of accountability. Without this we will be deluded regarding our motives and unable to control our behavior.

This Purity Pointer is taken from Breaking Free by Russell Willingham.