Key Bible Verse: Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust (2 Timothy 2:22). Bonus Reading: Psalm 101:1-8

I had just returned home from work, my wife was away, and a stack of mail was on the kitchen counter. Flipping through the bills, I spotted a lingerie catalog. I snatched it up, twisted it into a tube, opened our back door, and threw it in the trash can.

God had given me the strength to throw it away, but my sinful desire started lobbying hard for me to retrieve it: Shannon's gone, so no one would know. You could pick out some clothing article for Shannon. That's it! You wouldn't be lusting; you'd be shopping! It's not pornography.

"No!" I argued out loud. "I must not lift the lid of that trash can!" But my lustful desires whispered: It would feel good. You haven't done it for a long time. Look quickly just this once. God will forgive you and you can humbly confess it to your accountability group. Scared that I'd think such deceitful thoughts, I grabbed the phone. I dialed Joe … busy signal. Eric … answering machine. Well, you've done your best to get help. You might as well indulge.

"Shut up!"

I dialed John's number and he answered, "Hey, Josh, what's going on?"

"Hey, buddy, I need you to pray for me …"

—Joshua Harris in Not Even a Hint

My Response: Have I ever asked a friend to help me face down temptation?

Adapted from Not Even a Hint (Multnomah, 2003) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Lord, give me the determination to do whatever it takes to stay sexually pure, both physically and mentally.

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