Eyes Right

I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.”  Ps. 101:3 [emphasis added]

Immorality has a pattern, an identifiable process to how it happens. It starts with the thoughts, engages the emotions, and then translates to actions. Accepting sinful thoughts in the mind is the first step. God is clear in His Word about what we should do with sinful thoughts, “Turn your back on lustful thoughts…” 2 Tim. 2:22 [Ph, emphasis added]. The next step seems subtle but it is very dangerous – emotional, non-physical involvement. A lot of people deceive themselves that because it is not physical, so they are in control; forgetting that God clearly warns, “Be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts” Pr. 4:23 [NCV]. And before they know what is happening, they become physically involved and are wondering how it happened.

It did not start with physical involvement, it started where it matters most, in the mind. The physical involvement is just a spin-off. Before long, people find themselves rationalizing their actions, which is what puts it in an infinite loop. You hear statements like, she upset me so deeply so I did it, or I am only doing to him what he first did to me, or if she would have listened to me, this would not have happened, or if he knew how to take care of a woman, we would not have all these problems, or I think I made a mistake marrying her because I just found my soul mate.

The thing with rationalizing is that you are never able to draw the line. As long as you are rationalizing your actions, you are handcuffing yourself in the trap. Kay Warren puts it this way, “rationalize equals ‘rational-lies’”. The sad truth is, it is impossible to overcome anything you rationalize. As long as you think you are or deceive yourself that you are powerless against it. It was love at first sight and I could not help it. As long as you keep rationalizing it, you would not find a way out.

What I have done is show you the steps; now you have to be brutal. Your prayer project for this week is Psalms 119:37 and Psalms 101:3. Pray these two great scriptures everyday for the next one-week. If you have been struggling, you will see how liberated you will be.

Prayer: Father, turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your Word [Ps.119:37], in Jesus Name.