Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- May 8, 2012
“Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes…” Proverbs 6:25
Lustful longings lead us away from loving the Lord, because our affections become attached to something that isn’t ours. In the beginning it can seem like innocent flattery, but it quickly grows into emotional attachment. Indeed, our emotions are meant for intimacy with our spouse and none other. Confiding in a beautiful person other than your spouse may feel good, but it is a pseudo solution, a problem waiting to happen.
If you are engaged in a relationship that causes your heart to race and feeds racy fantasies, you need to flee. It may mean having your assistant transfer to another department at work, or even letting her go. It’s flirting with fire to forge ahead in relationships that enflame your lust, so douse the flames with the water of accountability and walk away.
“Can you build a fire in your lap and not burn your pants? Can you walk barefoot on hot coals and not get blisters? It’s the same when you have sex with your neighbor’s wife: Touch her and you’ll pay for it. No excuses.” Proverbs 6:27-28, The Message
Furthermore, the Internet can become a contributor to lustful longings, a tool for good Satan uses for bad. Make sure others monitor your machine, so your heart and mind do not meander to illicit images. Install computer software that forces you to be selective in your web surfing, producing a report to be reviewed by an accountability partner.
Moreover, make it your motivation and desire to pursue loving God and people. This will crowd out fleshly lusts from your heart. The Bible says, “Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22, NASB).
Do your soul a great kindness by distancing yourself from and detesting the sight of, sin. Eyes focused on fidelity, faith, and authentic love lead to freedom empowered by the Holy Spirit.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
Prayer: How can I protect my eyes from lustful images, focusing instead on the beauty of my spouse?
Related Readings: Genesis 39:8-10; Job 31:1-9; Matthew 5:28; I Peter 2:11
Post/Tweet this today: Eyes focused on fidelity, faith, and authentic love lead to freedom. #pure #fidelity
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Very good advice to heed!
Pray that when my husband reads this devotion today that it will opens his eyes to truly see the truth about the affair he is in and turn from it and turn back to God and our marriage. Pray that the Devil is defeated.
Thank you April
Thanks for the comment Wendy. Our Wisdom Hunters prayer team will lift your husband up in prayer.
Thank you.
Wow! I like this knowledge.Liz
Good advice…..save yourself a lot of heartache and do what this says.
Please, please, please pray my strength in the Lord, Who I know is my Lord and Savior… I am a 48 year old (young) woman, who is filled with abundunt life and vigor. I have the spirit of an 18 year old. I am married “16 years”. to a 77 year old man, who I started dating when I was 2o years old. My family was then and is still against my marriage to him. Although I was deeply in love with him when I married him. I still love him now. But as a friend and not the true love of a wife. Yes, He loves me with and beyond all his heart. We have not been sexual intimate in 12 years. He is fine with that. I am in limbo. I need the touch and love of a man-my husband is not willing to please me in any way, shape or form. He buys me anything I want. But I don’t really want the material things. I want him to make love to me, if only a kiss and hold me closely. I lay in bed at night and ask him to kiss me… just a kiss and noting more. He tells me no his mouth hurts, his hands hurt. So I roll back over and cry and ask God why do I have to suffer like this? What have I done to deserve this? My love changed to the friend stage it is in now a few years ago when he constantly turned my sexual advances down. I would tell him, i’m your wife, I need you to make love to me. His answer is always no. After ten years i’ve had a lover. He makes me feel totally alive again. He makes me feel like a woman who is beautiful and cherished. He is single, 42, an accountant and very intelligent. My husband is illiterate, One of the reasons why I stayed as long as I did when we were dating. My lover and I get together every two months in a year. I was in Bible study April 11, 2012. And our topic was “Who is your giant” ie., what is in the way of you and God? My lover is my giant. I felt guilt after which and the following Sunday I confessed my sin to my pastor. Who told me I have to give up my lover and repent my sin. I did. I also told my husband. He says I have the problem and not him, so he is clean and free of any sin. I spoke with my lover and told him as well. I need to get into Heaven and I need to give him up. We parted as friends. My problem is after a few weeks, I am beginning to yearn for my lover. Who is only a phone call away. My husband continues to shun me eveytime I speak to him of my needs. In front of family and friends my husband is the ultimate husband who dotes me with affection. but behind closed doors he is an ice cube. This devotional spoke to me in volumes. I am trying to stay away from my friend, but how long can I hold on till I bust from husband rejection? Again I ask….. Please pray for me! Thank you…
I am asking for prayers as well. My husband of 12 years left me and we have been unemotionally involved since the first year of our marriage. I have met someone and I am constantly in touch with him.
Virginia – Thank you for your comment, this sounds like a situation that needs to be covered in prayer. I will pass it on to our Wisdom Hunters prayer team.
Thanks Liz
Hello, I know my letter was longggggggggggggg. I also see the other ladys answer will be sent. Will my question be sent to the team also? I am so in need of advice. Thank you!
Be Dor – Thank you for your note, we send all prayer needs to our Wisdom Hunters prayer team. Yours will definitely be prayed over. God Bless!
Thank You… I see it says awaiting moderation. I was beginning to think it was too big of a request for you guys, (smile)… I know it’s a biggie.
Thanks Again!!! Be
It’s been a few days now. I keep coming looking for a response. I truly believe my problem is bigger than what your prayer team can handle. I will continue to wait on the Lord. I know in time He will answer my prayer. Thank you anyway.
Be Dor, I would encourage you to reach out to your home church and seek out counsel from your pastor. We will continue to pray.
Be Dor, I’d definitely encourage you to seek out wise counsel at your home church. This is a time for the body of Christ to speak truth, encouragement and provide accountability in your life right now. We will continue to pray for you and your husband.
Thank you Boyd, I have done that. My pastor led me to your prayer team. I was expecting someone to send me some monumental advice, guidence. Someone real to interact with me, to talk to. I have talked to my pastor. He is easy to talk to about what I am going through. But is some what hard on sundays and he is preaching and i’m feeling like he is talking right to me. The guilt is overwhelming. But I am doing good. Still able to stay away from my lover at this point. But….. for how long? I am doing my best. I want to make it into Heaven!
Be Dor, You are right, you do need to speak to someone. One of my favorite marriage resources is Focus on the Family. They offer a complimentary counseling phone call with one of their trained staff members. I’d highly recommend you call and discuss your situation with them. No doubt you will be blessed by their biblical guidance. Here is the link to their info: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/articles/consider_counseling.aspx . From their website: To reach Focus on the Family’s counseling service by phone, call 1-800-A-Family (232-6459) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). If a counselor is not immediately available, you can leave your contact information and a counselor will call you back as soon as possible.
This is very good help ESP the part about turning your affections!!!
Thank You Boyd, I believe you finally heard my call for help. I gave up coming back here. It is 1:52 A.M. 5/23.2012. I had a nudgeing of sorts to come back and see if there was a new posting for me. It was…. THANK YOU!!!!! i am praying that speaking to someone will help me. My pastor continues to guide me, I need more. No need to reply, As I have now recieved what I believe I need. Thank you again. Be Dor.
P.S. It has been almost a month and I have not contacted my (EX)-lover. These last four days I have lost my want to call him. I feel a change has come. Thank you Jesus!!!
Got my timing wrong, It has been a month and sixteen days since I have talked with him. The last four days, I have had no desire to talk to him. Go Me!