The Mended Rib: A 27-Day Devotional for Men Battling Lust and InfidelitySample

That’s Not Your Thought

The battle against lust doesn’t start with your actions—it begins in your mind. Lustful thoughts can feel overwhelming and uncontrollable, but Scripture reminds us that we are not powerless. We are called to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. When these thoughts enter your mind, don’t allow them to take root. Replace them with thoughts that honor God—through scripture, prayer, and even positive thoughts about your spouse. This consistent practice will, over time, retrain your mind and loosen the grip of lustful desires.

For me, the key was learning not to give lustful thoughts a single moment to grow. The longer you allow them to linger, the more they entrench themselves in your imagination, gaining strength. I’ve trained myself to immediately declare, “That’s not my thought.” By doing this, I separate myself from those desires and recognize them for what they are—attempts by my flesh to seek self-gratification. The moment I refuse to entertain them, they begin to lose their power over me.

Replacing these thoughts with ones that honor God has been life-changing for me. It’s not about pretending the temptation doesn’t exist but about making a conscious decision to reject it. When you do this consistently, you weaken the hold those desires have over you, and you allow the mind of Christ to shape your thinking, actions, and heart.

Challenge

When a lustful thought enters your mind today, immediately replace it with a scripture verse or a prayer. Practice this consistently and watch your thought life change.

Prayer

Lord, help me to take every thought captive. When lustful thoughts arise, give me the strength to turn to You and replace them with thoughts that are pure and honoring to You. Amen.