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Know What's Been Stolen

Have you ever had a house robbery, or a smash and grab from your car? Maybe you felt embarrassed that you weren’t more vigilant, asking: “Why did I leave that so visible on the back seat? Why didn’t I bother setting the alarm? How could I have been so stupid?” Maybe embarrassment isn’t what you experienced, but instead you felt violated and vulnerable.

If you have a house break-in, your insurance company will ask you to take an inventory. As painful as it can be, you are required to go from room to room and make a list of things that have been stolen from you.

Let's be clear, porn robs people: 

• It robs people of good physical and mental health 
• It robs people of healthy and fulfilled relationships 
• It robs people of their rights, dignity, and future 
• It robs people of a fruitful walk with God 

Jesus reminds us that we have an enemy that seeks to steal from us. Porn use is just one of the ways that can happen.

I know that porn use can be awkward and embarrassing to think about, particularly when we know we have made mistakes that have led to regrettable outcomes. Because of this embarrassment and vulnerability, it can feel easier to just avoid making an inventory, never facing up to the full impact that porn use has had on our life, and the lives of others.

Be brave today. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you make that honest assessment.

Being honest with yourself and God about what porn use has taken from you isn't easy, but it is the pathway to change.

Right now, pause. Ask God to reveal the answers to these questions: 

1. How has your mental and physical health been affected by porn use? 
2. How have you seen your ability to have healthy friendships impacted? 
3. If you are in a committed or romantic relationship, how has your porn use affected this? 
4. Do you recognise the ways those on the other side of the screen may be exploited, coerced, or manipulated? 
5. How has your faith and relationship with God been affected by your porn use?

Giving "careful thought to our ways" can be painful and takes courage, humility and trust.  Why trust? Because to come out of hiding, to face the truth, to consider the implications of our actions and the reality of our situation, we are required to trust in God's faithful love, His power to restore, and His desire for our deepest happiness.

Romans 5:5 says, “Hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” So, as you ask the Holy Spirit to help you consider what you have lost, allow Him also to fill you with hope as He reveals God's love, and path of transformation.