Overcome Porn: The 40 Day Challenge Sample

Day 16: Lust or a worship disorder?

Often what drives an addiction to pornography is not just lust. It is evidence of something deeper that needs to be addressed.

When the Bible speaks of idolatry, this is not just a reference to statues of wood or stone. We can also have “idols of the heart” (Ezekiel 14:3)—things we put in the position of the greatest glory, the greatest significance, our deepest longing, our first love. But what should take up our hearts? God. He alone should occupy that position in our hearts, but often we have what we call sexual idols in our lives that have taken God’s place.

Remember this. We resemble the thing we worship. We begin to look like our idols when we continue to turn to them. Their characteristics rub off on us and threaten to destroy the image of God in us. But through Christ, we can break those idols!

Action Step

Read “Life as an Idol-Maker,” a chapter from John Freeman’s book, Hide or Seek (reprinted with permission on the Covenant Eyes blog). This is a lengthy chapter, so make sure to set aside some uninterrupted time.

Reflection

Psalm 115 speaks of a heart that has become hard due to idolatry and eventually feels dead. How do you see this operating in your life? In what ways are you just going through the motions regarding your life with God and other people?