Overcome Porn: The 40 Day Challenge Sample

Day 9: What the porn-addicted brain looks like

Today we will continue to look at the negative impact of porn on the brain.

As we saw yesterday, porn can be “addictive,” can’t it? Evidence from the field of neuroscience shows us this. Porn addiction is a behavior addiction, and knowing this can provide us a powerful motivation to avoid porn at all costs.

Notice Paul’s use of the word “members” (that is, the physical members of his body) in Romans 7:22-23. When we are hooked on pornography, deep in our hearts we may desire to please God, but rooted in the physical members of our body (including our brains) we have ingrained sinful habits.

The good news is that change is possible. Only a few verses later Paul writes that the Holy Spirit dwells in us giving life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11), and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can “put to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13). Given time, God can and will change our habits and heal our minds.

Action Step

Watch “Is Porn Addictive?” As you watch, remember Paul’s words in Romans 7 and 8. Though porn is addictive (like a lot of things can be), we can take courage in knowing God is bigger than our addictions.

Reflection

Porn addiction is a behavioral addiction. Knowing this should motivate us to avoid porn at all costs. You avoid drugs because they are damaging and addictive, right? We should treat porn the same way. Remember, it’s possible for you to renew your mind and make great changes.

In what way does today’s devotional help to make sense of your own experience?

Is Porn Addictive? from Covenant Eyes on Vimeo.