Wisdom will save you also from the adulteress. (Prov. 2:16)
THIS PAST YEAR the office of the Dean of the Chapel at Indiana Wesleyan University formed four small groups focusing on helping the participants live lives of purity. The members met once a week for accountability. They were asked probing questions, such as, “Were you victorious this week in not viewing pornography?” “Were you intentional about not placing yourself in tempting situations?” “How are you doing spiritually?” “Have you been faithful in reading the Bible and praying?”
Each member of the group was also required to memorize the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. During the small group gatherings, participants were to recite to one another what they had memorized. At the end of the semester, I asked them whether the small group was helpful or not.
One young man quickly responded, “Definitely, yes! There were many times I was tempted to go to my computer to view images I knew were wrong for me to be viewing. There were other times wrong images would flood my mind. When this happened I would quote verses from Matthew 5 out loud. I found that when I would quote Scripture the desire to give in to lust would go away. The Word of God helped save me many times this semester from falling into the sin of lust. I thank the Lord for His Word.”
Memorize God’s Word so it will be in your mind when you need it.
Jim Lo is the author of Connect with God: The Purpose of Prayer (WPH) and the dean of chapel at Indiana Wesleyan University.
