Friday, February 15, 2013

The Battle for our Desire


Let's not avoid the fact right off the start that the word "desire" is not commonly used in today's culture. But in all honestly the idea needs to be addressed badly.

Let's start things out with a simple game of decision. Imagine standing in front of a table. The table is clear and the man standing beside it has two objects of desire in his hands. On one side of the table he puts down a "Gentleman's Magazine" and on the other side of the table he puts down a Bible. After a few moments, the man asks you to point to your idea of desire. I haven't been able to make a case study of this scenario, but I would think most men would point to the gentlemen's magazine. 

Would we even consider the Bible and its teachings a thing to desire? Culture has brainwashed men to have a certain idea or belief of what desire looks like and it has nothing to do with the Bible. But why would we consider a woman hardly dressed desire? Well, quite frankly, because it's easy. We are simply not in control of what our desire should be in our life. We grab the easily accessible magazine off the rack. We watch the video that the popular guy is showing to everybody. And when we're alone, our self control goes out the door suddenly. We are easily swayed, we know it and we're doing nothing about it. Well gentlemen, it's time to make some changes!

1) STOP!
That's right, stop. Stop falling victim to what the culture says is desire and start asking God what desire is and what it should look like in your life. Stop taking the "easy" route in your life when it comes to the magazines, videos and the people that expose you to those things. Stop thinking you don't have a choice in the matter and choose to make the right decision! Because you always have a choice. 

2) Fill the Gap
So you've stopped? Now you need to come up with a plan; in other words you need to fill the gap. What are you going to do the next time you encounter the dirty magazine, the crude jokes at work or the hot woman walking past you in the store? Don't wait for it to happen, come up with a plan to defeat it! When I was trying to discover the true desire in my life, I decided to read a book titled "Wild at Heart". I hated reading at the time, but I had to fill the gap. I would get out of work early and just sit in my car and read. I would read until I knew I would get home at the same time as my wife. I had to fill the gap, and remove the option.

3) Pray
I don't recall ever saying this process would be easy, but I can assure you it will be beyond fulfilling and life changing. If you were never much for prayer, this would be the time to change that and start praying often. Your desire should be to stop the old habits, to form new Godly habits, and seek God in a whole new way. God is always there to help us and guide us, we just have to give him the opportunity. Make his teachings and his lifestyle your new desire and watch him go to work in your life!
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Your challenge: Read Mathew 5:27-30 

As men, we are all victim to the temptations that the world has to offer. But we have to be stronger and rise above the world and its lies. Share your story or thoughts below of how you overcame false desires and found true desire in Christ! 
Show other men that real change is possible!

10 comments:

  1. So true. The hurdle is high but once you make it over it certainly gets easier as time passes. You will be tested, when your feeling weak or self pity, you will indeed be tested. Sometimes a lapse may occur but you must find your way back over that hurdle.
    Great post bud!

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    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts brother. You are exactly right! Keep up the great work!

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  2. I think one reason guys would chose the magazine to represent "desire," is that we've been taught that desire is always a bad thing. As you point out, we CAN desire godly things, and some do, at least most of the time. Unfortunately, probably more people desire the bad, and TO HEAR PREACHERS TELL IT, EVERYONE does. So, why would people chose the magazine to represent desire? Because most preachers don't teach that desire CAN BE good.

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    1. I can't agree more. Thinking back, I don't remember ever being challenged with the idea of desire at Church. My teachings were more led by the calling of the Lord. I kept hearing the word and decided I needed to find out more about it and fast. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. To say that I've overcome my false destires would be inaccurate. I only started to really fight them almost two years ago, and I still struggle. In fact, it's gotten worse. Maybe it was because I was finally making a real stand, or maybe it was the computer I bought when I graduated from high school. Either way, I have yet to get to where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be!

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  4. Amen to your last line! I think we all still have our struggles, but the point is to keep fighting them! We have the best support system with Christ on our side! And it is true, the more we try to find Christ, the harder the enemy will attack. He hates to lose a follower... Thanks for sharing brother and keep up the great work for the King!

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    1. Sounds like most of us are married. Remember at our wedding part of the vows we took. "May no man put asunder" I didn’t really know what that meant then. It means may no man separate. So many times we do it to ourselves. "No man" includes our own self-inflicted stuff. Are we separating ourselves from our wives with our own actions or lack of action? This is too important to mess up. I'm sure we agree that we are here on earth for HIS glory. Created by HIM for HIM. Let's live on purpose for HIS purpose. Horning our wives and our Lord

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    2. John, that is a great point! This would make for a great blog post. I suppose it's the selfish nature that makes us only think it separation could be caused by only other people and not ourselves. But you're absolutely right, we have to be careful to not allow OURSELVES separate. Thank you for sharing.

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  5. Great stuff. I have never thought out redesigning the way I view the word desire. Really eye opening and I will be spending some time seeking God's voice in that. Thanks for sharing this.

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    1. Thanks for the comment, Hugh. I hope God reveals some great truths to you!

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