Okay, I am back on track with the "Fireproof Your Marriage" study. I missed one week, so last week I did not feel like I could write a blog post about it. But we made it to Sunday school this week, and I am so glad that we did. The topic was temptations and addictions and how they can ruin your marriage. I think this is so relevant to anyone, married or not. Everyone faces temptations in their lives. Like Monica wrote about earlier, satan knows our weaknesses and attacks those areas.
In the movie Fireproof, the main character Caleb is taking the 40 day "Love Dare" to try to save his marriage. Everyday, he faces a new "dare" or challenge to love his wife unconditionally. Somewhere in the middle of the 40 days, he reads the following entry:
"Watch out for parasites. A parasite is anything that latches onto you or your partner and sucks the life out of your marriage. They are normally in the form of addictions such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography. They promise pleasure but grow like a disease and consume more and more of your thoughts, time and money. They steal away your loyalty and heart from those you love. If you love your wife, you must destroy any addiction that has your heart. If you don't, it will destroy you."
Caleb, who has an internet pornography addiction, faces a crossroads in his life. After reading this passage, he decides to destroy his parasite. He literally takes his computer outside and bashes it in with a baseball bat!!!
In class we talked about how other temptations can cause us to drift away from those we love, such as too much time spent on the internet, sports, overeating, shopping, toxic friendships.... really anything that takes over our lives and gets placed above all other things, including God and our spouse (and loved ones.)
We all will face temptation, but the good news is that we have someone to turn to who will give us a way out... Jesus!! God has a plan to rescue us from sin and death!!
I leave you with this Scripture. It is one of my favorites. Putting God's word in your heart can really make a difference when you are facing temptation......His word is a sword of truth that can cut through any sinful desires we have.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
Heavenly Father, I know you do not tempt me. You despise all that is evil. Please help me to see where satan is attacking me. Help me to stand up under any temptation that is thrown on me. Give me the faith and strength to do what pleases you. In Jesus' name, Amen
Amen! I think that temptations sneak in and before you realize it.... you are worshipping another God, or even just putting priorities in the wrong order. This probably needs to be a constant reminder... I'll spend tonight NOT online. :)
ReplyDeleteI also like the verse right after that: "Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry." I believe the underlying cause of porn addiction and other habitual sins is idolatry, self-worship, pleasure-worship, etc.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.covenanteyes.com/blog/2008/12/18/porn-addiction-thoughts-from-the-ccef-conference/
Thanks for your thoughts here.