Pornographic material is more prevalent and easily accessed today than it ever has been. With a mobile device, salacious images and videos can be viewed anywhere, at any time, by anyone so effortlessly that it makes it seem (to some) to be completely innocent and acceptable. However, just because Satan makes sin easy, seemingly common and widely available does not make it any less damnable. What it does mean is that we must ramp up our efforts to successfully fight the battles and win the war!
So, what can we do to win the war against pornography and save our souls, our relationships, our marriages and our moral purity?
Divert the eyes. Close them. Look the other way. As some have suggested, “bounce the eyes” to some other viewing object. Make “a covenant with [your] eyes” (Job 31:1) to not look where you should not be looking!
Divert the attention. Immediately “set your mind on things above” (Col. 3:1-2). Turn your thoughts toward other matters that can absorb your consideration—spiritual things, recreational things, work things, specific things of life.
Turn it off, put it down, walk away. God says (in paraphrase), “Blessed is the man who walks not, stands not and sits not where sinfulness abides” (Psa. 1:1). “Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11). You know where (and when) your weak points are—avoid them! Take control of the situation (better yet, let God!) and immediately take whatever steps are necessary (even drastic ones) to separate yourself from the temptation and its sources!
Do what Jesus did. Jesus “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). What did Jesus do when He was tempted? He quoted Scripture! “It is written…It is written…It is written” (Matt. 4:4-10). Find the verse (or verses) that resonate self-control, consequences, holiness, incentive (or whatever strikes at your heart the most), memorize those verses (write them on your heart), and then quote them repeatedly as you divert eyes, divert attention, turn it off, put it down and walk away. Then, keep quoting! It’s hard to sin when you keep speaking God’s words over and over again (read Psalm 119:11).
Find an “accountability partner.” Sometimes it takes the serious measure of confessing your weakness, faults and sins to a brother in Christ (cf. Jas. 5:16), and asking that brother to help provide you with some accountability for your actions. There are multiple ways to do this. The important part is to have someone you can trust and who will keep you honest and on target (cf. Gal. 6:1-2; 1 Thess. 5:14; Rom. 15:1).
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7)!