|
Clean House
Previous page: Healing
Prayer for Roots of Sex Addiction
The Bible discusses the importance of
removing "detestable" objects from our homes in several passages.
For example, God told the Israelites, "Do not bring a
detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for
destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for
destruction "(Deuteronomy 7: 26). God repeated this warning in several other scriptures:
2
Kings 23:24; Deuteronomy
13:17; Joshua
6:18; Joshua
7:1. These warnings were for
good reason. He did not want his people to experience the unpleasant
consequences associated with those objects.
Modern day examples of detestable objects
include pornography in all its forms and things associated with the "the
Occult." God wants us to have nothing to do with these
things primarily because they are forms of idolatry. He
jealously yearns for our total devotion (James 4:4-5). Keeping
such things in our homes dishonors God, creates a potential snare for sin
and gives the enemy an open door to attack us. The sensible thing to
do is to purge our homes of all detestable objects that we know of and/or
that God reveals to us.
Before you start cleaning out your house,
please take a moment to ask God to give you wisdom on what to
remove. Suggested prayer: "Lord God,
please show me the things in my home that are not pleasing to you.
Please convict me of what I should do with them. Thank you, Father,
Amen."
The below suggestions come from our own
"house cleaning" experiences over the years. We've gone through
about 4 of them since we started serving the Lord. You may find that
after getting rid of the obvious things, God may later show you other
objects that need to go. I encourage you to cooperate fully
with the Holy Spirit and follow through on the convictions he gives
you.
One of the challenges we faced in our house
cleanings was the desire to sell the detestable objects to recover the
value, or at least give them to someone who could use them. The Lord
showed us that either course would only help others to fall into
sin. Therefore, we recommend that you destroy the objects and resist
temptations to sell or give them away. By destroying them, you are
making a sacrifice to God similar to what the people in Acts did by
burning their magic books (Acts
19:19).
House-cleaning suggestions:
Change your computer setup:
- Change internet access and email accounts
to a filtered internet
provider & have a friend install and keep custody of the
password
- Install a content filter & have a
friend install and keep custody of the password
- Move your computer into an open
location
- Purge your computer files of all porn
images/programs
- Erase all porn sites from your "favorites"
folder in your internet browser
- Delete all cookie files
- Disable "cookie file" use on your web
browser (banner "teaser" ads may query your cookie files)
- Run a clean-up program to ensure all the
internet clutter is gone (ex. like Norton Systemworks)
- Install a pop-up add blocking
program
- Install a text-only browser (like Lynx) if
search engine pictures are causing you to fall to temptation
Other actions:
- Destroy any porn literature that you have
- Destroy magazines that are sources of
temptation
- Cancel subscriptions to any mailing list
you are on that produces material you lust over
- Cancel your cable television service or at
least downsize it to exclude channels that offer porn or sexually
explicit entertainment (ex. HBO, Cinemax, MTV).
- Destroy porn and other sexually explicit
or violent videos (ex. rated "R" videos usually fit this
category)
- Destroy books and objects of the occult
(ex. Ouija boards, New Age crystals, dream catchers, good luck charms,
Masonic rings, Tarot cards, magic books, doctrinal books of
non-Christian religions)
- Destroy clothing associated with past
sexual sin
- Destroy video games that depict sinful
acts for entertainment and/or contain images that cause you to lust
(violence, murder, sex, magic, spell-casting, etc.)
- Destroy letters and pictures of people you
have committed sexual sin with (if you are still cherishing the sin you
committed with them)
After you've cleaned out your house, please
take time to ask God's forgiveness for having kept the detestable objects
in your home. Suggested prayer:
"Heavenly Father, I confess
that I have kept these detestable objects in my home. Please
forgive me for this. I renounce my possession of those objects and
turn from them now to pursue Jesus wholeheartedly. In the name of
Jesus, I break any curse or foothold that may have been created as a
result of my having those objects. Thank you, Lord, that I am
cleansed and forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ. In Jesus'
name I pray, Amen."
Fill the
House
Now that you have cleaned your house, fill it
with good things that will point you to God and encourage wholesome
living. Consider Colossians 3:1-2 NIV: "Since, then, you have been raised with
Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at
the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things." We can bolster a
"God-focused" heart and mindset by what we keep in our homes and what we
do for entertainment.
We can ask God to give us wisdom on what
actions to take in filling our homes. Here is a suggested
prayer: "Lord God, I desire to set my mind on
things above, not on carnal things. Please give me wisdom about how
and what to fill my home with. Thank you, Lord,
Amen."
House-filling suggestions:
- Pray over your home, TV,
VCR, DVD and computer. Dedicate them to God's purposes and
renounce any sinful use they may have had in the past. As an added
measure, anoint these areas & objects with oil in the name of the
Lord (see anointing).
- Recite key Bible passages in your home
during your quiet time and any other times throughout the day.
Speaking the Word of God in your home sets a positive "spiritual
atmosphere" that helps repel the forces of evil.
- Speak positive words in your home; resist
the temptation to speak evil of other people
- Post Bible verses in key places (ex.
computer monitor, bedroom, bathroom, workshop, office) and review/recite
them often (see temptation
verses)
- Play and/or sing praise
& worship music in your home as often as possible. Praise music helps
establish a spiritual protective covering over you and helps you focus
on God.
- Tune your radio and TV to Christian
stations; minimize exposure to secular stations
- Listen to teaching tapes and read books
that encourage you in your walk with Jesus (see suggested books,
tapes & CD's)
- Invest in wholesome videos/DVD's:
They can be a challenge to find, but they do exist. Look for
programs that edify the family and affirm biblical values. Avoid
violence, foul language, sexual themes, etc. - these things can easily
wear down our resolve to live for God and weaken our faith.
- Make time for rest: While this isn't
a physical house-filler, it is something that should be part of our
weekly schedule and may often occur at home. God's word says,
"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm
46:10 NIV) and he specifically commands us to take a day of holy rest
each week (i.e. the Sabbath) in Exodus 20:8-11. Rest will help us
focus on God and will also benefit every other area of our
lives.
- Make your home a place of peace:
Peace will help maximize our times of rest at home. Just as
the disciples sent their peace to the homes they stayed in (Luke
10:4-6), we too can send God's peace to our homes. We can say,
"I speak the peace of Christ to my home and everyone
in it." Through Christ we can expect supernatural
improvement of the peace in our home. We can contribute to
this peace by periodically silencing the various noisemakers (radio, TV,
computer, phone, etc.) and devoting time to prayer.
Personal Application
Questions
- What detestable objects have you found in
your home?
- Have you discarded those objects? If
not, when will you discard them?
- Did you find any things that you are not
willing to give up? If so, please take a moment to ask God to give
you the conviction and strength to give them up.
- Please list the actions you plan to take
to fill your house.
Next page: Old Self New Self
Home Freedom
Journey |