Each summer, I promise my kids to enter the lake one time and swim.
Hold on; I am not as terrible as I sound.
Now, this is not any lake; it is Lake Michigan, where we annually get to spend some time together as a family in the summer. I grew up in the south and love walking on Lake Michigan’s shores. I delight in the beauty of the fire-orange sunsets that gleam off the lake almost daily.
But I do not like swimming in it. I see the locals swimming- happy as can be, as though the temperature was meant for humans.
It was not, and I cannot.
Smack-dab in the middle of summer? No matter, it’s too cold.
But when I do fulfill my fatherly swimming promise every year, I quickly make my way to some floating device- whereby I am out of the water but still fulfilling my pledge. It is from this perch on the tube or mat or swan-shaped floaty that I can see the high-water mark of the lake.
That is, I can see where the lake was at its fullest and, thus, I can compare where it is now to where it was then.
I often wish I had a perch from which I could view my faith journey the same way.
That is, I know that there have been high-water marks in my own faith; those times when my relationship with God was humming along- when I was immersed in scripture, in spending time with my Creator and my faith felt strong. And I know there are times when my faith journey sinks lower and I know I am not where I was. This is so much like the slow drain of porn on someone’s spiritual life.
At Freedom Fight, we have seen and studied how porn use affects our relationship with God:
- Those who view pornography more often reported lower levels of closeness to God and higher levels of religious doubts.
- Greater than 89% of practicing Christian college men we surveyed view porn occasionally, and more than 6 in 10 practicing Christian college men view porn at least weekly. Remember, these are Christian college students actively growing in their faith.
Ultimately, the story of porn and faith looks more like a lake than an on-off switch. Over time, the water slowly drains out until all you know is that you are not where you once were, and it seems you are sinking lower with each passing day.
Let’s leave the lake and return to the words of Jesus:
If the abundant, flourishing life that Jesus has for us is a full lake of beautiful, blue water.
And if you could climb up onto a mat and survey your own faith journey, where are you?
How far below the high-water mark do you find yourself drifting now?
How do you get back up? Can you?
Take the first step. Confess, acknowledge what the porn and the enemy have been stealing from you. Repentance allows you to reconnect to THE source of abundant life.
Lastly, looking at Proverbs 28:13, this verse reminds us, “ Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
At The Freedom Fight, we offer a path toward freedom to those who have experienced the slow-drain death of porn use on their faith journey with God. Our free video-based programs are biblically based, scientifically informed, and discipleship oriented. Thousands have found lasting freedom; you can too. Start today.
Your next step depends on where you find yourself floating:
- Take an anonymous, 2-minute survey to assess where you are.
- Join our 30-day challenge for daily coaching and encouragement to jump-start your journey toward freedom.
- Begin our private, no-cost Freedom Fight program to help you find lasting freedom.
Sincerely,
The Freedom Fight
