SATURDAY EDITORIAL

The Hard Fight Against Lust
By Dr. Creflo A. Dollar


The American Heritage Dictionary defines lust as “a sexual craving, especially excessive or unrestrained; any overwhelming desire or craving.” While there are many types of lust, sexual lust is probably one of the most dangerous because it is a seed that, when planted, can produce a harvest of fornication and even death.


James 1:14-15 (AMP) says, “But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death.”

Anytime you have an overwhelming sexual desire for someone who is not your spouse, it has the potential to kill you and pull you away from the will of God for your life.

Why do people give in to sexual lust? Because it “feels good” or because they don’t really believe that there are consequences. The truth of the matter is that lust can be difficult to control because it is a desire that cannot be quenched. Lust will never be satisfied; it must always have more.

To combat lust, you must create boundaries in your life that help keep you out of potentially compromising situations. If you’re single, for example, avoid late-night visits and phone conversations with members of the opposite sex.

Or, if you know you are challenged in this area, confide in a friend who can keep you accountable and help you maintain your purity. But the best way to quench the fire of lust is through the Word of God. It is always the best source of power when it comes to defeating any type of sin, including lust. If you are struggling with lust, follow these steps to help you overcome this sin in your life:

1) Focus on the will of God. When you choose to give your attention to anything that opposes God’s Word, you leave yourself vulnerable for lust to enter your mind, body and spirit. It then conceives and brings forth sin, and eventually leads to death. Stay focused on God’s will and plan for your life. Stay on track!

2) Guard your eyes and ears. If you conceive a child, nine months later a child will be born. It is the same way with lust. If you sit up all night watching pornography, for example, that seed will be planted into your spirit and you’ll eventually see the results of it in your life. Make it a point to monitor the material you allow into your spirit through your eyes and ears. It really does have an ability to alter your behavior.

3) Think about the Word. Satan’s most powerful weapon is the power of suggestion. His job is to try to inject a pattern of thinking into your mind that goes against the Word of God. But if you continue to read and study God’s Word, your mind will be better equipped to discern the truth from Satan’s lies.

4) Speak the Word. Try this exercise. Count to yourself from 1 to 10, keeping your mouth closed. Now say out loud, “Glory Hallelujah!” What happened to your counting? It stopped. Why? Because it was captured by what was coming out of your mouth. You can combat lustful thoughts and desires by shifting your focus to the Word of God and making daily verbal confessions over your life about your purity and wholeness in Christ.

Make this confession over your life: Father, I thank You that today I am free from the spirit of lust. I will no longer think lustful thoughts, but instead I will think on things that are true, things that are noble, just and pure (Philippians 4:8).

I walk in complete victory and self-control over my mind and my body in Jesus’ name, amen!

Scripture Of The Day: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." - Romans 13:14 (ESV)

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