There is an old parable of a man who walks down a road and falls into a pit. The next day, he walks down the same road and falls into the same pit again. Frustrated, he tells himself that this time, he will be more careful. As he walks down the road again and approaches the pit, he slows his pace and walks more carefully. Now the road is narrow and the pit is wide, so as he goes by the pit, he hugs the building on the side. Nevertheless, some ground on the edge of the pit gives way, and to his great frustration, he falls in again. The next day, banged up and bruised from falling so many times, he is even more careful as he walks by the pit, and with great trepidation, he manages to walk past the pit without falling in. The next day, he decides that he will simply take a different road—and he makes it to his destination unscathed.
If you are tired of falling, it’s time to stop trying to navigate around the pit, and instead, take a different road entirely.
This is a key principle in your journey toward a free life.
To walk in freedom, you need new thinking that is in line with the truth of God’s Word and not the lies of the enemy that keep us in bondage. That is a critical aspect of your journey to freedom—and recognize that it is a journey. It will not happen overnight.
In the meantime, as your mind is being renewed and as you are learning to bring each and every thought into obedience to Christ, it’s very important that you set up the proper boundaries in your life.
The Bible warns us,
“Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way” (Proverbs 4:14–15 NIV)
If you want to walk free from sin, you need to stay off the road that leads to it. Only you know your specific triggers—the things that spiral you down a dark road. It’s time to get honest about these things and cut them out of your life.
For many of you, this will mean deleting certain apps from your phone, or even taking the Internet off your phone completely for a season. Many people also find it helpful to restrict their ability to install apps on their phone by making this a password-protected action, controlled by a good friend who will be an ally in their journey to freedom. It’s also helpful to install accountability software on all of your computers and devices so you can bring all of your screen activity into the light. For more on this, please reference the Porn Proof guide and take all recommended steps to protect yourself.
The main thing I want you to take away is this: while you are renewing your mind, and even after, it’s prudent to take the appropriate actions to stay away from temptation. Scripture is clear that we are to flee sexual immorality—not see how close we can get to the line without crossing it. If you want to get free, you have to stop flirting with evil and start running from it.
Day 13 Freedom Work
Scripture Reading — Read Proverbs chapters 7 and 8 slowly and carefully, taking note of things the Holy Spirit highlights to you.
Journaling Exercises — Answer the following questions at length in your journal. Aim to write for about 5-7 minutes per question:
- What open doors to temptation do you still have in your life? If you are able to identify some, why have you kept these open?
- What steps do you need to take to fully cut off your access to porn? If there are some steps you need to take, why have you not taken them up until now?
- What actions would a fool take in your situation? What actions would a wise person take?
Prayer — Father, I am tired of falling into the pit. I ask that you reveal to me the areas of my life where I am continuing to live like a fool, and by your Spirit, lead me into wisdom. Show me how to truly flee from sexual immorality and how to not overestimate my own strength. I recognize that this is an area of my life where I cannot get free on my own, and I need help from you and others, as well as helpful boundaries. Teach me to steward my sexuality as one who is wise rather than to squander it as one who is foolish. You have given me sexuality as a gift, and I want to honor it as both sacred and holy. Show me how to do that. Amen.
