The Elephant in the Room: Lust

Yesterday at church, our Pastor spoke about the elephant in the room. You know, that really big problem that's sitting in front of us and no one wants to talk about? Yeah, him. As part of this series, yesterday's elephant was Lust.

As I was preparing myself all week to sit through service yesterday... a lot of things came to my mind. A lot of situations from my past that either involved me or people around me. Issues with work romances. Issues with pornography addictions. Flirting that seemed harmless. Full on adulterous sexual encounters.

I thought about all the people involved in all of those scenarios... wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, kids. The sin of lust isn't just with you... it involves so many people around you. That's when I realized what a broken world we live in.

As our Pastor was talking, I was drawn in to his every word. I think I took about 6 pages of notes b/c I didnt want to miss a thing. I've been hurt in the past due to results of lust. I want to safe guard my marriage from this point forward to ensure our marriage is the way God intended, between me and my husband only.

A couple of the things that stood out to me specifically:

• If you have a problem with pornography, do something drastic. Turn off your internet in your house. Hand in your smartphone. Get rid of the temptations.
• If a wife doesn't feel good about a friendship the husband has with someone of the opposite sex, there is a reason for it. Wives are very good judges of character and their guts talk to them. Husbands, if your wife says anything about that girl you work with;  RUN!
• Communication. You have to be able to communicate with your spouse. No matter how hard or awkward it is, you have to talk about it openly. Keeping anything from your spouse will always come back to get you.
• Have an accountability partner. If you struggle with this sin, you cant do it on your own. You need someone to encourage you, to talk to you, to pray with you. Seek a Godly man or woman from your church. Suck it up, you are not the only person who struggles with this... remember that elephant? Everyone knows its there so get past your ego and get some help.

As a lot of these things hit home for me... When I feel lost or that things are beyond repair, my God tells me to wait... that He's got a plan for me and things will get better. I thank God for the work he has done in my marriage. I pray for all of those wives who are currently dealing with this mess. I pray that they are wise enough to know what's going on. That they have someone to confide in and seek help with... That they feel God's love in the midst of conflict with their spouse.

As my Pastor said, when these men are sitting in a dark room in their house, on their computer, looking at naked women... do you realize that those ladies are daughters of the Great I Am? I bet if they remembered that instead of looking at them as an object of lust, there would be a lot less of this going on.

My biggest prayer is for these husbands. That they realize the damage they do with this sin. The heartache they cause. The grief they put the one they love through. All aspects of lust are damaging and heartbreaking... no matter how small. I pray that every man has the respect to start looking at women differently today...starting at the way they should be looking at their wives; you know, the only person they should have eyes for in the first place.

Amen.