BREAKING FREE FROM LUST 

In today’s world, one of the most prevalent spiritual battles people face is the struggle with the spirit of lust. In a world where sexual images are everywhere in advertising, movies, music videos and social media , navigating this challenge can be daunting. However, as Christians we can confront these struggles with faith, wisdom and the help of the Holy Spirit.    

Lust, often associated with greed, covetousness and gluttony,  manifests in various forms of excessive desire. However, in the context of my write up  today, I’m focusing specifically on sexual lust. This kind of lust can consume our thoughts, distort our perceptions and lead us astray from God’s intended design for intimacy and relationships.

Lust manifests itself as consuming pornography, fantasizing , masturbation and sexual immorality. Here are some practical tips to deal with the spirit of lust.

1. Lust is a spirit and should be treated as such by praying and fasting against it. Constant fellowship with God will lessen the amount of time you spend creating fantasies about the opposite sex. Galatians 5 :16 says, “Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the desires of the flesh”. If your spirit is weak, it will easily agree with what your flesh brings up. The only way to make your spirit  stronger than your flesh is  through prayer especially praying in the Spirit. Prayer will align your heart with God’s will ,renew your mind and empower you to overcome temptation.
2. Stay in the word- Immerse yourself in Scripture daily.Even if you don’t understand  at first, keep reading. Get a Bible reading plan,sign up on YouVersion and listen to sound sermons that will help you grow.The more  you fill your heart with God’s word, the more your spirit will be strengthened and renewed (Romans 12:2).
3. Know your triggers- The enemy always takes advantage of your weakest areas. If he prompts you to lie ,steal ,fornicate or watch pornography and you always take the bait ,this is the area he will use again and again until you bring it to  the Lord in prayer  and do something practically about it. Be intentional about identifying patterns , when ,where and how you are most vulnerable.Set boundaries -if  your trigger is dating apps, delete them, if it’s websites ,place an ad blocker on your laptop or phone. 

4.Take breaks from social media or romantic movies .2 Cor 3:18 says What we behold we become , if you are constantly bombarded with lustful images on social media and romantic movies, they are bound to stick in your mind ,cause  you to watch pornography ,graduate into sexual immorality and the cycle continues.

5.Environmental matters – Remove from your environment  images or anything that causes you to be lustful.If it’s someone  on Whatsapp , block their number ,unfollow them on social media.Get out of isolation and leave environments that tempt you. In the Bible we see Amnon taken over by a huge lustful desire over his half sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13) .It was improper for Amnon  to do anything to her but Amnon had a friend.Who are you hanging out with?Where are you hanging out ?

6.Have accountability partners  -(Proverbs 11:4 )-A strong accountability partner will check in on you, pray with you and remind you of your commitment to purity.  Choose goldy influences, friends, mentors or church leaders who encourage you to walk in righteousness and who model a lifestlye of holiness. 

7.Seek help for substance abuse issues,alcohol and drugs.It’s hard to make proper and well informed  decisions and resist temptations while intoxicated.If you struggle in this area, seek professional help and a recovery program.

8.Create boundaries and rules within your life. Be clear about what you will and won’t allow in your life. Avoid situations that blur lines -the late night one on one hangouts  or any private settings that invite temptation.In dating , establish mutual boundaries early on and ensure both of you are committed to honoring God.

If you have done all of this and you are still not getting results , it’s time to dig deep into what maybe causing this.Did you go through divorce,trauma, molestation or are you lonely ?In this case,it’s a good idea to seek counseling for any psychological issues you might have gone through.If it’s loneliness ,seek the comfort of community with other believers.

It is also important to note that you may be dealing with a transfered  generational battle .Whenever a transferred ,generational battle is not attended to, it multiplies and worsens.In this case, if you have reflected and seen that this is something people in your bloodline have struggled with,seek deliverance from a Bible believing ,anointed man or woman of God.If you don’t address this weakness it will bring you down eventually. Here is a prayer for  deliverance and strength to overcome the struggles of lust and sexual immorality:

Heavenly Father,

In the name of Jesus,I  come before You in humility, seeking Your mercy and grace. Your Word says in 1 John 1:9 that if we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord, I lay every struggle with lust, sexual sin, ungodly soul ties, and temptation at Your feet. I confess these as sins before you Lord and I ask for your forgiveness.

 Your Word declares in Galatians 3:13 that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law therefore  I renounce and break every generational curse of lust, immorality, and impurity in my life and in my bloodline. I declare that every stronghold of sexual sin that has been passed down through my family line is now broken in Jesus’ name!Father, I sever every ungodly soul tie that has connected me to people, images, or experiences outside of Your will. I sever every ungoldy soul tie connection with lust, pornography, masturbation or sexual immorality in the name of Jesus!I declare, according to 2 Corinthians 6:17, that I come out from among them and be separate. I release myself from every past connection that  has kept me bound, and I ask You to purify my heart and mind.Lord, I reject and renounce the spirit of lust and perversion in my life. I declare that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and I will honour You with my body and no  weapon formed against my purity shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).I ask for the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5) and the power to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Where I have fallen, lift me up. Where I am weak, strengthen me. Let the fire of the Holy Spirit burn away every unholy desire and replace it with a hunger for righteousness.I also pray for anyone struggling in this area, that they would experience the same deliverance and freedom in You. Fill us with Your Spirit, Lord, and let Your love be our satisfaction instead of the fleeting pleasures of sin.Thank You for Your forgiveness, Your power, and Your love. I declare that I am free, holy, and set apart for Your glory. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray.

Amen.

One of the lies that the enemy will try to tell you is  that complete freedom is impossible but the word of God says that it is for freedom that Christ has set us free.You are free in Jesus’  mighty name.