Most of us know this familiar verse but have we continued through verse 14?
Four things included in verses 12-14 that God says...
1)I will be found
2)I will turn away your captivity
3)I will gather you from all the nations
4)I will bring you again to the place from whence I caused you to be carried away.
Thought provoking words that show God's part.
Going back to verse 13,we see our part..."and ye shall seek me, and find me,when ye shall search for me with ALL your heart."
If you have been touched by the pain of dealing with sexual addiction, whether male or female,God has shown us in this scripture His heart for restoration of all who are broken and held captive. The brokenness of any addiction begins with the search for something to fill the God sized hole in our hearts.
It is a problem of intimacy. From the very beginning, God desired relationship with His most precious creation. HE has a plan,an expected outcome,a future for each of our lives. We must take the necessary steps towards Him if we are to walk out that plan and have intimacy with God and with others.
As we read verse 11 once again, we see that God actually thinks about us. He has a plan and a purpose for each of us. He desires relationship, peace, hope and a future for you. The journey for many of us has included a journey to a far country, one of addictions, self made plans and idols. It has not included intimacy with our Creator.
I have designed this web page to help others find some of the help and resources that have helped me as I journey towards intimacy with my Savior. I have often fallen down on the path to healing and a more intimate relationship with God.He has always picked me up and set me back on the path to the future He designed for me.
If you need someone who will accompany you on your journey, I offer my prayer support and my personal experience as we make our way to the foot of the Cross, where His blood poured out for our redemption, for our hope and for our future.
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SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SEXUAL ADDICTION
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SEXUAL ADDICTION OR DABBLING?
Today on Turn Around Dr. Tim Clinton of American Association of Christian Counselors discussed the problem of sexual addiction. He called it one of the greatest prolems facing the church today. An estimated 50% of Christian men are looking at porn on a regular basis, while 33% of Christian women are also viewing porn.
Mark Laaser, founder of Faithful and True ministries, spoke candidly of his own battle with sexual addiction and the intervention and deliverance he experienced from the painful effects of bondage to sexual sin. His ministry is for those desiring sexual integrity in a fallen world. I felt his thoughts were worthy of sharing.
How do we know if someone is truly a sexual addict or if they are just dabbling in porn or sexual sin?
His answer---A person has a sexual addiction if he/she keeps participating in the sin in spite of their desire to stop or in spite of the devastating effects it is having on their relationships, occupation, finances, etc...The word he used most often to describe one who is sexually addicted was "unmanageable".
He explained the chemical reaction in the brain of someone who views porn and masturbates. There are chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin that produce a high that is pleasureable to the addict. Just as with other addictions such as alcohol and drugs one becomes tolerant to the material being viewed and reaches for a greater high.
As the brain becomes tolerant, the person who views porn will try to create a greater high by viewing increasingly more sinister materials. That person will then find themselves viewing things and desiring things they never thought possible when they were first drawn into the sin.
And yes, viewing porn is sin and it is adultery. According to the scriptures, "if a man looks on a woman to lust after her, he has created adultery in his heart." Laaser and Clinton agreed that the sin of sexual addiction can then lead to rebelliousness, broken relationships, and broken lives.
The lie that one believes when viewing pornography is 'one day I will see a picture that will fill this hole in me' (Laaser) Believing that one can find the pleasure of relationship in a picture is false intimacy. Intimacy with one's marriage partner is sacrificed and leaves the partner with feelings of inadequacy, anger and feelings of rejection.
Laaser was asked how does one get out?
His answer:
Thousands of couples are dealing with this issue. You are not alone. You have to get honest and open. Statistics show that 98% of those who are honest about the problem have marriages that survive. The honest of a spouse and his/her struggles seems to give the spouse a spirit of hope in working through the issues.
Two scriptures were given by Tim Clinton in reference to the sin of sexul addiction.
I Thessalonians 4:3-4 "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication; that everyone of you should know how to possess your vessel in sanctification and honor."
Proverbs 5:3 "For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two edged sword.'
Finally, Tim Clinton spoke to an issue I have been questioned about repeatedly as a counselor. This is a sin that cannot be 'tolerated'. God will give you the boldness to address this and draw a line in the sand. If you are dealing with the sexual sin of a mate, you must ask God to give you the courage to confront and demand a change. His last words were... "God is for you.... He can turn it around."
For materials that will help you in recovery check out the links provided above.