by Jay Dennis
One of the most godly men in the world felt the need to address the potential for a lustful thought to form as a result of something or someone he saw. This man was commended by God as being “blameless.” In Job’s own words he said, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lusfully at a young woman” (Job 31:1 NIV). What did Job mean by making a covenant with his eyes? The Bible is clear that what you see affects your thought life, and what you think about most, you eventually act on. That’s why Job made a covenant with his eyes. A covenant is a sacred commitment to God about something. Job pledged to God that He would passionately guard his mind by being a godly gatekeeper of what he allowed his eyes to see and his mind to dwell upon. Job knew that in his pursuit of purity, lust is enemy number one.
So, how does a man make a covenant with his eyes?
1. Give yourself Permission to Make an Admission
Like Job, admit that lust could be a problem for you. If a man cannot admit that lust is a possibility, he is deceiving himself. Admit that you could give into lust and that sexual sin is only one choice away. Humility can admit that sin is possible, but pride denies it. Remember, “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Proverbs 16:18 NASV)
2. You Have to Train Your Brain
What you see you think about, and what you do with that thought determines your actions. You must choose to take every sinful thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 10:4-5). Discipline yourself what when a sinful thought hits your mind, you immediately confess it and replace it with God’s Word.
3. Fight What Comes Into Your View
Once you see a sexual image, you must immediately go into battle mode. In fact, you must always be in battle-ready mode.. Train yourself to intentionally avoid sexually explicit images. However, if that happens, take immediate action by confessing it, placing the thought under the blood of Jesus and submitting the thought to Jesus Christ as His prisoner.
4. Recognize Satan’s Lies
Satan’s lies are powerful, including sexual lies and especially pornography. Pornography is based on a lie. The “Father of Lies” will say or do anything in an attempt to get you to lust and act on that lust. Don’t fall for Satan’s lies such as: “God won’t forgive you,” “God doesn’t love you anymore,” and “You are the only one struggling.” Lies lead to bondage, God’s truth sets you free every time.
5. Put Out The Fire Of Wrong Desire
The moment a lustful thought enters your mind, you must aggressively take captive that thought and surrender it to the authority of Jesus Christ. Sexual sin, like an out-of-control fire, destroys everything it touches. Jesus gives you the power to put out that flame.
6. Remember, Feelings Follow Appealing
When your eyes see something sexually explicit, it will affect your feelings. Men are hardwired to be affected emotionally by what they see. Pornography is designed to arouse excitement and curiosity that are never ever satisfied. Psalm 119:37 should be your daily prayer, “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things…” Your heart (feelings) will take it cue from your eyes.
7. Choose What You View
Making a covenant with your eyes includes choosing carefully what you allow your eyes to see. You choose what you see on your computer screen. You choose what you watch on television. You choose what you see on your smartphone. You choose the second look. Make a conscious, daily choice to keep your eyes on Jesus and away from that which could turn your heart away from Him.
8. Don’t Trust When It Comes To Lust
Lust is deceptive. A lustful thought must not be allowed to stay in your mind one-second. You cannot trust your feelings on this since the heart is deceitful and wicked. Kent Hughes shared: “Dietrich Bonhoeffer made the observation that when lust takes control at this moment God…loses all reality…Satan does not fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God. What a world of wisdom there is in this statement! When you are in the grip of lust, the reality of God fades, this is what lust does! It has done it millions of times. God disappears to lust-glazed eyes” (Grace Quotes).
9. Believe You Will Receive
You must believe that as you commit your eyes to God, He will empower you to live in purity. God is ready to bring the realization of Jesus’ resurrection power into your daily thoughts. God always does His part, and you must do your part for this to work. You have to be intentional every day and everywhere you go, never taking your eyes off of Jesus.
Like Job, make a covenant with your eyes today and tomorrow and the next day and the next.
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