“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
It’s no surprise that porn use is on the rise. Here are a few eye-opening statistics:
- 28,258 users are watching pornography every second.
- $3,075.64 is spent on porn every second on the Internet.
- 90% of teens and 96% of young adults are either encouraging, accepting, or neutral when they talk about porn with their friends.
- Just 55% of adults 25 and older believe porn is wrong.
- Only 43% of teens believe porn is bad for society.
- 43% of senior pastors and youth pastors say they have struggled with pornography in the past.
- 64% of Christian men and 15% of Christian women say they watch porn at least once a month.
- 68% of divorce cases involved one party meeting a new lover over the Internet.
- A 2014 study found that compulsive pornography users “had greater impairments of sexual arousal and erectile difficulties in intimate relationships but not with sexually explicit materials.”
I could go on, but I think you get the point.
Porn is toxic for our families, relationships, and health, not to mention our souls. With all the problems going on in our world today, people are turning to porn to self-medicate and find relief.
If you’re reading this, chances are you or someone you know (whether you realize it or not) has a serious problem with pornography.
Breaking Free From Porn
What can you do to break free from the hold porn has on your life? How can you help someone you love keep porn from destroying their life?
1. Remove any pornography from your life.
You cannot expect to overcome this sin if the temptation is readily available. Delete the apps. Throw away the videos, magazines, pictures, etc. Get rid of all the stumbling blocks in your life. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Do it today.
2. Rebuild your digital world with accountability software.
XXXChurch.com and Covenant Eyes have some of the best accountability software out there. They’ll help block some of the content you’ve been going to. No accountability software is perfect, but they have guardrails that can help you stay on the right track. Give someone you trust all the passwords to your devices. Ask them to periodically check the Internet history and your phone.
3. Request help from safe people.
You can overcome this addiction, but you can’t do it alone. Get plugged into a local church. Join a support group like Celebrate Recovery or Sex Addicts Anonymous. Consider finding Christian counselor who you can open up to.
4. Replace porn with life-giving activities.
With any addiction, it’s not enough to simply stop what you’ve been doing. You need to replace that activity with something positive. Find a hobby you enjoy. Exercise or go for a walk. Listen to music, play an instrument, volunteer in your church or community, work on a puzzle, etc. Do anything positive that’s going to take your mind off porn.
5. Rely on Christ’s power.
Willpower isn’t enough to overcome this. You need God’s power. Pray and meditate on Scripture. Listen to praise music. Sing worship songs to God. Set aside time each day for quiet reflection. Spiritual disciplines like these will help you plug in to God’s power for your life.
6. Refuse to live in condemnation.
There are going to be days when you mess up. There are going to be days when you give in to temptation during a weak moment. That happens to all of us. Don’t beat yourself up. Confess it, get help, make changes, and keep going. Remember: With God’s help, you can beat this!
No matter what you’ve done or how long you’ve been struggling, Jesus can give you the power to change your life if you turn to Him. The freedom Jesus offers you is so powerful that the short-lived pleasure of sex can’t compare to it.
Discussion Questions
1. How has pornography impacted your life, or the life of someone you love?
2. What suggestions/advice would you add to the tips above to help someone who is struggling with porn?
3. What’s one step you will take this week to break free from the hold pornography has on your life?
Jeff McClung 