I overcame sexual sin. How can I avoid a relapse?
Introduction
Sexual sin is unfortunately very common among believers. Whether it be pornography, lust, adultery, or fornication, many Christians struggle with some form of sexual immorality at some point in their walk with Christ. The good news is that through God’s grace, strength and forgiveness, we can overcome sexual sin. I personally struggled with sexual sin for many years but by God’s grace was able to find freedom and victory.
In this article, I want to share my story of overcoming sexual sin and provide practical tips, biblical wisdom and encouragement for avoiding relapse. My hope is that this article will help equip and empower other believers struggling with sexual sin to walk in purity and freedom by God’s grace.
My Struggle with Sexual Sin
I grew up in a Christian home but was exposed to pornography at a young age. This early exposure sparked a battle with lust that continued into my teenage and early adult years. Even after accepting Christ and desiring to live a godly life, I continued to struggle with pornography, masturbation and lustful thoughts.
I hid my struggle from others, living a double life of sorts. On the outside I appeared to be a solid Christian – I was active in church, ministry and even led a small group Bible study. But in private I was chained to sexual sin and unable to break free despite feeling immense guilt.
This went on for years until by God’s grace I hit a low point and realized I could not overcome in my own strength. I confessed my sin struggles to a mentor and close friend, I pleaded for God’s deliverance, and I began implementing practical steps for victory. Through this process God graciously and patiently drew me out of the pit of sexual sin.
Though it was a long and difficult battle, Jesus Christ set me free from the power of sin. Titus 2:11-14 says “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” By God’s strength I went from being controlled by sexual sin to walking in purity and freedom.
Keys to Overcoming Sexual Sin
If you currently struggle with sexual sin, take heart – you can overcome through Christ! Here are some keys that were vital for me in finding freedom:
1. Admit you have a problem – Denial will only prolong the struggle. Be honest about your sin and bring it into the light (1 John 1:9).
2. Plead for God’s deliverance – Humble yourself before God and ask Him to empower you to overcome (James 4:7-10).
3. Cut off access to temptation – Eliminate any triggers that foster lust in your life. For most, this means restricting access to technology and media that contain sexual content (Matthew 5:29-30).
4. Confess your struggle to another believer – Bring your sin into the light by confessing to a trusted, mature believer who can keep you accountable and pray for you (James 5:16).
5. Consume God’s Word – God’s Word is powerful to expose sin and equip us for righteousness (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Read Scripture daily and memorize key verses on sexual purity.
6. Walk in the Spirit – As we yield moment by moment to the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to overcome the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17).
7. Renew your mind – Reject sinful thoughts immediately and fill your mind with truth from God’s Word (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8).
8. Establish safeguards – Implement practical tools that safeguard you from sexual temptation, such as internet filters. Flee temptation and eliminate opportunities for sexual sin (2 Timothy 2:22).
9. Seek accountability – Find brothers in Christ who will ask you tough questions and keep you accountable in the fight for purity. Meet regularly for encouragement, confession, prayer and Scripture study (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
10. Accept God’s forgiveness – If you relapse into sin, quickly repent but do not wallow in condemnation. Receive God’s forgiveness by faith, knowing He breaks sin’s power as you walk in the light (1 John 1:5-10).
By applying these keys over time, you can break free from the grip of sexual sin. It is a process – you may stumble along the way, but through consistent dependence on Christ you will make progress and find lasting change. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Common Triggers and How to Avoid Them
As you fight to maintain sexual purity, it helps to be aware of common triggers that can lead to temptation and relapse. Here are some key triggers to avoid:
– Using technology in private – For many, being alone with a phone, tablet or computer can quickly lead to accessing sexual content and sin. Use your devices only in public areas of your home.
– Viewing sensual images or movies – Guard your eyes and reject anything that fosters lust. Bounce your eyes away from provocative images. Avoid movies, TV shows and magazines that contain nudity or sexually suggestive material (Job 31:1).
– Fantasizing – Don’t allow your mind to entertaining lustful fantasies. Capture your thoughts and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
– Seeking intimacy apart from marriage – Do not look to porn or masturbation to meet normal desires for love and intimacy. Wait patiently on God to fulfill those longings in marriage (Hebrews 13:4).
– Boredom and idleness – Idle time often leads the mind toward lust. Stay productive, proactive and engaged in healthy activities. Idleness promotes temptation (Ezekiel 16:49).
– Stress, anger or depression – Difficult emotions can make you more susceptible to sexual temptation. In those times, draw near to God and rely on His strength rather than turning to sin (James 1:2-4).
– Fatigue and lack of self-control – When you are drained physically, mentally or emotionally, your defenses are lowered. Maintain self-control by getting proper rest and periodically fasting to strengthen your spirit.
By identifying your unique triggers and proactively avoiding them, you can reduce the enemy’s opportunities to entice you back into sin. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Developing a Relapse Prevention Plan
Finally, developing a relapse prevention plan can help you avoid slipping back into past sin patterns. Here are some key elements to include in your plan:
– Define your inner circle – Limit your close friendships to like-minded believers who will encourage sexual purity. Avoid those who tempt you toward sin or trivialize it (1 Corinthians 15:33).
– Establish clear boundaries – Determine specific limits you will set related to technology use, entertainment consumption, physical contact with the opposite sex, etc. Write these boundaries down and review them regularly.
– Identify high-risk situations – Make note of any people, places or scenarios that could increase temptation for you. Avoid those high-risk situations whenever possible.
– Build spiritual disciplines – Commit to daily Scripture reading, prayer and fellowship with believers to stay strong. Seek Christian counseling or join an accountability group if needed.
– Address related issues – Seek help with any root struggles like addiction, trauma, insecurity, anger or marital problems that impact your sexual sin struggle.
– Maintain vigilance – Stay alert against pride and complacency once you experience freedom. The enemy will look for opportunities to entice you back into sin (1 Peter 5:8).
With an intentional relapse prevention plan powered by God’s Spirit, you can avoid slipping back into sexual sin and instead walk in consistent purity and freedom. Though the battle is hard, God promises to be with you every step of the way as you seek Him.
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Conclusion
I hope this article provides useful, biblically grounded advice for overcoming sexual sin and avoiding relapse. Remember that we all stumble at times in our walk with Christ. The key is to get up, receive God’s forgiveness, and keep moving forward (Proverbs 24:16).
Through consistent reliance on the Holy Spirit, saturating your mind with Scripture, surrounding yourself with strong believers, fleeing from temptation, and taking steps to prevent relapse – you can walk in increasing victory over sexual sin. But also remember that we fight this battle together – you don’t have to overcome alone. Seek out brothers and sisters in Christ who will support you, pray for you and keep you accountable.
If you are currently struggling with sexual sin, take that first step and admit it openly to God. He promises that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Experience the cleansing, restoring power of God’s amazing grace today!
