Monitoring your inputs is a huge part of being set free from sexual addiction. Truth is, we live in an overly sexualized world, so sexual, in fact, that you literally cannot turn on the television for 30 seconds and not be exposed to sensuality.
So how do you navigate a world of overt sexuality? I talk about several ways in Free, but one of the best ways is to monitor your inputs.
The Bible is very clear in a variety of places that what you sow, you will reap (Gal 6:7). You can’t put corn in the ground and expect apples to pop out. You always harvest what you plant. That means that you need to seriously guard what goes in. Here are a few ways to help with that.
- Movies
Whenever you want to go see a movie, it is very important that you research what you are going to watch before you get there. www.imdb.com is a great resource for that. Not only can you see the synopsis, actors, and reviews for a movie, you can click the “Parent’s Guide” section and see the content of the movie based on sexuality, violence, language, etc. Use this tool to help you make the decision whether or not to watch. If it is full of sexuality, you don’t need it. - Music
Since the 90’s, music that has content that is mature (language, sensuality, violence, etc) has been required by law to have a Parental Advisory sticker on the front. Any of these albums aren’t worth listening to, unless you want to fill your head with foul language, sexual imagery, and violence. Even music that does not have the sticker can be bad for you. Remember what Paul told us: “Everything may be legal but not beneficial (1 Cor. 10:23). Some sites to help you check music are www.metacritic.com and www.allmusic.com. - Games
Video games have gone pretty far down the sexual highway since Atari. Video games are full of sex and violence. You need to monitor these inputs as well. Playing a game is not worth it! www.metacritic.com is a good place to get reviews, but so is a store site like www.gamestop.com. - Media in General
You need to be sure that you are careful not to allow sexuality into your life. It is not worth your purity to watch a tv program or movie that feeds you with sexuality. You are going to have to allow the Holy Spirit to help you have the strength to turn the channel. www.imdb.com/tv will help you decide whether or not a tv program is okay to watch.
In the end, you have to monitor your inputs. You have to watch what is coming in, otherwise, it will come out. What you sow you will reap. What goes in can only come out. The Bible tells us that the eye is the lamp of the body (Matthew 6:22) and that if it what you see is healthy, your life will be full of light. We have to realize that what we see has a massive impact on our lives, so monitor those inputs!
Let what goes in be good so that what comes out can be too!
Be blessed!
J