“Beware of Evil Desires”
I knew the demon of distraction was lurking somewhere. Unholy (immoral) thoughts invaded my mind, it wasn’t me! I recalled I had done a study on Philippians 4:8-9: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. So I went quickly to my Bible study note where I had written down what I studied as we had been taught to do in church. There, I found practical steps on deviating from unholy thoughts written down. One of it was that I made sure I didn’t dwell on that thought. Whenever I caught myself, I would repent immediately and focus on something beautiful and holy as the scriptures commands me to. Sometimes I would sing to God or read my Bible. I also fought together with my siblings by praying in the spirit when those immoral thoughts came.
I was scared at some point, I even cried, but then I realized that no battle has ever been won by FEAR or TEARS. I prayed Psalm 139:23-24 because I didn’t know where the evil desires sprang from but God who is LOVE AND MERCIFUL knew (and knows) all about me. Someone once told me “Go to the throne of grace and obtain grace and mercy before the temptation comes”. And this is just what I did. I went continually to the Lord’s face during this period, and it helped me to overcome.
Around this period too, lust attacked! There was a prophetic word that people will be attacked with lust before the Corona virus lockdown dispersed us. I had lust attacks in the past but never any with such intensity as this. The first strategy to win a battle is to know your enemy. Immediately I recognized the enemy – lust, I started fighting –using the word of God, and rebuking lustful thoughts although it seemed like it wasn’t working but I knew it was. I got help also by speaking with some people (thank God for godly friends and brethren) who had overcome such lust battles. I exposed darkness by opening up about my struggle, making it easier for me to be helped. I used that attack as an opportunity to talk to my sister and cousin about how lust attack works and how to defeat it. It made them realize that thoughts considered inconsequential could aggravate into sin.
