So friends, I have something I want to share with you on this 4th of July. It’s one life-changing truth summed up in four simple words. Are you ready to find out what they are?
How to Tell Your Parents About Your Porn Problem
Today's post was written by author Barb Winters, whose book Sexpectations: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Healthy Relationships was published earlier this year. In addition to being an author, Barb is also a speaker, certified Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist, certified mental health coach, and founder of Hopeful Mom: Supporting Parents in an Online World. Her experience helping her son overcome a pornography addiction will give you hope if you're struggling with a porn addiction—or honestly any addiction—that you desire to be free from.
Why Flirting May Be More Dangerous Than You Think
In 2019, I published a post called "Why Daydreaming May Be More Dangerous Than You Think." The post is about how daydreaming often precedes lust. It’s actually been one of the most popular posts on TTT, so I decided to write this post about flirting—because flirting often precedes daydreaming, which often precedes lust. To show you what I mean, I included an embarrassing story from my own life. You're in for a treat.
4 Ways to Avoid the Dangers of Daydreaming
But then reality set in, and my daydream came to a halt. Suddenly, the fantasy was over. Yet another perfect—and fictitious—scenario was done.
When You Know You’ve Failed God
Sure, I said a couple quick prayers of panic. But instead of placing my trust in the Lord—that He would do whatever was best for me in this situation—I worried. I directly disobeyed Jesus’ command not to worry from Matthew 6 and Luke 12. I knew that Jesus wanted me to be faithful with what He had given me—a difficult scenario with the option to either worry or trust Him. And I failed Him.
Dear Idol
I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. I’m wondering why I devote so much of my time and energy to you. I mean, you’re not the best thing that’s ever happened to me. In fact, you’ve left me feeling miserable, guilty, and anxious quite often.
The Last Time
Originally, I wanted these words to be song lyrics but then realized that they could become a poem. And as you read them, I want you to know that they're not just fluffy filler words. These words describe how I often fail and how I often feel as a result—but they also describe how faithful God is to forgive me. So while I'm not advocating habitual sin in this poem, I am advocating habitual returning to God's forgiveness.
To the Single Girl with a Lust Problem
I started thinking about Four and Tris together…holding each other tightly…kissing passionately…with Four shirtless. And I started to imagine myself in Tris’ place…with Four and I holding each other tightly…kissing passionately…and Four shirtless.
How I’ve Tasted God’s Goodness Through Not Having a Boyfriend
I listened to a slightly-too-convicting podcast last night (ahem). It was the By Faith podcast with host Christine Hoover and guest Callie Nixon. Callie shared about her struggles with lust, masturbation, and porn, which was a struggle that lasted for years. The most interesting, beautiful part of the podcast was Callie's observation that it was Jesus’ kindness—not His anger or His punishment or His "holding out" on her—that allowed her not to have a boyfriend while she was in the midst of her struggles with personal sexual sin.