Whenever I’m feeling down, depressed, or a little “off”, I find it helpful to spend some time thinking about all the reasons I have to be thankful— for the many ways that God has blessed me. Some call this a “gratitude list”. Almost without fail, making my gratitude list reorients my perspective and resets my emotions, lifting my thoughts away from my current circumstances and toward God, my Father, who loves me and helps me.
The next series of L.I.F.E. (Living in Freedom Everyday) Recovery weekly, mentor-led classes for Men begins September 14, 2023.
For men dealing with the consequences of sexual addiction, unwanted sexual behaviors like compulsive porn use, or a lack of sexual integrity, this 7-month class incorporates guided curriculum, spiritual discipline, small group accountability and ongoing prayer and support.
Men who struggle with porn, lust, promiscuous sex and infidelity can have hope to finally experience some freedom!
For women who are in a relationship with a man who struggles with his sexual integrity, including porn use and extramarital affairs.
This group focuses on the healing of the affected woman by studying seven key principles, similar to the eight principles from Celebrate Recovery. Next cohort of the 7-month class begins on September 14, 2023.
For more information and to see if this class is a good fit for you, please register, and the facilitator will contact you directly.
Whenever I’m feeling down, depressed, or a little “off”, I find it helpful to spend some time thinking about all the reasons I have to be thankful— for the many ways that God has blessed me. Some call this a “gratitude list”. Almost without fail, making my gratitude list reorients my perspective and resets my emotions, lifting my thoughts away from my current circumstances and toward God, my Father, who loves me and helps me.
Do you know that over 1 in 3 (35%) married men are stepping outside of marriage by having sexual affairs, and 1 in 6 (17%) married women are cheating on their spouses?
Are you one of the 68% of church-going men and over 50% of pastors who view porn on a regular basis? Of young Christian adults 18-24 years old, 76% actively search for porn.
Can you relate to the 55% of married men and 25% of married women say they watch porn at least once a month?
Are you divorced or affected by divorce? The reality is that most divorces (56%) involve one party having an “obsessive interest” in pornographic websites.
Are you surprised to know that affairs affect Christian marriages at the same rate as marriages nationwide?
The truth is that most men struggle with sexual integrity, whether it is relational affairs, pornography, lust, or masturbation—and many are trapped in bondage to it.
Are you one of the many of the people who struggle to be free from their bondage and intensely desire to live in sexual integrity for themselves, God and their spouses?
It is likely that you answered yes to at least one of these questions. You are not just a statistic, but breaking free requires more than willpower and determination. There is help right here! It’s called the L.I.F.E. (Living in Freedom Everyday) Recovery Class for Men.
For men dealing with the consequences of sexual addiction, unwanted sexual behaviors like compulsive porn use, or a lack of sexual integrity, this 7-month class incorporates guided curriculum, spiritual discipline, small group accountability and ongoing prayer and support.
Men who struggle with porn, lust, promiscuous sex and infidelity can have hope to finally experience some freedom!
I've created an additional resource to support you in your walk as a follower of Jesus.
Consider subscribing to the Reasoning with Faith Newsletter, a weekly series of exclusive devotionals, lessons, podcasts, and studies focused on practical perspectives derived from Scripture to address real life, especially for those Christians who struggle with unwanted or compulsive behaviors and addictions.
The next series of L.I.F.E. (Living in Freedom Everyday) weekly, mentor-led classes for Men and Women began September 29, 2022. However, late registration is open for the class for two weeks, until October 15, 2022!
So, don't worry! If you register late, the facilitator of your L.I.F.E Recovery Class will work with you one-on-one to get you current in the curriculum.
The 7-month class incorporates guided curriculum, spiritual discipline, small group accountability and ongoing prayer and support for those dealing with sexual brokenness.
What do the problems, troubles, and challenges that periodically exist in my life actually mean?
Sometimes, the problems are the consequences of my decisions or behaviors.
Other times, troubles in my life stem from the consequences of the decisions or actions of others.
Often, the challenges in my life have nothing to do with the consequences of my behavior or decisions.
I know from examples in the Scriptures that there are people who experienced trials and trouble, the cause of which was something totally out of their control. In other words, stuff just happened.
The examples of Joseph, David and Job illustrate that, sometimes, stuff just happens, and God is still good and still in it all.
Our "acting out" behaviors indicate that we are ESCAPING negative circumstances or negative feelings. We may feel justified or entitled to these behaviors, or they may be trauma reactions or painful emotions.
The actual behavior is often sexual, but it isn’t necessarily limited to sex. Additional “acting out” behaviors can include alcohol, drugs, food, work, exercise, and gaming among others.While understanding the cycle of addiction is important, the ability to experience freedom lies not in controlling the behaviors in the cycle of addiction but, instead, in healing the wounds experienced and correcting the accompanying toxic thoughts.
Sobriety is important, but our goal is HEALTHY THINKING, which will lead to more HEALTHY BEHAVIORS.
FANTASY is defined as those undisciplined thoughts that you have about sex. It’s also been referred to as “preoccupation” – you’ve been preoccupied with sexual thoughts and imaginings. Lust is an example of fantasy or preoccupation.
Fantasy, or preoccupied thought, is usually an attempt to resolve traumatic pain. Our fantasies are an attempt to create an ideal world or scenario in which all of our wounds are healed. Think about it. Fantasies are the way in which we “correct” pain from our past. It’s pain about who we really are. Fantasies may correct our sense of who we are. In our fantasies, we are powerful, successful, and lovable, or so we believe. In our fantasies we get touched, praised, nurtured, and affirmed.
Sexual thoughts lead to RITUALS, which are those things we use to prepare to act out. Any thought or behavior that you use to get from fantasy to acting out is part of your ritual.
One of the great challenges of healing is to intervene on these “preparations” — the rituals – you have used to escalate from thinking about acting out to actually doing it. It is one thing to say that you want to stop a particular sin. It is more complicated to stop your ritual behavior.
