What if My Sexual Past is Plaguing Me?

I was addicted to sexual sin for many years. Now I am being plagued with thoughts from the past and my mind has been wandering. What I can do to be free of this?

First of all, if you haven’t opened up to someone else about your current wandering thoughts, you need to do that right away. Find another woman in your church to talk to and open up to your husband if you're married. In many cases, getting it out in the open is half the battle.

The process of overcoming sinful thought patterns requires effort and patience on our part. The Word of God is powerful and able to change the currents through which our natural mind wants to flow.  Here are some practical things that are essential:

1. It’s important to spend time in the Bible every day. It’s much better to work through a good Bible Study such as The Walk of Repentance. This will help you stay focused and give structure to your Bible time. Just reading the Bible tends to make the mind wander.
   
2. Work on memorizing God’s Word, in order to get it into those places where the world is trying to re-establish itself. Psalm 119:9 says “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to God’s Word.”

It takes time to erase the past. Repent often, and turn to the Lord. Don’t let the strength of those old thoughts discourage you. There is a war raging; there are two kingdoms vying for position. It’s worth fighting the war for your pure mind. Don’t sit around waiting for God to just “take it all away.” He wants you to rise up and take this territory by the power of His Word. Matthew 11:12 says, “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”

Last, realize that wrong thoughts are only sinful when we cultivate and act on them. If a thought comes into your mind that is wrong, turn to the Lord in the midst of it. Get your brain to think on things that are lovely, pure, and of good report (Philippians 4:8). Then, confess your weakness to the Lord and move on. You have no obligation to fulfill the sinful things your mind is thinking (Romans 8:12). The only power your thoughts have over you is the power you give them. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)

Hope this helps.