I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:1-2
Chapter 12 of Romans is where God begins to deal with individual saints. Up until now, the Book of Romans dealt with groups or sets of people: lost vs saved, believers vs unbelievers, Jews vs Gentiles, etc. Everything dealt with applied equally to every member of the set spoken to. Chapters 12–15 deal with the saints as individuals.
Verse 1–2 explains that our salvation requires us to be living sacrifices for God and the gospel, which it states is only reasonable in light of Christ Jesus’ sacrificing his life for us. We are not to continue following the world’s values or ways of speech, dress, actions, desires, etc. We are to renew our values and ways to comply with God’s word. To do so requires the saints to read and diligently studied the Bible.
To counter the evil in the mind, it is necessary to fill the mind with good and think upon that.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Quit watching or reading the evil, pornographic, material and start with good things. I would recommend the reading of the Bible as one item to put in the heart and mind.
You have to renew the mind. Watch and read documentaries, histories, biblical instructions, etc., in the place of the evil.
To control your lust, you must control what you think of.
Colossians 3:5-8 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Evil thoughts must be killed. The only way to do that is to have good thoughts to take their place.
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
This is difficult, but the mind must not be allowed to coast, do not let the mind wander aimlessly. It will always end up in the gutter. Self-control must be practiced even in times of relaxation.
It gets easier with more good being placed in the mind and the more self-control is practiced.
I would like to be able to tell you it is easy, but it is not. You are not alone, every person has the same problem. But the instruction is directed to you and every other individual saint.
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