Overcome Porn: The 40 Day Challenge Sample

Day 19: It’s not about purity. It’s about gratitude.

Ephesians 5:3-4 says God’s people should turn away from sexual immorality and impurity, and “instead let there be thanksgiving.” It’s interesting Paul doesn’t say, “instead let there be purity.”

Purity is a fine word, but it really implies the absence of something—a lack of impurities or blemishes. Thanksgiving is about the presence of real joy and gratitude.

In Finally Free, Dr. Heath Lambert argues that we should use gratitude to fight pornography. Evaluating Ephesians 5:3-4, he notes it’s easy to gloss over the words greed in the first sentence and thanksgiving in the second sentence. God forbids “greed” to strengthen His command against sexual immorality, and He urges us in “thanksgiving” to spur us to healthy action.

Greed isn’t just about money. Greed means being focused on what you do not have. Lustful greed is not to be confused with sexual desire—after all, God gave you a healthy sexual attraction that is designed to attract and bind you to your spouse. Sexual desire is not sinful, but greed redirects that desire to someone who is not your spouse.

Thanksgiving or thankfulness is the polar opposite of lust. Lambert writes:

• “The logic of lust requires you to be discontent with what you have and pay attention to all the things you don’t have. The logic of thankfulness requires you to focus on what you have already received and to be overcome with thanks” (p. 126).
• “Porn is only consumed by thankless people. The desire for porn is a desire to escape from what the Lord has given you into a fake universe full of things you do not have and will never have. Porn is the trading of gratitude for greed” (p. 127).

So what now? Use gratitude as an offensive weapon against porn. Intentionally focus on the blessings God has given you—for friendships and relationships, for the talents God has given you, for the responsibilities in your life, and for God’s gift of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Lust is never satisfied, but gratitude fuels gladness. It is the logic of gratitude to be thankful for what is yours rather than longing for what is not, and that leads to deeper joy.

Action Step

List your blessings. Write them down as a reminder when you feel greed and lust entering your mind.