Romans 8:13 says, "If you put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, you will live."
This means that when you are struck with some type of impure thought of any kind (not just sexual, it could be gossip or hatred) you need to fight with your mind to say "no" to the image or thought! Then mightily labor to fill your mind with counter-images or counter-words that kill off the temptation. Scripture is a good replacement. Too many people think they have struggled with temptation when they have prayed for deliverance, and hoped the desire would go away. That is too passive. Yes, it is true that God works in us to will and to work for His good pleasure. But the effect is that we must "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12-13). Gouging out your eye in Matthew 5:28-29 may be a metaphor, but it still means we should do something very drastic. Our minds are "muscles" to be flexed for purity, and in the Christian they are supercharged with the Spirit of Christ. Don't give impure thoughts even 5 seconds before you have mounted a violent counter attack with the mind. Cry out "no!" Pray! And fix your mind on counter-images and thoughts. Demand of your mind to fix its gaze on Christ on the cross.
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