Saturday, November 8, 2008

Close one Door - open another



Got an e-mail a week or so ago. Just got some time to post part of it. "Timesaver" sent this from a mentor he was given when he signed up at the settingcaptivesfree.com 'Way of Purity' program. There is more but I will post it in small segments. Very thought-provoking... To me the bottom line is those of us who have closed the door on allowing ANY impurity in our minds or marriages automatically open the door to new life, new hope, new freedom, new ways that God can use us to encourage others. MJP

Now here's from 'Timesaver':


"Dave" is 71 years old and lives with his wife in Texas. hope this helps the men on your blog. Change any words you want. 
Timesaver
Please do not use my real email.

Here's some advice from 71 year old "Dave"

I'm going to give you some chips off my block sort of. It's things that I've learned that truly do help. Three things, mainly:
 
First,  I urge you to be heavy into accountability.  That's something we men need for a lifetime.  I have been being accountable to my wife, and that's a good thing.  But having another man to talk to about the serious issues that face us men every day... that's so important.  I still report to several men every week.  It's not the easiest thing to do, because we talk about things that men don't usually say...sometimes we have to say “I fell”, or we have to say “masturbation”.  Not easy words to use...we've been brainwashed into thinking that men don't talk about such things.  Sometimes we just have to humble ourselves and say it.
 
Second, and along similar lines, my wife is interested in my continuing purity, I know.  Sometimes we men do not know how to talk to our wives about what we need.  This issue of sexual intimacy is one where she can help a great deal, if I make sure that the lines of communication are open.  Often, to keep those open, a man has to say things that humble him.  There's that word again...yes, we are a proud bunch, and we just don't like to share anything that we think makes us look weak.  But we do need to talk plainly to our wives about sexual intimacy. 
 
Thirdly, there is just about no way that a man can get through this course without God somehow using him to assist other men who desperately need help with habitual, sexual sin.  Our testimony is one of the most powerful weapons against the enemy.  When I humble myself in front of other men and speak about my history of sexual sin, that is strong!  But the key is to talk from a position of equality, and not from a position of "I'm better than you".  This is one lesson I've learned the hard way.  So I just pass it on. 


Thank you 'Timesaver' and if you feel comfortable, please pass this website along to '71 year old Dave' so he can write advice directly. Great to hear from you - so thanks for the email and please feel free to send more. A friend told me by phone that what we are discussing on this blog "is so very important" I agree.

It would be great to hear how some of you other men have taken steps to 'close the door' on impurity. I plan to list a few ways that have proven to work in my own life. God bless you and strengthen you in the ways of holiness. MJP

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