Transforming Your Mind (Part 1) Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Transforming Your Mind (Part 1) -------------------------- Date: 2/11/2001 Keywords: "Lord" "Shepherd" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Psalm 23: 1a* The LORD is my shepherd…. Question 1. Many people learn the Twenty-third Psalm in childhood. Was this the case with you. Do you remember how old you were when you first heard this psalm?   2. Have you thought about this psalm much in your life? Have it’s words become empty for you?   3. Do you think this famous passage has anything to offer you in your fight against pornography?   Practical help For the next few days, we are going to reflect on some of the most famous words in Scripture, and there is a personal story behind why I have chosen to do this with you. Recently I was tempted in my mind in a sexual way. And my first thoughts were of disappointment. I know my weaknesses, and I don’t like temptations drawing me away from my walk with God. But it was as if I knew I would have to give into my sexual appetites because hormones were beginning to course through my blood — and nothing at the time seemed to be stronger than hormones. Then I remembered reading that the real problem with fighting temptation is not because we're unsure what to do. And it’s not about becoming a "stronger" person. Truthfully it has more to do with the fact that we don’t move what we know from our minds to our hearts. Most of us would rather lose to temptation than allow our hearts to be touched deeply by God — because deep down, we are afraid of being that vulnerable to anyone, including God. We are sure that if we were to show Him those areas of deepest corruption in our souls, He would either destroy us outright or turn away in disgust (and we aren’t sure which would be worst). Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 5:39-40, "You search the Scriptures because you think [note the word "think"] that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life." This was not only true about the people of Jesus’ day, it is also true about me. Sometimes I even do a good thing like read the Bible with the thought that it is the Bible reading that purifies me and gives me life. But it is knowing and having a relationship with Jesus that should motivate me to read my Bible. Do you see the difference? I have sometimes thought of reading the Bible as a sort of spiritual battery charge. It wasn’t about a relationship with God, as much as it was me attempting to be more "spiritual." You might feel that way about reading these three-minute studies every day. So I decided to reflect on the most familiar passage of Scripture I knew as a way of moving away from the temptations I was having that very moment. And do you know what? The temptation drifted almost immediately away. I was frankly stunned. I thought it would be harder than that. Honestly, I thought it wouldn’t work. "The LORD is my shepherd…" I repeated that little phrase over and over asking God to help me understand what it really means. How could a phrase I had learned as a little child, have so much power to help me with the temptation I was feeling? I decided I would continue to meditate on that psalm and reintroduce it into my life. I challenge you to do the same thing over the next few days. See you tomorrow. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2001 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."