Discretion Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Discretion ------------- Date: 11/06/1998 Keywords: “danger” “discretion” “searches” Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. How to do this study: Read the following Bible passage, then answer the short questions. Consider the practical suggestions at the end of the study. Passage: Proverbs 5:1-2* 1. My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, 2. that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. Questions 1. What does “discretion” mean (verse 2)?   2. How does one acquire it (verse 1)?   Practical help Discretion is being able to act responsibly and avoid danger. This ability comes in handy when browsing the Internet. As noted before in these studies, even legitimate web searches can turn up porn sites inadvertently. For example, it seems any search containing innocent references to parts of the body produces a list of shady sites. No wonder folks who have otherwise sworn off web smut can find themselves sucked in by it. Later, in figuring out how they fell for the porn, they might be tempted to blame their “sinful desires.” But that might not be the only — or most accurate — reason. A better explanation might be that they didn’t know how to avoid danger when taken by surprise during a web search. So how do you learn to duck danger? This passage says it’s by heeding wisdom. That means rehearsing ways to avoid harm when suddenly tempted to sin. Then next time an innocent web search for “athlete’s foot cure” turns up a site for “footsie with Tootsie,” you’ll be prepared to click to a safer site. Many porn strugglers, instead of continually berating their sinful desires, are learning to stand strong by becoming discreet. They’re cheering you on to do likewise. You can do it! eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1998 by eXXit *Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version © Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.