Day 3
James 5:16b Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
Jer 32:39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them.
Sexual sin quickly becomes sexual addiction, and scripture provides a clear guideline for breaking addiction. Confess your sins to each other. Vulnerability and community are principles in breaking addiction which have been validated repeatedly by psychological studies.
Sadly, it seems that all too often our churches are filled with people who want to look good, and our cover up cuts off both vulnerability and community. When this happens, the church is not a safe place to have sexual addictions confessed, wept over, prayed over and healed, a process that usually takes longer than we would think. Much less is the church seen as a safe place for someone experiencing same sex attraction or gender confusion who may even be convinced that there is nothing wrong with their inclinations. God’s kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4), and the church is to be the hands and feet of Jesus to show that kindness to those who need to repent.
Our Father in heaven, thank you for your kindness that leads us to repentance. Thank you for your unfailing love. Forgive us for our pretenses which prevent our homes and churches and communities from being vulnerable places where sins can be confessed and healing received. Grow kindness in our hearts that leads others to repentance. Give me a deeper knowledge of your love for me, and a knowledge of your love for ___ (use specific names of people you know who may be struggling with some form of sexual addiction). Help me to be quick to share what you have done for me, including messy details as needed, so I can be part of creating a vulnerable community where those struggling with sexual addiction can find healing.