Avert Your Eyes

As a prayed yesterday afternoon as to what God would have for today's #associatePastorTuesday post, it wasn't but an hour or two later and seemingly out of nowhere, came a sensitive topic.

Pornography. 

Really, God? Yeah. It wreaks havoc in an individual. It kills marriages.
It utterly ruins a ministry. It shreds a family.

A quick google search put me on the front page of a "new" organization, www.provenmen.org that offers incredible resources for this struggle in life.

Last year, they teamed up with the Barna Group for a national survey.  The highlights include:   

- 64% of US men view it monthly
- 79% of men ages 18-30 view monthly
- 67% ages 31-49....
- 49% ages 50-68....
- the number of Christian men view "virtually mirrors" the national average
- Christian men are watching at work at a rate in-line with the national average

And finally....18% of all men think they are addicted or are unsure if they are addicted.

18%.... also known as 21 MILLION!!    
http://www.provenmen.org/2014pornsurvey/pornography-use-and-addiction/

One of the comments that I read was from a missionary... who struggled with this issue while serving.  There's no getting around these numbers while thinking it's not affecting Pastors of every level, every denomination, in every country. We can no longer avert our eyes to this problem of men and women of faith who are struggling to avert their own eyes as they try to gain victory of this area of struggle in their life.  Yes, you read correctly... the same survey has Christian women viewing at about half the national average, on a monthly basis.

Pray this #associatePastorTuesday, that the destructive forces of this industry would be broken; for the unsaved, for the believer, for the Pastor. Pray individuals would be set free from this addiction and the possibility of it becoming one for those who are unsure. Pray over the process of conviction, healing and restoration, as God works on hearts and minds in bringing freedom to those struggling. Pray for the effectiveness of resources and tools that are available, such as Proven Men, that as people go through the process they will learn what God has in store for them as they gain victory over this struggle.

May they experience peace of heart and mind as freedom and healing come to their lives in incredibly profound ways. Strengthened marriages. Increased effectiveness in ministry. Restored families. New creations in Christ.

21 MILLION....NOW. IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

For His glory. By His grace. Freedom. For there is now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...

-PNC

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