like stray dogs...

i've been thinking too much lately... some thoughts are stray, like dogs - they jump around, run in circles, bark.. make a lot of noise, whine when i don't give them attention, beg to be entertained.
thing is. i don't want to entertain them cos they're stray! i'd much rather look after MY dogs thoughts... the well behaved ones that bring joy into my life and keep Jesus in focus.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..."
~ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

But this has been an interesting challenge this week, in an area i never had a problem with before...
you know how the bible says 'Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:18"
i just realised how far we actually need to flee... that is to flee as far as to not even take the first curious step into the room (or cyberspace even).

why flee... and why run that far? cos hindsight tells me that i wouldn't even be aware of this struggle had i done that. i am a virgin - physically yes. but i'm not a virgin mentally. what with all the sex scenes in the movies, porn references in fiction (and my very active imagination), chaste kisses turned deep and more sensual, research to understand the sensuality (wikipedia basically - talk about the dangers of the internet! ...and again my very active imagination filled in the gaps.) i created in myself the beginnings of an emotional link with the whole notion of sex.

and so the natural temptation began... the memory/ thought of a kiss long gone... the memory/ thought of a sweet touch in a lonely moment... the desire for pleasure(?) or what i believe pleasure would feel like from what i've imagined and the scenes i've seen in movies... the desire to feel loved and wanted... to make myself feel loved and wanted.

but you see... these thoughts are strays... the devil capitalising on weakness, waiting for me to fall and to condemn me. granted, he wouldn't even have a foothold if i didn't bother to 'increase my knowledge'. still, there is grace for every situation and these intrusions can be dismissed. The answer is just in the next two verses "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body[c] and in your spirit, which are God’s. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20"

There is a particular strength... a knowledge... that you are loved, you are bought by God, and God dwells in you. At the end of the day, if you know you are that precious, and if you are the temple of the holy spirit, glorious, would you choose to let your hand stray with your thoughts for a moment's pleasure?

in this strength i can say - i wont succumb to temptation.