“Don’t touch. Don’t taste. Don’t handle”. We hear these three “rules” often when learning how to fight—and overcome—lust.
The problem is, mere rule-keeping does not itself get to the heart of lust. This is one of the great lessons Paul teaches in Scripture. Merely knowing the law only aggravates our lusts (Romans 7:7-12), and following rigid ascetic regulations—don’t touch, don’t taste, don’t handle—is “of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:20-23).
If the “law” itself is not able to turn our hearts away from temptation, then how exactly do we fight against a spirit of lust? And how can we finally overcome it?
Editor’s Note: Are you a teenager struggling with lust? Before reading this post, I encourage you to check out this article we wrote especially for teens, How to Overcome Lust: 4 Tips for Teens.
How the Bible Teaches Us to Fight Lust
In 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul offers some of the best, most concise bits of Biblical advice on how to overcome lust: “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Commit it to memory. Chew on it daily. Let your mind marinate in it, for in it lies three biblical strategies for fighting lust.
See related: What is Lust in the Bible?
1. Run From Lust
“So flee youthful passions”
“Passions” refer to our cravings, our longings, and our desires. More specifically, the passage speaks of “youthful passions.” These fleshly lusts are said to “wage war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11). On the surface, these cravings are anchored in the members of our body (Romans 6:12), but as we look deeper, we find they stem from our sinful hearts (Romans 7:7). Ultimately, these passions are forms of idolatry (Colossians 3:5), revolving our lives and desires around created things rather than the Creator.
See related: For singles: How to Handle Strong Sex Drive in a God-Honoring Way
We must run from these things. Every Christian, even though he or she is indwelt by the Spirit of Christ, still lives in a mortal body surrounded by worldly amusements. These youthful lusts stubbornly cling to our heels. As we see these passions stirred in us, we must habitually flee from them.
- This might mean mentally fleeing: bouncing our thoughts away from lustful imaginations.
- This might mean visually fleeing: bouncing our eyes away from lustful images.
- This might mean physically fleeing: walking (or running) away from tempting situations.
See related: Overcoming Temptation: Bible Verses and Principles to Help You Resist Sin
2. Run to Christ
“. . . pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace”
It is not enough to flee from youthful lusts. We must run toward a new passion. We are to “pursue,” that is, eagerly and swiftly run toward Christlikeness.
Christ promises His people a heart of:
- Righteousness (real integrity, a passion for justice, and a life pleasing to God)
- Faith (strong and welcome conviction and trust in God)
- Love (benevolent affection toward God and others)
- Peace (tranquility in the heart and harmony with God and others)
We are to run hard after these things each day knowing these character qualities are how we were created to live. We pursue these things knowing it is our destiny to live this way. A billion years from now, when sin is a distant memory, we will be living lives of love, peace, and righteousness in the kingdom of God. Having this hope we purify ourselves, just as He is pure (1 John 3:3).
3. Run With Godly Friends
“. . . along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
We must not only run from lust and toward God’s vision for our lives, but we must also run with our brothers and sisters with the same vision. We must all find companions for this stretch of the road, those who share our faith and convictions, those in the common struggle for holiness.
These friends should be those who “call on the Lord,” an expression for those who are saved (Acts 22:16; Romans 10:13). These are other men and women who have also cried out to God for the forgiveness of their sins from a “pure” (genuine) heart.
Running with others involves a certain level of intentionality. It is not enough to simply know others around us are on the same journey because they profess the Christian faith. We must have real running companions, those who actually help us flee youthful passions and pursue a Christlike heart.
James 5:16 and Hebrews 10:24-25 offer four key building blocks that give structure to how Christian accountability should look. These building blocks are: meeting together, confession of sin, prayer, and encouragement.
Meeting together is the foundation. This includes all the basic methods of communication and conversation: meeting for coffee, talking on the phone, texting, writing emails, or anything that involves a meeting of minds. The central pillar in the room is confession of sin: getting honest with God and one another about what we are doing that we shouldn’t do or not doing what we should. The outer walls that support and protect this relationship are prayer and encouragement.
Why Can’t I Just Stop Lusting?
People ask me all the time, “Why can’t I just stop lusting?” I share my response to these people in this video below, which happens to include references to 2 Timothy 2:22. We believe so strongly that this verse contains the best strategy for how to overcome lust and quit porn that we actually used it as the foundation for a 40-day challenge called Overcome Porn. This challenge walks you through these three strategies and equips you with some of our best resources to put porn in your past for good. So watch this video, and give Overcome Porn: The 40-Day Challenge a try today.
Fighting against lust isn’t easy, but it’s also not something that you need to do alone. Through prayer, Scripture, accountability, and a heartfelt desire to flee from lustful passions, you can resist temptation and overcome lust.
We’d love to hear from you. What has God taught you about breaking free from lust? Comment below!
I am always browsing online for ideas that can help me. Thanks!
I’m feeling lead to share my story too incase it might help anyone… I was struggling with lust after a co worker who was exactly my “Type” showed me some attention. I was overcome with attraction and lust for him and doubted my ability to keep my purity… after 2 or more years of being celibate. I prayed and asked for prayer, and my co worker was just fired. So… God WILL make a way for escape if you sincerely want to be broken of this bondage. also… I was so caught up with feelings for this guy that I relapsed and got drunk after several months of being sober, I believe the sin of lust also opened a door for my drinking to come back in. Be careful! One sin leads to another.
Hy my name is Innocent and i’ve struggling with lust for 9 years now I’m a christian and I pray Jehovah God, but I can’t break from this lust. Please help me to overcome this lust.
@Brett Barnes … Praying for your and your situation… Amen
need help. thanks
Hi, help starts with taking a serious step of commitment. Here are some steps you can take (others have tried these and they work): https://www.covenanteyes.com/2012/04/23/how-to-quit-porn-6-essential-steps/
Chris
I get the run from, run to, but I have a problem with the run with. In today’s society trust is in incredibly short supply. Is it sinful in itself to remain private and solitary ?
Hi, I don’t think so. In my own experience, the enemy just tends to have a lot more control over my life when I’m private and solitary. Community seems to crush some of the lies of secrecy.
Chris
Dont give up brothers and sisters. I am 37 years old and still strugling from time to time. Lately I manage to put my mind , heart and body to focus more on Jesus. By reading bible and praying daily. Do not forget that “run into” also mean our daily 24 hours times must always be focused on God. If you do everything (yes including playing games, sleeping and etc) for God.
If only there was some easy way to turn lust off, wouldn’t we all take it in a heartbeat. I hate it but lust after it at the same time. Forgive me Lord, for I know not what I do. There is always forgiveness in God and it is a DAILY, moment by moment choice to choose the Reedemer of our souls or the death of that which is good in us. Lord please be with us and wage the wars we cannot win on our own. Use us as you will.
Hi Brothers and Sisters,
I found reading all these mini testimonials from all of you really inspiring and helpful, it’s nice to know that there are others fighting the same fight. I was introduced to sexuality at a very young age and have found that it has become a chief cornerstone of how I have identified with myself and wanted others to identify with me. A false illusion, as we were created in Gods image, and anything that does not align with the image of God doesn’t align with our true image.
Through out my life I have either revelled in my sexuality or felt great shame. Through phases of pornography, through phases of promiscuity and sexual intercourse with numerous people, through having an addiction to masturbation, through having bouts of ‘lust of the eyes’, All these things have been counteractive to my walk with the Messiah, and in His Mighty Name, I renounce them. The severity of the sins is decreasing dramatically, but The Lusts always play far too much of a dominant role.
I ask that we as family pray for one another and offer each other the support we require.
God be with you
http://www.porn-free.org/prayers_repentance.htm
Here is a sample of a prayer that will help all of you on your journey towards victory.
Thank You for the support!
Reading the responses above has giving me strength and encouragement to over come my addiction. I know this will be a long and hard battle but, thought Jesus Christ my Lord & Savior I can conquer all things and challenges!
God Bless and Prayers for all..