Lent Day 6

Recently, I've had to start declining offers, generally of sweets, that violate my commitment of Lent.  This is always hard at first.  Sometimes, I try to do it without talking about Lent.  Other times, I find it's easier if I'm open and honest about passing on something that is otherwise so inviting.  After doing it for the first week it certainly becomes easier - at least I'm waiting for it to become easier.

Today's Focus:  Sex Addiction.  In our culture, the line between sex and love have become blurred.  Sex is no longer the act of love of God's design.  It has become purely an act of pleasure - not love is not pleasurable - but sex has no love component to it.  The sex industry is multi-billion dollar a year industry and is made up of prostitution, strip bars, and porn.  For the most part, it serves men at the expense of women.  The use of sex, including porn, releases dopamine in our brains not unlike cocaine or opioids - and is addictive.  The result is a society with broken homes, too many deaths from sexually transmitted diseases, devalues women to objects and distorts values where a faith is in pleasure instead of happiness.

Today's Positive Action:  This may sound unimportant - but today make sure to get 8, 8 oz, cups of water.  Just like many things in Lent, today's focus helps to make sure many of the things that are being given up are being replaced by things that are healthy.  Not many things are as healthy as drinking water.  This focus also sets us up some other "actions" later in the week.

Lord, during Lent I will cry and pray upon you daily.  Both day and night.  Lend your ear in my direction to hear these prayers.  Please keep me from my dark pit of addiction.  I see addicts fall and stumble around me.  People crossing the line of their sexual addictions, well beyond moral into illegal.  I know that when I keep my focus on you I will not succumb to those temptations.  Just as you are there for me, be there for those other addicts that they may also be victorious over their addictions.  Help those who have been exploited by the sex industry.  That they may find a life and career of dignity with real love.  The kind of love you have for all of us.  Thank you, Lord.  All this I pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.