Daily Verses for Overcoming Lust

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

A young man was struggling with pornography and called me to discuss how to deal with it. He mentioned that he did better when he was a part of a program that had him read a daily passage and discuss how it applied to his problem. The problem was that a denomination ran it, and they were clearly using Scriptures out of context. He got tired of it and quit. However, I thought the basic idea was sound, so we started having daily call-ins where we would discuss the previous day's passage and question, and then I would give him the next passage and question. Most of the call-ins lasted between five and ten minutes, although a few triggered longer discussions. Each day, I would ask him if he could "survive" without looking at porn for one more day. No impossibly long commitment. Just an honest attempt to make it one more day.

I hope the list gives you a way to help others. There is no particular order to the verses or questions.

1. Psalms 119:67, 71, 75 - How do these verses apply to your situation?
2. Hebrews 3:13 - List ways lust and pornography deceive you.
3. I Corinthians 9:25-29 - How can you better exercise self-control?
4. Matthew 5:27-28 - What is the difference between acknowledging someone is pretty or handsome and looking with lust? How can you avoid loking with lust?
5. Proverbs 24:16 - How should you respond to failing?
6. II Peter 3:1 - Why are reminders needed?
7. I Timothy 6:12 - Why is being a Christian like a fight?
8. I John 1:9 - How do you deal with failures?
9. Philippians 3:13 - When should you consider that you have succeeded?
10. II Timothy 2:5 - What excuses have you given yourself for not following God's commands?
11. Luke 9:62 - What is the danger of longing for what we have left behind?
12. Philippians 4:11-13 - How does pornography show a lack of contentment?
13. James 1:13-16 - List the progress of sin from start to finish? At what point can we first do battle against sin?
14. Proverbs 5:15-23 - Explain this passage in detail.
15. Philippians 3:18-19 - What is meant by "their god is their belly"? How would this apply to pornography?
16. Hebrews 13:4 - What is meant by the "bed is undefiled"? Is it right to enjoy watching other people sin?
17. Mark 7:18-23 - Why is it important to stay away from lust and pornography?
18. Romans 1:24 - How did the Greek society decay?
19. Philippians 4:8 - Which of these qualities does pornography fail to represent?
20. Proverbs 9:17 - Why are people secretive about their pornography viewing?
21. I Timothy 4:1-2 - What happens, over time, when you repeatedly sin?
22. Romans 14:7-8 - Who does a Christian live for?
23. Galatians 5:24-25 - How do you choose what to do?
24. Proverbs 4:14-17 - Most sins start by getting close but not giving in. Why doesn't this work?
25. Ephesians 2:3 - What happens when you indulge the flesh and mind?
26. Colossians 3:5 - Define each term. Why do these things amount to idolatry?
27. I Thessalonians 4:3-5 - Describe why lust is to be avoided.
28. Matthew 6:22-23 - What happens when you focus on good or evil?
29. I Corinthians 10:13 - What three ways does God help us in our struggles against sin?
30. I John 3:9-10 - What shows the difference between a child of God and a child of Satan? Does this mean a Christian never sins?
31. Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 - How can a person be overly wicked? How can he be overly righteous? What is the danger of being overly righteous or overly wicked?
32. II Corinthians 7:10-11 - What does godly sorrow produce? Define the terms given.
33. I Timothy 1:12-16 - How did Paul deal with his past sins?
34. James 5:16 - How does talking to someone about your struggles with lust help?