Mind Shift Great News
February 9, 2024
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT
Erwin McManus has risen from tremendous setbacks and obstacles to become a mind, life, and future architect through his written and verbal communications as well as the witness communicated by his personal story. His newest book MIND SHIFT brings together twelve mind shifts that will help anyone break free of their self-imposed prisons and live up to their potential. As McManus says, “You don’t have to be a genius to think and choose like one.”
There are three mind shifts that will transform anyone’s life in the sexual arena from one of heartbreak and regret to satisfaction and respect.
MIND SHIFT #1 – From believing that God’s way is restrictive and infringes on my freedom to believing that God’s way is liberating and lifegiving. Our culture values freedom and personal choice so much that we have a tough time valuing anything we think may restrict doing whatever we choose to do at any time we choose to do it. Truth is, you CAN do anything you want, but God’s love for us is so big He wants to protect us. Some of the things we have the right to choose are harmful and will destroy us. They will be addictive and land us in prisons of our own making. For example, the New York Post, decidedly not a “Christian” or conservative paper, reported in June 2023 research showing repeated pornography use is enslaving. It affects expectations, hinders relationships, and negatively impacts various aspects of an individual's functioning and well-being. This includes sexual functioning problems, hypersexuality, and overall mental health. God’s desires for us come from love and wisdom, not control.
MIND SHIFT #2 – From thinking that my body is simply about urges and appetites to realizing my body is important to God. My body is the place that houses my soul. I will live forever. I am far more than my urges and my appetites. My body is the dwelling place, the temple, of the Holy Spirit. Acts 7:48 says that God does not come to live in temples made by human hands but since Jesus, human bodies are now His temple. I need to realize that and start treating my body as the incredible, sacred gift it is.
MIND SHIFT #3 – From thinking that sex simply involves my body to realizing sex involves all of me: body, mind, and spirit. God intended sex to be fun and fulfilling, for sure, but in ways that last. Most importantly, it is intended to be a knitting of spirits and a contract for the future. Anything less than that will leave my mind and spirit unsatisfied and seeking more.
- God, help me begin to change my mind and experience the joy You intended for me.