III. Intentional Practices
Intentional Practices
Learning Objective: To set up accountability and filtering systems that strengthen sexual integrity.
Hebrews 12:12-13 exhorts us in the fight against sin, saying, “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” The third corner of growing towards sexual wholeness is engaging in the intentional practices that make a level path. If you think about making a level path, sometimes there will be rocks you need to remove and at other times dirt will need to be added.
In the same way, we each need to be intentional about avoiding certain behaviors or situations and pursuing healthy practices and boundaries. For example, a rock to remove could be taking the internet off of your phone, or not spending isolated time with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Dirt added could include exercise, an accountability group, or journaling. The best practices for each of us will flow out of growing in self-awareness of the ways we’re specifically tempted, the patterns we’ve developed, from the wisdom of our supportive community, and through time with the Lord in prayer.
Subscribe to CovenantEyes accountability monitoring software. This can be used to help someone live in the light while they use the internet. It sends weekly reports to accountability partners notifying them if the user may have viewed something illicit.
Installing and using R|TRIBE on a mobile device allows you to stay connected to your friends and help each other live with integrity, track any struggles or addictions, and learn what it takes to find and maintain freedom through community.
Locking up your phone. CovenantEyes has a good webpage on how to lock up your iOS device, or your Android device.
Read Cycles and Habits, an article from the SWAG small group material that can help a student understand why they may have acted out as part of a relapse or addiction cycle and what habits they can build into their lives to help them live more consistently in freedom.
