*Andrew
will introduce this topic*
Thought
sex, masturbation, had arrested my spiritual, psychological, social and
academic development. From 2010 to 2011, I was jailed by this sexual addiction,
and during the night I would have thought sex with the girls Imet during the
day. They attracted me because of theirbeautiful physical appearance, and
wearing styles that aroused my sexual thoughts, and caught my eyes. To me, at
night, they became real images in my bed. I did not like the situation, but I
had no means to stop it. I suffered with the situation for1 year without any
help on how I could overcome it, although daily I tried to stop practicing it.
I could see it weakened my mind, and made it agitated and impure. My name is
Joel Elphas, and this is my story.
In
Mayof 2011, the UCE team visited my school to conduct a chastity message
seminar. Before the seminar began theyposted a banner on the wall. I sat
silently and read the written words, “Chastity is self-control in action,
thoughts, and words, which guarantees respect, security and healthy lives.”These
words reminded me of the pain I experienced during the night in my thought
world. I began to think about how these thoughts had jailed my mind, and even
made me forget to meditate on my God, who gives me life. During the seminar they
taught me how to have self-control with my thoughts. From that day, I learned
how to command my thoughts.This is something that made me become the boss of my
mind. During the night after the seminar, I prayed to God to help me live
according to the UCE message and also to help me control my thoughts, so that
whatever was going on in my mind would bepositive. The next night,during the
time when my thoughts normally challenged me, my mind alerted and reminded me
to pray and thank God for His grace and His protection of the day.From that
time on, I was free from this evil and God has restored my mind. I have become
sexually pure and morally clean in my thoughts.
I
am so thankful to God and UCE for bringing me the message. For 4 years and
counting I have been free of the prison of my mind. God changed my thought
process, and God also changed my destination.
*Let
us remember that God is the great restorer. As he restored Joel’s mind, and
helped him overcome his addiction, so he can and will restore all of us. In
what areas of our lives do we need restoration, and how can we surrender these
areas to God?*
