This is not a plan to beat you up, tell you to double down on your efforts, and just get your act together. The Porn Free plan will lovingly take you by the hand, meet you where you are, and lead you with both grace and truth into freedom.
John & Lisa Bevere (Messenger Int’l)
Day 1
Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 7:8-13, Psalms 51:1-19
Why Do You Want to Be Free?
If your experience was anything like mine, you were exposed to porn at a young age. I was twelve when a friend showed me a magazine, and it grabbed hold of me.
When I got saved, some struggles left immediately. I stopped living like a frat kid, going to parties and drinking excessively. I was instantly freed from cussing. But my struggle with porn proved far more stubborn, even extending into the first couple years of my marriage. It seemed that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break free.
Then, I went on a four-day fast, and I was completely delivered.
Puzzled, I asked God why, for so long, it seemed I couldn’t break free no matter what I tried—but then one day, the bondage finally broke. What He showed me was that, before getting free, I was sorrowful over my sin, but it was the wrong kind of sorrow.
Paul tells us, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV).
When I couldn’t get free, I was afraid of the consequences that continuing to struggle could have in my life. I didn’t want it to ruin my ministry or my marriage.
Leading up to the time when I got free, everything changed, I began to be grieved that my sin was hurting the hearts of those I loved. This was godly sorrow—a sorrow motivated not by fear of personal loss, but by love for God and others. And it produced a deep repentance in my heart.
If you are struggling to get free, the first question you need to ask yourself is: “Who is the focus of my sorrow?” Do you have worldly sorrow, fearing the personal consequences of your sin? Or do you have godly sorrow, driven by genuine love?
The first kind of sorrow will keep you bound. The latter will lead you toward freedom.
Today, I want you to pray that God would produce godly sorrow in you. Ask to know Him more intimately, and that you would be genuinely grieved over any sin that would get in the way of that intimacy. When you get your motivation right, it makes all the difference.
Day 2
Scriptures: Romans 12:9, James 1:13-15, Galatians 5:24
What Do You Want?
A number of years ago, I had a friend who was addicted to smoking cigarettes. Despite knowing how bad the habit was for him, he would still find himself smoking four packs a day. For years, he prayed and asked God to set him free from it, but nothing changed.
Then, one day, he saw a friend in his church get instantly delivered from the same problem.
My friend was so frustrated.
Angry, he went to God and exclaimed, “I’ve been crying out to You for two years! Why haven’t You delivered me?!”
God spoke to him and said, “Because you still like it.”
He was stunned, overcome by the revelation that God couldn’t deliver him from something he still liked and desired. That’s because God will never override our free will. He repented, asking God to help him to stop desiring the very thing that kept him in bondage, and was instantly delivered. This man went from smoking four packs of cigarettes a day to none—and he’s been free till this day.
Paul exhorts us, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9 NKJV).
If you want to get free, you can’t be double-minded. You must passionately hate the sin you want to be free from. It was only when my heart began to break over how my struggle with porn was breaking God’s heart that I began walking in freedom. When I started to see my sin the way God sees it—for the destructive, damaging, detestable thing that it was—I hated it through and through.
Pray that God would help you see your sin for what it is. Ask Him to help you hate it. When there is no part of you that still loves your sin, you’ll find it so much easier to let go of.
Day 3
Scriptures: Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Ephesians 6:17, Ephesians 4:22-24
Renew Your Mind
Today, I want to focus on a critical aspect of getting free and staying free from pornography, or any other stubborn sin habit.
If you have been born again, it means your old self was crucified with Christ, along with its sinful passions, and you’ve now been raised to life in Him. God has placed His Spirit in you and given you His nature.
Knowing this truth, the natural question that follows is this: why do I still sin? One of the reasons is because your mind needs to be renewed. When your mind is renewed, you’ll no longer think as the world does—according to the flesh.
The battle over porn is won on the battlefield of the mind. Paul wrote, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 NKJV).
So how do we renew our minds? By filling ourselves with the truth of God’s Word. Paul instructed, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV).
Whenever you have a thought that is contrary to God’s Word, you have to replace it with truth. That means you must first know the truth by spending time getting to know God through His Word. Remember when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness? He countered every temptation the enemy threw at Him with Scripture.
If you want to win the war in your head and walk in victory, then you must begin doing the same. In another passage, Paul tells us that we must take up “the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 ESV).
If you want to win the war, it’s time to pick up your weapon and start fighting back. As you get God’s Word in you and begin to combat the lies of the enemy, they will lose their power over you. Then you’ll begin to run in the path of freedom, discovering the life God intends for you.
Day 4
Scriptures: Proverbs 4:14-15, 1 Corinthians 6:18, Proverbs 6:23-26
Cut Off Temptation
Yesterday, we discussed the importance of renewing our minds. To walk in freedom, you need new thinking that is in line with the truth of God’s Word and not the lies of the enemy that keep us in bondage. That is a critical aspect of your journey to freedom—and it is a journey. It will not happen overnight.
In the meantime, as your mind is being renewed and as you are learning to bring each and every thought into obedience to Christ, it’s very important that you set up the proper boundaries in your life.
The Bible warns us: “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way” (Proverbs 4:14–15 NIV)
If you want to walk free from sin, you need to stay off the road that leads to it. Only you know your specific triggers—the things that spiral you down a dark road. It’s time to get honest about these things and cut them out of your life.
For many of you, this will mean deleting certain apps from your phone, or even taking the Internet off your phone completely for a season. Many people also find it helpful to restrict their ability to install apps on their phone by making this a password-protected action, controlled by a good friend who will be an ally in their journey to freedom. It’s also helpful to install accountability software on all of your devices so you can bring all of your screen activity into the light.
The main thing I want you to take away is this: while you are renewing your mind, and even after, it’s prudent to take the appropriate actions to stay away from temptation. Scripture is clear that we are to flee sexual immorality—not see how close we can get to the line without crossing it. If you want to get free, you have to stop flirting with evil and start running from it.
Day 5
Scriptures: Romans 8:1, Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:7
Break the Power of Shame
Today I want to address one of the most insidious tactics of the enemy: shame. The enemy speaks out of both sides of his mouth. He tempts you to go down a dark road, promising that it will bring fulfillment, joy, and pleasure. Then, once you give into the temptation, he beats you up over it and condemns you. If you listen to the enemy’s voice, it will wreak all kinds of havoc in your life.
It’s normal and healthy for a believer to feel remorse and sorrow that they have grieved God’s heart, hurt others, and settled for less than God’s best when they sin. Call your actions what they are—shameful, sinful, wrong. And then repent—stop doing those things that grieve God’s heart. But don’t listen to shame’s condemning voice. Let God define you, not your struggle.
Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, boldly declared, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1 NKJV).
If you are in Christ, it’s so important you realize He does not condemn you. There is nothing you could do to make Him love you any less. He is for you, not against you. He is your advocate.
That’s why the writer of Hebrews gives us this encouragement: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV).
If you fall, don’t let shame keep you down. Get up and run into the arms of your Heavenly Father. In His embrace, you’ll find that you are washed, cleansed, and holy. This amazing revelation will not lead you back into sin; rather, it will spur you on toward righteousness.
Remember, it’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. Let His love wash over your heart, live in wonder of everything He’s done for you and has given to you in Christ, and step into the freedom He purchased for you.