The Battle for Sexual Purity Starts in Your Mind

by Rick Warren — June 28, 2024
From Building My Life on Values That Last

“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.”

Proverbs 4:23 (NCV)

Every temptation starts in the mind. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life” (NCV). The battle for sexual purity is won or lost in your mind.

Anytime you see people really messing up their lives, you can bet their problems didn’t start with their actions, because their actions began with their thoughts. They lingered on dumb thoughts before making dumb decisions. The Bible says this very clearly, and science backs it up: The way you think determines how you feel. Feelings motivate actions. To change your life, you don’t just work on a bad habit, the action. Instead, you work on what caused it—the thoughts that caused the feelings that caused the action. Your thoughts control your life!

This explains how affairs happen.

First, you begin by accepting sinful thoughts into your mind: “What would it be like to have sex with that person? Is it so wrong?” You start having doubts, and you start fantasizing in your mind. You begin to think it’s harmless.

But it’s not. Your thoughts produce feelings. And feelings inevitably lead to actions.

You then move into emotional, non-physical involvement. That’s when you start flirting. You start making gestures and comments, subtly or not-so-subtly saying, “I’m available.” Next comes the physical involvement. And finally, you rationalize your actions: “Everybody is doing it. It’s no big deal. We’re both adults.”

Your sinful actions started when you accepted sinful thoughts into your mind.

The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 2:22 how to manage our thoughts before they ever head down this path: “Avoid the passions of youth, and strive for righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (GNT).

The Bible tells us to turn away from lustful thoughts and turn instead toward something positive. That two-step process is how you break a temptation before it ever gets started. You’re thinking wrong long before you’re acting wrong. You stop the cycle by turning your back on those sinful thoughts and turning toward goodness, integrity, love, and peace.

You’re not an innocent bystander to sexual sin. You have a choice—and God has given you everything you need to make the right one.

Talk It Over

  • How have you seen sinful thoughts—whether they’re sexual or non-sexual in nature—lead to sinful actions in your life?
  • Do you have anyone in your life you can talk to when you struggle with lustful thoughts? If so, confess those thoughts to God and that person.
  • What positive actions can you replace your sinful thoughts with?

Will you follow Jesus today?

No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, God is ready to forgive you if you’ll just confess your sins and commit to living the way God created you to live.

The Bible says you can’t earn your way into heaven. You can only get there by trusting in God’s Son, Jesus Christ: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).


If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, start by praying this prayer:

“Dear God, you have promised that if I believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.