The First Step in Recovery? Search Your Heart.

Dr. Tom Moucka, president of Samson House provides us with insight regarding the need to bring our sinful nature out of the darkness and into the light.

”So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.” Ephesians 4:17-19

It wasn’t easy to be a follower of Jesus in the first century. It isn’t easy now. Old habits die hard when we give them space in our lives and allow them to live in the shadows. I know that first hand. They slowly, imperceptibly, harden our hearts. A hard heart is slow to respond to the nudges of the Holy Spirit, and the ways of Jesus become annoying. The heart loses its sensitivity to dark things and prefers them over the light of truth. After a time the temporary lift of indulging in secret sin is preferred over the joy of walking in the company of the Lord. A downward spiral ensues and the heart gets harder. Eventually, the telltale sign of a hard heart shows its ugly face – greed.

The good news is Jesus can soften our hearts again. It isn’t easy but absolutely necessary (Paul says he insists on it). First, we have to admit to Jesus we have a secret (it won’t shock him – he already knows), and ask him to help us. Then bring it out of the darkness into the light by admitting it to a trusted friend(s). If our secret sin has caused harm to others, we need to make amends with them, and then hang out with those who want to live in the light, encouraging each other as you enjoy your newly softened hearts. Finally, practice generosity – it transforms that ugly face of greed to a happy one of joy.

With the psalmist, let’s ask the Lord to search our hearts and show us if there is anything hiding in the shadows that might be blocking our relationship with him.

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

To find out more information about the amazing work being done by Samson House who men struggling with sexual impurity check out its website at: www.samsonsociety.com