Hope for the Addicted

For those of you who are caught in a cycle of addictive sexual sin patterns, I thought what author, speaker and counselor Harry Schaumburg said in his latest book, Undefiled, was excellent. There is hope for true freedom from sinful patterns. It takes a supernatural work of God to create in us a pure heart. Man is incapable of changing His ways. Behavior management is not enough to change one's sinful ways toward true, lasting change.
Schaumburg says, "We are in bondage to sin and therefore it takes divine illumination and persuasion for the heart to respond. This is a very old and fundamental concept stated even in Jeremiah's day: 'Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil' (Jeremiah 13:23 NIV). We are so corrupt, enslaved to sexual sin, that repentance is impossible apart from God's illumination."
This is why the grace of God is such a gift to us. Nothing in man's corrupt nature would ever choose repentance or have a desire to turn from habitual sin. Man's original corruption that infuses every heart makes it incapable of obeying God. Without His gift of grace, man would always choose the path toward destruction. If you feel frustrated that you can't seem to change your sinful ways, there is hope! The fact that you are even looking for help is proof alone that Christ is operating in your life because nothing within your corrupt nature would ever choose righteousness. Find hope in Christ alone! He who began a good work in you WILL complete it! Let's continue to ask the the Lord to create in us a pure heart. Praise you Lord for the work you have begun in our lives!