Pornography entraps you with lies. In contrast, God can lead us into truth.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”{1} Those who heard Jesus say this were offended and countered, “We have never been slaves of anyone, how can you say that we shall be set free?”{2} And Jesus explained that people are enslaved to sin, but that He can set you free.{3}

Sin not only enslaves us, but it distances us from God. And no one is perfect. No one is righteous in God’s eyes. Instead we’re told that “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.”{4}

We all deserve God’s judgment and punishment. Yet God, who is holy and loving, provided a solution for our sin, so that we would not have to be justly condemned. He personally took the punishment for our sin on Himself. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was tortured and died on the cross for our sin so that we could be forgiven. Three days later Jesus rose from the dead, just as He said He would.

And He now offers you a relationship with Him. One of the most amazing statements in the Bible is this one, “If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”{5}

The Most Important Relationship
In your search for intimacy and love, pornography is an empty substitute for real love. We have been created by God to have our intimacy needs met most deeply by God Himself. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”{6}

In contrast to the darkness and destruction that pornography can bring to people’s lives, Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.”{7}

God offers you his forgiveness through a relationship with Him. Do you want to ask Him to forgive you and come into your life? You can tell Him right now. If you need help putting this into words, here is a prayer that might help:

“Lord Jesus, I am aware of my sin, and I know that you are also. I ask you to forgive me and cleanse me. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I ask you to come into my life right now and begin to work in my life. Direct my life as you see fit. Thank you for your forgiveness and for coming into my life right now.”

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This article is courtesy of AuthenticRelationships.com. Reprinted with permission of the author.

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I can’t say that I have never met a woman who at some point didn’t wish she had the option of quitting (her job, her life, her family) just for one day. Unless she was lying – to herself, to me. Every now and then we need a vacation day from life.

My husband and I have had a system in place for years. Being unable to drive and living in a small town made it hard for me to get out on my own. After one particularly difficult year we agreed that if I need time off all I had to do was ask for it and he would take me where I wanted to go. Now that I can drive I don’t need him to transport me but the arrangement is still in place. As long as there are no previous arrangements I can take the time away that I need.

This has taught me a very valuable lesson; one that I cling tightly to. In many families mom comes last in the order of things. We arrange our time around children, husbands, homes, career and church and social functions. With a shortage of time to go around it’s “me” time that is often the first off the scheduling chopping block. The thing I learnt though is that to truly meet the needs of my family and those around me I need to have my needs met first.

It’s time for you to carve back out the practice of mommy time! To help you do that here’s a few tips to create your very own Spiritual Renewal Spa at home. Moving beyond the traditional day spa our spa suggestions take all the aspects of your personality into account. Create a “station” for each part and move through your “spa” to come out fully renewed.

• Take a social/emotional break
  If you just aren’t yourself unless you are surrounded by others then invite some of your closest girlfriends over to join you for your spa day. Give each friend an assignment and take turns running your special “Girlfriends Only” day spa.  

  Get a journal and spend some time writing out your heart’s thoughts. What’s been on your mind lately? Is something really bothering you? How have you been feeling lately? Why? Journaling is a safe and private place to dump all that emotional baggage you’ve been carrying around lately. Drop it all off at Christ’s feet and let him renew and refocus your heart.
  

• Take a spiritual break
  Set up a “spiritual” station in your house. Play some worship music, set out a bible and inspirational books. You might even paste some bible verses all over to inspire and help you focus on God. This isn’t a time of prayer and petition, but simply a time to connect with God. Be like David, who was a man after God’s own heart and wrote some of the most emotional scripture we have – the Psalms. Pour yourself out before God. Show him who you really are right now and he’ll respond and show you who he really is in all that. Be open before God and he promises to refresh you.
   
• Take a mental break
  When was the last time you learnt something that didn’t have anything to do with your job or child care? Just for fun. Pick up some books at the library, lay out the funnies, plan to try one of those things you’ve always wanted to do but never have. Or get creative and set out paints, pencils, and crayons. Stretching your mind, like your body, is immensely relaxing, yet often overlooked.
   
• Take a physical break
  Don’t just focus on the physical, remember you are being with a body, soul, and spirit, but don’t neglect it either. Run a hot bath and add salts and essential oils. Make your own facial, and hand cream. Give yourself a good foot rub (after a soak). Go for an invigorating walk and stretch afterwards. Or pick up a book on massage and learn how to give yourself one.

The possibilities are limitless, and the rules are few. No men or children, and just for today – it really is all about you. No matter your budget you can create your own home spa that will renew you body, soul, and spirit and strengthen you for that full-time job we call life (from which we get no vacations – unless we make them ourselves).