The Big Bet
I faked to the left, then drove to the right, and shot the basketball. It's in, I win.
My younger brother Mikey wadded up a one-dollar bill and threw it on the ground. "I am faster and can shoot better, but you still always win. Unbelievable luck", he said while rolling his eyes in disgust.
"I can tell you my secret." His face turned red and tightened up as he stared at me.
"When I wiggle my shoulders after I score, it gives me the Juju to keep the flow going."
"Yeah, you probably do practice some foreign ungodly religion."
"Well, at least I am not a porn addict like you. Mr future Bible school student," I said. Immediately I had total regret for two reasons. First, I knew how hard he was trying to quit. Second, I am just as addicted and he knows it.
Glaring at me he said, "I got a dollar that says I can quit for longer than you can." He began to smile. He prayed all the time. He always had his devotions. I felt trapped.
"You are on," I said confidently. But inside I have zero confidence.
The next morning Mikey comes out of his room a bit late. I know he has been praying extra.
I've been working on a sermon about Jonah," he says with a smile.
"That's good," I said nodding. I returned to my bedroom. My lust is already starting to build up, and my brother is working on a sermon. I have no chance! In desperation, I type "how to quit porn" on Google.
The first article says we need to hate our sin. Immediately I pause and pray, “Father, help me to hate this sin that so often brings darkness into my life.”
The second article says we need to know why God hates this sin. It says, “God knows about how P draws people away from him. How it enslaves people so that they can't live a great life. How it drives people into destruction.”
Fast forward to day three. Unbeknownst to me, Mikey was really struggling. Again he prayed fervently. But, the minute he went back to his normal routine, he felt temptation in a heavy way. He prayed and prayed and prayed, and made it through the day.
By day four I am ready to give up. Lust is at the boiling point. I quickly search for help online. I come across an article that reads, “Quote one of the
verses for quitting every time you have a lustful thought.” I print out every verse. A few seconds later – bad thought #1. Fought off with good verse #1. The battle rages and rages, but I make it through the day.
On day five Mikey prays extra. Dedicates his life even more fervently, and gets some momentum. Then as he is eating lunch he notices an old favorite movie of his. As he clicks on it he remembers some pretty raunchy scenes. But without thinking, he just blasts right into it.
That evening Mikey comes into my room. I could tell from his face that something bad had happened. “Are you okay?”
“No, I lost the bet.”
I feel an overwhelming sadness. My brother was going to be a great Christian leader. I know that I need to say something. Anything. This silence is really loud. I put my arm around him.
Finally, I say, “I had help Mikey. I started fighting temptation with verses about lust and they really helped. I started to focus on what God wants. The more I did it, the more I felt Jesus flowing into me. The Bible does say that Jesus is the Word. I really think that the Word flowing into me made me much stronger. More filled with light. It was good. I was excited about the fight. Satan was not just getting an automatic win this time. It wasn't just me fighting anymore.”
Mikey whirled around. “God was helping you.”
“He was helping you as well when you prayed,” I said. “But at the moment of severe temptation, quoting the right Bible verses is our highest power move... You know what. You are going to be a great Christian leader. Abruptly his sad face changed.
“Thank you,” he says. You are a great brother.”
For more stories about how to quit click
https://amzn.to/3CRcqVd.