Becoming Whole

Send us a textYou are created to be loved by God. You are created to be part of a grand, triumphant story. Your sexual sin doesn’t subtract you from the story. Throughout scripture, we see God choosing and inviting all sorts of characters with all sorts of issues into THE bigger story. Don’t let shame make you believe otherwise. God still wants you. God still chooses you. Your sexual sin doesn’t disqualify you from being chosen, it doesn’t cross you off God’s invite list. Highlights:Our bodies play a significant part in sexual sin.In a unique way, those of us wrestling with sexual sin are prone towards a greater amount of shame.We are more prone to believing something really negative about ourselves, not just about what we’re doing but about our very essence, because of sexual sin.This area of struggle does not mean that there’s something really awful, perverse, weird, unusual about you. What you’re being drawn to, in some ways, more adequately addresses what you’re really looking for than a lot of other vices do.If you wrestle with sexual sin, you’ve taken your desire to be a grand character in a grand story and you’ve traded it for something lesser.We would love your questions and feedback. If you need help or even want us to speak to a certain topic on Becoming Whole, email us at podcast@regenerationministries.org.Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textBattling sexual sin does not mean going to war against your body. Your eyes, hands, feet, your genitals are not the enemy. The Enemy is the enemy. Understanding God loves your body is key in your fight to becoming whole. At the most precious point in the creation story, God created the human body. Your body is not the enemy. Highlights:Your body matters immensely to God. When God sees your body, He sees you.Your body is not an accessory to who you are, it is a fundamental part of who you are.You are a fusion of body and soul. This is at the core of what Christianity believes about human anthropology.At the core of Christian theology is that God himself, who is spirit, became flesh. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”   John 1:14For those of you wrestling with sexual sin; you sin sexually with your body. We feel temptation in our bodies, it’s a physical experience. This can be confusing.In the process, we can be tempted to blame our bodies, to vilify our bodies, to look down on our bodies. When we do that, we are more likely to want to leave our bodies behind.At the pinnacle of creation, God created humankind in his image and in his likeness.This is important to remember as we seek to be men and women of integrity, as we seek to take good care of our bodies, as we seek to steward well the physical aspect of who we are, and as we seek to love other people.Homework:AFTER FALLING INTO SIN:Confess to the Lord and your allies.Apologize to your body - “Eyes, you were made for God. You were made to see like God sees. And I just mistreated you, I’m sorry. Please forgive me.Feet, you were made to pursue God and to move towards others in love and I used you to walk towards my computer, to carry me somewhere I shouldn’t have been. Please forgive me.Genitals, you were not made for sexual immorality; you were made for the Lord.Please forgive me.” WHILE IN TEMPTATION:“I’m feeling arousal, but I am made for the Lord. I am made for love not for lust. I’m going to pursue the Lord with my body.”Ask yourself: What am I looking for?We value your feedback on our podcast, or if you want us to speak on a specific topic. You can email your feedback to podcast@regenerationministries.orgFree Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textGod’s word tells you, “your name is written on the palm of His hand,” and that “He knows the number of hairs on your head,” and that “It was for you He died.” Consider this - The same is true for the porn actress and the man you just swiped left for. God designed you and lives in you. God designed and lives in them.  We encounter God when we encounter other people. There’s a lot packed in this short episode, let’s begin.Highlights:“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8“Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” Romans 1:19Because of God’s goodness and love for everyone; we encounter God when we encounter other people.We are meant to honor others because God has made them in His image and likeness. There is something about them that God sees and honors and loves and delights in. And He sees them as children.What does this have to do with our struggles with pornography or lust? The answer is not just for you to look away.Seek to cooperate with God’s gracious work in our hearts and in our eyes and in our minds so that we begin to participate with the idea that what we are looking at, who we are looking at, is someone who bears the image of God and who He delights in.Homework:On a practical level, begin to pray for people you see, be intentional to engage with people and treat them as people.Use your imagination to remember truths about the persons you encounter - they have a mother and a father, they have hopes and dreams, they go home at the end of the day.Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a text“In this world you will have troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” Temptation is trouble. In fact, temptation is multi-layered trouble because it wants you to believe there’s something bad about you that leads you to be tempted at all. Jesus knows temptation and He knows you. In this episode of “Becoming Whole,” we’re reframing temptation through God’s word and Jesus’ grace.Highlights:Jesus taught us to pray in the Lords Prayer - “And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:1" John 16:1-4 Jesus prepares comforts and prepares his Disciples for His crucifixion with these words: “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.  And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.  But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”Temptation is trouble you experience in this world.1 Corinthians 6:13 “But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. “Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.”Temptation is something that comes to us because there’s a tempter moving throughout the world.Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”Jesus was tempted for you, for us. He knew temptation would be a part of our lives.Don’t fall to the temptation beneath your temptation to believe there’s something wrong with you.Jesus experienced temptation because He wants to be with you in that space.Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”Our “time of need” is when we’re tempted.Jesus will delight in you drawing near.Hebrews 11:37 “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword.”When you’re enduring temptation, count yourself among the faithful Saints who have suffered in the name of Christ. Temptation doesn’t mean something bad about you. Temptation is what saints everywhere go through.We have an enemy who comes to tempt us because he wants to draw us away from God. Jesus expected that we would be tempted and He meets us in the midst of our temptation. When we endure through temptation, we place ourselves with mighty, holy men and women of God. This is you.Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textYou’re here now, listening for a reason. Maybe you’re hoping to find a new way, break a habit. Understanding the motivation behind your goal is key to healthy change. In this episode, we’ll explain how shame works. Learning to recognize the sneak and bully Shame is in your work towards wholeness is important. From the outside, your eagerness to volunteer and motivation to serve can look godly and impressive. But, if shame is driving you; that eagerness and motivation can push you towards internal chaos.  For now, try to take a breath and relax your shoulders. As you’re becoming whole, learn to look for shame and listen for Jesus.Highlights:Shame masquerading as godly zeal is going to do internal damage inside a person.The outside might look like motivation but inside shame drives you to damaging ways.Shame communicates the message that you are a bad, unworthy person; that there’s something uniquely deficient, detective, dirty about you.Shame projects successful images in order to cover up its presence.Jesus, the true shepherd, draws his people towards becoming fully and wholly who they are designed to be.He draws them to confession and repentance and humility. He draws them towards godliness.He goes first.He doesn’t drive us with shame, Jesus draws us with His love.We need to recognize and get with people who can help us uncover the shame that we carry and be healed by the love of God in those areas.Psalm 23 (NLT)The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.Romans 2:4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?If you have been impacted by Regen or Becoming Whole, would you consider giving? You can do that here.Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textTenacious. That’s the kind of grip your sexual addiction can have on you- no matter if it’s porn, masturbation, or hooking up. So, here’s a tough question. While your sexual sin is holding on to you, what are you holding onto? The reality is we are living in an on-demand kind of world. As a Christian battling for sexual freedom, it’s important to recognize if you’re holding onto the hope of instant results or the hope of God.  In this episode of “Becoming Whole,” we’ll confront the struggle together and then show you how to consecrate the process. True sexual freedom embraces God’s plan, design, and timing, not results.Highlights:If your unwanted sexual sin never goes away, what will you do? If the temptations persist and you continue to fall, what will you do?Confront yourself with the possibility that you may not be as free as you had hoped to be free.Confront yourself with the possibility that you may not make the progress you want to.But, don’t give up. Continue to follow Jesus. Don’t abandon the journey.Ask yourself: What else is driving you forward beside your results?For so many Christians pursuing freedom from unwanted behaviors, we find that deep down is an insistence that God do it “our way,” when we want it. This is in contradiction to what it means to follow Jesus.We all are living in a culture that demands results. If we don’t see the results we name, in the timeframe we expect; we can question God’s goodness, the truth of scripture, God’s design.While many think, “If I have to struggle in the area of my sexuality, then I can’t trust God with my sexuality.” That thinking limits you to two choices: 1. To forget God 2. To keep suffering.But, the other option is to open our sexuality to God and consecrate our sexuality to God.  Homework:Consecrating your struggle to God can begin with a prayer like this: “Lord, enter into my suffering. Enter my temptation. I consecrate to Your will and Your purposes. I trust You to bring good out of it - whether it means freedom from the temptation or freedom through the temptation.”If you have been impacted by Regen or Becoming Whole, would you consider giving? You can do that here.Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textWhat if you could watch footage of yourself just as you’re caught in a moment of temptation? No one else knows what’s about to happen, but you: Your finger might be lingering above the “play” button. You might be walking down the specific hallway where you might see her. You might be standing in front of your bedroom door. Hitting pause at that moment would hold a lot of meaning for you in battling your unwanted sexual behavior. And the pattern is deep, the temptation is painfully intense and you can barely catch your breath. Stretch out your hands, take a deep breath and let’s hit pause together. In today’s episode of “Becoming Whole,” we offer you 3 Steps to Navigating Temptation. We hope these three simple steps can become part of your new routine so you can begin pursuing your truest desires.Highlights:1.              Admit to yourself that you’re tempted. Even when the temptation is a small nudge, admit to yourself then that you’re tempted. 2.              Reach out to an ally and admit temptation. Text your ally (someone who knows your struggle), get on the phone and then connect with them.3.              Figure out what you’re really looking for. Self-Mastery takes time. Give yourself grace.Sex is never just about sex. It is deeply embedded in our identity as both male and female.Sex is always meant to be unitive, highly relational. What is it that you’re really looking for in the areas of intimacy and identity?There are patterns to when you are tempted. And, there’s a “why” behind your temptation.If you have been impacted by Regen or Becoming Whole, would you consider giving? You can do that here.Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textDieting, Parenting, Working - these are just a few of the arenas in our lives in which boundaries are not only necessary but good. These guidelines establish our limits, communicate our comfort levels and set expectations. When it comes to sexuality today, it seems the lines are blurred. Remember, your body is significant to what it means to be a human being. Your body is significant to the story of salvation. We hope you’ll consider this episode of “Becoming Whole” as a reset, realigning your identity in grace and truth.Highlights:Christians, in the name of love, are refusing truth, turning away from truth. We are bending the knee to lies and deception and darkness.Jesus came with Grace and Truth, not one or the other, but both.“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:6 The body is a sexed body; it is either male or female. God created the body that way. And so, to act contrary to that is discordant with who God created us to be. I have an identity. It was given to me in the material creation of my body, made by God.Our very faith teaches us that our bodies are significant to what it means to be a human being and significant to what salvation is all about.Salvation comes through the death and resurrection and ascension of the God of the universe who became flesh. So, if we discard our bodies; are we discarding our way of salvation?  If our bodies don’t matter, then does Christ’s body matter? If you have been impacted by Regen or Becoming Whole, would you consider giving? You can do that here.Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textWe believe God is omniscient. And yet, from Genesis 1:1 all the way to Revelation 22:21, there are more than 3,000 questions logged in the Bible. Why? Why would our All-Knowing God shape so much of His Word into questions? Consider how questions serve as a powerful tool to connect, dig and uncover. Perhaps God is asking you questions to connect, dig, and uncover your truest desires with you. Let’s take some time to consider the questions God may be asking. Highlights:Why does God ask questions? Part of the answer is that He wants you to pay attention to what is happening you or in your life.“After this, many of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: ‘Do you also want to leave?’ Peter replied, ‘Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life.’” - John 6:66-68 MSGWhat we desire has a capacity to inform our sense about who we are.Desires can say, “This is what people like you want and what people like you do.”Desires don’t have the authority to tell us who we are. When we’re not clear on what we truly desire, we are more likely to act in accordance with who our desires tell us we are.God wants you to search your heart to understand what you really want.We are made by God to desire God and we truly aren’t satisfied until we find our satisfaction in Him.Having a truer vision of who you are and the kind of person you are, of what you’re made for and what you’re made of, that empowers us to say no to temptation and yes to God.“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” St Augustine of Hippo.Support Becoming WholeFree Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textThe enemy is hard at work weaving lies about who you are, hoping to trap you under a suffocating blanket of who you are NOT. Don’t fall in the trap. The fabric of your being is more intricate and intentional than you can imagine. But the world and the enemy are diligent to get you to believe that what you struggle with is you, is your fault, is because of what you’ve done. As you listen, allow the Lord to tug at a few threads with you to discover the lies you might be living under. Consider letting the masterful hands that created you be the ones to uncover the larger identity you are made for.Highlights:An abuser tries to get their victim to believe they wanted the abuse, they invited it, caused it to happen. The enemy is using the same tactic on you.When you believe something false about yourself you are more likely to live into the faulty narrative the enemy wants you to believe.The enemy tries to get those that are addicted to sexual behaviors or those who experience certain types of sexual attractions to believe the lie is about their identity, about who they are. If the enemy can get you to believe that you are wired this way; then there’s no hope to overcome the struggle and live differently. This is a lie in our culture.It’s so important to not get trapped under a lie about your identity; or even under a smaller identity than God has created for you.There are lots of ways the enemy will try to back you into a destructive impression of you; limiting your relationships, your capacity to live fully alive as a man or a woman, your ability to walk in freedom and sexual integrity.Questions & a Prayer for YouWhat are the lies you believe about yourself telling you that you want this habit, you invited it, or that you caused it to happen?What do you believe about yourself that holds you captive to sin, making it more difficult to walk in freedom from that sin?“Lord, I have believed that I’m less than I am. I suspect I believe that I’m less than I am. I’ve become entrapped in a story that’s not working for me to walk in integrity and wholeness and freedom. Lord, I want to know who you say I am. So, would you expose the lies that I’ve believed about myself and would you help me embrace who you say I am even before I know and can see all the fruit of that in my life. Lord, I choose to believe you more than my experience, more that what others have said, more than what I’ve declared about myself and more than what the enemy has told me about myself.Lord, you are my creator. And who you say I am is who I am. Jesus, you are my Redeemer. And, who you’ve redeemed me to be is who I am. I say “yes” to the identity you’ve given me and “no” to every other faulty identity. Lord, Help me to walk in the newness of the life you’ve given me.In Jesus’ name, Amen.”Support Becoming WholeFree Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)