Bowing Out of the Competition
(by Steve & Michelle Thrash)
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
A side affect of the whole culture of lust is that women (including wives) believe that they must be attractive enough to win against the "competition". That only serves to justify the husband in his effort to compare. The result being that all men are scouting out all women and are not satisfied with their own wives. While this easily parallels the materialistic, buy-buy-buy, culture that we have - it does not lend itself to stable marriages or raising up children properly.
Everybody wants what they don't have!
The grass is always greener!
The Effects last a lifetime
When I (Michelle) was 7 years old a neighborhood boy shared stacks and stacks of pornographic magazines with me. I didn't understand why he was sharing these magazines with me. All I know is that for me, these images have been burned into my mind and can easily be recalled. However, throughout the years, especially the past year or so (since 2009), God has been teaching me (Michelle) to ask God's forgiveness and take my thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Now if I have impure thoughts, I can flee temptations with God's help. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)
Many years ago Steve asked me why would women want to buy the women's magazines at the checkout counters (the ones that have revealingly dressed women on the covers and throughout the magazine). I told him that I didn't know, and I thought why ask me such a question. I had no idea how tempted men can be by such pictures, and how much women tempt men by imitating the women in those pictures.
Dressing for Success
"... women adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly...
which is proper for women professing godliness with good works" (1 Timothy 2:9-10)
In the course of helping my husband with his conviction with the internet, the Lord had me focus on my own struggles. In the Winter/Spring of 2001, the Lord convicted me of sensuality. Once again, both my husband and I had been desensitized to how women dress. The Lord showed me that I was dressing and acting immodestly. God convicted me to get rid of my immodest dresses. I learned that my immodest dresses were not pleasing to the Lord.
The following are some sites that have helped us to "renew our minds" regarding appropriate dress (Romans 12:2)
Like with anything, once you get a taste for something (e.g. lustful thoughts or immodest dress) you crave it more and more until it becomes an addiction (your god). Our marriage is by no means perfect... marriage truly takes three with Christ at the center!
Page created 2/18/03 by Steve & Michelle Thrash
Updated 7/17/10