Gregory Dickow: Lust Is a Lack-of-Word Problem

If you need help overcoming lust in your life, it’s not a lust problem. It’s a lack of Word problem. As you meditate on God’s Word and His promises for you, you will see that He has provided for you everything you need.

First of all, lust isn’t just lusting after a person. First Corinthians 10:6 says, “Now these things became our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” So lust isn’t just for a person. We can also lust after a thing.

Second, lust produces lack. James 4:2 says, “You lust and do not have.” The harvest of lust is lack. When you plant the seed of lust, you end up without the thing you want. James continues, “You do not have because you do not ask.” The solution is, instead of lusting for something, ask for it.

James also says, following in verse 3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it upon your pleasures.” When you desire something, it should be “I want not what they have, but what You have for me, Lord.” Lust is just feeling the desire for that thing. Instead, find a promise in God’s Word that says you can have it. He’s got to keep His promise. He watches over His Word to perform it, Jeremiah 1:12 says.

Now, God gives a principle for how to ask properly. He says in James 1:6-7, “But let him ask in faith, without no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything.” How do you know when you’re doubting? You’re doubting when you resort to some other way than God’s way.

Seek first His kingdom … God’s way is to ask Him for it. Ask without any doubt. If you lust, it reveals that you don’t believe God’s going to do what He said He’d do. If you don’t believe, meditate on His promises, and thank Him for doing what He says He’ll do.

For the original article, please visit changinglives.org.

Gregory Dickow is the founder and pastor of Life Changers International Church, one of the largest churches in the Chicagoland area. He also is the host of The Power to Change Today—an international television ministry that reaches a potential audience of more than 900 million households weekly.