Freedom Begins Here Blog

Like the strongholds that constantly harassed and troubled Israel from within because they had not expelled the enemy from the land, so any addiction like pornography acts like a 5th collumn that satan can use to attack our Christian life and undermine anything we seek to do for Him. We end up fighting the enemy on two or more fronts and become divided and less effective for the Lord. This is especially so because one addiction can often lead to others. It is great that these two men (Smalley and Cunningham)have been willing to speak about a subject that has thrived in an environment of secrecy and shame - even in our churches - and is spreading like a pandemic through the internet.
But,I have a queston. Hopefully Gary or Ted or someone can give me an answer.
Do you have a solution that involves beseiging and removing the enemy strongholds rather than just trying to isolate them in those strongholds by blocking access and exit? The latter approach doesn't work except maybe in the short term. I have found that as soon as I have succeeded in keeping the stronghold of addiction under control (and am tempted to think I have overcome it), and then turn my resources of containnment away to getting serious with serving God, that the enemy uses this opportunity to break out again and try to hurt me from within. He will almost always use a series of external temptations to encourage this and often in weak and unguarded and unexpected moments. I find that the guilt and shame (especially from another defeat)is the quickest way to neutralize your passion to serve the Lord, and then there is the temptation to give up altogether. Surely, this enemy stronghold is not equivalent to Paul's thorn in the flesh? And how do you distinguish between the roles of the world the flesh and the devil in the whole addiction cycle?
From Mark, an Australian christian for 35 years who has battled the enemy within since he got a foothold in my teens.