In transforming your mind, you’ll be taking an active, conscious role in capturing rogue thoughts, but in the long run, the mind will wash itself and will begin to work naturally for you and your purity by capturing such thoughts. With the eyes bouncing away from sexual images, and the mind policing itself, your defenses will grow incredibly strong.
—Every Young Man’s Battle
Don’t talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn’t fit our style.
EPHESIANS 5:4, MSG
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination
to the LORD,
But the words of the pure are pleasant.
PROVERBS 15:26, NKJV
Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
but a fool is consumed by his own lips.
ECCLESIASTES 10:12, NIV
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
JAMES 1:26, NIV
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
JAMES 3:6, NKJV
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
PSALM 34:13, AMP
Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech.
PROVERBS 4:24, NLT
It would be shameful even to mention here those pleasures of darkness which the ungodly do.
EPHESIANS 5:12, TLB
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
PROVERBS 8:13, NKJV
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.
1 PETER 3:10, KJV
There are young women you know who hit every attraction key on your keyboard. Among those may be an old girlfriend to whom you’re still deeply attached because of your past sexual sins. Because of your former intimacy, she may seem yours for the taking in your mind. But you must lead her out of your corral and stop lurking at her door.
—adapted from Every Young Man’s Battle
If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
then may my wife grind another man’s grain,
and may other men sleep with her.
For that would have been shameful,
a sin to be judged.
JOB 31:9–11, NIV
So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.
PSALM 90:12, AMP
So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.
EPHESIANS 5:15–16, NLT
So be careful how you act; these are difficult days.
EPHESIANS 5:15, TLB
Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity.
COLOSSIANS 4:5, AMP
He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
1 TIMOTHY 3:7, NIV
Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life.
HEBREWS 12:14, NLT
A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.
PROVERBS 22:1, NASB
A good reputation is more valuable than the most expensive perfume.
ECCLESIASTES 7:1, TLB
Limit the times you’re alone and in a highly excitable situation. Do things with friends of both sexes. Go on group dates. Limit the amount of touching and the amount of kissing. Whatever your defenses, set your rules and then be disciplined.
Walk in truth.
—Every Young Man’s Battle
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
PROVERBS 2:11, NIV
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
PROVERBS 8:12, NIV
My son …
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
PROVERBS 3:21–22, NASB
Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.
PROVERBS 16:22, NLT
A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
PSALM 112:5, NKJV
What are you doing to do when other guys show you pornography? What are you going to do when that cute girl gets you alone and starts unbuttoning her blouse? Whose voices will you hear? Will it be God’s voice, or your friend’s telling you to go for it? God’s voice had better be loud and crystal clear because it will probably be the only one whispering, “Flee immorality, Son.”
—adapted from Every Man’s Battle
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you cry out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures;
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
and preserving the way of his saints.
PROVERBS 2:1–8, RSV
To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness.
ECCLESIASTES 2:26, NIV
He who trusts in himself is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
PROVERBS 28:26, NIV
Doing wrong is fun for a fool, while wise conduct is a pleasure to the wise.
PROVERBS 10:23, NLT
And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.
ISAIAH 32:17, NASB
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
PROVERBS 3:13–15, NASB
Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her [wisdom], and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
PROVERBS 4:5–7, NASB
Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful
than ten rulers in a city.
ECCLESIASTES 7:19, NIV
Wisdom brightens a man’s face
and changes its hard appearance.
ECCLESIASTES 8:1, NIV
So I decided to compare wisdom and folly, and anyone else would come to the same conclusions I [King Solomon] did. Wisdom is of more value than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. For the wise person sees, while the fool is blind. Yet I saw that wise and foolish people share the same fate. Both of them die. Just as the fool will die, so will I. So of what value is all my wisdom? Then I said to myself, “This is all so meaningless!” For the wise person and the fool both die, and in the days to come, both will be forgotten.
ECCLESIASTES 2:12–16, NLT
Wisdom or money can get you almost anything, but it’s important to know that only wisdom can save your life.
ECCLESIASTES 7:12, NLT
Buy truth, and do not sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
PROVERBS 23:23, RSV
The godly give good advice, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.
PROVERBS 10:21, NLT
The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
PROVERBS 18:15, NASB
Being wise is as good as being rich; in fact, it is better.
ECCLESIASTES 7:11, NLT
It is better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool!
Indeed, a fool’s laughter is quickly gone, like thorns crackling in a fire.
ECCLESIASTES 7:5–6, NLT
The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
PROVERBS 15:14, NIV
A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.
PROVERBS 24:3, NLT