The Battle No One Sees
“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:28
Most of the time, the real battles we face never make it out into the open. They’re not waged in front of people. They happen in our heads, in our hearts, in those quiet moments when no one is watching. That’s exactly what Jesus is getting at when He talks about lust.
This isn’t about controlling your eyeballs. It’s about dealing with your heart. The issue isn’t just what you saw, it’s what your heart wanted. What you entertained. What you welcomed. Lust doesn’t come from the billboard, the commercial, or the scroll on your phone. Those things might expose what’s already there, but they’re not the root. The root is in the heart.
That’s why Job took it so seriously. He didn’t say, “I’ll never sleep with another woman.” He said, “I’ve made a covenant with my eyes not to look at a woman with desire.” He knew that lust never stays small. It doesn’t want a glance, it wants to take over. And if you give it room, it will grow into something that ruins you.
What Jesus is teaching isn’t just about avoiding sexual failure. It’s about becoming the kind of person who doesn't want to look twice. The kind of person who doesn’t want a second thought to take root. That starts by keeping your heart healthy, not just your habits in check.
If you’ve been fighting a secret war, you’re not alone. But you can’t win this battle in silence. Bring it to God. Ask Him to purify your heart and guard your mind. Set boundaries. Get honest. Build the strength to win the war no one else sees. Because God sees, and He’s ready to help.
Most of the time, the real battles we face never make it out into the open. They’re not waged in front of people. They happen in our heads, in our hearts, in those quiet moments when no one is watching. That’s exactly what Jesus is getting at when He talks about lust.
This isn’t about controlling your eyeballs. It’s about dealing with your heart. The issue isn’t just what you saw, it’s what your heart wanted. What you entertained. What you welcomed. Lust doesn’t come from the billboard, the commercial, or the scroll on your phone. Those things might expose what’s already there, but they’re not the root. The root is in the heart.
That’s why Job took it so seriously. He didn’t say, “I’ll never sleep with another woman.” He said, “I’ve made a covenant with my eyes not to look at a woman with desire.” He knew that lust never stays small. It doesn’t want a glance, it wants to take over. And if you give it room, it will grow into something that ruins you.
What Jesus is teaching isn’t just about avoiding sexual failure. It’s about becoming the kind of person who doesn't want to look twice. The kind of person who doesn’t want a second thought to take root. That starts by keeping your heart healthy, not just your habits in check.
If you’ve been fighting a secret war, you’re not alone. But you can’t win this battle in silence. Bring it to God. Ask Him to purify your heart and guard your mind. Set boundaries. Get honest. Build the strength to win the war no one else sees. Because God sees, and He’s ready to help.
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