Proverbs 7 presents Solomon’s words to his son. Like chapters 5 and 6, this chapter is written to warn him against the strange woman or the seductress. Why so many warnings? You might ask. The answer to that question is that Solomon understands the lure and the cost of succumbing to one of her attacks. In these verses, he warns that “she has cast down many wounded” and then “all who were slain by her were strong men.” Yes “strong men.” Why is this true? Can it be because this is how the enemy will attempt to attack and destroy many who would have otherwise been useful for the cause of Christ? Is it possible that this is how he would destroy you?

Some may think destroy is a strong word to choose here. But I don’t think so. I have watched as a man’s good name, family, ministry, his everything was lost because of adultery. That is destruction. So what do we do? Solomon says to his son, “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths.” How can your heart turn aside into her ways? I believe this would be a statement made about a man’s thought life. Don’t allow your thoughts to go there. This battle is lost in the mind. When a man allows his mind to think about sexually sinful things, he is well on his way to becoming one of her casualties. If he sits and ponders sinful things, he is preparing himself for her seduction and the resulting fall. If he allows his mind to go there, the rest of his person will likely follow.

As a Christian man, you must learn to allow the Spirit to have control of your mind and then allow Him to discipline your mind to keep it from dwelling on sexual thoughts. It has been said, “you cannot prevent the birds from flying in the air over your head, but you can prevent them from building a nest in your hair.”[1] Luther writes, concerning this quote, that the only way to prevent these thoughts from taking up residence in your mind is by effectually praying to your Father and asking Him for help and deliverance. God has given us His Spirit to work in us. He has given us prayer to aid us. He has given us His Word to direct us. We have to willingly take these helps and use them to bring into captivity “every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). This is the way that you can overcome this attack that is sure to come. The way to keep from falling prey to the enemy’s bait is to prevent yourself from tasting it in your mind.

Father, help us to reject evil thoughts in the power of your Spirit and refuse to allow them to reside in our minds. We need your help in this battle to prevent ourselves from becoming carnage on the battlefield of life. Please protect us and help us. Amen.

 

[1] https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/68678/where-did-martin-luther-say. This is an excellent quote from one of Luther’s works in which he is dealing with the model prayer. Though most attribute this statement to Luther, he is actually quoting Augustine. You need to read the entire quote as it appears on this site. 

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