Lust is a powerful sin. If you're a person, not living in a third-world country, and with the slightest access to the outside world, you're probably locked in an ongoing battle with lustful desires. I'm no exception to the rule. Western society has gotten to the point where it's impossible to not run across some kind of temptation - be it on the Internet, TV, or even in real life.
Without going too much into detail, lust is a bit like a drug. When we entertain dirty thoughts or outright engage in some form of sexual immorality, our bodies produce feel-good hormones. Fun fact, drugs do that too. That's what makes them addicting. The more we give in to sexual temptations, the more we feed this unstated dependency or addiction.
I have found that in order to combat lust you need to be a bit more extreme in handling the sources of temptation. Indeed, Jesus used remarkable imagery:
Matthew 5:27-30: "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
I would not advise literally dismembering yourself, since you can still be blind and deaf and yet lust after people. The gist of it is that when it comes to lust, it's best to not take chances. Cut every source of temptation. Make sure to avoid any situation where you might end up being tempted. There are some sins where you perhaps don't need to be so on-guard. If a person walks by and drops a $100 bill I may be tempted to take it and run, but I will probably try to give it back to them. If a scantily-clad woman walks by, chances are good my eyes are going to fall on her for a few seconds, maybe longer if I'm not attentive. There's a significant difference there.
Without going too much into detail, lust is a bit like a drug. When we entertain dirty thoughts or outright engage in some form of sexual immorality, our bodies produce feel-good hormones. Fun fact, drugs do that too. That's what makes them addicting. The more we give in to sexual temptations, the more we feed this unstated dependency or addiction.
I have found that in order to combat lust you need to be a bit more extreme in handling the sources of temptation. Indeed, Jesus used remarkable imagery:
Matthew 5:27-30: "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
I would not advise literally dismembering yourself, since you can still be blind and deaf and yet lust after people. The gist of it is that when it comes to lust, it's best to not take chances. Cut every source of temptation. Make sure to avoid any situation where you might end up being tempted. There are some sins where you perhaps don't need to be so on-guard. If a person walks by and drops a $100 bill I may be tempted to take it and run, but I will probably try to give it back to them. If a scantily-clad woman walks by, chances are good my eyes are going to fall on her for a few seconds, maybe longer if I'm not attentive. There's a significant difference there.
