Step 1: Guard Your Eyes

Feeding our eyes on sensual images will only fuel improper desires. Confirming the link between seeing and desiring, Jesus warned: “Everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Using vivid hyperbole, he urged: “If, now, your right eye is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you.” (Matthew 5:28, 29) The point? To resist temptation, we must act decisively and not feast our eyes on provocative images.

To illustrate: Imagine you glimpsed the blinding flash of a welder’s torch. Would you keep on staring at it? Of course not! You would turn away or shield your eyes to protect your sight. Likewise, if you glimpse erotic imagery​—in print, on the screen, or in the flesh—​quickly look away. Protect your mind from being infected. A former pornography addict, Juan, says: “When I see an attractive woman, I often feel the urge to take a second and a third look. So I force my eyes to look away, and I tell myself: ‘Pray to Jehovah! You absolutely need to pray now!’ After I pray, the impulse soon fades.”​—Matthew 6:9, 13; 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Consider, too, the faithful man Job, who said: “I have made a covenant with my eyes. So how could I show improper attention to a virgin?” (Job 31:1) Why not make a similar resolve?

Try this: If you glimpse erotic imagery, quickly avert your eyes. Imitate the Bible writer who prayed: “Turn my eyes away from looking at what is worthless.”​—Psalm 119:37.

Step 3: Guard Your Steps

When desire, temptation, and opportunity converge, trouble can easily follow. (Proverbs 7:6-23) How can you avoid becoming a victim?

The Bible wisely counsels: “The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself, but the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.” (Proverbs 22:3) So guard your steps. Anticipate situations that could trigger problems, and avoid them. (Proverbs 7:25) A man named Filipe, who overcame his addiction to pornography, states: “I put the family computer where everyone could see it and installed Internet filter software. And I go online only while others are around.” Similarly, Troy, mentioned earlier, says: “I avoid watching provocative movies and mixing with people who talk crudely about sex. I don’t want to put myself in harm’s way.”

Try this: Honestly evaluate your weaknesses, and plan ahead to avoid situations that could expose you to temptation.​—Matthew 6:13.