I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?
Job 31:1

Men, this may not be an easy thing to admit with your wife sitting right next to you. But let's be honest -- you'll likely relate to the story I'm about to tell.

I was seated in a car with another Christian leader -- a good friend of mine. We were both away from home, without our wives, waiting for a colleague who had just gone inside a store. And as we sat there, a woman walked by who was, well, drop-dead gorgeous. I caught sight of her as she entered the store, and then turned back to our conversation.

When she walked by again, by God's grace (or the fear of my own reputation being spoiled), I summoned up enough self-control to look away. But I did notice my friend's eyes lingering as she walked on to her car. Knowing we were both fighting the same battle, I casually said, "Hey, you can look at her once, you can look at her twice, but if you look at her that long . . ."

We laughed. We knew.

Guys, there's nothing wrong with appreciating a woman's beauty. But we all know in an instant when we've reached that point where we're no longer simply noticing her but have begun enjoying her and letting our minds become a playground of lustful thoughts. That's when Fred Stoeker, coauthor of Every Man's Battle, says we must heed the covenant of Job 31:1. With the same impulsive quickness that makes us pull our hands back from a hot stove, we must discipline ourselves to "bounce" our eyes away from her.

Yes, it's every man's battle, all right. But it's a battle we can win.

Discuss
Husbands, help your wives understand that this admission of struggle is not caused by being unsatisfied with her. It's a struggle with temptation, lust, sin -- a struggle with yourself.

Pray
Wives, pray for your husbands in this area. Each of you should ask God for help with any deep areas of sin and temptation, especially those that can come between the two of you. Trust Him for the strength to be obedient.