By Paul Scrabeck

In the summer of 2007 I moved from my lifelong state of residence in Minnesota to Denver, Colorado. It was not until the following spring that I realized the torment the different vegetation would have on my allergies. As the hundreds (if not thousands) of cherry trees blossomed around the city, my eyes swelled up into big, itchy, red and burning balls of too much histamine. After a couple days of that I was ready for a cure!

So I turned to my Mother in law. My mother in law is a natural health guru. She, unlike some pharmaceutical companies, is in the business of treating the cause of people’s ailments rather than helping them just deal with the symptoms. Before you think this is an advertisement for my mother in law’s business or against pharmaceutical companies I want to mention that with most issues both treatment of symptoms and the cause are needed. Spiritually the same is true, we are free to treat symptoms but lasting change and freedom from bondage will only come if we tackle the cause of the issue.

Now, getting closer to my third spring in this new allergen laden land, after many trips to the drug store and conversations with my Mother in law I think I have found the right mix of herbs and medicine to combat my hyper-sensitive allergies.

And you know what? The solution was not an overnight fix. The solution has been a mix of treating the symptoms so that I can function with eyes that are not blood shot while also treating the cause. I take some allergy medicine to treat the symptoms but to help my system get used to the new allergens here in Denver I take a table spoon of local honey in my tea each day. The bees that pollinate the local plants leave a trace of the local allergens in the honey thus helping my body to adjust to the allergens.

When it comes to lust we have to go after the cause as well. So often the symptoms are the only thing that receive “treatment”. We go after the masturbation, the porn, the inappropriate sexual relationships and we do not see the deeper cause of all these issues, which is a lustful heart. To be sure, we need to treat the symptoms, but you will never fix the heart of the issue or be freed from bondage if you only treat the symptoms!

James 1:14&15 says, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin.” Shut off the porn and the evil desire is still there. Stop masturbating and the evil desire is still there. The source of the evil is our hearts. Apart from new life from Christ, our hearts are dead and found wanting.

As we learn to embrace our new heart and identity given to us by Christ we may need to use filters on our computers, make a strong commitment to choosing to be accountable, and create boundaries to ensure pure actions with a girlfriend or boyfriend. A table spoon of honey spiritually may be scripture memorization, so that you learn to store the truth in your mind about why obedience to Christ is the best thing for your life. The honey might be regular fellowship with other believers for encouragement and accountability. It might be taking a break from dating until your heart re-learns what your focus should be in dating. It might be prayers of submission and abandonment to God, helping your heart learn complete dependence upon God for your joy and sustenance. All of these things help treat and retrain your heart and mind to be focused on pleasing God instead of the evil desires of your flesh.

Most importantly, a plan is needed to deal with lust and the associated symptoms. It will not happen if it is not done intentionally. What is your plan? How will you start to deal with the issue? Dangerous Men and/or Unveil are great places to start. Find some people to help fight spiritually for you as you seek to purify your heart and mind.

As you move forward on your journey you’ll probably need a consistent dose of honey to keep your heart centered on Christ. It is our hope and prayer that you will be victorious and your “allergies” will begin to fade as Christ transforms your heart and mind!