This Verse Will Desexualize Your Brain

By doing an in-depth biblical analysis of Romans 12:1-2, we can discover 4 ways to de-sexualize your brain.

I also wanted to quickly let you know about my new book that was just released. It’s called Masculinity on Mission: Reclaim What God Intended for Your Manhood.

And to celebrate the launch of this book, I’m giving away two of my most important courses at AGW University, along with 7 of my other books (in PDF format).

I’ll share more about this new book and how to get the bonus material at the end of this article.

1. De-Sexualize Your Brain By Starting with the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God . . .”

Romans 12:1 is referred to as a “turn verse.” In fact, it’s one of the most well-known “turn verses” in the entire Bible. A turn verse is when the author transitions, shifting the focus. It’s typically used after the theology has been built and then the author wants to highlight the practical implications of the doctrines just explained.

When Paul uses the phrase “therefore,” in Romans 12:1, he’s stating that what is to follow is the practical outcomes of everything just explained in the first eleven chapters of Romans. Throughout those chapters, Paul gives one of the most in-depth theological breakdowns of the gospel. Romans 1-3 explains the fall of man and the universal need for salvation through Christ. Romans 4-5 explains how justification occurs through faith alone. Romans 6-8 explains the theology of the new life and sanctification. And Romans 9-11 explains God’s sovereign plan for redeeming his chosen people.

So when Paul starts Romans 12:1 with the word “therefore,” he’s stating that the practical advice he’s about to give must flow out of the theological truths already explained. This is also made clear by the next phrase which states “by the mercies of God.” Paul is appealing for us to make practical changes in our lives, but he is doing so with dependence on God’s mercy.

Therefore, like David in Psalm 51 when repenting of his sexual sins with Bathsheba, to de-sexualize your brain, you must start with the truths of God’s mercy, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” (Psalm 51:1-2).

2. De-Sexualize Your Brain By Redefining the Purpose of Your Body

Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

In verse 2, Paul directly discusses the mind, which will really help you de-sexualize your brain. But before he addresses the mind, he starts with how we are to view our bodies. Why does he do that?

If you want to change your behavior, you need to change how you think first. Want to use your money better? You need to view money differently. Want to do relationships better? You need to think about relationships differently. Likewise, if we want to change how we are using our body, we need to change how we think about our body.

Sexual sin always involves the body. Thus, to change how you are using your body sexually, you need to change your internal beliefs about the body’s purpose. When the body is seen primarily as a tool for pleasure, sexual thoughts feel necessary and urgent. But when the body is seen as something belonging to God, desire is reclassified.

Notice what Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, “Flee from sexual immorality . . .Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” To flee from sexual immorality with your body, you must first believe your body is meant to be bring glory to God.

Thus, to de-sexualize your brain, you must begin by reclassifying what your body actually is. It’s not a tool to bring you the most amount of pleasure possible. Rather, it is vessel to be used in worship to God. Sacrifice your body for Jesus, and your brain will begin to be sanctified.

3. De-Sexualize Your Brain By Creating New, Holy Habits

Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind . . .”

The Greek word for “conformed” is “suschematízō” (συσχηματίζω) .¹ The root word “schema” means “form, outward shape, appearance, pattern.” The word literally means “to form according to a pattern or mold”—as the J. B. Phillips translation captures it: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould.”²

Unlike any other time in history, we have more opportunities to allow our minds to be conformed by the world. By mindlessly scrolling and letting an algorithm feed us content, we are passively allowing ourselves to be conformed by this world. On a practical level, this is why shorts are worse than long-form videos. At least with long-form videos, you have to scroll and then actively choose what to watch. With shorts, you just scroll and watch whatever is put in front of you.

When Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world,” this is an imperative, commanding readers to “don’t allow yourself to be fashioned” or “do not have the habit of being molded.” This highlights the need for ongoing defiance to the world’s desire to shape us rather than a one-time decision.

Whenever the Scriptures tell us what not to do, they always then tell us what we should do instead. It’s not enough to just resist the bad. We must also pursue the good (Romans 12:21). Not only must we resist being conformed by the world, but we must also seek to be transformed through the renewal of our minds. For example, saturating your mind with Scripture, spending time meditating on the Lord in prayer, and allowing yourself to be shaped by biblical friends reshapes your brain, including when it comes to your sexuality.

In other words, if you want to de-sexualize your brain, it’s not going to happen overnight. Rather, you must start forming new, holy habits that allow your mind to be continually renewed, which will then bring the transformation you seek.

4. De-Sexualize Your Brain By Constantly Testing Things to Know If They Are God’s Will for You

The Greek word for “testing” used in Romans 12:2 is dokimazō (δοκιμάζω). It means “to examine something very critically, or “to determine the actual value of something through scrutiny.” It was a word closely related to the testing of precious metals to determine their purity.³

By using the word “testing,” Paul, again, highlights the correlation between renewed thinking and new patterns. When your mind is truly renewed, this will manifest in a constant, diligent search to know God’s true will for you.

Therefore, if you want to de-sexualize your brain, you have to test everything that comes into your life to know whether it will add or subtract to your sanctification. Sometimes you can’t know right at the start if something is sexually toxic or pure.

For example, maybe you start going to the gym so you can get excess energy out, which will help you control yourself better. However, maybe the gym you are attending is filled with so many people dressed immodestly, your gym attendance is doing more harm than good. Test it. See what the effect is. And then obey the Lord’s leading.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God . . .”

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, my new book was just released. It’s called Masculinity on Mission: Reclaim What God Intended for Your Manhood.

The thesis statement for this book is, “To be free in life, a man must pursue the purpose worthy of his death.”

The world is lying to us. Everywhere a man looks, the messaging has been carefully orchestrated to keep him in bondage: “Just do what makes you feel good. Pain is evil. Responsibility is a burden. Sacrifice is bad.” And yet, Jesus said, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

What if the most dangerous thing in our lives as men is a desire for safety? What if the reason men feel so unfulfilled is that we are spending so much time trying to fill ourselves? What if the freedom you long for is actually locked behind the sacrifices you are running from?

In Masculinity on Mission, you will learn:

How modern man has been emasculated
Why Christian men start out passionate, but slowly slip back into sin
What is your purpose as a man according to the Scriptures
Why you must have enemies
How to pursue a woman and love her well
How to serve God, family, and country
What it means to be a man on mission for Christ

At the end of each chapter, I’ve included 10 reflection questions and extra-credit assignments that can be used for small-group studies or individual devotional times.

Lastly, for everyone who purchases this book before the end of February 10th, you will get lifetime access to two of my most important courses, The Mind of a Woman and The Mind of a Man. These courses will help you understand the core differences between men and women, equipping you with the skills to thrive in a relationship. You will also get lifetime access to 7 of my other books in PDF format. Click here to learn more about the bonus material.

All you need to do is purchase Masculinity on Mission before 2/10/2026. Send your proof of purchase (receipt or screenshot of receipt) to bonuscourse@applyGodsword.com. You will then get instant access to this bonus material.

Click here to purchase your copy!

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