As you reach this step the momentum of change has probably already fluctuated several times. Getting started was hard. It felt like an uphill battle. Sin didn’t want to let go of you and you didn’t want to admit it had a hold on you. Honesty with self, others, and God has a great way of building momentum. You began to let go of the weights of sin that clung to you and run free from secrets (Heb. 12:1). That phase is almost always exciting and you can almost feel guilty about the amount of relief it brings (especially if you’re married and your spouse is carrying the weight of your secrets which have now come to light).
As that excitement gives way to life restructuring change begins to feel more like work again. “Implementing change” does not occur as quickly as repentance and confession. At this phase, change happens in incremental units and mundane moments. Change begins to require faithfulness in moments where change may not feel as “relevant” to your battle with sexual sin. It no longer feels like you’re running downhill towards God, but uphill.
In this chapter you will evaluate the effectiveness and needed modifications to your life restructuring plan made in Step 6. This step will require the passage of time. Implementing (Step 7) takes longer than creating a plan (Step 6). For this reason, if you are in a group program, you should give at least two months to this step. You will need to see how your plan responds to the changes of settings, relationships, and emotions that happen more over months than days.
As this time passes, there are three areas of assessment that you will be performing from this chapter. First, we will discuss the subject of relapse. Second, you will be learning how to measure lasting progress. What is the difference between “I’m having a good week” and “My life is beginning to conform to God’s design”? Third, you will be looking at key areas of your life to make sure that you have not overlooked something that was not relevant during the crisis that precipitated your seeking help but is now.
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