For the first time in a really long time…maybe forever, my heart broke for my purity. I have been truly saddened at the thought that I rejected not only my parents hope for me, but Gods true heart for me more times than I’m willing to admit. I fell prey to the devils schemes and the ways of the world. I aspired to live in the world but not be of it-like I was taught as a child. But I quickly lost site of that in my teens and just up until recently am I truly understanding what that means.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2 NIV
Almost two weeks ago when we were in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan I had the opportunity to lead my favorite little youth group in a teaching one Saturday night. As our event was confirmed Friday night, I laid in bed and prayed last minute for the Lord to give me something to speak about. When I woke up I felt prompted to speak about what it means to walk in purity and holiness. As I came up with some of my own thoughts and looked to back them up with scripture, I had a revelation, realizing my approach was somewhat wrong. Just because I’ve been impure in my past life, does not mean that I’m not pure now, or I can’t walk in purity. I am pure, and I can walk in purity. I also realized that walking in purity is more than being a virgin.
When I started to look up some definitions for what it means to be pure I found: single and focused.
When I looked up some for what it means to be holy, I found set-apart, and sacred.
To be pure in heart means to have a single-minded devotion to Jesus. To live a holy life is to be dedicated or consecrated to God.
As followers of Christ we become pure and holy through believing and obeying the word of God. That means daily application. Not only does daily application of scripture have a purifying effect on our minds and hearts, but it points out sin, motivates us to confess, renews our relationship with Christ, and it guides us back to the right path. (Psalm 119:9, John 17:17. Scriptures & study notes in NIV study bible)
For me, it’s been a constant struggle to live in purity and holiness especially given my past and old habits. Just up until recently I really have been striving to walk in these two ways. I understand the importance of it and the more I apply scripture to my life the more I see the need for it. It’s not always the cool thing to do, but it is the right thing to do. I’m not only honoring God but also my actions honor my future husband! #sendhimLord haha
Jeremiah 17:9 says: “the human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.” When attempting to live in purity and in holiness, you can be deceived by your heart, by what you allow in.
Some struggles I’ve dealt with are the things I expose myself to, or tolerate. Like the music I listen to, or the movies or tv shows I watch. Yes these are simple things that may seem like nothing and they can’t really effect you, but they can be more damaging to your purity than you really realize. What you allow in will most certainly come out.
Sometimes I’ll listen to music with profanity or lyrics speaking of sexual actions, and it seems like nothing at first..but those things start to come out in the way I speak, think, and even treat others. Same way for what kind of things I’m watching. Thoughts of what I’m watching eventually come out in various ways. In speaking of this I’m only encouraging you to do what is best for you!! Every person is different, and definitely has different convictions. For me, this is something I’ve experienced time and time again and have been in denial about up until recently. Now, I refuse to allow these things to cloud my purity. It’s definitely not easy. I struggle and still some days fail. One of my favorite artists came out with a new album just a few days ago, and a few songs in I had to turn it off and delete the album. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, but it was necessary.
We serve a H O L Y God, who has called us to holiness as we are made in his likeliness. He calls us to purity and holiness because he knows we are capable of it, despite the contaminating environment we live in. Not because of who we are and what we’re capable of, but because of WHO’s we are and who he created us to be! I am sooooooo encouraged to know that God sees me as the Lydia that he created me to be, and not the Lydia that I was or even the Lydia that I am now. God knows me and sees me whole, and beautiful in him. That’s something to hold onto, to cling to, to remember, to walk in. I encourage you to remind yourself who’s you are and to take some time to pray about your intake of the things of the world. Take it to the Lord and ask him to reveal the things to you that are causing distractions and maybe are causing impure thoughts. He’s the only one who can really reveal it to you, he knows you better than anyone else, better than you know yourself.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 NIV
