Purity Challenge 2010

So I have joined the Purity Challenge to encourage other teens and adults in their quest for purity. I also wanted to participate so that those who do not know about this lifestyle, or those who simply reject it, will be informed of what this choice entails and why it is important to me and other Christians out there.

*I love how this is going on during the month of February also! Too many young girls (mostly girls, maybe even guys!) become depressed during this month because of Valentine's Day. This idea of showing off love and feeling ashamed, embarrassed, or hurt if we do not have it yet is not what God wants. Think of how much less heartache would be out there if the purity challenge dominated our minds and not being someone's "valentine"!!* Click HERE to find out more about the challenge and or join!

So here we go. Purity. What does this little word mean to me? Many people, my room mates for example, think purity is just abstaining from sex, and while that is a major component, it does not even begin to cover the entire promise I am making to God. For me, purity is a lifestyle. It is a way of conducting oneself in the presence of both men and women, a way of controlling my own thoughts and desires, a way of dressing, a way of treating others with love & respect, and most importantly, a way to show God He is my world. He is my "All in All" (my favorite Nichole Nordeman song heehee!) and I am willing to overcome worldly pressures, my own "wants", my impatience, and my lack of trust just for Him and His plan. By conquering my flesh I allow Him to work in my life, and what could be greater than living a life sculpted by our Creator Himself?

The one thing I struggled with (and sometimes still do. I'll admit it. Purity is an ongoing process!) was trusting God. It takes a lot of strength to wait and trust that God is forming our paths for us. I have one friend specifically who dates guys she knows are all wrong for her because she feels compelled to force a relationship to ultimately feel loved. The thing is, we've been conditioned to go after love ourselves. We don't want to wait, even if the best has yet to come. Immediate gratification is our world's motto! And, as we can see, when we do not receive this love we crave NOW, we worry and sometimes make bad choices. College is one place this happens a lot! Girls think they need to lure guys in (whether it be by their bodies, fashions, speech, etc) to find love, when really God says the opposite!

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life...Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? -Matthew 6:25-26

So purity to me is mainly a battle of patience and trust. Upon this foundation, God can feed us His strength and guidance. God says "Don't worry about your life! You're worth more to me than my other creation, I want to take care of you myself." When we finally relinquish our desire to "find love now" or be intimate to "satiate desires", God sees our trust and devotion to His ways. When you stop worrying, He can bless you!

My purity is very important to me as it is not only a gift I can one day share with my husband, but also it is a gift I can give to God. I give Him my youth, my purity, and a promise and in turn He will someday, if it be His will, give me the man He has hand picked Himself.

Now, while I have the choice (free will) of what to do with my body, I must also keep in mind that God doesn't just want us to choose Him and to remain pure...he expects it.

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body....You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. -1 Corinthians 6:18, 20

When we conquer the flesh and remain pure, we honor God. Our bodies are not our own, they belong to the Creator. It's like if you were lent a sweater from your friend and you defiled it, making holes and pulls...and then returned it in that condition. You friend did not give you permission to ruin the sweater, she expected it back in the condition you received it. By neglecting the sweater and giving it back in that condition you're basically insulting your friend. However, if you kept the sweater in good shape, you're honoring the bond you have with your friend and showing the respect you have for her and her belongings. (we are God's belongings! we belong to Him, as we are His children!!) It's the same with our bodies and our purity. God needs us to guard our purity, not only for our own good, but to glorify Him and His creation (i.e your body!).

Now, purity is a huge topic and it is really hard to cover all in one post (that's why there will be more, both for the challenge and for my desire to spread the Word). This post barely scratched the surface, but it's a glimpse into what & why purity is important to me. I highly encourage all the young people to participate in this challenge...we need more guys (especially) and girls to stand up for what is RIGHT and what God wants from us.

Peace & Blessings!

A great video to leave you with; very encouraging!