God has been tugging at my heart strings about sexual purity for a while. I think it is a topic that so often in the body of Christ we just cover over with a simple "stay abstinent.. if you aren't a virgin.. be celibate.. and call it a day!" But it is not that simple. There are so many struggles...temptations... tv commercials alone are enough to have you stumbling..so a simple "remain abstinent/celibate" ... simply is not enough! So how do we stay sexual pure in a society that encourages sexual immorality?
It is ROUGH ROUGH ROUGH.. yet EASY EASY EASY...
The answers are in the WORD of God...
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
God said it in His word! You CAN overcome temptation! It does not have to rule your world..just because it is in your world! God says He will provide a way OUT! Temptation WILL come your way.. but there is an escape route.. His name is Jesus.. run to Him QUICKLY and don't look back!
The very best way to maintain ( because temptation will happen!) is to evaluate what you are watching,listening to, taking in, hanging around, looking at... etc.
"Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways." Psalm 119:37
TURN YOUR EYES! If you struggle with lust.. why are you looking at things that cause you to lust?!??! Walking away is a simple option to a lot of things... It can be the difference between you doing something you regret and you keeping your sanctification in Christ. Choose wisely!
The reactions I get to my testimony crack me u every time! The moment I say " I am a 22 year old virgin," ears perk up and people listen. I have been told I am a liar ( because virginity seems impossible I guess!), I have been told I probably live in a box and don't get out much ( definitely not true.. I am a very outgoing girl and love hanging out!), and I also get the reaction that I must be " so holy" to have lived this way! ( also so far from true it couldn't be any more false lol.. )
So what made me make the decision to remain a virgin until my wedding date?
At a very early age ( I wasn't always saved so Jesus wasn't the reason until I got saved!) I made the decision to be different. I saw so many girls giving so many men EVERYTHING they had .. only to be left in the dust for the next chick. I promised myself that that would NEVER be me! Baby mama drama in high school was enough to keep me far away from " getting it in." I didn't want to risk the lifetime consequences for the temporary pleasure.. it just was not worth it for me!
When I got saved and surrendered my life to God... my virginity became even more important. But life did get MORE real. I saw a lot of my friends having sex and telling me I was missing out. I literally felt like I was! I felt like such a lame girl. Why hadn't I had sex...just gotten it over with and done what everyone else did? When my friends would talk about their experiences I would just sit there in the corner with nothing to share. I was convinced I was lame. But the closer I got to God.. the more that I realized the enemy wanted me to feel like I was a lame! The enemy knew my virginity was the one thing that he could not get to.. and he didn't like it! So the devil would plant things in my head ( and he still does ALL THE TIME.. *Side Note: the enemy will only live in your mind if you let him.. KICK HIS SORRY BUTT OUT!*). He tells me things like "you will never find a man who is willing to wait for you. " And, " Nobody wants to date a virgin... you are crazy!" But what does the devil know?? NOTHING.. he is a LIAR and the truth is not in him!
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" -2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Trust that God has someone who is willing to wait on you.. in fact.. He has someone who will INSIST on waiting for you.. because he will be a man who respects you and your body!
The question I am usually asked... Am I tempted??
HECK YES!
Sex is a good thing... it was designed by God.. BUT only for MARRIAGE... not for ANYTHING ELSE!
How do I fight temptation?
When I am tempted ( and believe me the struggle is real!) I honestly talk to God in my head. He reminds me of all the reasons I have promised to keep myself for marriage and then He reminds me of all the ways HE keeps me!
"So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." -Romans 6:11-14
I am determined to have this special gift set aside specifically for my amazing ,God sent husband! It will be an experience that I get to share with him. I will be able to look him in his face and tell him in my Elle Varner voice "I only want to give it to you!" lol. SERIOUSLY... I want my husband to feel special.. what better way to do that than to show him he has ALL of me! A part of me that NO ONE else in this world will EVER have but him!
NOW...
If you have had sex.. or are having sex....
I encourage you to STOP. If you are not married.. STOP. God has seasons for every part of your life.. this is NOT your season for sex... SIMPLE. You CAN remain celibate ! It will be hard... probably ten times more difficult than it is for someone like me who has never experienced it.. but it is doable! Honor yourself, your future spouse, and MOST importantly, God with your body! Choose purity!
"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." -1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Always chose God's best for your life! Tell your flesh to SHUT UP.. you don't obey it.. you obey God! He rules your life!
God loves each of you SO much!!!!!!!!!!
Nicole L.
