New Season

What is purity?

When Dannah Gresh cam to our college to speak that she has met some very pure non-virgins and some very impure virgins. She, then, made the point that purity doesn't just mean that you don't have sex until you're married. I'm learning, have learned, and will always be learning that purity is so much more than that. Purity keeps coming up in my life.


What is purity?

Once again, I come to write because I cannot sleep. I can't.

What is purity?

It's more than not having sex.

I ask this question tonight because I don't want to be who I was. I don't want to have to hide from God. I don't want to turn away from Him again. I want to be pure for Him. I want to please him with my relationship.

No longer am I dating. Now I am engaged to the man that I cannot wait to marry! How wonderful? But listen: being pure will probably be hardest in this stage. Seriously. One of the first few things he told me after I said yes was: "Remember, Joy: we're not married, we're engaged." So true.

Like many, and I'd say that it's fair to say MOST girls, the battle for purity is in our minds first and foremost.

1. Do not conform any longer 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


Renew Our minds:


For me, I have found that I've gotta get with God and go before him daily. Not so that Joy can make God "happy" but because He deserves it and it is right. 


Everyday is game day. My New Testament professor said, "Everyday is a day that we're either gaining ground or giving ground for the Kingdom of Christ." Everyday.


Today it might just be a small, "I can't wait to be married so....."
Tomorrow it might be a small action that looks innocent, but has bad intent.
And then a few months from now it might be compromising something that I'd never do.


I know it's a battle. 


Today's challenge:
Renew your mind.
Get before Christ.
Talk with Him. Be honest. Completely. Trust in His grace.
Listen to his words. 


Single.. dating... engaged.. married. It makes no difference. Purity is a life-thing, not just a season thing.
And seriously, being pure before God is worth any sacrifice that we have to make. 


Purity starts in the mind. 
And so does lust.


Every time you and I dwell on a thought we give that thought ground in our minds and then in our hearts. 


It's a choice that I'm going to have to chose to make everyday.
Because everyday is game day.