Psalm 116:18
. . . . I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people . . . .
Hey, it’s been a while… and this almost didn’t happen.
For the past couple of weeks, I have wrestled with the thought of writing this blog post.
For a couple of reasons.
This is a topic that I hold near and dear to my heart. I’m not ashamed of it. I’m not worried about what people think.
It’s become a lifestyle I took on from the age of 12 and don’t really think about it much. It’s my normal.
At the age of 12 years old, I promised to live a life of purity. I strive to live this way in all aspects of my life, but this specific, special day, I made a vow in front of my family and friends, to the Lord that I would live a life, keeping my body pure and whole, until the day that I say, “I DO”.
I wasn’t forced to do this. It was a choice that I will never forget. I’ve never felt like I’m missing out, like Jesus is trying to “keep me from the fun”. I’ve always felt His fullness of joy knowing that this is a promise I made to Him and that this is how He wants me to live.
I’m sure I’ve “missed out” on relationships that I could’ve had. That doesn’t make me sad. It makes me happy knowing that I’ve been protected because I’ve chosen to live out my Father’s Will. I’ve chosen to live a life that’s pleasing to him.
Throughout high school I had so many people remind me. Asking me why I had a “puberty ring”. Others would laugh and tell me that I wasn’t going to make it. That I would definitely slip up and fall. That my mind would change. I had a teacher ask me once who I was married to, and that if I wasn’t married that I shouldn’t be wearing a ring on my left, ring finger.
As I write this, I laugh. Wow. Those people were so mistaken.
I didn’t make this promise for or to anybody, only the Lord.
This is what He calls me to:
“No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
I was bought with a price. My body is NOT mine. I walk around as a temple of the Holy Spirit. I am called to keep it pure and clean. The day I stand before the Lord I will have to answer for my life. I don’t want to be ashamed of things that I did, that I clearly knew I shouldn’t have.
You see, I have been called to live a life of purity and will strive to make it until I stand on that alter, with my husband.
I will exchange vows and have him put that wedding band on my left hand in replacement of my purity ring.
Now, not only does sexual immorality lead to spiritual consequences, but leads to physical and emotional ones too.
Ladies (and Gentlemen, this is for YOU TOO),
There is no reason to give yourself away to anyone that’s not the one that your exchanging vows with before the Lord.
You are treasured. You are loved. You are so much more than what you see in the mirror.
You can’t see your personality in a reflection & THAT’S WHO YOU ARE.
You aren’t a tummy, pimples, curly or straight hair. You’re not a Jr., Senior, 25 or 32. You’re
not a disease or a condition. You’re not popular and you’re not a loner.
Those things DO NOT DEFINE YOU.
You have value. Don’t sell yourself short.
DON’T SETTLE.
When you choose to give yourself away, you’re not only giving away your virginity and defiling the temple that you’ve been blessed with but so much more comes with that.
Emotional attachment. You are now emotionally attached to this person in a way that you’ve never been before. You’ve shared a moment with them that you cannot take back. Forever, that person will have a piece of you, your vulnerability and your body that could’ve been saved for the person you were going to spend the rest of your life with.
You may feel worthless. Empty. Alone. Vulnerable. Worried. Shameful.
All these things that you’re not.
This momentary pleasure can lead to unwanted depression. Illnesses. AND can place you in a predicament that you may not be ready for. A blessing of a child that you might not have planned for and aren’t ready to care for, possibly pushing you to make a decision you’ll regret. Comparison that follows you through marriage, possibly leading to a broken relationship. It can be the beginning of an addiction that pesters your mind and leaves your restless.
Don’t be fooled. It seems okay in the moment.
Living a life of impurity affects all aspects of your being.
This is not what God has planned for you. He wants you to have a joyful life. He wants you to live a FULL life.
Don’t make a selfish, momentary decision that you will regret and that will not please our
Heavenly Father.