For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:38-39, NIV

Today’s sermon was entitled the same as this post. The whole time God was speaking to me and revealing to me how all my life I’ve had a preference for purity- but not a conviction.  I thought in wanting to always save my first kiss for the alter that I was convicted of purity. I thought that having never kissed a guy up until the age of 26 that I was convicted of purity.  But when actually tested, I gave in and then some.  Again, no we did not do that, but what a fall from where I had wanted to draw the line!

God showed me during the sermon today that if I had been convicted, then as the preacher said, my behavior would change so that my conviction is not.  When Ex #2 tried to excuse being okay with having sex by saying “but we’re in a committed relationship,” instead of thinking “he’s so great but only weak in this one area…” I should have dumped him.  I should have right away realized that my belief on wanting to stay right with God meant that we had VERY different views on things.  Instead, I had to learn in retrospect that in not dumping him, I was revealing to myself and those who know it, that I only had a preference for purity and not a conviction.  Although we didn’t sleep together, we were not pure in many ways and God convicted me of all of that today.

From now on, I stand for purity.

I felt Him tell me that I must take a stand for it. If I never learn to take a stand for purity, He can never bring my Isaac into my life.  Even if He never brings my Isaac into my life, I still need to stand for purity.  Purity not only in deeds, but in my attitudes, in my mind, in all that I am.  I can’t just say “this is my line” for having a line is not the same as standing for purity.  Some people’s line are “so long as you don’t have full on sex, anything goes.” God showed me today that I must have a mindset of “purity in heart, mind, and body.”

What are you convicted of today? What will you stand for? Paul had a conviction that nothing could separate us from the love of God.  His love is pure.  His love would never try to convince us of doing anything wrong with excuses. His love can transform us if we will just allow Him to.  Will you stand with me today for purity? Will you let Him create a conviction in your heart? Run with me towards Christ with everything you have and let us find that when we are in passionate pursuit of Him, there will be no struggle with purity for it will come naturally.

Jesus, 

I love You for all You have done in me today.  I thank You for the wonderful sermon. I pray You help me and the readers take a stance for purity. Let it be that our conviction of purity causes us to change our behavior so that we do not go against it.  Let it be that our pursuit of You makes purity a non-issue since we will be too busy seeking after You to fall into temptation.  I love You Jesus with everything I am. 

Rebekah M.