Purity

2 Timothy 2:22 “So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.”

It is all about focus, where you let your mind go, and about dedication. A pure heart is a wonderful thing. It instills joy and vitality to serve in a trustworthy manner. But it takes at least a season of cultivating your soul, of setting priorities, of desiring deep relationship with God and others before you get there.

Some people’s inner life is so barren that the only sensitivity that they have is for the rise of physical attraction. They have no idea about the remarkable feelings that come from discipline and devotion. They cannot grasp that there is something far better waiting for those who refrain. A moment of trial successfully thwarted leads to deep, meaningful connections filled with joy!

If you are genuine, if you are compassionate, if you are tender, you are going to be exposed to intimate situations. These can be moments of transformation, both for you and those you minister to, or they can be moments of destruction and regret. You must decide ahead of time whether you will remain pure, ridding yourself of any need to feel desirable.

Luther astutely observed that you cannot keep a bird from flying overhead, but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair. Do not entertain fantasies about the other. These are delusions not based in the reality of what people truly bring. Hopefully, you have a spouse. These feelings are meant for her/him. And it is amazing, if you ignore wonder lust and stop looking around, how beautiful that person will seem. God has given each of us one mate, one person to be faithful to. Honor her/him by learning how to appreciate them. Only then will you receive the blessing of true and lasting satisfaction.