Monday, September 15, 2008

AT THE WELL...Purity is Power!

I am meeting my friends over AT THE WELL today where we discuss some great topics each Monday. This week, TRACY is our discussion leader and she is leading us in the topic of purity.

" How do we teach the next generation (both our daughters and other young Christian women) how to live a life of purity?"

WEBSTER defines Purity as...
...1. The quality or condition of being pure.
...2. Freedom from sin or guilt; innocence; chastity.
...3. The absence in speech or writing of foreign words, slang or other elements deemed inappropriate to good style.

So how do we apply Websters definition to our Christian values as a young woman in todays culture?

First and foremost...being pure is exactly what God would want our young ladies to be! Just as Webster says...it is a quality or a condition (or A CHOSE) that we all have the ability to make. Society screams something different at our daughters, but God makes it clear that He desires us to be pure in our thoughts and in our actions.

Secondly... Remaining pure will save our daughters from a life of regret, a life of sin and definitely a life of guilt. Advertisement is selling our daughters this..."Everyone is doing it!" But that is not true...NOT everyone IS doing it! So don't listen to that lie! And if you have already fallen for it, if the enemy has already entrapped you...Webster got it right when it said there is freedom from sin...God washes our sin whiter than snow. You can't erase what happened yesterday, but from the day of repentance you can go forward with a different tomorrow.

Thirdly...Webster says to be pure - you should be absent of inappropriate speech and actions. Purity begins in your mind and in your heart. The old saying is true..."what goes in must come out!"

What are you allowing to penetrate into your mind?

  • with the music you listen to?
  • the movies you watch?
  • the friends you hang around?
Usually whatever you fill your mind with will eventually come out thru your speech and your actions. I have heard young ladies say that they are not affected by those type of things. The nudity in movies, and magazines. The foul language their friends use. But yet, what starts out as a thought (in our minds) will eventually penetrate to our hearts and what is in our hearts will come out in our actions and our speech. What goes in must come out!

HOW CAN WE HELP OUR YOUNG LADIES BE PURE IN THEIR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS?

1. PRAY. We must pray for our daughters and young women in our lives that God would protect them from these things. The enemy will not give up easily until he has our young ladies.

2. LEAD BY EXAMPLE. We must teach our young girls what God has to say about the issues that they are bombarded with. Sex before marriage. Same sex marriage. Being unequally yoked together. Being set apart from the World. We cannot just tell our daughters that these things are right or wrong - we must show them in God's Word and explain it. "Because I said so" just does not wash with this generation of young people. It may have been enough for you in your generation, but this generation needs to know WHY! Tell them!

3. GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. Once a year our church hosts a "Purity is Power" retreat for 5Th and 6Th grade girls. Why this age? We target this age group because they need to know about purity guidelines PRIOR to Jr high. In Jr. high we have girls having babies! I think waiting until then might be too late. This retreat gives an opportunity not only for godly women to mentor these young ladies into godly purity character but it also gives the girls an opportunity to ask questions that they may have like ....
  • my boyfriend says if I love him, I will give in, what should I do?
  • at what age is it OK to date a boy?
  • my Mom won't let me shave - how old do you have to be to start this?
  • I have a friend that is a different color, is that OK?
"Purity is Power" is NOT a sex education weekend...however, it is a time to let girls express themselves and ask questions that they may not otherwise ask. It offers an opportunity to guide these girls towards Gods plan for remaining pure. At the end of the retreat, our Assistant Pastors wife, who leads this each year, has each of the girls to sign a "commitment to purity" contract, stating that they will strive to lead a pure lifestyle with God's help.

With guidance and help from godly role models, and the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit I believe that THIS is the generation that is going to break that mold "If it feels good ... do it!" It is time to SNATCH our girls back from the clutch of the enemy!

1 TIMOTHY 4:12 "Let no one despise our youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

P U R I T Y .......IS..........P O W E R ! !

To get in on more discussion on this subject of PURITY, please join us over at THIRSTY FOR HIM. Find the chatter HERE!

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for sharing today At the Well. Excellent words of wisdom.

I will say that women need to take this responsibilty of teaching purity and living an example of purity seriously. The role of imparting the lessons of purity should not fall on the church or the schools. This is the job of the parents. Rather the church should be helping the parents (especially moms) fulfill this role.

This is why it is so important that we raise up a generation of young ladies that understands the beautiful role that God has entrusted them in!

Thanks again for participating today! :)

Anonymous said...
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Sunny Shell said...

"Usually whatever you fill your mind with will eventually come out thru your speech and your actions. I have heard young ladies say that they are not affected by those type of things. The nudity in movies, and magazines. The foul language their friends use. But yet, what starts out as a thought (in our minds) will eventually penetrate to our hearts and what is in our hearts will come out in our actions and our speech. What goes in must come out!"

Well said sister! Jesus Himself said what we put in our hearts is what makes us "clean", that is pure or unclean, that is impure, in Mark 7:20-23.

Oh, and to Anonymous, I completely agree with what you said! And to be honest, just from reading our sister Chelsey's other posts and what she's shared, I truly believe she means the same thing as you do. :-) I think Chelsey was just addressing the audience of Christian moms, not kids who aren't being raised in godly homes. I hope that helps to clear things up a bit! :-)

Bless you dear sisters!
Sunny

Joyfull said...

Beautiful post. Purity seems to be lost and forgotten in the day and time we live in. We as Christian women need to grasp the importance of purity and model it. Thank you for your tips. Very encouraging.

Laurie Ann said...

Excellent sharing At the Well today, Laurie! I love it. Purity is power. It is the power of God flowing through us indeed.

Sheila said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. "Let the older women teach the younger women..."

Parents miss out when they don't take the ministry of training their own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But if they so choose to miss out the women in the body of Christ will be there to teach the younger women to be pure.

Thanks for sharing your passion for God's ways
Sheila

LauraLee Shaw said...

I love the practical advice you give in your posts. They serve as take-aways that stick to the roof of my mind for a very long time. This is no exception. AMEN!

Rebecca said...

I like the idea of letting them express themselves. There is power in taking a stand. And giving girls a chance to proclaim their beliefs is empowering. Wonderful idea.

Laura said...

Thank you for stopping by and leaving words of encouragement. It's such a blessing knowing you (though we've never met in person, I know I have a friend in you). I really appreciate the prayers, and it was nice to get the message when I need those prayers today.

Great post!

Love, Laura

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of a "Purity is Power" retreat. I would love to see something like this in our church. Our church is small and growing, but I think it would be something great to bring up to our pastor for the future. Do you have any ideas I could use when mentioning it to our pastor as to how it could be done, or how your church does it? Thanks for the great post!

God Chaser said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on purity - i agree we have to be the example. I think it is a wonderful thing the women of your church introducing young girls to this information before high school. Our girls today get so much mixed infor from the world we must work hard to show and teach them god;s ways and value. I truly enjoy women at the well.

Tracy Berta-daughter to the King, wife, mother, speaker, writer said...

Great post!!!!

"Remaining pure will save our daughters from a life of regret, a life of sin and definitely a life of guilt"

This is so true. Sadly, there are so many women baring the scars of regret and shame.

Purity is power. AMEN!!!

Beautiful post, Laurie.