Friday, July 13, 2012

Love that waits really is true.

                 “‎True love isn't expressed in passionately whispered words an intimate kiss or a embrace; before two people are married, love is expressed in self-control, patience, even words left unsaid.” 
                                                                                           ― Joshua Harris

So, this subject has really been on my heart lately. Well, to be honest it is always on my heart to share with people the importance of love and purity. But recently I have felt led to write a post about the danger of  lust. Unfortunately so many have interpreted lust as having the same meaning as love. A lot of  that nonsense comes from our media. Like boyfriends and girlfriends having sex, men talking about girls inappropriately and so on. And some how people seem to find stuff like this romantic.  Because the world has blinded us to believe it is so. But let me tell you that lust and love are two totally different things, with total opposite meanings! Lust means to crave, to hunger, to covet, to yearn. It is filled with non satisfaction. You maybe satisfied for a few minutes maybe even longer. But eventually you will always end up hungry again, leaving you feeling depressed and desiring. But you see, that is not what God wants for you! He wants you to be loved over, not lusted over. He wants you to be cherished not just a play toy. God designed us and he knows how we work. He also designed sex and knows how it works. He created sex to be a guilt free gift with zero side affects and zero heartbreak. He doesn't tell us to wait until marriage just to sit back and watch us struggle. He cares for us and loves us enough to tell us to stay clear of lust because he knows the dangers of it.  He knows the horrible things that follow after lust which is death, bondage, greed, confusion, failing and self- condemnation. 
  
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
  James 1:14-15 
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.   Matthew 5:28

 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world    1 John 2:16
  
Instead, He wants us to know the power of  love that brings life, freedom, receiving, understanding and forgiveness. He doesn't want you to experience death but life, and life more abundantly! 


Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails! 
 1 Corinthians 13:4-8


And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:14

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Lust is Satan's  #1 tool to use when he tries to end relationships and marriages. Because he hates them so much! Especially when he sees that a certain relationship is glorifying God and desires to glorify Him.
Why does he try so hard to destroy a Jesus loving relationship? Because he fears the power in it.

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”    Matthew 18:19-20

If there is just one who can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. Imagine what two as one can conquer through Christ!   Satan fears that. So he wants to do all he can to destroy it! And unfortunately he knows a great weakness in a lot of  relationships is lust. So he runs with it by planting weeds at the door of your mind.  By telling you things such as " Well, you guys are going to get married anyways. So why not? And "You guys love each other  so it's okay" 

It's so important that you destroy those thoughts before they reach the finish line. Because sex out of marriage can destroy the love that was there! Even if it feels right. Which makes sense because you were meant to be together, and you are meant to give yourself to one another. But the timing is wrong if it's not in marriage and the right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing.  By letting that weed grow around your mind your allowing captivity not only in your relationship, but in yourself as well. When you just don't want any part of the relationship and temptation anymore. You decide to just break off what was once beautiful. The woman is left feeling disrespected, unworthy, and shamed. Feeling anger toward the man who is supposed to be protecting her sexual purity and honor. And the man is left feeling lonely,shameful, insecure, a failure  and disconnected  because he deeply feels rejected by the woman knowing he hurt her. You see, there is not just one victim but two.  And slowly they depart. Destroying something that was once beautiful into a heartbroken memory. This is why it is so important to destroy the weed as soon as it's planted and to not encourage it by adding water. This is why God tells us to wait. Because waiting will make a marriage stronger!

 Maybe you feel like you've compromised, or you haven't done everything right? But let me tell you that it doesn't matter how far you've gone. There is always freedom in Christ! His grace and His forgiveness can make you as pure as if it has never happened. But we need our hearts to be towards God fully. And He can cleanse us white as snow. He can give us the strength to live a pure life. But none of us are perfect. We all need the grace of God. And God is always willing to give us that grace, love and forgiveness. He already has! He doesn't condemn you and He doesn't want you to condemn yourself. But He does want to set you free! And who the Son sets free is free indeed!

Monday, July 9, 2012

Take delight in me.

How often do you take time to just simply delight in the Lord? I have been doing studies on the book of Psalms this past month and I have noticed quite a bit of scripture that talks about delighting yourself in God. And I couldn't help but ask God heart to heart if I have delighted in Him lately and constantly? Does He have my everything? Life can get out of hand sometimes, and we have all these obstacles coming at us constantly and it has become so extremely easy to think about things we don't have and praying about everything that has gone wrong in our lives. We get so caught up in the world that we forget what life is really about! It's about using everything you have for the Glory of God! About seeking first His Kingdom, doing everything with you greatest ability because you know your doing it for Christ.  Laying everything down before The Lord and taking delight in Him every second of the day. Our lives, attitudes  and perspective on things would be so much more joyful if we looked to the Lord with delight. Because we would see that He is all that matters and He is all that we need!

So let us wake up every morning praising God for His amazing personality and love. And ask yourself  "What can I do today for the Lord to find delight in me?

 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 -- Psalm 37:4


the Lord delights in those who fear him,    
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
- Psalm 147:11


Great are the works of the Lord;  
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
- Psalm 111:2

“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” 
 - Psalm 40:8

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,   
 which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—  
 whatever they do prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3

Do not fret because of those who are evil   
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,   
 like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the Lord and do good;   
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the Lord,  
 and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;  
 trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,    
your vindication like the noonday sun.
- Psalm 37:1-6

The Lord makes firm the steps   
of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,    
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
- Psalm 37:23-24

 
the Lord delights in those who fear him,    
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
- Psalm 147:11

The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,    
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
- Proverbs 11:20

The Lord detests lying lips,    
but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
- Proverbs 12:22

Happy Monday precious ladies!