What Purity is.

 Purity..  A word that is often mistaken, misused, and really misunderstood.

If you were to ask me what purity was and what it meant four years ago the answer would have been  different than my take on it now.. In fact total opposite.

I would have told you that purity is when someone saves sex for marriage. That was it. A very limited inside the box answer. But that's what I thought and believed defined purity. And unfortunately I wasn't the only person who thought  that.. My answer was influenced by older generations of women who believed that and passed it down to me and I have spoken to so many young women who believes the same thing..

Yes, saving sex for marriage is so so important and it's an act, an example and  a stand on purity but it's not what purity is. In fact you could still be a virgin who hasn't even kissed someone before but that doesn't mean you are pure. Because purity isn't physical. It's spiritual. It's a heart matter.. If your saving sex for your husband/wife but then looking at pornography, and lusting after young men or women it's really no different than hooking up with them in the first place. Because Jesus made it very clear that He doesn't look at the outer appearance but He looks at your heart! Which in my opinion is so much harder to control than physical.Sometimes we don't even  realize we're lusting after something until we have already done it.. Which is why on our own it is impossible to be pure.. to live a pure life.

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  -1 Samuel 16:7

But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28

I have realized the hard way that purity even has nothing to do with us.. It's not something we could conquer on our own.. But Jesus, He is clothed in purity and righteousness and self- control.. He is what makes us pure, righteous and it is Him who strengthens us with self-control. It is not our strength but His alone.

 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. -Isaiah 1:18

 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

And Praise God for that because that means our purity can't be lost! Even when we do mess up and make mistakes. There is no sin that is to big for Jesus to forgive.. After all He gave His life so that you could have His! And this brings me back to a personal testimony a few years back while Leon and I were dating. If you have followed me for a while now or have read my "Purity and forgiveness" post  you would know that my Darling husband and I were not the best examples for living out purity for that short  season of time. Though it was a huge goal for me to do so. Mistakes happened that I learned from.

I remember feeling so much shame. Leon and I didn't actually have sex but boy did we almost sometimes. I personally didn't see a difference and still don't. To me giving into the flesh is giving into the flesh. I remember thinking to myself that there is no going back. I've committed the sin that we Christian often call "the big sin".. The one I was positive with in myself that I would never commit! My stance on saving intimacy for marriage was so strong... I thought nothing could break that! And afterwards I was broken.. I gave up on myself. I was not only mad at myself I also thought I failed Jesus, I failed my relationship, I failed in all hopes of being a great role model for other young women who are striving for purity, and I just thought I was a failure in itself.. A failure who was impure.

But you know what? God is so awesome. He is good and His Amazing love endures forever and doesn't stop when you do something that wasn't the smartest idea. In fact, I believe that's when He knows you need Him the most.. When you've fallen I believe the only thing He wants to do is pick His precious daughter up, give her the biggest bear hug, tell her He loves her and to keep running the race! I believe He is right there besides you cheering you on saying "You got this My precious Darling ! Because I am right here with you!"

In this culture we find that hard to believe. At least I did! Because we have earthy imperfect fathers.. Fathers who don't always show love, affection, encouragement and forgiveness. In fact  a lot of dads out there are just heartless. But God is perfect in Love.. And no matter what you have done and will do He will forever be perfectly in love with you! After all what you have and will do is no surprise to Him.. He knows it's gonna happen.. That's why He sent His only Son Jesus to  give His perfect life for you so that it wouldn't change a thing between His relationship with you.. You see, He  thought of The Way to bring you back to Him even before you left.

Beloved,

and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.  Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. -Revelation 2:3-4

 I want to encourage you today to never forget your first love.. This is a verse The Lord had laid on my heart lately. It's pretty deep if you ask me. 

You know, living the life we live, the fast mode we're used to, and the blessings that have become so ordinary to our sight. We often forget about Our first love.  Especially in the busyness of  day. 

Sometimes we don't even realize that we have forgotten the most important One in our life, The One that completes us, The One who is constantly waiting for us to draw near to Him so He can show us the things unseen, The One who calls us "Beloved". 

And that is why I believe the rate for divorce is high, Mama's are burned out and feel a loss of patience,  Ladies in waiting are done with waiting, and ministries aren't ministering. 

Darlings , right here.right now. Lets dedicate our lives once again to the One who first loved us. 
Lets remember that it's only the love of Jesus that can complete us.

My Married sisters, Let us stop seeking  the love and perfection from our husbands that is impossible for them to give you. Lets stop giving them our one hundred percent just to expect one million percent from them. Because truth is we are never going to get a million percent from them and sometimes we may not even get that one hundred percent.
But let that not determine our unfailing love for our husbands. Let us love our husbands like Jesus loves us! And let us remember that the most important thing in marriage isn't to serve each other. It's not to cater each others every need. It's about living your life working together as a ministry, sacrifice, and to serve the One who can fill our every need. 

My mama's, Lets not forget to get some Jesus time in before the day starts.. Meet Him in the morning of the day before the little darlings get up.. Lets give Him the first of what we are so He can give us the first of who He is! Let His love over power us so we can share that love with our children as we continue to plant seeds in their life that will stick with them forever.  I'm telling you it's much better than a cup of coffee! 

My single sisters, I know sometimes it's hard to wait.. You want to be loved, cherished and cared for by a man. And Jesus knows and understands and He's bringing you your promised one. But until then let Him continue to romance you and draw you closer to Him.. Choose Jesus to be your Beloved, your main Man, your Everything. Because it is only Him who can and wants to fill your every need and every desire. 

And to all of my sisters in Ministry, Whether it's blogging, across country, in the church or even in the home. Let us remember to not be so soaked up and focused on serving God that we forget about Him. Let us not be so focused and busy preparing things that we forget to include God in the midst of it all. I believe that's one reason why the Church isn't reaching, healing and ministering. We're so focused on schedule and plans and running around like a crazy person that we forget to sit down sometimes and just love on Jesus and let Him be the ministry.

So my sisters, my friends. Today let us be reminded and never forget His unfailing love that's captivating.
Let us never forget our first Love during the craziness of our lives but instead run to Him. The One who can turn it into something beautiful and peaceful once again.

What I want my daughter to know & you to know too!

  First off can you believe my baby girl will be 9 months on Sunday? Man oh man oh man! Any way now that  that's out of the way and off my chest.

When I found out I was pregnant I was super excited about the responsibility God has anointed and blessed me with. It's something I take very seriously and I feel it should be.

These nine months have been such a fun and loving experience.  There hasn't been a day that went by when I didn't thank Jesus for my dearest Evelynne. And just watching her grow, doing new things each day and exploring what nature has to offer her excites me and has me thinking about what I desire to teach her and have already started!

I look forward to teaching my daughter so many things. To read, write, to find  beauty in the simple things in life. But  I believe really the most important thing I can teach my daughter, reveal to her and encourage her to receive and to know,  is her true identity in Christ! Because so many in the world are going to try and deceive her, and tell her who they think she is.  It is so important that those things don't matter to her and that the only opinion that should and does matter is from her Heavenly Beloved, Her Heavenly Father and King.

To remember that she is beautiful beyond compare. Not because of her looks or what she wears.  But to remember that she is beautiful because God made her that way. He looks at her, adores her and knows what He has made is really good! Genesis 1:31

To remember that she is the Victor and never the victim. Because she is the true daughter of the most High God. A spiritual warrior that cannot be defeated.



"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -1 Corinthians 15:57

  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. -Philippians 4:13  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. -Romans 6:14
To remember not to fear because she is perfectly loved. And that nothing can harm her. To know that she has the authority to stomp serpents, to heal the sick, raise the dead, and no evil thing will come near her. To know that evil is powerless when the Children of God are unafraid. And that God has given her the Authority to do such things.

There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
-1 John 4:18

 
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. That she has the very abundant life that God has given to her through His Son. 
-1 John 4:17

And when He had called unto Him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

-Matthew 10:1

Before she was conceived God knew her and sanctified her.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. -Jeremiah 1:5

 
She is the Bride of Christ. And she is cherished and crowned with glory and honor.

 

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  -Colossians 1:27

 

 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 

-Psalms 8:5 

And She was created for His Glory to do the Mighty things that God has anointed her  to do. And only she can do! 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. -Revelation 4:11

Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. -Isaiah 43:7

And that she can go to Jesus with anything and He will answer her and show her mighty things in His Name.   Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. -Jeremiah 33:3 


I have mentioned before that I believe the most important thing for a woman to know or anyone in general is to know their Identity in Christ! Because once they know that. Nothing will be able to stop them. Not fear, not condemnation, not people, and not even circumstances! When we know our identity in Christ we are dangerously unstoppable! 

I want to teach my daughter these things because I believe it is the most important thing a Born again Christian can know. If they don't know this, they will be stomped on and deceived by what the world thinks they are. My desire and dream is that my daughter knows who she is in Christ. That she can stand tall as a believer looking down to no one. 

 To have such authority in Christ and allowing Him to work miracles in her life. 

My uttermost prayer is that what people say doesn't move her.

But what she says moves other people. 

That she can stand inline at a grocery store and not envy or be discouraged by the half dressed model in a magazine. 

But instead pray for her and pity her.

 To not be effected by piers but instead her piers be effected by her. 

I believe God has given Leon and I such responsibility by placing this little love muffin in our hands A responsibility we will take most seriously. I can't tell you how blessed I am to be a mama!


                                                            Dearest Darlings,
                     If you don't know your identity in Jesus I highly recommend that you find out.
                     It's the identity Jesus overcame the world with and He wants to place that identity in you.
                    But loves, He can only give it to you if you receive it! And trust me you'll be glad you did!                                   Because you will NEVER be the same.

If you have any questions  or need encouragement on "Your identity in Christ" please feel free to e-mail me @ Heather.l.Riley.LWACW@gmail.com. I'd love to chat with you!

                                         Until then Love ya sisters! 
                                            XOXO - Heather

p.s Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the 2nd week of the "Finally Fall Link up" It's topic is  "Your  fall wardrobe" Dream or reality! But really you can link up anything fall related!