From the best friend:

My best friend back home posted this today. The Lord is so amazing. I haven’t even talked to her in weeks and the Lord is still placing the same thing on our hearts! I’ve been throwing around some of these same thoughts in my head lately! I’m truly baffled at how God connects her and I without even the need to communicate at times. So anyway, here ya go:

I’ve had a burden on my heart lately about purity and godly relationships. I’m writing my thoughts down in a word document that has gotten pretty lengthy, but I feel like the Lord wants me to post a few thoughts today before the whole thing is finished. Some of these statements will probably seem bold and extreme, but I stand by them because I do feel like they are from the Lord. I welcome any and all thoughts and comments!

(Please note: Just because you’re tagged in this doesn’t mean that I think you need to hear it. I really just want to hear your thoughts. And I know most of you well enough that I know you’ll have something to say (…*Cough*…Katie and Matt….). I truly care about your thoughts because this issue is really important to me.)

Lately I’ve been floored with the people who have come to me confessing sexual impurity. Many of whom are looked to as leaders in youth groups and are seen as genuine christians.

Last night I was praying asking God what is the missing piece? I’ve heard many purity sermons, and I know I’m not alone on that. But impurity runs rampant in the church, even with more churches addressing it. Many people who confess and repent fall right back into their lusts until the next purity message is preached to them. But why? What’s missing? I feel like the Lord said to me this:

The Bottom Line: To be pure yourself, and to have a godly, pure relationship, both people in a relationship have to be in love and fascinated with Jesus and the things of Jesus.

I feel like sexual impurity’s definition has been watered down to only extreme physical relations. So for our purposes, this is how I define it.

Sexual impurity: Engaging in any intimate relations, physical or emotional, with someone other than your spouse.

When you’re married it’s not okay to kiss, flirt, or share personal, intimate things with members of the opposite sex, so I don’t think it’s okay before you’ve found your spouse.

I believe that dating around for the purpose of dating is selfish, and out of Godly character. Looking for love outside of the Lord is so dangerous!

I also believe that casual dating is a one way ticket to sexual impurity. You don’t have to date around to find what you want in a guy/girl. Being in love with Jesus will show you that.

If you are dating someone who doesn’t have the same zeal, passion, and conviction about the things of the Lord that you do, get out! Run for the hills! It’s not worth sacrificing your relationship with the Lord! Don’t even entertain those thoughts, because they are straight from Satan. This matter is not to be taken lightly. I promise you that you will be dragged down 100x faster than you will lift them up. And, someone might even depend on you for their relationship with the Lord.

This area, like all other areas of the christian life, isn’t supposed to be similar to the world’s way. And the area of dating looks all to familiar to the world’s way of dating.

I’m truthfully not trying to be condemning. I’ve screwed up in every single one of these areas that I’m addressing. I don’t know why the Lord has lit such a fire in me about this, but He has and I can’t keep it in. I truly feel like this area has been compromised in, and that if we can get a handle on the issue of pure, Godly relationships, we can better address the more severe issues of pornography, abortion, homosexuality, and other sexually immoral issues.

Don’t compromise for companionship! It’s not worth it! Jesus wants to fill that void. If you are not okay with being single, then you are not ready to be in a relationship. We’re all created with the longing to be loved, and to have companionship, but Jesus is the only one who can fill that void. And I promise you being intimate with Jesus, and finding your pleasure and fascination in His presence with satisfy you more than any other relationship!