Here’s the thing… Valentine’s day is coming up and everyone is longing for something. Peace, joy, contentment, a family, love...chocolates. We all want something on Vday because every time February 14th comes around, loneliness just creeps up and sits on your right shoulder when you were wishing it could have been cupid. The problem with today’s view of love is it’s always comparing and rarely content. But what if there was a standard set before you for your current season? What if there was a love that could fulfill you more than the porn addiction, the “sexts”, the striving to be “goals”, and the edible arrangements? As much as we love a good edible arrangement, act of service and home-cooked meal- that’s not the goal. I’m writing to you about more than a silly man made day. I write to you because this is the time when all the feels get extreme because half of you are in love with the idea of love and the other half longs for something or someone to fill the void.
I’m here to tell you as a 20-year-old virgin in the 21st century that love is not the goal, Heaven is. Okay well, Gracelyn that’s nice and all but how do I live in a sexualized world and pursue God? How do I watch all of my friends get married and have babies and I haven’t even finished school? HOW? God, why do you have me here, behind, slacking while I get to watch everyone else thrive and have their desires handed to them? Why can’t it be me? Well here’s what I believe God is saying to His children: “You love love more than you love me.” The Father gives to children who are ready. Not all of your friends moved in obedience with the Father, not all of them have joy, not all of them even wanted the relationship, they were pressured into it. So first, please cut off the comparison because it only forms a deeper hole. HOWEVER, you just know in your brain that you’re ready! You cook, clean, serve, love well, forgive, read your word, go to church. But have you surrendered your idea of love? No.. really. Have you sat down and said, “Lord, here is my weakness: I idolize marriage.” The thing is, most of us are afraid to admit that because we think Jesus is too holy and far in the Heavens to resonate with our “now”. Here is what we have to undo: The idea that the power of love is greater than the power of purity. You have a duty and a call to pursue peace and holiness Hebrews 12:14 says without which no one shall see the Lord. What if you missed the mark because your main reason for pursuing God is to send you a spouse and fulfill your passion and desire? Maybe you said well “God will give me the desires of my heart” but here is the full scripture:
Psalm 37:4
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Delight means to please greatly or great pleasure. Have you really put everything aside to please the Lord? To seek Him and find what He has destined for this moment, now? Have you been obedient to what He has called you to for 8 years? Do you talk to God to hear or only to be heard? He intends good for His children. He wants to send a spouse because you so desire one but you desire a spouse more than you desire Him. Did you know that God is a jealous God? If He was a forceful Father He would force you to love Him and He would show you all of the prizes and delight that you have yet to see in Him. But He is gentle and it’s up to you. It’s time to do something with all of your desire. It’s time to lay it all down. When I find myself wanting intimacy more than God I cry then I realize that God is the goal. Marriage is not, kids are not. If He called you to live single for the rest of your days, What would you do? Would you disobey because you want what you want? OR-Live single, have your moments and keep doing the Lord’s work because HEAVEN is the goal.
Matthew 5:8 says “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”. I live by this scripture because it reminds me that as long as I pursue The Father’s heart, as long as I remain transparent in our communication, as long as I don’t hide from Him- He will lead me to His heart and ultimately to His kingdom. As I write to you, I feel emotion because He is Good. Living for him is a lifestyle of laying your desires and frustrations at His feet. Although I’m young, I know that He has not left. He never will. He sees what you want when you want it but His time is better. If you posture your heart to be directed by The Father, you will bypass unnecessary relationships and heartbreak. God never intended for your heart to be broken. He never wanted that for you but since you know what a broken heart feels like- allow Him to mend it. Allow Him to be Lord over your desires, temptations, brokenness, and longing. Allow Him to reveal Himself as a Father so that you know what the love of a Father feels like. Instead of jumping in relationships, jump into the arms of The Father who is known as ABBA. This time, make sure that nothing is masked or broken. Don’t even think of yourself as “Ready”. You aren’t ready until HE calls you ready. Maybe you’ll never know when or how that will happen but NEVER stop pursuing the heart of The Father. He will give you more than chocolates in a box, more than a long walk in the park, more than good sex and more that you could ever ask, think, or dream of. He is the Goal. Pursuing Him IS purity.
I want to leave you with this: Joy is obtainable, love is obtainable, peace is obtainable, contentment is obtainable and It’s through His spirit. It’s through your surrender. I chose at 17 years old to not have sex until marriage, then at 18 I made the decision to not kiss until marriage, nor am I dating. You have a call on your life that requires your undivided attention. Please, don’t allow yourself to fall again, get up and serve the Lord in spirit, in body, and in truth. Purity Is Possible. Today, tomorrow, and on your harder days. So let’s declare a refilling of love from Jesus. Let’s ask that His love would adorn us. Let’s enjoy where we are and not praise where we want to be. Here’s to pleasure and fulfillment in Christ.
I’d like to pray with you as you are on your journey. Married, divorced, widowed, single:
Jesus, make your home in your Child's heart. Allow them to obtain contentment in this season so that they may be equipped for the next. Father your word says that hope deferred makes the heart sick and we are asking that your spirit would mend every heart that has been broken, detach every soul that was not meant to be tied, and release every burden. I ask that you would extend your grace as we are human and desire intimacy and love. I ask that your desire would be our standard. What you want we will want. Father, we want to drink from your cup, eat at your table. We want to be One with you. Come and purify us from the inside out, help us to seek you in our weakness and be our strength when we are weak.
Pray this prayer to yourself: Jesus, I thank you that this day moving forward would be detached from my former days but today, I rededicate my mind, body, and soul. I submit to you and not an idea or thought. I repent for I know not what I do. Help me, lead me, and show me your love, especially when I want other things more than I want you. Hear me and help me. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Thank you, The Purity Crew Purity Is Possible
For the “PuriTea” Mug, you can visit GracelynSorrell.com to remind you that “Purity Is Possible” and “Heaven Is the Goal”. If you’d like to dig deeper into purity and even attend our conferences and events, you can follow @ThePurityConference & @GracelynSorrell
Comments