Why Purity is So Tough to Maintain...

I'm tempted to give up quite often. I don't know about you, but it can seem pretty inviting to consider just taking a step back and let my mind and heart indulge in whatever "feels good." After all, it's tough to stay on the straight and narrow day in and day out. This struggle got me thinking recently about the question, "Why is purity so tough to maintain?"

As I reflect on my personal pursuit of purity I am struck with several major obstacles that tend to pull me back toward my former, familiar ways of thinking and relating. My first obstacle has been pride. Even in recovery I still want to call the shots and do things my way. I deceive myself into thinking that I know what is best for my life and what it will take for me to be the man I should be. My pride creeps in subtly through the tiny gaps of unguarded territory in my heart, and before long I am once again living my life as if I were the center of the universe. Pride makes it tough to maintain purity.

A second obstacle I face is that of the sexualized culture I live in. I cannot go one day without being faced by some external temptation to lust or fantasize. Simply driving to work can be an exercise in mental and spiritual gymnastics as I maneuver past seductive billboards or even provocatively dressed women waiting at a bus stop. The constant barrage of sexual images and messages are aimed at pulling me away from the truth and my relationships. This culture makes it tough to maintain purity.

There is also a third obstacle that proves challenging in my pursuit of purity: my history of sexual addiction. As destructive as my sexual addiction was to my life, my beliefs, and certainly my relationships, it was also what I turned to as a means of coping with life. For over 13 years I learned to "soothe" my stress and emotional pain through sexual acting out. It was my familiar way of responding to life's challenges. As I have pushed forward in recovery and reached new, unfamiliar territory of trusting God and being transparent in my relationships, I am often tempted to return to my former ways of coping. Recovery requires facing many new challenges that are scary and even uncomfortable. My history of sexual addiction makes it tough to maintain purity.

As tough as it can be to maintain purity, I am encouraged by God's Word that it is not only possible, but it is God's design for my life. First Thessalonians 4:7 states, "For God has not called you to be impure, but to live a holy life." God actually made me (and you) for purity, or holiness. What an incredible concept. What an encouragement of hope for those of us who struggle to maintain a lifestyle of purity. Are the obstacles I face real? Yes! Are the insurmountable? No. God gently reminds me in my daily struggle that He designed me to function best in purity as I surrender to Him. And He promises that His "mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness." God's faithfulness and mercy give me hope and strength when pursuing purity gets tough.

Are you facing some obstacles that are making it tough to maintain purity? Take heart. They are merely opportunities to strengthen your faith in a God who made you for purity. Take Him up on the challenge and surrender your will to do it your way in favor of receiving God's best.

Seeking God's best,

jonathan

Wash Your Windows...

I've noticed something recently when I was driving that caused me to stop and ponder a spiritual truth that I hadn't recognized before.

The other day I was driving along in my car, heading directly into a glaring south Texas sunset. It was a beautiful sunset, but I could barely see where I was going due to the glare coming off my windshield. I noticed there was a layer of dust and dirt on my windshield (I hadn't seen it before until the sun shone through), so I turned on my wipers and sprayers and cleaned away the dirt. Then an interesting thing happened. I could see clearly and the brilliance of the sun's light was enjoyable to behold rather than blinding and annoying.

This experience caused me to reflect on the condition of my heart as it relates to my view of God. I am prone to pick up a lot of dirt from this world. Tempting billboards, raunchy TV shows, maybe a violent movie or lustful thought. Each sinful particle lands on the "windshield" of my heart, creating a thin film of pride, greed, anger, and lust. Then I attempt to continue following the Light of the World. But I am trying to follow with a dirty heart. My vision is hindered. I squint and blink trying to make out the road ahead of me, but the layers of sin on my heart prevent me from seeing the truth clearly. I need my windows washed...

God assures us in His Word that "if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The dust of sin on my heart is washed clean by confessing where I got off the road and went my own way. The highway of truth and faith is firm, but the way of pride and foolishness is riddled with tricky turns, dusty trails, and dead ends. But when I confess my pride and humble myself before God, he is faithful to wipe my heart clean, giving me clear vision to see the light of his truth and grace. What a patient and gentle Savior!

May you examine your heart today and see if there needs to be some window washing in your near future.

Getting washed,

jonathan