Purity

As a divorced woman, sexual purity wasn’t exactly the best news. Who does want to think about not getting any for a loooooooong time – if they do dare to remarry?

I’ve heard many who have struggled with this issue. A lot of people almost feel like they HAVE to sleep with their significant other in this day and age. Or else that person might leave them for someone less old fashioned.

I can empathize. When I was dating my ex-husband, I had made up my mind to wait for marriage. But I was tempted and I was afraid of losing him. So I compromised. I thought like Bill Clinton. I figured as long as we didn’t go all the way, we could fool around and it would be okay.

We eventually got married. Then all the marriage troubles started. Being with someone who didn’t share the same beliefs wasn’t working out for either of us. I ended up losing him to divorce. The headaches and heartache were incredible.

I truly believe now that even fooling around before marriage is so not worth it. I now look at waiting as a test of someone’s love and commitment for me. If I was going to make a commitment to someone for the rest of my life, I would definitely want that person to believe I’m valuable enough to wait for.

And in God’s eyes, I am so incredibly valuable, there’s no question I’m worth the wait. And you are too. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

I know the whole purity thing is never easy and relationships and marriage aren’t exactly a walk in the park either. I find comfort knowing Jesus walked through temptation and suffering (Luke 4:1-13, Isaiah 53). He does understand. He is more than willing to help when we’re hurting (Hebrews 4:15-16) When I’m discouraged, I also try to remember the hope God has planned for me. There are many promises in scripture that remind us what we’re suffering now is nothing compared to the blessings God has in store for us. (Romans 8;18, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Jeremiah 29:11, Zechariah 9:12, Psalm 16:11, 1 Corinthians 2:9, John 10:9-10).

I hope you have a blessed day.If you want to know more about your value to God, check out Path to Heaven and Our True Identity.

God’s Attributes

My image of God, honestly, kind of sucks. Sometimes, I get hurt and discouraged by the problems of life and it’s easy to start to feel like God is either mad at me or picking on me.

I started reading through scripture and the image of God I found was drastically different:

He is gentle

“A bruised reed he will not break, a dimly burning wick, He will not quench.
-Isaiah 42:3”

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
-Matthew 11:28-30

He cares about you

“Cast all your anxieties and worries on God for he cares for you.”
– 1 Peter 5:7

Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
-Isaiah 49:15-16

I have cared for you from the time you were born. I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is gray. I made you and will care for you; I will give you help and rescue you.
-Isaiah 46:3b-4

He is a teacher and a guide

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
-Psalm 32:8

Lean not on your own understanding but acknowledge Him in all your ways and He shall make your paths straight.
-Proverbs 3:6

This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lordyour God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.
-Isaiah 48:17

He gives rest

My presence shall go with you and I will give you rest.
-Exodus 33:14

The Lord shall give you rest from your sorrow.
-Isaiah 14:3a

He makes me lie down in green pastures, He restores my soul.
-Psalm 23:2

He listens

Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!
– Psalm 116:2

He understands what we’re going through

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

He (Christ) was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
– Isaiah 53:3a

He wants to heal us

But he (Christ) was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
– Isaiah 53:5

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
-Psalm 147:3

He wants to bring us hope

I have come so you may have life and have it to the full.
-John 10:10

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
-Jeremiah 29:11

He has even more hope for us in heaven

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have troubles. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
-John 16:33

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
-2 Corinthians 4:17

He likes to reward people

Without faith it is impossible to please Him. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.
-Hebrews 11:6

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
-Romans 8:31-32

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.
-Luke 6:38

He gives us the commandments because He cares.
He doesn’t want us to have unnecessary troubles of our own making.

Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.
-Isaiah 48:18

“But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, dear people, will you listen to me now? Israel, will you follow my ways? I’ll make short work of your enemies, give your foes the back of my hand. I’ll send the God-haters cringing like dogs, never to be heard from again. But, you will feast on my fresh-baked bread spread with butter and rock-pure honey.”
-Psalm 81:11-16

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD.
-Psalm 119:1

Encouraging Bible Verses

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
-Romans 8:18

Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us.
-Romans 8:37

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– Romans 8:38-39

I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.
– Philippians 4:13

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
-Romans 8:28

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
-Ephesians 3:20

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.
-Mark 10:27

Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord.Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
-Psalm 27:13-14

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
-Isaiah 41:10

Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
-Isaiah 43:1-3

But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
-Isaiah 43:18-19

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
-Jeremiah 29:11

With God’s help, I will do mighty things, for He will trample down my foes.
– Psalm 108:13

What shall I say about such wonderful things as these? If God sis for me, who can ever be against me?
-Romans 8:31

For the Lord my God is living among us. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in us with gladness. With His love, He will calm all our fears. He will rejoice over us with joyful songs.
-Zephaniah 3:17

And may you have the power to understand as all God’s people should. how wide, how long, how high and how deep His love is.
-Ephesians 3:12

Pay no attention to insults, and when mocked don’t let it get you down. Those insults and mockeries are moth-eaten, from brains that are termite-ridden, But my setting-things-right lasts, my salvation goes on and on and on.
-Isaiah 51:7b-8

As He (Christ) saw the crowds, His heart was filled with compassion for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
-Matthew 10:36

Loyalty makes a person attractive.
-Proverbs 19:22a

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
-Isaiah 40:28b-31

You are So Beautiful in God’s Eyes

In 2004, Dove released a study regarding women’s opinions on beauty. In this study only TWO percent of women described themselves as beautiful. Two percent. If you feel unattractive, you are not alone. I also struggle with feelings of unattractiveness.

God, however, sees us drastically different from the way we see ourselves:
– He chose us to be holy and without fault in His eyes (Ephesians 1:4)
– In Him, we will blossom like the lily (Hosea 14:5)
– The Lord will rescue His people. We will sparkle in His land, like jewels in a crown (Zechariah 9:16)
– We are God’s masterpieces (Ephesians 2:10)
– We are amazingly and miraculously made (Psalm 139:14 God’s Word Translation)
– Forget the people of the past. Your royal husband delights in your beauty. Honor Him for He is your Lord. (Psalm 45:11)
– To Him, we are beautiful beyond words (Song of Songs 4:1)
– We have captured His heart as His treasure, His bride (Song of Songs 4:9)
– As His bride and princess, we look glorious (Psalm 45:13-15)
– We are His special possession, that He will never abandon (Psalm 94:14)

Christ understands what it’s like to feel like He doesn’t fit into prescribed, narrow views of beauty:
– There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him. (Isaiah 53:2)

It may sound cleshe but there are internal qualities that influence a person’s attractiveness:
– Loyalty makes a person attractive (Proverbs 19:22)
– Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful face on an empty head. (Proverbs 11:22, The Message)
– Make yourself attractive by the good things you do (1 Timothy 2:10)
– Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. (1 Peter 3:3-4)
– Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

It also helps me to remember that this body I live in is only temporary. Someday, we will all have amazing new bodies in Heaven:
– When this earthly tent is taken down, we will have an eternal body made for us by God himself. (2 Corinthians 5:1)
– When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. (1 Corinthians 15:36-37)
– Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. (1 Corinthians 15:43)
– Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.(1 Corinthians 13)

I would encourage you to read through the Bible, try to see yourself through God’s eyes. You don’t have to cut yourself down or believe any lies about yourself. You are so much more than what others have said about your and you are much, much more than the narrow mold society tries to squeeze you into.

Do you ever struggle with doubts about whether or not you’re going to Heaven? I have too.
This article does a good job of explaining how to know for sure: http://www.insight.org/library/articles/how-to-know-god/relationship-with-god.html