Pursuing Purity

I'm writing a new blog post about how Christian culture has labeled pornography as a mostly "guy struggle" and how that hinders women from confessing to struggle with it. I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

-Bathhouse Ruins- This Natural Springs Hotel was built in 1892 in San Antonio, TX and was a popular spot for travelers from all over the country because of its luxurious Natural Springs baths. It was reportedly a favorite spot of JFK's. In 1925, a vicious fire ravaged the hotel, leaving it in complete ruin. There is only one section of the enormous hotel still slightly standing today (pictured above). These ruins sit on the south side of the city, mostly unknown by the city's residents. The few who venture to explore these ruins tell of something strange happening there today. There is a dirt road behind the ruins, led by black signs on the trees with strange writing sure to make the reader shutter. At the end of the road is another sign, accompanied by what looks like a portal between two trees (pictured above). On weekends, there are reports of cars parked here in the middle of the woods behind these ruins. What happens here at night? Well, so far no one has stuck around to find out.

It started small... Here's my story, laid bare before you if you desire to read it. It is extremely personal and I struggled with even sharing it. But nonetheless, may God be glorified and may my pride diminish. Read at your own risk.

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"Amidst all of the chaos and confusion of my doubt, I decided that until the Lord revealed to me that it was time to write again, I was going to take a break from Pursuing Purity." Check out my new blog post to discover what God has revealed to me and where Pursuing Purity is headed! http://www.pursuingpurity.net/redefining-pursuing-purity/

You can stop fighting for a seat at the world’s table. You are seated with Christ. What more do we need? Heather Holleman's book Seated With Christ has revolutionized the way I see myself. If you struggle with identity and insecurity, I highly recommend it. “Is knowing Jesus more pleasurable, more exciting, more satisfying, more meaningful, more purposeful, and more full than anything I have or hope to possess?”

Thank you for the encouragement and I hope my followers are encouraged as well. It's so important to be open about our struggles! To bring stuff into the light because that's where we find healing. I'm so glad and humbled in the ways God uses this blog. Thank you friend.

All of these books are exceptional tools in your walk and any of them are a great choice to read! But just remember to always go back to the Word and don’t let these books be the only Scripture you are getting. Happy reading!!

The thing about anxiety, worry, fear, and things of that nature is that our human nature is not capable of dealing with them. We are not strong enough to push those things out of our mind in our own strength. We have to cast it on Jesus. Don’t get caught up in thinking that self-discipline and willpower are the key to defeating our earthly struggles. They are most definitely not. The answer is not to try harder, but to stop trying. You are not meant to. The Creator who created you is meant to take those burdens from us. So in those moments when you feel overwhelmed and overcome, set your mind on Him. And allow Him to take those thoughts from you and ease your mind. Open His Word and just read. Pray for wisdom and just focus on Him. He is meant to deal with those things, not you. 

I want to shout it from the rooftops! The answer to a godly life of peace is just seeking the Lord with everything in you! Who knew? So seek Him, sweet friend. Pursue His heart. Ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you. Make time to read His Word. Yes, at first it will be awkward and weird and maybe even boring. But keep asking Him to reveal things to you. Be obedient to Him. Look for His presence and His purpose in your life, and you will start to see a change. Suddenly, you won’t be thinking about a future husband but you’ll be thinking about what else you can learn from God. How else you can begin to live out what He is teaching you. Let Him be your satisfaction. Let Him fulfill you. He wants to! And once He does, you will find a freedom like you’ve never known. I cannot tell you how sweet this season has been for me. But it has also been difficult. Because as I seek the Lord, I become more like Him, and you know how that happens? He reveals sin to me. He reveals things in me that need to be healed. And this is painful at times. And it is hard, but the reward is greater because I know that He is not just going to reveal these things and leave me there in my guilt, shame, and sorrow. He reveals them to me and is faithful to work in them, to heal them, and to show me the way out. It is incredible. And I want this for you. I want this for everyone. Seek Him, friend. He is waiting to be found by you!

This is where personal conviction comes in my friend. There are some things that the Bible does not outrightly tell us what to think about it. So, don’t listen to the voice of men. Go to God, ask Him what He would prefer you to do, and if you ask for wisdom and He gives it. you should obey it. Don’t go to the Lord with your mind made up. Go to Him with an open mind. If you seek His wisdom, He will give it. So just ask. 

I think we should be praying for each other for sure. I would avoid praying together with this guy, but I would say it is totally fine to tell him general things to pray for. For instance, if a guy asked me, I would say, “Pray that I can be humble, that I can be gentle in my words, and that the Lord would give me His wisdom.” You don’t have to tell him your whole lifestory but if he really wants to pray for you, we can all use all the prayer we can get! Lol.

It is personal conviction, my friend. Listen to the voice of God and not of man. What has He called you to do? Ask Him and then do it. 

Now, I do drink with my friends occasionally. We don’t get drunk, but I love having my girls over for a glass of wine and we can sit there and talk about God! We can go out for margaritas and talk about what the Lord has been doing in our lives. I have a friend of mine who is a student pastor at a university and he cusses occasionally. Some of my other friends do too. Does that diminish the work the Lord is doing in their life? Absolutely not! I am learning a ton and yet I have moments of being prideful. We have to step out of this perfectionist mindset and start living our lives in the grace of God and have grace for ourselves and those around us. Follow the Lord, seek His wisdom, and pursue His heart. Don’t get caught up in legalism, friend. You are free from that. 

God has been doing some CRAZY and POWERFUL things in my life lately. I hope you are encouraged by this post and that God would bring you freedom through it. 

Healing will not begin until we put this into practice and confess our sins to each other and speak transparently about them. No matter how “shameful” your struggles seem, seek accountability. #purethoughts