Ten Key Choices to Keep You Out of Trouble
Published: September 11, 2008
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I love men. Yet, God has given me some practical ways to balance my emotions, desires and thoughts concerning my sexual desires. Sex is God’s idea! However, until you are ready to experience this special gift that God has created for you and your mate in the season of marriage, He has set up guidelines and instructions to protect you, not to torture you. He loves you! These guidelines are spiritual principles, some more basic than others. My goal is to help you develop the ability to manage your own natural emotions, desires and thoughts by instituting a few guidelines to help keep your ‘flesh’ in check.
Here are my top ten:
- Guard your heart
- Honor your parents/Pastors/mentors
- Hang with people who have your answer, and get away from people who have your problem
- Pursue sexual purity
- Build your self-esteem around the Word of God
- Decide to come to church, Bible study and sessions that promote spiritual growth
- Get a vision: mate, school, profession, future, ministry (chapter 5)
- Pray consistently
- Change your attitude (walk in love)
- Stop the sin
I call this list ‘10 choices to keep you out of trouble’, but this is really a list of ten quality decisions that promote purity-driven, purpose-driven and principle-driven living . Holiness will come as a result of your decision to glorify God on a day-to-day basis. It is a process. Do not become frustrated with the process. As my Pastor says, “…trust the process.” You are on the road to the best sex of your life, because this journey begins with a pursuit of purity and obedience, one choice at a time.
Guard your heart
Guarding your heart is my fancy way of stating the importance of being mindful of the things you allow yourself to hear, as well as the things you allow yourself to see. Guarding your heart encompasses a principle which is found in Proverbs 4:21-23. It states,
“My son, give attention to My words. Incline your ear to my saying. Do not let them depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart, for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
Protecting my ear gate, or being cautious of the things I listen to, has been a journey for me. I am selective about listening to certain categories of music, because of the lyrics within the music. I grew up listening to all kinds of music: R&B, symphonic, jazz, hip-hop, rap, classical, gospel, etc. When I became serious about my relationship with the Lord, I began to question the impact that certain lyrics within these genres of music had on my life, based upon my understanding of this scripture. I was very attached to some secular artists. I loved their music, their stage presence and their talent. However, their lyrics did not glorify God and their lyrics had now become software that I did not want to remain in my system.
For example, one of my favorite artists from the past had a song that is still very popular today. The song’s lyrics stated, “I don’t see nothing wrong, with a little bump and grind.” On the contrary, there is ‘plenty’ wrong, “with a little bump and grind.” To put it bluntly, now that I was saved and trying to live for God, this particular song totally contradicted everything my Pastors, my church and the Word of God was instructing me. This song was basically trying to encourage me to disobey God, disrespect my body and view the activity “bumping and grinding”, as an acceptable alternative to sexual intercourse. How ridiculous! I could not hear the Word of God on Sunday and expect to live it out Monday thru Saturday, while listening to music throughout the week that subtly (or not so subtly) taught me to do otherwise.
This excerpt has been taken from The Best Sex of My Life: a guide to purity, by Dr. Lindsay Marsh. This book is available for purchase at Dr. Lindsay’s company website: www.iamworththewait.com or online where good books are sold.
Copyright © 2008 Speak Life & Dr. Lindsay Marsh. All rights reserved.
said....
Great Article!
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