My Teenage Walk of Purity

Growing up as a teenager I remember one verse that really helped me...that God gives us the grace to say NO to all forms of ungodliness...

I used to always declare everytime...God has given me the grace to say NO to all forms of ungodliness...and indeed all the way...I have been seeing the hand of God in my life...GRACE! GRACE! GRACE!

Bible verses that were key encouragement to me as a teenager.

Titus 2:11-12 NIV

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."

Prayers that I used to make then;

Lord, give me the grace to say NO to all forms of ungodliness.

Did I ever encounter any challenges as a youth?

Yes, but the Bible continually became my guide and encouragement.

I remember I kept reading Psalm 119:9 over and over.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

As a youth, I encountered some magazines that were not good. I loved reading but it dawned on me that some materials were not helpful as they portrayed or talked about things that were not in line with God's word. I realised to keep pure, I had to avoid such materials. This helped me a lot. I remember getting a novel to read and suddenly I noticed that some parts were talking about immorality as being a normal thing...that's when I made a decision not to read just any other book but be careful on what I select to read. Indeed, God kept me and at age 19 years old, I wrote a journal of purity in my diary.

For my teenagehood walk in Christ Jesus; my story.

Another Bible verse that spoke volumes to me was Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I would read this so often that it became a constant reminder that I needed the word to guide me.

As years drew by, Song of Songs also spoke to my heart and emphasized the need of patience in the walk of sexual purity.

Song of Songs 8:4

Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you, do not stir up or awaken love until the appropriate time.

Ha! Ha! Love manenos...I knew then that I had to have my own principles that could help me. I had to draw boundary lines so that I would not entertain sexual sin. What would this then entail as a young person?

It required me to be in the right company of people, I had to listen to mentors who gave us valuable tips as mothers who had journeyed teenagehood, I had to do it prayerfully and God's grace kept me. I had to obey instructions from the elderly — there was a time I had wanted to stay late with my friends, but when I was told I had to arrive home early, I listened. Maybe I would have gotten into trouble by late-night stays and nobody knew what company I was in.

It's like God surrounded me with support systems all through...so don't underestimate your prayer as a teenager! Keep praying! Keep trusting in God.

Encouragement for today;

God's hand is there to help you cross the bridge you can't, to jump the heights you can't, to swim through the big stormy ocean and emerge victoriously as a winner — all for His glory.

So cheers! You are not alone.

You are coming through that challenge! You are an overcomer in Christ Jesus.

Live your life as an Ambassador, representing Christ wherever you are.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman."

— Job 31:1