"Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, it there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things." Phil 4:8

June 13, 2011

Warrior Prayers: Day 6 "Purity"

"And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as He is pure"
1 John 3:3


Things have changed in the world since I was little. You can hardly go down the street or freeway without having a totally inappropriate picture on a billboard right there to be a stumbling block for men and boys.  It seems like we can see what Paul warned us of in 2 Tim 3:1-7 happening right before our eyes.  Purity is so important in all our lives, but is so difficult for men in the area of purity, because pictures and messages are EVERYWHERE.  Each day, we should be lifting up our boys and our husbands, because they need the shield of protection to keep them from the firey darts of the enemy in this area.  If he can destroy the leaders in our homes, he is better able to bring down the whole house. 

 
 Encouragement from Hal & Melanie Young

The past ten years have brought a brutal assault on the purity of young men. Where it used to be that a young man had to happen upon a stash of wickedness in an uncle's footlocker for a few stolen moments or risk his reputation to go buy something in person at a store, now the evil comes looking for him. The average age of porn exposure is now 11 years old!

So how do we prepare our guys for this huge battle that is about to face them? How do we help them be strong and stay pure, so that one day they'll be knights in shining armor for their brides? We've got to get there first and be "the first with the most," as General Nathan Bedford Forest, the Civil War cavalry commander used to say. We need to be open and honest with our boys starting while Mama still gives them their bath and continuing through graduation and beyond--explaining and answering their questions, but especially putting it all in to the context of God's gift for marriage alone. Establishing that frankness and communication from the very start will really pay off when they enter the testosterone years.

Understanding what's going on is not nearly enough for our boys, though, especially as they become teens. We need to prepare them to look for the snares our enemy lays for them, give them tools to help them fight temptation, and make sure they have accountability that helps them stand firm. Too many mothers we talk to are in denial that their sons are old enough or sinful enough (hint: we all are) to face these temptations. That's sad, because their sons need their help!


We can help them, too, by praying for them. We need to pray for protection for them and pray they'll be strong enough to flee temptation - and pray for the princesses they will one day claim!

*Want to find out more about this topic? Hal and Melanie talk about these things in the "Love and War" chapter of Raising Real Men and in their new workshop CD: "Shining Armor: Your Son's Battle For Purity."

Goal for today:
  1. Commit to praying the ten prayers in the purity chapter for each son.
  2. Commit to praying for your husband in this are as well, and consider praying it regularly.
Purity
May__________have love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5).

May__________hope in God and thus purify himself (1 John 3:3).

May__________have religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unstained from the world (James 1:27).

May__________think on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, may he think about these things (Philippians 4:8).

May__________be like the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).

May there be no violence in__________'s hands, and his prayer be pure (Job 16:17).

May__________be pure, because even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright (Proverbs 20:11).

May__________'s love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that he may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10).

How can__________keep his way pure? By guarding it according to God’s Word
(Psalm 119:9).

May__________be blameless and innocent, a child of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation (Philippians 2:15).

No comments: