Tracking: The Holy Edition

Psalm 139:7–10
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”

God is with us.

That's amazingly comforting.

And, if we're being honest, a little scary too.

Why?

Because wherever we are...

He is.

We love talking about the presence of God when we're going through something.

When we're afraid:
“God is with me.”

When we're lonely:
“God is with me.”

When we're walking into something difficult:
“God is with me.”

When we don't know what we're going to do next:
“God is with me.”

And thank Jesus that He is.

But God's presence doesn't disappear when we're somewhere we probably shouldn't be.

He's there too.

Think about location sharing with your family.

You know how it works.

Somebody can pull up their phone and see exactly where you are.

At home.

At Target.

At work.

At somebody's house.

Sitting in a parking lot when you said you were “on your way.”

Consider God's presence tracking—the holy edition.

Except there is no turning His location services off.

God knows all.

God sees all.

And even when you “accidentally” leave your phone at home...

He still knows where you are.

Psalm 139 makes that abundantly clear.

David asks:

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”

The answer?

Nowhere.

There isn't a hotel room where God can't find you.

There isn't a parked car He can't see inside.

There isn't somebody's house that falls outside of His coverage area.

There isn't a vacation destination where His location services suddenly stop working.

There isn't a DM He can't see.

There isn't a deleted text He didn't already read.

There isn't an incognito browser setting in heaven.

There isn't a secret relationship that is actually secret.

Hebrews 4:13 says:

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.”

Nothing.

And before this starts sounding like God is sitting in heaven monitoring our every move waiting for an opportunity to punish us, that's not the point.

His presence is a gift.

The same God who sees us when we're doing wrong is the God who sees us when we're hurting.

He sees the tears nobody knows about.

He sees when we're mistreated.

He sees the battles we're fighting privately.

He sees us trying to resist temptation.

He sees us choosing obedience when nobody would have known if we hadn't.

There is incredible comfort in knowing that we are never outside of God's sight.

But there should also be conviction in it.

Because knowing God is always present should cause us to ask:

Would I be comfortable doing this if I could physically see Jesus standing beside me?

Would I send this picture?

Would I open this message?

Would I walk into this room?

Would I stay overnight?

Would I continue this conversation?

Would I touch them there?

Would I allow them to touch me there?

Would I watch this?

Would I keep scrolling?

Would I still call it harmless?

Because here's the thing:

Jesus is already there.

We sometimes behave as though our relationship with God remains at home while we go do what we want to do.

We'll leave church feeling convicted on Sunday...

and by Friday night, somehow we've forgotten that God has weekend access too.

But we cannot separate our sexuality from our relationship with Jesus.

WAIT isn't simply about avoiding intercourse.

It's about honoring God in the moments leading up to it too.

Where we go.

Who we're alone with.

What we entertain.

What we watch.

What we send.

What we allow.

What boundaries we maintain.

And what boundaries we conveniently move when temptation gets strong.

Sometimes the question isn't:

“How far is too far?”

Maybe the better question is:

“Is what I'm doing pleasing to God?”

That's a much harder question.

Because “How far can I go?” looks for the boundary.

“Is this pleasing to God?” looks for His heart.

There's a difference.

If we truly understand that God is with us everywhere we go, His presence shouldn't only make us feel protected.

It should make us want to live differently.

Not because we're terrified He's watching.

But because we love the One who is.

So the next time you're somewhere you know you probably shouldn't be...

Or doing something you're hoping nobody finds out about...

Remember:

Your location is still being shared.

Tracking: the holy edition.

And this one stays on.

May we always be found somewhere—and doing something—that pleases God.

Leave Something to the Imagination

Romans 14:13
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”

“Leave something to the imagination.”

That is what I was told by the women in my family growing up.

What did that mean?

Keep yourself covered.
Everything everybody could see did not mean everybody needed to see it.

In other words, stop showing all your goods.

And although the phrase may sound old-school now, there was wisdom behind it.

As believers, we cannot say that we desire to live pure lives while completely ignoring the message our presentation may send.

I know…but keep reading.

Modesty is not about being ashamed of your body.

Your body is not dirty.
Your shape is not sinful.
Having curves is not sinful.
Being attractive is not sinful.

And another person's lust is ultimately their responsibility.

Jesus made that clear when He addressed the condition of the person doing the looking. (Matthew 5:27-28)

But I also believe we have to be honest enough to admit that sometimes we know exactly what we're doing.

There is a difference between simply having a body and intentionally putting that body on display.

I once heard a gospel artist say that if seeing a woman's shoulders provokes something sexual in a man, then that man is dealing with perversion.

Now, I understand the larger point: women should not be made responsible for every thought a man has simply because she has a body.

I agree with that.

But I also believe we have gone so far in defending personal freedom that sometimes we refuse to acknowledge the power of presentation.

I've been minding my own business and done a double take at another woman because what she had on was so revealing or so tight that it immediately caught my attention.

And trust me, sis.

I am not interested in women.

Sometimes something simply draws the eye.

That does not automatically mean the person looking is lusting. But if something is intentionally designed to highlight every curve, expose intimate areas, or draw sexual attention, can we really pretend presentation has nothing to do with it?

And gentlemen...

Don't get comfortable.

This message is not just for women.

Sir, you cannot post a thirst trap on Instagram talking about:

“Just finished working out.”

Meanwhile, your shirt is nowhere to be found, your entire body is glistening, the camera angle has been carefully selected, and somehow we're supposed to believe the post is about fitness.

Please.

You know what you are doing.

And yes, men's clothing can be immodest too.

Clothing can be so tight that it exposes or emphasizes areas that do not need to be emphasized. A man's body can be intentionally displayed for sexual attention just as easily as a woman's can.

Modesty is not a women's issue.

It is a Christian issue.

And modesty goes beyond the amount of fabric covering our bodies.

It asks:

What am I trying to communicate?

Am I simply getting dressed?

Or am I trying to be noticed?

Am I choosing something because I genuinely like it?

Or because I know exactly what kind of attention it is going to bring?

Am I presenting myself in a way that honors God?

Or am I craving validation from people?

Those questions require honesty.

Because purity isn't only about what we refuse to do sexually.

Purity also involves our motives, our thoughts, our boundaries, and the way we choose to present ourselves.

Romans 14:13 tells us to make up our minds not to put a stumbling block in someone else's way.

That does not mean we must walk around terrified that someone somewhere might find us attractive.

That's impossible.

Nor does it excuse someone who refuses to exercise self-control.

But love should make us considerate.

If I belong to Christ, the question cannot always be:

“Can I wear this?”

Sometimes the better question is:

“Should I?”

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:23:

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.

That's maturity.

Not simply asking what we are allowed to do, but considering whether what we are doing reflects the God we say we represent.

WAIT is about more than abstaining from sex.

It's about learning to honor God with our entire lives while we wait.

Our bodies.

Our relationships.

Our conversations.

Our social media.

Our motives.

And yes...

Even our clothes.

You don't have to hide your beauty.

You don't have to dress like you're headed to Bible study every time you leave the house.

And you certainly don't have to carry responsibility for somebody else's inability to control themselves.

But you also don't have to put everything on display.

Sometimes Grandma's advice still works:

Leave something to the imagination.

Rise Above

Daniel 1:8; Daniel 9:1–22

Daniel was faced with a dilemma: God’s standards or the culture’s.

He was living in Babylon, surrounded by people who did not worship his God and immersed in a culture whose values were contrary to what he had been taught. Yet Daniel made a decision early on that the culture around him would not determine the character within him.

Daniel 1:8 says that Daniel “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.”

That word purposed is important.

Daniel didn't wait until temptation came to decide what he believed. He had already settled it in his heart.

God’s standards mattered more.

And that same conviction followed Daniel throughout his life. By the time we get to Daniel 9, we see a man who was still seeking God, still studying His Word, still praying, still confessing, and still refusing to allow the culture surrounding him to change his devotion to God.

Daniel teaches us how to rise above.

Rise above what everybody else is doing.

Rise above what everybody else says is normal.

Rise above the pressure to compromise.

Rise above the desire to fit in.

Rise above a culture that constantly tells us God's standards are outdated, unrealistic, or unnecessary.

Culture will tell you that sex before marriage is normal. It will tell you that waiting is unnecessary. It may even make you feel strange, undesirable, overly committed, or unrealistic for choosing God's standard.

But just because something has become culturally acceptable does not mean it has become spiritually acceptable.

Culture changing does not change God.

Daniel lived in Babylon without allowing Babylon to live in him.

That is the challenge for us too.

We don't have to isolate ourselves from the world, but we cannot allow the world to determine our convictions.

Daniel was not only pure; he was prayerful.

Daniel 9 shows us where his strength came from. When Daniel needed understanding, direction, mercy, and help, he turned toward God.

That matters because you cannot consistently resist cultural pressure through willpower alone.

You need prayer.

You need the Word.

You need conviction.

You need a relationship with God that matters more to you than acceptance from people.

Abstinence is bigger than simply saying, “I'm not having sex.”

It is saying:

I have decided that God's standard will be my standard, even when the culture chooses something different.

There will always be a Babylon.

There will always be pressure to compromise.

There will always be something telling you that obedience is unnecessary.

But there can also always be a Daniel—a man or woman who has purposed in their heart to honor God anyway.

You don't have to descend to the culture's standard just because you're surrounded by it.

Rise above.

Be pure.

Be prayerful.

And purpose in your heart that no matter what the culture does, you will honor God.

Back in My Right Mind

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” — Romans 2:4

Being in sexual sin can warp your thinking.

The longer you remain in it, the easier it becomes to start justifying what you know does not align with God’s Word.

We’re planning to get married.

We love each other.

God knows my heart.

I have needs.

We find ways to make our desires sound reasonable because sin has a way of convincing us that what we want should matter more than what God has said.

But love does not make disobedience holy.

Future marriage does not make present sin acceptable.

And having a desire does not give us permission to satisfy it outside of God’s design.

Sin will have you negotiating with standards God never asked you to negotiate.

It will have you searching for loopholes instead of surrendering.

And if we remain there long enough, what once convicted us can begin to feel normal.

That is why Romans 12:2 tells us:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Sometimes before God changes our behavior, He has to straighten out our thinking.

When I made the decision to practice abstinence, there was something I would constantly say to the Lord:

Thank You for not dismissing me from Your loving care because I continued to struggle with sin.

Because He could have.

Jesus could have allowed me to continue walking farther and farther away from Him.

He could have allowed me to die while still living in rebellion.

But He didn’t.

He gave me time.

Time to recognize what I was doing.

Time to repent.

Time to surrender.

Time to be restored.

And now He has given me the opportunity to testify to others about the power of surrender.

When I think about the things the Lord protected me from while I was in sexual sin, I become emotional.

There were consequences that could have followed some of my decisions for the rest of my life.

But even while I was outside of His will, His mercy was still surrounding me.

He protected me from contracting an incurable sexually transmitted disease.

He protected me from pregnancies I was not prepared for.

He protected me from situations I probably do not even know He protected me from.

Please understand: God’s protection was never permission for my sin.

His mercy did not mean He approved of what I was doing.

It meant He was giving me another opportunity to come home.

That is the beauty of our Father.

Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. After wasting what his father had given him and finding himself in a place he never imagined he would be, Scripture says something powerful:

“But when he came to himself…” — Luke 15:17

In other words, he came back to his right mind.

That is what sin can do.

It can take you so far from yourself that disobedience begins to make sense.

You can know God, love God, attend church, worship, pray—and still find yourself trying to justify something He has clearly told you to surrender.

But eventually, by the grace of God, you come to yourself.

You look around and realize:

What am I doing here?

Why am I settling for this?

Why am I choosing temporary gratification over intimacy with God?

And then you make the decision to go home.

What I love most about the prodigal son’s story is that when he returned, his father did not stand at the door reciting everything he had done wrong.

He ran toward him.

He embraced him.

He restored him.

He reminded him that he was still a son.

That is what Jesus did for me.

He did not continually remind me of what I had done.

He reminded me of who I am.

He reminded me that I am redeemed.

Chosen.

Forgiven.

Loved.

His.

And He reminded me that my story was not over.

Sexual sin may have been part of my story, but it did not get to determine the ending.

Now when I think about surrendering my body to God, I think about Romans 12:1:

“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

God gave us His Son.

Jesus gave us His life.

It is only right that we give Him our bodies.

Because our bodies belong to the One who created them, and sex is too valuable to be separated from the boundaries He established for it.

Abstinence became more than simply saying no to sex.

It became my way of saying yes to Jesus.

Yes to obedience.

Yes to holiness.

Yes to healing.

Yes to clarity.

Yes to trusting that whatever God asks me to surrender will never compare to what He has prepared for me through obedience.

And today, when I look back over my life, I can only say:

Thank You, Jesus.

Thank You for not dismissing me.

Thank You for being patient with me when I was stubborn.

Thank You for protecting me even when I was not protecting myself.

Thank You for loving me enough to convict me instead of allowing me to become comfortable in sin.

Thank You for waiting for me to come back to my right mind.

And thank You for welcoming me home.

If you are struggling with sexual sin today, do not confuse conviction with rejection.

Jesus is not standing over you waiting to shame you.

He is calling you out because He loves you too much to leave you where you are.

Come back to your right mind.

Come back to obedience.

Come back to surrender.

Come home.

Your desires do not have to rule you.

Your past does not have to define you.

And your sin does not have to be the end of your story.

Opportunity Is Not Confirmation

“When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity.” — Acts 27:13a

Paul warned the men not to continue their journey. He told them that sailing would result in loss and destruction, but they chose to move forward anyway.

Then a gentle wind began to blow.

The circumstances suddenly seemed favorable. The wind was moving in the direction they wanted to go, so they assumed they had received the opportunity they were waiting for. They pulled up the anchor and sailed on.

But shortly afterward, a violent storm swept across the sea.

The gentle wind was not confirmation from God. It only made their disobedience feel safe.

We have to be careful not to rely on circumstances when making decisions. Something can look good, feel good, and appear to be moving in the right direction—and still not be God’s will.

You should not walk through every open door you see.

You should not take advantage of every opportunity presented to you.

You should not accept every job you are offered.

And you should not date everyone who expresses interest in you.

An opportunity is not automatically an assignment from God.

Sometimes we become so excited about the gentle wind that we forget what God has already told us. We treat convenience as confirmation. We assume that because nothing is standing in our way, God must be leading us forward.

But Satan can present opportunities too. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan offered Him the kingdoms of the world. The offer was real, but accepting it would have required Jesus to step outside the will of His Father.

“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” — Matthew 4:9

That is why every opportunity must be tested through prayer and the Word of God.

Before you move forward, ask:

Does this align with Scripture?

Will this decision draw me closer to God or pull me away from Him?

Am I moving because God directed me, or because the circumstances feel favorable?

For those choosing abstinence, this discernment is especially important. Someone may appear at the exact moment you feel lonely. They may say the right things, show interest, and seem like an answered prayer. But attention is not confirmation. Chemistry is not confirmation. Availability is not confirmation.

Do not let a gentle wind carry you into a storm God tried to warn you about.

Slow down.
Pray.
Listen.

Pay attention to the warnings God has already given you. The right opportunity will never require you to compromise your obedience, abandon your convictions, or ignore the voice of God.

Just because the wind is blowing does not mean God is telling you to sail.

Opportunity is not confirmation.

Feels Good, But Is It?

Psalm 100:5

“For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.”

Have you ever heard the saying, “What feels good to you isn’t always good for you”?

That statement is especially true when we are trying to honor God with our bodies and our relationships.

We cannot allow ourselves to become distracted by how something looks or how it makes us feel in the moment. Everything that feels good is not from God, and everything that looks good is not good for us.

Sin often feels satisfying before it feels destructive.

What feels good today may be called a mistake tomorrow when it only gratifies our flesh. Temporary pleasure can leave behind lasting consequences, unnecessary attachments, regret, confusion, and disappointment.

Scripture warns us:

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
Proverbs 14:12

Something can feel right and still lead us away from God’s best.

Waiting may sometimes feel like we are missing out, but obedience is not deprivation. God is not withholding something good from us. He is protecting us, preparing us, and leading us toward what is better.

The Lord is good. His character is good. His intentions toward His children are good.

Jesus said:

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:11

God desires to give good gifts to His children, but good gifts received outside of God’s timing can become burdens. When we rush ahead of Him, compromise our convictions, or try to satisfy desires our own way, we interfere with the process He is using to prepare us.

God has a perfect plan with you in mind.

Do not allow one lonely night, one attractive person, one emotional connection, or one moment of weakness to convince you that God has forgotten about you.

Scarcity says, “This may be my only opportunity.”

Abundance says, “God has more for me than what requires me to disobey Him.”

Scarcity says, “I need to take what I can get.”

Abundance says, “I can wait because I trust the One who provides.”

Choose abundance over scarcity.

You do not have to settle because you are lonely. You do not have to compromise because someone shows interest. You do not have to accept temporary pleasure because you are afraid lasting love will never come.

Trust God’s process.

His mercy is everlasting. His truth does not change with culture, feelings, desires, or circumstances. What God called good remains good, and what He designed for your protection is still worthy of your obedience.

What feels good is not always good for you.

But what comes from God will always be good.

Let’s pray.

Father, help me not to be led by what looks good or feels good in the moment. Give me the wisdom to recognize what comes from You and the strength to walk away from anything that interferes with Your plan for my life. Remind me that You are good, that Your intentions toward me are good, and that I do not have to settle for less than Your best. Help me choose obedience, abundance, and trust. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Say What?

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV

When I decided to abstain from sex, the responses I received from men were, let’s just say, interesting.

I was always upfront about my decision when I went on dates, and usually one of two things happened: the men would stop calling, or they would continue trying to convince me to have sex with them.

The craziest response I received was from a man who told me I had “too much butt” not to let someone try it out.

Say what?

He spoke about my body as if I were a car sitting on a dealership lot, ready to be test-driven by anyone who showed interest. It was disrespectful, but it also reminded me why I needed boundaries. Anyone who could not respect my decision did not deserve access to me.

Despite the loneliness, pressure, and inappropriate comments, I was determined to keep the promise I had made to Jesus.

And it was a struggle.

Physically, yes—but even more so mentally. I started wondering whether I would ever meet someone who was willing to wait with me. I questioned whether my standards would leave me alone. There were moments when compromising seemed easier than continuing to stand firm.

But God gave me strength I did not know I had.

The Bible says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16 ESV

I learned that abstinence was not something I could successfully do through willpower alone. I needed the Holy Spirit to help me control my thoughts, manage my desires, and remember why I had made the decision in the first place.

Once I stopped focusing so much on whether a man would accept my boundaries and started focusing on Jesus, my mindset changed.

I began enjoying my relationship with Him in a deeper way. I also learned more about myself. I had time to figure out what I truly wanted, what I would no longer tolerate, and what kind of relationship would honor God.

Abstinence allowed me to get to know people without sex clouding my judgment. I could pay attention to their character, their intentions, their consistency, and whether they genuinely respected me. Without the distraction of physical intimacy, I could see situations more clearly.

God’s Word reminds us, “Flee from sexual immorality… You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” — 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 ESV

Your body is not a product to be sampled, tested, or used. You belong to God, and your decision to honor Him is worthy of respect.

So, I want to encourage you to keep the promise you have made—or consider beginning that promise today.

Some people may walk away. Others may attempt to pressure you, mock you, or make you question whether your decision is worth it. But anyone who refuses to respect your boundaries is revealing that they are not prepared to honor you.

It will not always be easy, but it will be worth it.

You will never regret choosing obedience, protecting your peace, and allowing God to transform your mind, your desires, and your relationships.

Keep going. God will give you the strength to remain faithful, one decision at a time.

I’m praying for you!

The Word Will Sustain You

The same Word that saved you is the same Word that will sustain you.

Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Faith is not built by feelings alone. Faith is built by hearing, receiving, believing, and applying the Word of God.

And according to Hebrews 11:1, faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” That means there will be moments when you cannot see the outcome, cannot feel the strength, and cannot understand the process. But the Word will sustain you when your emotions cannot.

Being abstinent and choosing to live according to biblical standards requires more than good intentions. It requires a spiritual diet. And that diet must consist of daily consumption and application of God’s Word.

Psalm 1:2 says the blessed man delights “in the law of the Lord” and meditates on it day and night. That means God’s Word is not something we casually visit when life feels hard. It is something we live in. It is something we return to. It is something we rehearse, remember, and rely on.

Psalm 119 asks, “How can a young man keep his way pure?” The answer is clear: “By guarding it according to your word.” Purity is not maintained by willpower alone. Purity is guarded by the Word.

When temptation comes, the Word will remind you who you belong to.

When desires feel strong, the Word will remind you that your body is not your own.

When loneliness whispers that compromise is worth it, the Word will remind you that obedience is still better.

When culture tells you your standards are too much, the Word will remind you that holiness still matters to God.

This is why we must store up the Word in our hearts.

Not just highlight it.
Not just quote it.
Not just post it.

We must hide it deep within us so that when life presses us, the Word is what comes out.

And God does not leave us to do this alone.

Jesus said in John 14:26 that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would teach us all things and bring to remembrance all that He has said. That means the Holy Spirit helps us remember what the Word says when we need it most.

He brings conviction when we are drifting.

He brings correction when we are compromising.

He brings comfort when obedience feels costly.

He brings Scripture back to our minds when our flesh wants to take over.

The Word produces growth, and the Holy Spirit helps us walk it out. Acts 5:32 reminds us that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. So as we surrender, obey, and stay rooted in the Word, we are strengthened from the inside out.

You cannot live sustained on spiritual snacks. You need the Word daily. You need it when you feel strong, and you need it when you feel weak. You need it when you are encouraged, and you need it when you are tempted. You need it when you understand, and you need it when all you can do is trust.

So feed your faith.

Guard your heart.

Store up the Word.

Meditate on His truth.

And when your strength feels low, remember this: the same Word that saved you is the same Word that will sustain you.

Let’s Pray:
Lord, thank You for Your Word. Help me not to treat it casually, but to consume it, meditate on it, and apply it daily. Strengthen my faith through Your truth. Help me guard my heart, my mind, and my body according to Your Word. Holy Spirit, bring Scripture back to my remembrance when I need it most. Teach me, correct me, comfort me, and help me obey. In Jesus’ name, amen.

You Got This Because God’s Got You

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 
1 Corinthians 10:13

Let me encourage you today.

You got this.

Choosing abstinence and positioning your life according to biblical standards can be uncomfortable. It can feel lonely. It can feel difficult. It can even feel like you are going against everything culture says is normal.

But remember this: you got this because God’s got you.

Many people may not understand your commitment to Christ. They may not understand why you are choosing purity. They may not understand why you are setting boundaries, saying no, and choosing to honor God with your body.

But your focus cannot be culture.

Your focus must be Christ.

I know it can be tough. Desires can be strong. Temptation can feel loud. I have been there. But this is why we must seek God’s help. Your physical strength alone cannot fight a spiritual battle.

You need the strength of the One who keeps you.

You need the grace of the One who sustains you.

You need the power of the One who has already made a way of escape.

So do not hang your head in shame because you are choosing a different path. Hold your head up. Stick your chest out. Walk with confidence. Not because you are strong enough by yourself, but because God is with you.

Say it out loud:

I got this because God’s got me.

And because God’s got me, I can honor Him with my life, my body, my choices, and my obedience.

You got this.

Because God’s got you.

Worship While You WAIT

My relationship with Jesus is what carried me through my abstinence journey.

But it wasn’t the same surface-level relationship I had before. In the past, Jesus was present in my life, but He wasn’t truly leading it. He was my “religious side dish” instead of the main course.

But when I made the decision to fully surrender, everything changed.

Jesus became my source, my strength, my satisfaction, and my standard. My worship went to another level because my dependence on Him went to another level.

And worship became my weapon.

When lust tried to rise up, I worshiped.
When loneliness got loud, I worshiped.
When temptation felt strong, I worshiped.
When my flesh wanted what God told me to wait for, I worshiped.

Worship reminded me that I was not alone. Worship shifted my focus from what I wanted to who God is.

The truth is, abstinence is hard when Jesus is just an accessory. But when He becomes Lord, He gives you strength you cannot produce on your own.

My friend, worship while you WAIT.

Not because the waiting is always easy, but because God is always worthy.

I’m praying for you.

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:24 ESV

Don’t Be Fooled

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13

There are many people who believe that if there is no penetration, then there is no sex. But oral sex is still sex.

It is intimate.
It is sexual.
It awakens desires that God designed to be enjoyed within the covenant of marriage.

The Bible warns us not to stir up or awaken love before its proper time.

“I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.”
Song of Solomon 8:4

I’m about to put you all in my business for a moment. I lost my virginity to a man who regularly performed oral sex on me. At first, I may have convinced myself that there was a line I had not crossed. But after a while, it wasn’t enough. My desires had been awakened, and they could not simply be tucked away. I was overcome with lust, and eventually, lust won.

My friend, do not play with lust. You are no match for it in your own strength. Lust has taken down people stronger than you, wiser than you, and more experienced than you.

That is why boundaries are not punishment. Boundaries are protection.

Do not fool yourself into believing you can keep opening the door and never walk through it. Sexual compromise rarely starts with “all the way.” It often begins with small permissions, blurred lines, and moments we thought we could control.

But thanks be to God, He always provides a way of escape.

Take the escape.
Set the boundary.
End the relationship if you need to.
Stop entertaining what keeps pulling you away from God.
And wait.

Waiting is not about denying yourself something good. It is about trusting God’s timing, honoring His design, and protecting your heart, body, and spirit.

Oral sex is sex. Lust is real. Boundaries matter.

Set them. Keep them. And by God’s grace, WAIT.

U-Turns Allowed

We’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all made choices we wish we could undo. But thanks be to God, our past does not have to be our prison.

God allows U-turns.

Maybe you’ve had sex outside of marriage. Maybe you ignored conviction. Maybe you knew better, but still chose what felt good in the moment. That does not mean God is finished with you.

His grace is greater than your shortcomings.

The enemy wants you to stay stuck in shame, replaying what you did. But God calls you to repentance, restoration, and forward movement.

Stop looking back and press forward.

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13–14

Your past is part of your testimony, but it does not have to be the place you live.

Repent. Receive God’s grace. Set new boundaries. Choose obedience. And keep walking with Jesus.

Our shortcomings remind us that we need a Savior.
Our salvation reminds us that God’s grace is enough.

God’s grace does not give us permission to stay the same. It gives us the power to turn around.

Let’s Pray:
Lord, thank You for Your grace. Thank You for not giving up on me when I made choices outside of Your will. Help me to repent with a sincere heart, receive Your forgiveness, and walk forward in obedience. Teach me to leave shame behind and trust that You are still writing my story. In Jesus’ name, amen.

God’s Standards, Not Yours

Sex is not bad. It is a natural, God-given desire created by God Himself. Sex unites two people emotionally, physically, and spiritually, and it was designed specifically for the marriage relationship.

Sex is a big deal to God because He created it. We don't get to redefine what He has already defined. When we attempt to make sex something other than what God intended, the result is often confusion, brokenness, and heartbreak.

Our sexuality matters to God. Scripture tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that we are to honor God with them (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). What we do with our bodies is not merely physical—it is spiritual.

The enemy and our culture work hard to minimize what God takes seriously. They tell us that sex is casual, recreational, and disconnected from commitment. God says otherwise. He designed sex to be protected within the covenant of marriage because He understands its power and purpose.

Don't allow culture to shape your view of sex more than Scripture. Don't allow Satan to pervert what God created to be beautiful.

God has a standard, and He does not adjust that standard to fit our desires. Take what you do with your body seriously because God does.

"Flee from sexual immorality... you are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." — 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Sex isn't casual to God.

What we do with our bodies matters because our bodies belong to Him. Honor God's design and trust His standard.

Abundance Over Scarcity

One of the enemy's greatest tactics is convincing us that God's way will leave us lacking.

Even though Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God is good and gives good gifts to His children, many of us still operate from a scarcity mindset. We fear that if we surrender something we desire, we'll end up empty, lonely, or unfulfilled.

When it comes to sexual purity, that fear often reveals itself in subtle ways. We worry that if we give up sex, we'll lose the relationship. We fear being alone. We fear that no one else will come along. We fear that the void in our hearts will remain unfilled.

But fear is rooted in lies, not truth.

The truth is that no person can fill a place in your heart that was designed for God. Relationships are blessings, but they were never meant to be our source of fulfillment. Only Jesus can satisfy the deepest needs of our souls.

When we choose obedience, we're not choosing deprivation—we're choosing trust. We're believing that God is a good Father who knows what we need and when we need it.

Jesus said:

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
— Matthew 6:33

God isn't asking you to surrender sex because He wants less for you. He's asking because He has something better in mind than settling for temporary fulfillment.

Choose abundance over scarcity.

Choose faith over fear.

Choose to trust that the God who created your desires is more than capable of meeting your needs in His perfect way and timing.

Let’s Pray

One piece of dating advice I’ve heard over the years is to keep your intentions to yourself when you first start dating someone. While wisdom and discernment are important, hiding your intentions can create confusion and unnecessary assumptions.

If you desire a Christ-centered relationship, why not make that clear from the beginning?

Praying together on a first date may sound unconventional to some, but it communicates something important: God is not an afterthought in your life. He is the foundation.

Prayer sets the tone for the relationship. It invites God into the conversation, demonstrates spiritual maturity, and provides insight into what truly matters to the other person. You can learn a lot about someone's priorities by their willingness—or unwillingness—to seek God's guidance.

Now, praying together doesn't guarantee compatibility, but it does provide clarity. If someone is uncomfortable with the idea of acknowledging God at the beginning of a relationship, that's valuable information. Their response may reveal where they are spiritually and what they are ultimately looking for.

The goal of dating isn't simply to find someone you enjoy spending time with. It's to discern whether this is someone you can pursue Christ with.

So before you discuss careers, hobbies, goals, and future plans, consider doing something simple:

Pray. Prayer reveals priorities. If God is truly first, don't wait months to find out.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." — Proverbs 3:5–6

Don’t Open The Gift Too Soon

The book of Song of Solomon is a beautiful reminder that sex is God’s gift for a husband and wife. Throughout the book, we see romance, attraction, affection, and commitment. It celebrates love as God designed it.

Yet in the middle of all the romantic dialogue, the woman repeats the same warning three different times:

“Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.”

Why would she say that?

Because some gifts are wonderful, but they must be opened at the right time.

Imagine finding a beautifully wrapped gift with your name on it. The temptation is to tear it open immediately. But if the gift is meant for a later date, opening it too soon can rob you of the joy and purpose it was intended to bring.

Sex is one of God’s gifts. The gift isn’t the problem. The timing is.

Our culture tells us to follow our feelings, satisfy our desires, and pursue whatever makes us happy in the moment. God’s Word tells us to exercise self-control, honor Him with our bodies, and wait for His timing.

Song of Solomon reminds us that attraction is normal. Desire is normal. Romance is normal. 

But just because something is good doesn’t mean it is time.

Three times the woman charges young women not to stir up or awaken love before its proper time. Through all the passion and romance, she still points us toward patience.

If you’re single, don’t mistake waiting for punishment. God isn’t withholding something good from you. He is protecting a gift He designed to be enjoyed within marriage.

Don’t open the gift too soon. Trust the One who wrapped it.

He knows exactly when it’s time.

Wanting More

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.” — Psalm 73:25

It seems our human nature often has us wanting more. Yearning for better.

The perfect relationship (which doesn’t exist).
A bigger house.
A better job,
A smaller waistline.
Fewer wrinkles—the list can go on and on.

But may I encourage you to exercise some patience. Be content where you are.

I’m not speaking of areas that don’t line up with the Father’s will or situations that are unhealthy. However, if you are living righteously and walking in His will, be content where He has you for this season.

I know you’re tired of being single. I know you’re tired of that job you don’t like. I know you’re ready for the next chapter. But don’t be in such a rush that you miss the lesson or the blessing God is trying to teach you right where you are.

Waiting is an expression of trust. It is a declaration that says, “God, I believe Your timing is better than mine.”

One of the greatest dangers during a season of waiting is trying to meet a God-given need in a God-forbidden way. You can’t satisfy a spiritual need with a physical substitute. You can’t find lasting fulfillment outside the will of God.

Instead of yearning for what you don’t have, yearn for Jesus. He is the only One who can truly satisfy the deepest longings of your heart.

Perhaps God created us with that desire for more so that it would ultimately lead us to desire more of Him.

Struggling? Pray!

When temptation feels strong, don’t just sit with it—pray. 

God never intended for us to fight our battles alone. His Holy Spirit is our Helper, Counselor, and Guide. 

When we invite Him into our struggle, He gives us the strength to choose obedience over impulse and purpose over pleasure.

If you’re struggling today, pray this simple prayer:

Heavenly Father, I make the decision to change. I recognize that I cannot overcome temptation in my own strength. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to help, guide, and strengthen me. Open my ears to hear Your voice and soften my heart to obey. I surrender my desires, thoughts, and actions to You. Help me use my body in a way that honors and glorifies You. Give me the strength to walk in purity, even when it’s difficult. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness when I fall short. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful…” — 1 Corinthians 10:13

Remember, victory doesn’t begin when the temptation disappears. It begins when you turn to God in the middle of the struggle. Pray first. Listen closely. Then take the next obedient step.

Bold Living

Living boldly for Christ means making decisions that protect your walk with Him, even when those decisions are uncomfortable.

Men, if the woman you’re dating consistently dresses in a way that stirs temptation, have an honest conversation with her. Ask her to help you pursue purity. If she refuses to respect your convictions, it may be time to walk away.

Women, if a man is constantly whispering sweet nothings in your ear in an attempt to get you into bed, shut it down. If he won’t respect your boundaries, move on. Anyone who truly cares about you will also care about your relationship with God.

Too many people try to fight temptation while keeping the temptation close by.

That’s not wisdom—that’s playing with fire.

Ask God to reveal any areas of neglect in your life.

What have you allowed to remain that is pulling you away from Him?
What boundaries have become blurred?
What compromises have you justified?

Then be bold enough to act.

Delete the number.
End the relationship.
Leave the environment.
Remove the app.
Set the boundary.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:30,

“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.”

Jesus wasn’t promoting self-harm; He was teaching us to deal radically with sin. Anything that repeatedly pulls you away from God is too expensive to keep.

Bold living isn’t doing whatever you want. Bold living is having the courage to do what God wants, even when it costs you something.

Protecting Boundaries Part 2

You’re probably thinking,
“There have been a lot of posts about boundaries.”

And honestly?
That’s because boundaries are essential when it comes to maintaining your abstinence.

Boundaries close off access to anything—or anyone—that can hinder your progress.

Not everyone will understand your boundaries.
Not everyone will respect them.

But anyone unwilling to respect your boundaries should not have access to you.

Give those people the benediction while you continue to WAIT.

The hunger for sin can sometimes feel more natural than the hunger for God.
That’s why we must constantly examine our desires and make sure they do not supersede God’s will.

Because lust rarely reveals its true cost upfront.

Sometimes it feels like lust hides its price so you won’t fully see what temporary pleasure is actually costing you.

Peace.
Purity.
Discipline.
Progress.
Intimacy with God.

The enemy loves distraction because distraction delays transformation.

So let’s not get distracted by appearances, emotions, or temporary cravings.

The goal is not to draw closer to what we want.
The goal is to draw closer to what we truly need.

And what we need will always be found in God.

Share this two-part series with someone that needs to be reminded boundaries are necessary.