The Path To Purity

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word -- Psalm 119:9

In May 2009, Amanda Bonnen wrote what she thought was an innocently sarcastic note criticizing Horizon Realty, the owner of her apartment building. The short message posted to her Twitter account (a popular Internet chat service) was read by a handful of people, twenty at the most. That number shot skyward when the parent company, Horizon Group Management, sued her for libel and defamation. The lawsuit drew international attention and a fierce public backlash against the company, criticism that far exceeded the original damage of Bonnen's near-silent complaint.

This is often how sin succeeds in destroying lives. It usually begins small and seemingly insignificant. Then as time goes on, it grows within us and become a force too big and strong to recon with. By then, we are in bondage.

God is always for our purity. And purity begins in our minds with our thoughts. Notice that the psalmist zeros in on the “young person.” Now this can be taken in two ways: First, young in physical age. Second, young in spiritual age. I prefer the second myself. It will do no young person any good if he or she does not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Such a young person cannot use the Word to keep themselves pure when they are still in their sins.

It seems to me that “young” here is anyone who has recently said “yes” to Jesus and believes in Him. How does such a person keep him or herself pure as they embark on their walk with God? By depending on the Word and obeying it completely.

Paul in Ephesians 5:26 compares the Word to water that cleanses. Therefore, one of the best ways to cleanse your heart and soul from the defilement of sin and from the pollution of the world is to have it washed daily and frequently with the Word. This means we got to read it, study it, memorize it, and yes, take the time to meditate on it and pray back bible verses to God.

From my devotions, I take one or two verses (or more) depending on the passage, and throughout the day I pray it back to God.

Here is how I do it. I pray for four things as I pray a verse or two back to God.

Example: For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword – Prov. 5:3-4

This passage basically is teaching that temptation comes to us initially as something sweet and smooth, but its real essence is bitter and painful. This is what we find out after we have yielded to the temptation and have eaten of the forbidden fruit.

So, during the day, as I meditate on this passage, I pray it back to God in four ways:

1. Regarding myself: “Lord, your word teaches how temptation will come to me as something good for me, but it is not. Please give to me the discernment and power from the Holy Spirit to know when I am being tempted and to say “No.”

2. Regarding my kids: “Lord Jesus, my kids are at that age where they do not have experience to help guide them. They, like everyone else need the wisdom of God. Please help them to know your word so as to walk away from any temptation that comes to them packaged in a nice wrapped box. Don’t let them open it. Help them to know what is from God and what is not from God.”

3. Regarding my church: “Father, NHWO is made up of a variety of Christians who face temptations daily. The devil is sneaky and he would want to wreck this church by destroying the lives of its people. Grant each person (I may get specific here and name names in my prayer. People I know who are struggling with sin and temptation) the wisdom and discernment needed to know not to take temptation at face value but to remember what is underneath the surface at its core – bitter as gall and sharp as a two-edged sword. Please don’t let Satan take any of our saints away through his lies packaged through temptations. Cause each of our people to put on the full armor of God so that each one may fight and win against the schemes of the devil.”

4. Regarding my World (the community I serve – Waianae):
“Dear God, so many lives are lost and in bondage because they thought something was sweet and good for them, only to find out later that it was a huge mistake. Bring these people into our world and across our path so we can introduce them to the only person who can deliver from their bondages – your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to see every new person who comes into our church or across our path as a mission field, an opportunity to share the love of God with.”

So you see how I pray the passage back to God but in specific ways concerning specific people – myself, family, church, community? After I have done this throughout the day – mornings for myself, then later, mid-morning or early afternoon for my kids, then later for my church and then for my community – I not only know Proverbs 5:3-4 more intimately, but I have applied its message to my life via prayer.

I do this everyday with a passage that God shows me from His Word through my devotions. This way also I can pray for the four people (groups) – Self, family, church and community, in a variety of ways and topics and touch on many areas.

Now watch this: I know God will hear me, why? Because I am praying according to His will (1 John 5:14) when I pray back the scriptures to Him. God’s Word is His will, so I cannot lose when I use the Word as my basis for prayer.

Anyway, this is just one example of how you can use the Word to keep your way pure and to help you to both meditate on it better and to impact your own prayer life through the process.