“I don’t know why I keep giving myself to these men…I know they don’t love me. But am I worth more than just sex?” she wrote. Her words pierced my heart; I empathized with her. I knew all too well what she was going through.
I would love to say that I saved myself until marriage, but that’s not my testimony. I struggled with pre-marital sex for many years. I knew it was displeasing to God, but my flesh almost always overpowered my intentions to do right.
At an early age, I’d been used to satisfy a man’s sexual desires. Because of that, I believed my body was created for that purpose alone. As I grew older, the cycle continued. Only this time, I willingly offered the most precious gift I had to give. It continued well into my adult life, and by that time I’d become comfortable in my sin.
I reached a point in my life where I wanted to become closer to God and desired to present my body as a living sacrifice, but sexual immorality had such a grip on me that I always found myself falling into its trap. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I prayed and cried at the altar, begging God to help me, only to find myself right back in someone’s bed.
Why do I keep doing this? Aren’t I worth more than just a good time? I’d ask myself. I guess I was asking the wrong person, because the only answer I ever got was, “This is all you’re worth.”
While still in the midst of my struggle, I began to spend time in prayer. I sincerely asked the Lord, “Is my body worth more than just sex?” And I finally got the answer I so desperately needed, found in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” My body? A temple? A sacred place where the Holy Spirit dwells? No way. It was hard for me to believe that there was anything sacred about my body.
I decided to seek the Lord through consecrated time of prayer and fasting, and my only request was for God to show me my value and deliver me from the desire to engage in pre-marital sex. And you know what? He answered my prayer. It was not at all an easy process, and there were times that I fell in the process, but because God helped me to realize that my body was not my own, and I should honor Him with my body, presenting it as a holy sacrifice, I was determined to overcome my struggle. He helped me to understand that although I’d been used and abused, my body was a temple -- the most precious, valuable gift I could give to a man, and it was not meant for me to share it with any old Joe. But it was designed for me to share with the husband He’d designed for me.
A few months after I began my journey to honoring God with my body and abstaining from sex, my longtime boyfriend and I were married. Now, I’m not suggesting that if you fast and pray for a specified length of time, you’ll end up with a husband and your struggle will be over. That's my personal story. All I’m saying is that prayer, faith, and determination works. God can help us with absolutely anything.
Each time a woman gives herself to a man that is not her husband, she gives away a piece of her soul, and she can never get it back. She defiles her temple. The precious, sacred temple that belongs to God is now filled with the spirits of every man she lays with. Her heart becomes emotionally scarred, and she loses sight of her self-worth.
Sisters, you are more than what your body has to offer. You are a queen, a royal gem, and your value is priceless. Don’t sell yourself short another day. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been struggling, or how many men you’ve been with, God will forgive you. According to 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” He will purify your body, your mind, and your spirit, and you can start afresh. Just because you’ve already done it, does not mean you can’t start over, and begin to practice abstinence.
I pray for you, whomever and where ever you are, that you will come to know your value, allow God to sanctify your body, and offer it as a living sacrifice to God.
You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. You can do it! You're worth so much more than that.
From my heart to yours...
xoxo
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