What Do You Say?

I missed my post day yesterday--yikes, because I was at a conference all weekend. It was two days packed with great speakers and inspiration, but one thing stood out to me most deals with the topic of our words . . .

Many people (me included) talk about abstinence when it deals with our bodies. Yet have you ever thought about abstience concerning your words?

I can't tell you the number of horror stories I've head about lately concerning "innocent communication" gone bad.

One young mother recently left her husband and caught a bus across country to move in with a man she met on the Internet. She dragged her toddler son along too, devasting the two most important men in her life.

Another mom divorced her husband, yet has a "soul mate" half way across the world with whom she's been growing closer to by the day. (A friendship she started while still married.)

Many more still in marriages, and others who are single, have emotional bonds with people they've never met.

How do these things get started? Words shared, hearts revealed. Words of friendship, compassion, and care seem innocent enough at first. But emotional bonds are easily built--and for girls and women especially, parts of our hearts are given away before we even realize it.

It is wonderful, excellent, that we keep our bodies pure. But equally important is dedicating our minds and hearts. Here are a few ways to do this:

1) Protect yourself. It's easy to let your mind and heart get wrapped up with your emotions. Protection means not letting your guard down. Ever.

2) Watch your words. Are you confessing things in private that would turn your face red in public? Are you confessing things you wouldn't want you mom to say to anyone besides your dad?

3) Find an accountability partner. If you are struggling in this area, ask a friend to help keep you accountable. Be there for each other and encourage purity.

4) Pray! Ask God to show you areas where you need a tighter reign on your words, mind, and heart. You CAN be pure on this area of your life!

Tricia Goyer
www.triciagoyer.com