Morning Dew

It still awes me, to walk outside early in the morning and see the clouds sitting low over the grass. Even after for years, having taught the science concept of condensation to 5th graders, I'm still convinced that God's creation is amazing!

The fact that the clouds come down from the sky and sit among the very place that we walk! The very clouds that we can only see when we board a plane and exceed thousands of feet above ground, descend that same distance and sit in our midst in the early hours of the day. Those clouds bring moisture to the grass and become a source of refreshing and growth to the earth.

What a beautiful reflection of Gods heart for us. Though He sits high and looks low, He desires to commune with us so He sent His Son Jesus to earth to walk among us and pave for us the road to live forever with Him. He didn't stop there however, He sent His Spirit to live in us so He could dwell with us, comfort us in difficult times, be our strength when we need to obey Him, console us when we hurt and disciple us when we need direction. He isn't some far off God, he is the symbolism of the clouds sitting among us to shed His fresh dew on our lives for His glory!

Is abstinence even possible?

So often I think about my singleness and although I know what scripture says and I often see my season as a blessing; I can't deny that sometimes I view it as a punishment! As a woman, but more so as a human with urges I ponder on how in the world does God expect me to refrain from having sex? Why would he give his creation desires and then withhold it from them? Is it even possible to be abstinent or practice celibacy?

I'm not complaining, I'm just divulging my thoughts to you. He knows my thoughts and understands that I don't fully understand His ways. And let me say that even when I don't understand Him completely, I trust him entirely! For Him to say "hope deferred makes the heart sick" in Proverbs 13:12 helps me know he gets my situation.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not inclined to get married just so I can satisfy the longings I have...I know that's not the answer. But I won't deny that often times I connect the two and wish I could escape these urges through the vehicle of marriage.

James MacDonald says, "When God tells us 'DONT', what He's saying is 'Don't hurt yourself'." Living in abstinence has been a constant mind shaping exercise for the past 30 plus years. It's battling between my natural need for sex and my conviction to uphold God's command! But at the end of the day, its allowing God to shape my thinking & as a result, being convinced that God desires me to learn the discipline of self control! 

Chuck Swindoll makes this powerful statement:
"One of the greatest character traits you can provide your husband, wife, or family is self-control. Determine to stay strong." I love this because one of the leading causes for divorce is cheating. Spouses get furious when their significant others is unfaithful. But how futile to expect someone who has never practiced self control to all of a sudden break a habit because they've recited vows. It's much deeper than that. Abstinence practiced as a single will have its rewards long after marriage and even when/if one never gets married!

I wish I could restrain from indulging in my desire with my own strength. But how weary we become when in weakness we fail. What guilt and burden we carry when we find His commands impossible! I'm thankful that Matthew 11:30 says I can throw my weakness and the guilt and burden it carries with it, on Him! And even better, that in return He will give me the mind to see that self control practiced in my single life will be much appreciated in my marriage when infidelity tempts me! He will give me the strength to run from (not only temptation that dangles in front of me) but the very strong desires that arouse within me! This yolk, in contrast, is easy and light for it carries intangibles such as joy, peace and protection.

Abstinence may not be your struggle; but whatever your weakness is when it comes to obeying God, keep in mind these 3 things:

1. When God sets precepts, He does so for our safety!
2. His commands are not burdensome, it only seems that way when we are slaves to our flesh.
3. God desires to empower you to obey Him, He doesn't expect you to do so in your own strength.