Not Alone Series: Chastity

Linking up with Jen at Jumping in Puddles and Morgan at Follow and Believe for the Not Alone Series.

Living chastely {not just practicing abstinence} is a choice. Have you ever had to defend your choice to live out chastity? If not, why do you choose chastity?

Since chastity encompasses more than just abstinence, I would propose that the word "holiness" could be substituted in the question "Why do you choose chastity?" so it reads "Why do you choose holiness?" The answer to that question is quite simple: because God calls me to it.

Let's go deeper. The answer will not change, though, because if God calls me to holiness, then He will provide the grace and ability to be holy. The answer "because God calls me" is deep: do I fear God? do I want to obey God? do I believe that God enables me to do what He directs? do I want to be like Him? If even one of these questions is answered with a yes, then I need to choose holiness.

For my fourteenth birthday, my parents gave me a ring to be worn on my left ring finger. They didn't call it an abstinence ring or a "true love waits" ring. My parents presented me with a purity ring, to signify my commitment to purity in all areas: physically, spiritually, emotionally. They reminded me that my name means "devoted to God" and that this is an outward symbol of total devotion.

Wearing this ring reminds me to...

...guard my thoughts when I start to think a lot about a guy.

...keep my emotions in check.

...be careful about daydreaming.

...turn the page or change the channel if I read or watch something inappropriate.

...dress modestly, both for my sake and for the sake of those who will see me.

...make decisions not based on what others will think of me but on what God requires of me. 

Why do I choose to live chastely? I live a chaste, holy life because God has called & enabled me to do so.