Abstinence is Power pt 2

I suggest you read my original post (Abstinence is Power) from June 2012, before you continue reading this one. 

According to Wikipedia: "Abstinence is a self-enforced restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure."  We are exposed to far more temptations than our parents and grand-parents.  It is not that those temptations were not present during my parents generation, but there was stronger will power and pride in oneself.  I feel that this power has been stripped from us.  My last post referred to young women, but this post goes out to anyone who is struggling to restrain themselves from worldly pleasures.

I was prompted to write this because of the numerous cases I have seen of our young people selling themselves short.  There is more to a relationship than sex.  There is more to life than physical pleasure.  I am not sure what will help you understand that your treasure is priceless.  Your body is the Lord's temple.  It is not ours to defile by allowing anything and everyone to enter our bodies.  We only get one body.  Despite what some plastic surgeons may say, you cannot change God's creation.  Some may try to mutilate their bodies in an attempt to stand-out or cover-up their "flaws".  It is those flaws that make us unique.

A lot of time and energy goes into designing a masterpiece.  How would you feel if you were the artist, composer, sculptor, builder, or writer and someone came along and defaced it?  They decided it was not good enough and thought they could improve it.  Sadly enough, that masterpiece that your poured your heart and soul in to was now worth less than the materials used to make it.  That is what we do to God when we disfigure, deface, devalue the bodies He has given us.

It is not about having the perfect body, but about cherishing God's work.  It is about loving yourself and God and being conscientious of the things we do and put into our bodies.  Ladies, before you allow a man (to enter you, think about it.  If he is not your current husband, is it really worth it to devalue and disrespect your own self?  You are giving away more than just a 'good time'.  Before you use a product to change your appearance, is it really worth it?  Is a superficial you the only person someone sees, or do you allow the true you to shine through?

Men, before you try to 'one up' your friends and create another notch on the bed post, is it really worth it?  Can you honestly say you will respect yourself after you have stolen something so precious?  If she is not your current wife, I suggest you rethink your game plan.  Would God really be pleased with you?  Before you put chemicals in your body or on your body to enhance whatever, read the label?  Are the side effects worth defacing the temple?

This post is not to condemn, but to inform and help those who struggle with abstinence.  You can choose to treat yourself with respect and command it from others.  You only have one temple.  Love it. Cherish it.  Don't spend your time conforming to the world's view of beauty.  Instead, spend your time nurturing your body and focus on things that will be pleasing to God.