(via live-out-faith)
A young woman with feminine mystique does not protect her inner sanctuary on the condition that she will one day find a man who will appreciate it. She does not ask, “Is this sacrifice really worth it?” Instead, a young woman with feminine mystique – who jealously guards her heart, mind, and body from the pollution of the world – does so as a natural outflow of her passionate love for her true Prince.
The number-one question I get asked by young women is this: “Are there really any guys out there who are worth waiting for?” Observing typical guy behavior in today’s culture can be overwhelmingly discouraging! … But before I deal with that issue, let me ask you a much more important question: “Are you willing to keep your inner sanctuary sacred and live a set-apart life out of love for your Prince, even if you never find a man who is worth waiting for?”
― Leslie Ludy, Authentic Beauty
Even a beautiful God-scripted love story can never satisfy the way Jesus does. Even the most heroic and Christlike man on earth can never fulfill the longings of our heart like the true Prince and lover of our soul (Jesus Christ). And until we are able to truly make Him our first love, until we are willing to give up our dream of an earthly love story for His sake, we will never know the fullness of Him who fills us all in all. We will always be looking to a mere man to meet the desires of our heart, rather than to the One who created us, who knows us better than we know ourselves, and who gave His very life’s blood to rescue us.
— Leslie Ludy, Sacred Singleness
(via pulchritudinous-grace)
It’s a constant battle. Keeping yourself pure. When you’re out there in the world it’s better to stare down at the ground then to look up. All around there are things to tempt you away from purity. It’s a struggle to keep those lustful thoughts from entering your mind. But it’s not about you fighting it, because you will lose. It’s about letting Him fight it for you. There is nothing wrong with admitting that you aren’t strong enough to fight it, but there is something wrong with not admitting that you need His help. Only He can keep you pure.
From the inside out Lord, consume me. So deeply, so heavily and so passionately- that when those who are searching for You break me apart and tear me to pieces; they’ll surely find You. Saturate me Lord, so much so, that they would see me bare and laying there- and scan me down, from head to toe in wonder. They’ll pull at me, and flesh by flesh they’ll see- bone by bone, they’ll pick apart, knowing these bodily things inside of me are only masking what is hidden within me.. And as they are searching for the truth of my heart, for the way that I work, and pondering the way that I move and breathe- they will finally press through to the core of my being- my heart… There, they will see, find and know, that it was You all along. Your word, Your promise, Your sacrifice, Your presence, Your love, Your grace, Your truth and Your saturation that shone brighter than the sun. Envelope me, Lord, so they would see, that aside from flesh and bone- that there is nothing good in me, but You.
(via pulchritudinous-grace)
Your bridge is steadfast, and upon it I stand firm, in the knowledge that although it may be narrow and long, and at times I may be tired and withdrawn- I am strengthened by the promise of Your eternal Kingdom. Though I may find myself distracted, or fear that I have wandered too far; I am gently reminded by Your Holy Spirit, that I am within your grasp. That I am firmly hemmed in from all angles, sides and avenues. Stitched together by Your grace that surrounds me, Your love that overwhelms me, Your protection that shelters me and Your peace that comforts me. How blessed I am that I do not journey alone, not for one day, one hour, one moment… You are forever with me. Replenishing, reviving and restoring me as I press on, with the desire to find myself in future- resting on the other side, hearing Your precious words spoken to me, Your child.. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
(via pulchritudinous-grace)
