Psalm 119:9-11

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.”

 Key Verse

 I was reading the Bible one night and I came upon this verse.  This verse seems God given to me.  It articulates how I, a senior in high school, a teenager, can keep pure.  How can a young man keep his way pure?  This is the quintessential question for all young men.  This is the question that plagues my heart when I think by myself at night.  I personally have tried many things such as reading Joshua Harris’ book “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” or many other Christian “how to” books that make me have a headache.  I made decisions to not engage in partying and drinking.  I made decisions not to go to any dances.  I made a simple decision to try not to talk to many girls at school or to try to hang out with them. But to put these decisions into perspective, I am not getting any purer.  These decisions are pointless with any direction or “mission statement”.  They are just actions based on pride.

 I don’t have a burning desire to remain pure or clean but instead it’s a conscience that forcefully reminds me to.  It’s this conscience that pains me with mental repercussions of regret and hopelessness.  It’s this kind of struggle that seems pointless.  It’s a vicious cycle that takes control of you one way or the other.  The way I see it is that it can only be solved through an early marriage like my mom reminds.  I am hopeless and vulnerable unless I isolate myself on a deserted island.

 In Shepherd Nathan’s message, he talked of a refiner’s fire.  A fire so scorching and terrible that it takes out all the impurities of gold and silver, thus making tablets of pure gold.  It’s that spirit that I need, a scorching fire to rid impurities such as pride, laziness, selfishness, and lust in my heart. 

 This verse I can see is God’s simple word and command to me.  This is the answer to keep absolute purity in two simple steps.  First, living according to God’s word; and second, hiding God’s word in my heart.  One simple decision I can make to do this is to first have faithful bible study with my mom, and second, read the Bible before I go to bed at night.

 Next Year Prayer Topics

 On a sheet of paper one night, I was writing a laundry list of things I wanted to accomplish my senior year.  They are filled with selfish and prideful things.  Not one was God based or marked a desire for spiritual growth.  Here I made a simple list of what I can do this year, based on what we studied this summer, to serve God.

1. Based on Malachi 3:8-9. Spirit of Offering.  I can see that my offering is always a left over.  My mom was right when she said timing was right.  I pray that I can give my best and give a tithe every week no matter how little or much I have. 
2. Based on 1 Timothy 3:1. Noble Overseer.  God gives me the mission to take a noble task.  I hope through giving the very little I have such as: in drums, setting up chairs, or setting up the table.  I hope I can accept my mission also to be a shepherd for my brothers, Joseph, and Peter.  I also believe that God will give me the noble task to lead me to the best college this next year.
3. Finally based on Psalm 119:9-11, I want to hold on to God’s word in a deep part in my heart.  Only through grace and prayer can I even think about being pure.

 One Word: Hide God’s word in my heart