Radiant Purity Conference, Part 1

I recently attended a virtual Bright Lights Conference on Radiant Purity.  There were 6 sessions discussing radiant purity, seeing life from God’s perspective, how to guard your heart, emotional purity, living by faith, and delighting in our heavenly Prince.  The sessions were great and really touched on what young women need to know about being pure and trusting their lives to God.  I’d like to share a few things that I took away from this conference. This is part 1 of my thoughts from the conference. The sequel to this post will be coming soon.

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[1] Why is purity important?

• Purity is defined as the absence or degree of absence of anything harmful, inferior, or unwanted.  There are two different ways of thinking of it - innocent or cleansed.  

• When it comes to our relationship with Christ, none of us are innocent.  We are called pure because Christ has cleansed us.  

Proverbs 20:9 - Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

• Radiant purity: It is inner purity that is visible outwardly

  • This is important because it provides a testimony of our faith to the world

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[2] What should we desire in marriage?

• We should desire the very best marriage, which means that we should wait for God’s best, God’s choice, and God’s timing. 

  • God’s view of marriage is a permanent relationship with commitment, unselfishness.  It is a relationship that is based on the standards, principles, and concepts of God’s word.  

• There should be 2 requirements for our future spouse - being a Christian and being strong in the Lord 

2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?  And what communion has light with darkness?

Galatians 5:16 -  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Romans 12:1,2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

[3] What are some character traits of great men in Scripture that we should desire in our future husbands? 

BIBLE CHARACTER	BIBLE VERSE	QUALITIES
JOB	Job 1:1	Blameless, upright, fears God, and shuns evil
CALEB	Joshua 14:14	Wholly followed the Lord God of Israel
DAVID	1 Samuel 16:18	Skillful in playing, might man of valor, man of war, prudent in speech, and handsome
DANIEL	Daniel 1:8	Purposed in his heart that he wouldn’t defile himself
STEPHEN	Acts 6	Full of faith and Holy Spirit
ISAAC	Genesis 24:63-67	Meditated in his spare time, loved his wife
HOSEA	Hosea 1, Hosea 3	Forgiving nature

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[4] What are the real differences between “dating” and “courting”?

• In courtship, marriage is the goal of the relationship.  According to scripture, there is no reason to pursue a romantic relationship except for the purpose of marriage. 

• In courtship, it is done with the complete blessing of both sets of parents.  God works through them and they provide us advice and guidance. 

• In courtship, the purpose is to build a strong spiritual relationship, not a physical one.  First, there should be a spiritual bond and then an emotional bond.  The physical bond is last and should only happen after marriage.  

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[5] How to guard your heart?

Song of Solomon 8:4 -  I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up not awaken love Until it pleases. 

• Be patient and trust God’s timing.  Love is something that comes from God.  So, in the meantime keep your thoughts on scripture.

Psalm 119:9-11 -  How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your word.  With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!  Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. 

• If we want to walk in purity, we must keep God’s Word in our heart.  We must keep our lives in line with God’s Word.

Matthew 22:37 -  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

• We have to love the Lord with our mind.  Thinking of things that please God and honoring Him in our hearts. 

Titus 2:13 - looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ 

• Look toward your heavenly Prince

2 Corinthians 10:5 - casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 

• Take your thoughts captive

• Weight your thoughts against the standards of God’s Word.  Replace the thoughts that you have with the truth of the Scripture.  

Proverbs 4:23 -  Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. 

• Show wisdom and caution in your actions, know your vulnerabilities 

More thoughts from the Radiant Purity conference coming soon!