Devotional #15 (part 11 of 1 Timothy 4:12 study)

Well, it's that time of the week again! :) Time to continue on with our 1 Timothy 4:12 devotional study. 1 Timothy 4:12 says "Let no one despise your youth but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." We are currently on part 4 of the purity aspect of this verse. If you have been unable to read the previous devotionals in this series, please do so now by clicking here and then you can continue on with this one.

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In the previous devotional, I provided for you practical tips on preserving your purity. There is one however, that I did not add, as it requires a whole devotional in and of itself. And that is: give your heart fully to your father. Sadly, this is rarely heard of today, except through such great companies such as Vision Forum, or through wonderful authors such as Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin. In fact, very few young ladies even realize that this is a command found in Scripture! Malachi 4:6 says, "And He will turn the hearts of fathers to the children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." There is some powerful wording found in this passage! The Lord uses such language to drive home His point that it is so important that-in this case, a daughter-turn her heart to her father. Why is this commanded and why is this so important? Well, for one reason, when a daughter gives her heart fully to her father, she finds love and affection there and has no desire to go seeking love or affection from a young man, thus preserving her all-important purity. As Hannah Zes has said, "To give your heart to your father means that none, save Christ and your father, have any hold on your affections. I don't have to go looking for relationships with young men because my heart is content first in Christ and secondly in my father's love. I have found the greatest peace in knowing that my heart is safe in my father's keeping and that I can trust him completely with my future."

So, what does it mean to truly give your heart to your father?

• Apart from Christ, bend all of your affections towards your father-not some young man.

When you begin giving your affections to some young man, you are bit by bit giving away pieces of your heart to him-and this should not be! Your heart should be given in its entirety to your future husband one day. And the only way to insure that this happens, is to give your heart to your father and bend all of your affections to : above all else, Christ, and secondly to your father. No young man is to be the owner of your affections-those belong solely to your Savior, your father, and to your future husband. Period. If you find yourself becoming attracted to some young man (and you're not marrying age), pray that you will resist this temptation. Go to your father, tell him what you are struggling with and ask him to pray for you also. Whenever you find yourself thinking about a certain boy, immediately start thinking about something else. And use the tips I mentioned in my previous devotional-these will help you as well. There are also some books that I would like to recommend to you:

Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally (available through www.visionforum.com and www.reformedfamilybooks.com)

Lady in Waiting (this book is based on the book of Ruth) by Debby Jones and Jackie Kendall

Emotional Purity by Heather Arnel Paulsen

I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris

A good relationship with your father is so very important and crucial! If you have a loving, affectionate relationship with you father, this will save you from the desire or need to look for fulfillment, love, affection or affirmation from any young man. Begin now to develop a loving relationship with your father. If you have a father that is passive, doesn't seem to be very intrested in your life, or doesn't show his love for you very much, then pray for him. Show him love and you may be surprised what this love will do to your father-he may begin responding to you in a loving way in return. And for those of you who do not know your fathers, if you are a Christian, you have a Heavenly Father, and He loves you even more than any father or husband ever could. Place Him first in your heart forever and always.

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Please return Friday for the next devotional!