12 Marriage Safeguardsనమూనా

# SAFEGUARD #9 PLANNING FOR PURITY This word, PURITY, can pack many different meanings and carry a ton of emotions with it. So, let me set the groundwork for why we saw this as an essential safeguard. The definition of being “pure” is to be without contaminants. We want to keep our relationship and marriage pure from the things that can contaminate it. Just like a vehicle runs better on uncontaminated gasoline, our marriage will be smoother and stronger when we guard against things that can contaminate. So, what are the common things that can contaminate our marriage’s purity? * Pornography * Sex outside of marriage * Lust and unchecked thoughts Before we go too far into this chapter, some of you may feel guilty already because you feel like you’ve already done things in dating or in your marriage that have messed with the fuel of your marriage, but let me encourage you that God can purify your life and your marriage again if you invite him into the mess. He will heal and restore your life. ## Biblical Purity For clarity purposes, when talking about purity, we’re speaking specifically to the standards that God’s Word sets out for us in relationships. Only He knows how our lives and relationships work best; He has the perfect formula for pure fuel. We don’t want to define purity by phrases like, “Everyone else is doing it,” or by the statement, “Well, at least I’m not as bad as other people.” None of that matters; we must keep setting our standard of purity in our life before and during marriage based on the Biblical standard. Why does it matter? Because I have an intention and goal I’m building toward in my marriage, and I don’t want anything to contaminate that plan. Our sex drive is God-given and incredible, but it’s designed to drive us toward our wife or husband. So, when we use our sex drive to simply fulfill a temporary need or urge, we reduce the value of marriage and contaminate the marriage. ## Purity in Marriage We hear the word purity and assume it’s for young people or just the dating scene, but walking in purity is just as crucial during marriage as it was before. It may look different in marriage because now having sex is no longer off limits, but keeping free from contaminants is key for relational longevity. Keeping your marriage pure will come from simple healthy boundaries and bigger-picture health conversations.