Devotional Index

June Devotional

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. - Proverbs 31:10

As I prepared for this devotional; many thoughts whirled about me. Should this be informative with statistics or should it be uplifting? Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6:2. SoI will bring both of these things to our attention if possible. We are all very well aware of our materialistic "me generation" culture. We all observe the many pitfalls out there to tempt our young people (or those of any age). Since the advent of television the entertainment fixation has affected our education and culture to a great extent. Now we have the internet and pornography, chat room romances, etc. to wreck marriages. We could dwell on the gay marriages, live-ins and drugs, but we can also look on the positive side where Christians on working hard on these issues. South Dakota got it through on no more late term abortions. Jay Segalow is fighting many issues also at the Nation's Capitol. There is a grass roots effort of various people to take a stand for our troops in Iraq, etc. My own pastor just got some notice locally and also appeared in "USA Today", when he opposed a movement to bring the troops home NOW. We can Praise the Lord when we see a victory and keep praying for our President, Nation and troops. I am personally excited to pray for our troops, that they may come to know Christ; or if they are Christians, that they will experience revival while in such a place. Also, I pray the peoples who have been in bondage (Iran, Iraq. etc.) may come to know Him.

In a recent mailing of Concerned Women of America, they had a lot of information on abstinence: "Why sex is worth the wait". Many thoughts were given: "Say yes to happiness; not just NO to sex," "Birth control should begin with self control." Sexually transmitted diseases (STD'S) are at an all time high - 12 million new ones in the U.S. each year... 40,000 new HIV infections, and 1.37 million induced abortions. The U.S. has the highest teen-age pregnancy rate of any civilized country. 17% of children in 7th & 8th grades have had sex, and in H.S. it is one in two! Between l960-1999, out of wedlock births went up 430%. This has contributed to a further break-down of the family.

However, the good news is that education helps. (abortions in Wisc. dropped in half in 20 years). Informing students of the danger and stupidity of "casual sex" is helping. The Southern Baptists have promoted "True Love Waits" with great results. In Atlanta, the abstinence program, Postponing Sexual Involvement (PSI), was geared to low income 8th grade students. A study published in Family Planning Perspectives showed the program's success: When compared with low-income minority students who did not participate, PSI reduced the rate of onset of sexual activity by 60% for boys and more than 95% for girls. Fornication (sex outside of marriage) is against your own body and has serious, long-lasting consequences. (See I Cor. 6:18) and I Thes.4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. At our CPC (Crises Pregnancy Center) in Madison, Wi., we purchased the Pam Stenzel tape "Time to Wait for Sex." We were pleased to have 12 schools agree to show it in their classrooms. The teachers seemed happy to receive any help we can give them, as they are well aware of the promiscuity going on. Hopefully this powerful video will have a lasting impact as it spells out the seriousness of the human papilloma virus and others with no cure. Infertility is also on the rise.

One sweet client we had at the Madison CPC was a 25 yr. old school teacher. She said "How stupid I've been, having casual sex! I am going to warn my friends that we've been sold a lie that could destroy us". She fortunately was not pregnant and plans to get active in the Wis. Abstinence Coalition. When I talked to them, they said this age is typical for an awakening to the error in casual sex. Hopefully this woman will warn many friends and be used by God. She prayed to receive Christ the day we met her. Have you taken this step of forgiveness?

• Admit to God you are a sinner.
• Believe that Jesus is the son of God and can save you.
• Confess to Him your need a Saviour.

Now, if you have followed Christ for years as I have, what about your daily cleansing and renewal? It is true that we are leaky vessels and are in constant need of the refilling of our 'tanks' by the Holy Spirit. Can you commit to a quiet time? Would you like to have a personal Revival? I have a very challenging tract by A.W. Tozer put out by Osterhus. It suggests:

1. Get thoroughly dissatisfied with yourself.
2. Set your face like a flint toward a sweeping transformation of your life. (Timid experiments are tagged for failure before they start.)
3. Put yourself in the way of blessing...take time for God.
4. Do a thorough job of repenting. (Let godly sorrow do her healing work.)
5. Make restitution wherever possible.
6. Bring your life into accord with the Sermon on the Mount. (Kneel & rise to obey God's commands)
7. Be serious-minded (avoid the pitfall of TV, etc...).
8. Deliberately narrow you interests. (Christ is the essence of all wisdom, beauty & virtue.)
9. Begin to witness. (Find something to do for God.)
10. Have Faith in God. (Begin to expect---look up!)

—Elaine Trow, Director, Access Women's Center, Madison, Wisconsin