|Shaped and Purified|

By Melody Mohnhaupt

A few months back, I was being prayed over by a woman of God and she told me that I was going through a season in my life where I was being shaped and purified. I certainly felt the “being shaped” part occurring at the time. I had been going through, possibly, the most difficult time in my life. I was lonely due to friends moving away or moving on to new chapters in their lives, I was being falsely accused and spoken of repeatedly, I was going through emotional struggles concerning boys, and my family was facing major battles. I felt like I was being pressed on by every side; and though I suspected the undergoing of some sort of mental/emotional breakdown, that never really happened. Instead, I felt an odd sense of peace amidst the turmoil.

I knew the Lord was using these situations to create something great in me. He was testing my character and creating a strength in me that I had never known. Not to mention, he wanted me to hold onto him and press into Him more than I ever had. 

Months later, I saw that she was right. But something still wasn't complete. I didn't feel the “being purified” part taking place yet. Little by little the Lord is growing that desire in me in such simple ways. For instance, he reveals simple verses to me that, for some reason, convict me much more deeply than they did previously. A few weeks ago I came across a verse in Psalm 25 that reads: “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee”. Maybe this verse spoke to me because I have been feeling like I am in a stage of waiting for a while. I have nothing big going on in my life at the moment, I simply try to take each day and use it to get closer to where he wants me to be. But while I am keeping busy, am I living each moment letting integrity and uprightness PRESERVE ME? 

I was speaking to Kenya not too long ago concerning a project we are working on; in which purity is a topic we discuss. I told her this example I heard that may help others visualize purity. It was about a bride that has a beautiful white gown that she wears daily and needs to keep clean until her bridegroom comes for her. She can easily get tangled up in many unclean things along the way. It is impossible to dapple in those things and still keep her dress white! She must be very careful! If her dress is not white when our groom returns, He will not accept her as His bride. The verse I shared in Psalm 25 reminded me of this example. While we, as the Lord’s bride, wait on Him, (either to move in our lives or ultimately for his return) the only way we will preserve our “white dress” (representing our hearts and minds) is by living with integrity and uprightness. 

How many times in God’s word does he talk about being clean, pure, blameless or without spot? 

Ephesians 5:27 That he might present himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blemish.

2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, see that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Colossians 1: 21-22 …yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holyand unblameable and unreproveable in his sight

Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world

Psalm 24: 3-4 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully.

There are so many more examples in the Word where the Lord asks this of us. He asks this for our own protection! He wants our dresses to be preserved in our time of waiting until that day comes!

Be careful! It is so easy to get your white dress dirty! I mean, I cant even go one day wearing a white pair of pants without having a disaster. Can you imagine a lifetime of trying to keep a wedding dress clean? But that’s what it’s like. Thank God for His mercy and grace!! But we need to think about our daily actions. And, yes, even our thoughts moment to moment. Purity is so much more than just abstaining from a sexual relationship. The clips we see online, the commercials for that new drama, that conversation you overheard at school, the boy that keeps flirting with you and giving you attention, the reaction you have when your mom yells at you for no reason: these are all things that have potential of getting your white dress all dirty. And if you aren't careful, pretty soon your wedding dress could be filthy without even realizing!

Maybe you're like me and you've been facing one battle after the other. Maybe you've been one step away from losing all hope. Maybe you've even dappled around in some unclean things to distract from the chaos. If that’s the case, don't worry. It’s not too late. I encourage you to read Psalm 51 and make that the cry of your heart! 

Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Whatever your situation may look like during this waiting season, let integrity and uprightness PRESERVE YOU. You have an AMAZING destiny ahead of you and the enemy would love nothing more than to sabotage your plans. If things are taking longer than you hoped, that just means God’s not done working yet! Don't lose courage! Keep your eyes on Him! He’s coming. He has a fairytale waiting for you right around the corner. I hope your dress will be white and pearly while you wait for it ever so patiently! :) 

-Melody Mohnhaupt