November 4
A Decision of
Integrity
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (NIrV)
Dawn had been dating Harry for a few months now. They were both in high school, young and in love, and everything seemed perfect. They spent time together almost every day, talking about everything from their favorite music to their dreams for the future. Harry was kind and funny, and Dawn enjoyed every moment they spent together. But there was one thing that began to bother her, something she couldn’t shake off.
Harry had started to pressure her to take their relationship to the next level. At first, it was subtle—small comments about how much he liked her, how close they were. Then, it became more direct. “We’ve been together for so long, Dawn,” he’d say, “don’t you think it’s time we take things further?” Dawn was a Christian, and she had always made it clear to Harry that she wanted to wait. She wanted to honor God with her body and her relationship, and that meant staying pure until marriage. But Harry didn’t understand. He would keep pushing, each time a little more persistent than the last.
One evening, Harry’s parents were out, and they were alone at his house. As the night wore on, Harry’s advances became more forceful. He leaned in and kissed her, his hands moving too quickly for Dawn’s comfort. She pulled away, heart racing.
“Harry, please. I’ve told you before, I don’t want to go that far,” she said, her voice shaking.
Harry looked at her with frustration in his eyes. “Why not? Don’t you trust me? I thought we were close. You’re just overthinking it, Dawn. Everyone does this. It’s normal.”
But Dawn wasn’t convinced. Her heart was torn. She didn’t want to lose Harry, but she also didn’t want to compromise her values. Her faith in God meant more to her than anything else. With every ounce of courage she could muster, she took a deep breath and said, “If you can’t respect my decisions and my faith, then we’re done. This is who I am, and if you can’t accept that, we’re over.”
Harry stared at her in disbelief. His face flushed with anger. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re really going to throw this all away because of some silly rule? You need to loosen up, Dawn. I can’t have a girlfriend like you.” His words stung, and with a sharp motion, he stood up, pointing toward the door. “Get out.”
Dawn’s heart broke as she walked out of his house, but she didn’t regret her decision. She had made the right choice, even if it hurt. As she sat in her car, driving home in silence, she reflected on the decision she had just made. It wasn’t easy to walk away from someone she cared about, but she knew that her faith in God was more important than anything Harry could offer.
That night, as she prayed before going to bed, she thanked God for giving her the strength to stand firm in her values. She knew that God had a plan for her life, and that plan didn’t include compromising her integrity or her relationship with Him. As painful as it was to say goodbye to Harry, Dawn knew that God was protecting her heart and guiding her toward a future that honored Him.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for giving me the strength to stand firm in my faith, even when it’s difficult.
I know that You have a plan for me, and I trust that You are guiding me toward a future that honors You.
Please help me to continue making choices that reflect my love for You, even when others may not understand.
Help me to keep my heart pure and to trust in Your timing for the relationships in my life.
Thank You for the gift of Your wisdom and guidance.
I pray that You would continue to lead me with Your love and that I would always honor You with my body and my heart.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
