Chastity and Empowerment
Scripture:
1 Peter 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you
Reflection:
Today I choose to feast on chastity and empowerment.
We often think of chastity in terms of sexual purity, but it’s really about a broader sense of purity and integrity. It’s about saying yes to God’s plan for our body and our identity. We come to chastity by knowing who we are in God’s eyes rather than our own eyes or the eyes of others.
While lust feeds a false sense of power, chastity empowers us by refocusing our eyes on the truth. The truth about ourselves, about our neighbours and about God. When we know this truth are are empowered to act in ways that are fruitful and life-giving for ourselves and others.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
What stands out to me from my reflections this week? What might God still want to teach me?
How can I incorporate practices of chastity and empowerment into my life today? How I continue these practices throughout my life?
Prayer:
Share with God any lingering thoughts, questions or feelings from this week. Thank God for the gifts of chastity and empowerment that provide a path forward from greed. Ask God to help you practice chastity and empowerment in ways that are life-giving.
These devotions have been adapted from “Lenten Healing: 40 Days to Set You Free from Sin” by Ken Kniepmann.
