a day in the life of a male college student pursuing purity.

“Each and every day on campus is a battle — a battle against my sin, a battle against temptation, a battle against my depraved mind. Every morning I have to cry out for mercy, strength, and a renewed conviction to flee youthful lusts. The Spirit is faithful to bring me the renewal I need to prepare me to do war against my sin, yet the temptation still exists.

I’m thankful God has created me to be attracted to women; however, campus is a loaded minefield. There are girls everywhere, and I am guaranteed to pass some attractive girls as I walk to my classes. To make it through the day unscathed, I have to be actively engaging my mind — praying, quoting Scripture, listening to worship music, or looking at the sidewalk. Many days it takes all four to be safe.

The thing women do not seem to fully grasp is that the temptation toward lust does not stop; it is continual; it is aggressive; it does all it can to lead men down to death. They have a choice to help or deter its goal. Sometimes, when I see a girl provocatively dressed, I’ll say to myself, ‘She probably doesn’t know that 101 guys are going to devour her in their minds today. But then again, maybe she does.’ To be honest, I don’t know the truth — the truth of why she chooses to dress the way she does. All I know is that the way she presents herself to the world is bait for my sinful mind to latch onto and I need to avoid it at all costs.

For the most part, the church serves as a sanctuary from the continual barrage of temptation toward sin. However, the church’s members are not free from sin yet, and there are girls — those who are ignorant and those who are knowledgeable of men’s sinful tendencies — who dress immodestly. I must confess that even church can have several mines scattered about.

To the girls who are ignorant: please serve your brothers in Christ and have your dad screen your wardrobe. Ask him how you can better choose holiness over worldliness. He’s a guy, and he knows more about the temptations men face than you do.

And to the girls who don’t follow the pattern of the world: thank you a million times over. You are following Scripture’s commands and are helping your brothers in the process. Despite all that godly men are doing to defeat the sin of lust, they still need help, and they need you to provide it.”