In Christianity we find no grey areas. There are no times when we have to sit there wondering, “Now, is this right or wrong?” Our God is a God of clarity and brilliance. He hides nothing, and leaves nothing fuzzy or grey. He is not a God who tries to trick His followers into loving Him – He puts everything right out in the open, so if you love Him, you love Him BECAUSE of who He is. “In Him there is no darkness at all.” And He wants us to know what His will is, so that we can obey — He’s not trying to hide something from us!

If you have been struggling lately with “grey areas” – things you aren’t sure about being right or wrong in your own heart, or things that your flesh loves, but you aren’t so sure whether they are totally pleasing to God, and you are tempted to err on the side of God’s grace instead of His holiness and just judgment…. then here are some scriptures to help you get your head on straight again, and to show you the clear path of holiness that God wants us each to walk. And who doesn’t need a refresher on these things now and then?? I know I do!

And yes, this post is meant to be a breath of fresh air in the midst of all the “50 Shades of Grey” posts floating around the internet. Share it to your own circle of friends to add the sweet fragrance of summer and the brilliance of a bright summer sun into the mix of debates and ruffled feathers. From what I’ve seen about it floating around, 50 Shades of Grey is a horrible, terrible, no-good movie/book etc. BUT, we can so easily get up in arms about something so blatantly sinful and perverse — even non-Christians are horrified. It is so easy for us to get upset about sins that we aren’t struggling with, but overlook the things that are in our own hearts — often the very same roots of sin that are at the core of the “bigger”, more obvious ones. So…while we’re up-in-arms against sin…what if we took some time to examine our own hearts too, and measure them with the standards of God’s holiness, and the ways He has set forth for us to live.

So here you have it — 50 undiluted, pure, brilliant truths to revive your heart this Valentine’s Day weekend!

1. “You shall have no other gods before me.” Ex.20:3
2. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…” Ex.20:7
3. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Ex.20:8
4. “Honor your father and your mother…” Ex.20:12
5. “You shall not murder.” Ex.20:13
6. “You shall not commit adultery.” Ex.20:14
7. “You shall not steal.” Ex.20:15
8. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”(aka: “lie”) Ex.20:16
9. “You shall not covet…” Ex.20:17
10. “I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman [or man] with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matt.5:28
11. “I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement…” Matt.5:22
12. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matt.5:44
13. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt.5:3
14. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matt.5:4
15. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt.5:5
16. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matt.5:6
17. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Matt.5:7
18. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt.5:8
19. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matt.5:9
20. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt.5:10
21. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you, and speak all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” Matt.5:11
22. “If you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt.6:15
23. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.” Matt.6:19
24. “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.” Matt.6:25
25. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” Matt.6:33
26. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” Prov.3:5-7
27. “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.” Ps.101:3-4
28. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jn.8:31-32
29. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Pr.9:10
30. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Eph.4:31
31. “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Heb.12:14
32. “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” Heb.12:4
33. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Col.3:1
34. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Col.3:2
35. “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” Col.3:5-6
36. “Do not lie to one another.” Col.3:9
37. “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…” Col.3:12
38. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…and be thankful.” Col.3:15
39. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” Col.3:23
40. “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” 1Thess.5:6
41. “Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thess.5:22
42. “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 2Tim.2:19
43. “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching.” 2Tim.4:2
44. “I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” Rom.16:19
45. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” Rom.12:9
46. “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Rom.8:6
47. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone lives the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1Jn.2:15
48. “But He answered them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” Lk.8:21
49. “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” 1Jn.3:16
50. “Finally, brothers, whatever is pure whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!” Psalm 141:3-4