By: Guest Blogger~ JJGuard your heart. What does THAT mean? Proverbs 4:23 tells us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Another version says, "Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life." We must realize how important it is to start life's patterns, habits & thought processes today, now, at your young, influential age! EVERYTHING, All issues of life start in the heart! Howard Hendricks (1924-2013) has a famous life changing quote: "In twenty years you will be the product of 3 things: |
I think this might be the ONLY podcast where I keep up with every single episode and listen to episodes ASAP once they're published. I absolutely love how Allie breaks down currerent cultural, political, and spirital issues in today's society through the Christian perspective. She also has amazing guests on her podcasts that also shine a huge light and help make sense of whatever is being talked about on that day's podcast epsiode (e.g., critical race theory, transgenderism, misused Bible verses, etc). You can listen to this podcast here. |
2. Revive Our Hearts (With NAncy DeMoss Wolgemuth)
Revive Our Hearts is such a great podcast! Nancy teaches various theological concepts in the Christian life in about 25 minute episodes, making it easy to listen to while doing housework, homework, etc. This podcast also has such incredible stories and teachings from things that they've learned over the years (like Mary A. Kassian, Erin Davis, and Dannah Gresh). This podcast is something that I recommend you go check out RIGHT NOW here. |
3. Ask Pastor John (With Tony Reinke and John Piper)
Ask Pastor John is another great podcast if you're short on time (each episode is around ten minutes!) and want to listen to some solid Christian theology. In this podcast, John Piper answers questions about various things in the Christian life sent in by various listeners, all from the Christian perspective. It's easy to follow and understand, and again, is short enough to listen to while you're getting ready in the morining! You can check out Ask Pastor John here. |
4. The Girl Defined Show (With Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal)
Y'all know I LOVE Girl Defined and what Kristen and Bethany do, and I was super excited when they came out with a podcast. They release epsiodes every Monday with epsiodes that wrestle with and give advice on various topics in the Christian walk and in the culture: relationships, social media, transgenderism, eating disorders, etc. Kristen and Bethany give such sound, biblical, gospel-centered advice on their podcast, and they have had awesome guests (like Nancy Pearcey and Gretchen Saffles) that do the same! You can find The Girl Defined Show on Apple Podcasts here or on Spotify here. |
What Are You Listening To?
Those are my top four favorite Christian podcasts! I highly encourage you to check out all four of them. I also want to encourage you to think about the Christian podcasts you're currently listening to. Like I said earlier, there are tons of "Christian" podcasts that don't actually preach the gospel. Evaluate what you're listening to:
- Does it preach the true gospel? Or is it preaching things like the prosperity gospel, progressive Christianity, or liberty Christianity?
- Does it align with the gospel? Does it align with what the Bible says (no verse misuses!)?
- Is the gospel the reason and the center of the message? Or does it focus on what you can do for you and sound more like a TED talk?
- Does it go back to the gospel?
- Does it acknowledge that we need God, that we need His mercy, His grace, His strength?Does it acknowledge that we need to be dependent on Him? Or does it focus on your own strength in your life and your own independance (which, by the way, is nonexistent)?
Speaking of solid Christian podcasts, A Message for Christian Girls has a podcast! If you haven't got a chance to listen to it yet, you can check it out here.
I'd love to hear from you! What are some of your favorite Christian podcasts to listen to? Let me know in the comments below!
By: Guest Blogger~Mrs. M
Thank you, Chris V, for inviting me to contribute to your blog for Christian girls. It is such an encouragement to hear of young women seeking to follow Christ in a culture that promotes the complete opposite.
My husband and I started participating in our church’s young adult group (college and career) a few years ago as leaders/mentors. I have been blessed to make relationships with a multitude of single young adults who are truly pursuing Christ through His Word and fellowship with other believers – young and old alike.
Throughout history (HIS-story), God has always preserved a remnant (a small remaining quantity) of faithful followers. I think of the Old Testament story in 1 Kings 19 when Elijah was hiding from Queen Jezebel in a cave after a victory over the idol Baal. He was fearing for his live and feeling sorry for himself saying, “I alone am left.” Do you ever feel like this? Are you surrounded by peers and even adults who are haters of God that may even attack your faith? Do you remember God’s response to Elijah?
The Lord answered in 1 Kings 19:18 “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.” Do not be discouraged, dear reader. If you know and love Christ, then you are part of His precious remnant of believers who have not embraced the idols that this world “worships.”
Chris V asked for some input regarding guys, dating, relationships, marriage, etc. from a Christian perspective. Having been married for nearly 37 years, I want to encourage you that it is truly possible to have a “happily ever after” marriage in this life, but only through the mutual pursuit of Christ together. The cord of three strands is indeed a strong bond when Christ is the central strand (Ecclesiastes 4:12). It may be a bit too soon for you to be dating or considering marriage, but it is never too soon to begin to prepare for it.
There is an old saying “opposites attract”. While this may be true of personalities, it should not be the case with our faith. The truth is like-minded Christians are usually attracted to each other. What are you looking for in a boyfriend or possible husband? Popular, good looking, has a fun sense of humor, makes you feel special, drives a nice car, comes from a good family, etc. or are you looking for a person of strong character, depth and maturity who will be faithful to love the Lord and lead you spiritually? If you want to attract this type of “Godly” young man someday, the best way to do so is to grow in purity (free from contamination) through a pursuit of Christ now.
In I Peter 3:3-5 we are reminded what true feminine beauty is: “Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; but it should be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”
The only way to obtain these qualities is through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. As a teen, I spent a lot of time and effort on my hair, makeup, and clothes trying to look “beautiful”, but I spent very little time seeking God or realizing that what I really needed was a heart “make over”. Unfortunately, I wasn’t truly a born again Christian until shortly before I got engaged, and God had a lot of work to do in me and in also my husband. But you have the opportunity now to lay a solid foundation in Christ for your future relationship.
Although these verses from Psalm 119 are written to “young men”, I think they apply to young women as well (italics added).
My husband and I started participating in our church’s young adult group (college and career) a few years ago as leaders/mentors. I have been blessed to make relationships with a multitude of single young adults who are truly pursuing Christ through His Word and fellowship with other believers – young and old alike.
Throughout history (HIS-story), God has always preserved a remnant (a small remaining quantity) of faithful followers. I think of the Old Testament story in 1 Kings 19 when Elijah was hiding from Queen Jezebel in a cave after a victory over the idol Baal. He was fearing for his live and feeling sorry for himself saying, “I alone am left.” Do you ever feel like this? Are you surrounded by peers and even adults who are haters of God that may even attack your faith? Do you remember God’s response to Elijah?
The Lord answered in 1 Kings 19:18 “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.” Do not be discouraged, dear reader. If you know and love Christ, then you are part of His precious remnant of believers who have not embraced the idols that this world “worships.”
Chris V asked for some input regarding guys, dating, relationships, marriage, etc. from a Christian perspective. Having been married for nearly 37 years, I want to encourage you that it is truly possible to have a “happily ever after” marriage in this life, but only through the mutual pursuit of Christ together. The cord of three strands is indeed a strong bond when Christ is the central strand (Ecclesiastes 4:12). It may be a bit too soon for you to be dating or considering marriage, but it is never too soon to begin to prepare for it.
There is an old saying “opposites attract”. While this may be true of personalities, it should not be the case with our faith. The truth is like-minded Christians are usually attracted to each other. What are you looking for in a boyfriend or possible husband? Popular, good looking, has a fun sense of humor, makes you feel special, drives a nice car, comes from a good family, etc. or are you looking for a person of strong character, depth and maturity who will be faithful to love the Lord and lead you spiritually? If you want to attract this type of “Godly” young man someday, the best way to do so is to grow in purity (free from contamination) through a pursuit of Christ now.
In I Peter 3:3-5 we are reminded what true feminine beauty is: “Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; but it should be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”
The only way to obtain these qualities is through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. As a teen, I spent a lot of time and effort on my hair, makeup, and clothes trying to look “beautiful”, but I spent very little time seeking God or realizing that what I really needed was a heart “make over”. Unfortunately, I wasn’t truly a born again Christian until shortly before I got engaged, and God had a lot of work to do in me and in also my husband. But you have the opportunity now to lay a solid foundation in Christ for your future relationship.
Although these verses from Psalm 119 are written to “young men”, I think they apply to young women as well (italics added).
9 How can a young man (or woman) keep his (or her) way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
11 I have treasured Your word in my heart,
So that I may not sin against You.
May your life be built on the solid rock of Christ and His life-giving Word.
God bless you,
Mrs. M
God bless you,
Mrs. M
We'd love to hear from you! How can you prepare for a Christ-honoring marriage (if that's God's plan for your life) today? Let us know in the comments below!
By: Chris V
Have you ever seen the cover of a magazine? How about the ones with covers of what I call Mary Poppins models- perfect in every way? Now, here’s the big question: have you ever started to compare yourself to those models? I know I have! Not only do we tend to compare ourselves to models, we also tend to compare ourselves to other girls (sometimes girls we don’t even know!) and evaluate how our bodies compare to theirs. According to a survey reported on by CBS, over ninety-seven percent of women struggle with body image and have at least one or more negative thoughts about their body per day. Comparing myself to other girls has, does, and will always continue to make me feel discontent about my body. What about you?
This cycle of comparing ourselves and our bodies to other girls is commonly known as the comparison game. We take one look at another girl, think thoughts like “Wow! She has such a slim midsection! I wish I looked like that!” or “She’s so pretty! I wish I had the exact same skin tone as hers!”. Instead of forgetting those thoughts, our female brains file them away for later. When later does come, we go to great lengths to get “the look” at all costs, even going through physical and emotional trauma to try to make our bodies “better” and to fit in with our culture’s definition of beauty. Sound familiar? This way of thinking can be dangerous, not only to our physical and mental health, but also to our spiritual walk with Christ.
This cycle of comparing ourselves and our bodies to other girls is commonly known as the comparison game. We take one look at another girl, think thoughts like “Wow! She has such a slim midsection! I wish I looked like that!” or “She’s so pretty! I wish I had the exact same skin tone as hers!”. Instead of forgetting those thoughts, our female brains file them away for later. When later does come, we go to great lengths to get “the look” at all costs, even going through physical and emotional trauma to try to make our bodies “better” and to fit in with our culture’s definition of beauty. Sound familiar? This way of thinking can be dangerous, not only to our physical and mental health, but also to our spiritual walk with Christ.
Physical Health Catastrophe
Most girls try to change their physical appearance through different techniques like excessive exercise, plastic surgeries, and refusing to eat. Why? These girls compare themselves to underweight models, who because they are so underweight, can have many health complications (sometimes even leading to death). This can lead to girls developing serious eating disorders, menstrual/pregnancy complications, organ failures, and in extreme cases, even death.
Mental Health Meltdown
According to a study done on body image in 2019, 57% of young adults feel anxious because of their body image, 10% of women have harmed themselves because they don’t “measure up”, and 13% of adults have experienced suicidal thoughts because of their perceived body image. This is some pretty serious stuff! How did the people taking the survey develop these mental ideals? By comparing their bodies to others and putting their value into their looks!
Spiritual Slump
When it comes to comparison, the most crucial factor that is detrimentally affected is your spiritual health. Satan uses those little seeds of comparison to plant lies in your life about your worth and value in Christ. Left unchecked, these lies can grow into weeds that not only choke your faith, but can also lead down a road of death and destruction in your physical and mental health.
How to Break the Cycle of COMPARISON
The first thing that needs to be realized is that you cannot break the comparison cycle on your own. It’s important to talk to your parents and/or any other trusted adult when you’re struggling with comparison, especially if it has led to serious health disorders (e.g. anorexia), but even before that, take the time to talk to God! Pray to him! Tell him how you’re struggling, and ask for help and wisdom in breaking free the cycle of comparison.
Another thing is to memorize bible verses about your worth in Christ. As a child of God, you are worth way more than how your hair looks today! (In fact, you’re worth so much to Him, He sent his own Son, Jesus, to die on a cross and rise again to save you from sin and death! Take a look at John 3:16 and Romans 5:8.) A few verses that I love to look at, memorize, and think about when I’m struggling with comparison are:
Ladies, we can easily be burned by comparison in our quest for beauty that ultimately doesn’t last. (You can find out what lasting beauty is by checking out 1 Peter 3:4!) Instead of being stuck in comparison, remember that to God, your worth and value in Him is way more than how your body looks compared to touched-up images.
Another thing is to memorize bible verses about your worth in Christ. As a child of God, you are worth way more than how your hair looks today! (In fact, you’re worth so much to Him, He sent his own Son, Jesus, to die on a cross and rise again to save you from sin and death! Take a look at John 3:16 and Romans 5:8.) A few verses that I love to look at, memorize, and think about when I’m struggling with comparison are:
- Genesis 1:27
- Psalm 139:14
- Matthew 10:31
Ladies, we can easily be burned by comparison in our quest for beauty that ultimately doesn’t last. (You can find out what lasting beauty is by checking out 1 Peter 3:4!) Instead of being stuck in comparison, remember that to God, your worth and value in Him is way more than how your body looks compared to touched-up images.
Works Cited
Eaton, Lynn, and Rossalyn Warren. “How Much Does Poor Body Image Affect Mental Health?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 17 May 2019, www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/17/poor-body-image-mental-health.
“Survey: 97 Percent of Women Have Negative Body Image.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 2 Mar. 2011, www.cbsnews.com/news/survey-97-percent-of-women-have-negative-body-image/.
“Survey: 97 Percent of Women Have Negative Body Image.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 2 Mar. 2011, www.cbsnews.com/news/survey-97-percent-of-women-have-negative-body-image/.
I'd love to hear from you! Have you ever got caught in the comparison trap? How did you, through Christ, break the cycle? Let me know in the comments below!
By: Chris V
I know tons of girls that wonder if they should find an older Christian woman to help mentor them in their walk with Christ. I've been asked if it's important by other girls my age. Maybe you're wondering the same thing! Thankfully, the Bible talks about mentoring several different times throughout the Old and New Testaments:
Psalm 145:4
"One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts".
PRoverbs 22:6
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it".
Proverbs 27:17
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another".
Titus 2: 3-5
"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled".
As you can see, the Bible is clear that older mentors play an important part/role in the Christian life, teaching younger women (us) how to act and how to navigate different areas of life. Finding a mentor is super beneficial!
As you can see, the Bible is clear that older mentors play an important part/role in the Christian life, teaching younger women (us) how to act and how to navigate different areas of life. Finding a mentor is super beneficial!
How Can I find a Mentor?
It's important to have a mentor, an older Christian woman to help you through your walk with Christ; someone you can ask questions to about something in the Christian life because they've already been through it. I have a mentor, and she is so helpful in helping me through different stages of life while still growing in my faith!
Now, maybe you want to find a mentor and don't know how! Think of godly women you know: your mom, your sister, an older friend, or maybe a few ladies at church. Once you have a specific person in mind, pray about it, and if God's giving the go-ahead, ask them if they would be willing to be your spiritual mentor. (Sometimes, the lady will want to pray about it and get back to you later. That's completely fine!) Once you have a mentor, be sure to set a date to meet, whether at a coffee shop, the park, on a phone call, or over Skype!
Mentoring is such a wonderful thing, whether you are the mentor or mentee. It's an amazing learning experience, helps you grow in your faith, and helps yo find someone to ask questions to about ever-changing stages in life.
Now, maybe you want to find a mentor and don't know how! Think of godly women you know: your mom, your sister, an older friend, or maybe a few ladies at church. Once you have a specific person in mind, pray about it, and if God's giving the go-ahead, ask them if they would be willing to be your spiritual mentor. (Sometimes, the lady will want to pray about it and get back to you later. That's completely fine!) Once you have a mentor, be sure to set a date to meet, whether at a coffee shop, the park, on a phone call, or over Skype!
Mentoring is such a wonderful thing, whether you are the mentor or mentee. It's an amazing learning experience, helps you grow in your faith, and helps yo find someone to ask questions to about ever-changing stages in life.
For more on mentoring, check out this video done by Girl Defined on mentoring and finding a mentor.
I'd love to hear from you! Do you have a mentor? How has she helped you in your walk with Christ? If you don't have a mentor yet, that's okay! Are you going to find an older Christian woman to mentor you, and how are you going to do that? Tell me in the comments below!
By: Chris V
I'll be the first to admit that I struggle with rest and the concept of resting. Maybe you do to! Today's culture is all "GO, GO, GO!", with technology constantly ringing, dinging, pining... you get the idea. It's exhausting and oftentimes we struggle to take the time to rest when there's a growing to-do list. However, the Bible makes it clear that rest should be in a Christian's life, as seen below. (Also, if you're struggling with rest, there's several ideas to incorporate rest into your life below!)
What Does the bible say about rest?
Rest is mentioned a ton in the Bible! The first mention we see of rest is in Genesis 2:2, which says, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work". Even God rested! He also tells us that He will give us rest (Exodus 33:14, Matthew 11:28-30).
We also see commands to rest throughout the Bible:
We also see commands to rest throughout the Bible:
- "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." - Exodus 28:8-11
- "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30
- "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience." - Hebrews 4:9-11
Ways to Rest
Struggling to find ways to rest throughout your week and in your day-to-day life? Check out some ideas below:
- Make Sunday a rest day. Instead of working on various things for work, school, and around the house (tip: get stuff done during the week and the day before), just rest! Turn off your phone, turn off technology, and read a book, take a nap, get outside, go hiking, etc. Do something fun and restful for God!
- Set a time to be done with work during weekdays. Oftentimes I've found myself working late into the night on various things like schoolwork and writing. Then, my brain is so focused on work, I can't get the sleep I need. Maybe you can relate! One way around this is setting a time every day (e.g. four or five o'clock p.m.) to be done with work. Put away those emails and instead take some time to rest and do fun things!
- Take time to spend with God and read your Bible every day. Out of these three ideas, this one is key. If we Christians are not in God's Word every single day and taking some time to spend with Him, we will be anxious, upset, and not focused on Him. Take some time in the morning, afternoon, and/or evening to spend time with God and rest in Him!
I'd love to hear from you! What are ways you can rest in your daily life? Let me know in the comments below!
By: Chris V
I've heard tons of people say that being healthy sometimes doesn't matter as a Christian. We're in Christ and that's all that matters, right? I beg to differ. While it's most important to remember Jesus's sacrifice on the cross for us and our sins, to become sanctified through Christ in our daily lives, and glorify and serve Him with our lives, it's also important to take care of the bodies He made for us. Why? Check out the three points below.
Your Body: God's Creation
Your body is God's creation. In Psalm 139:14, we read "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." God created you, a person who was fearfully AND wonderfully made by the King of the Universe! His creation praises Him and screams His glory. Taking care of His creation (your body) brings glory to Him!
Your Body: a Temple to God
In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, it says, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." What does this mean? As Christians, the Holy Spirit (God, which is a part of the trinity) is with us and in us, helping us grow in Christ. Our bodies are a temple (a place where someone or something is worshiped) to God. We need to take care of our bodies because they're a place of worship to God!
Your Body: Bringing Glory to God
As seen through the two previous points, the main reason we should take care of our bodies is to bring glory to God. When we take care of our bodies with a healthy lifestyle with the right mindset, we bring glory to God. First Corinthians 10:31 says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." When we take care of our bodies for God, we do it for His glory! As Christians, is there any other reason better than that?
How can I live a healthy lifestyle?
The first thing that needs to be done when choosing to live a healthy lifestyle is to cultivate the right mindset. What is the right mindset? Choosing to live a healthy lifestyle not because of you and your body, but because you want to glorify Christ. Again, we're told in 1 Corinthians 10:31 to do all things for the glory of God. The same thing applies to health and living a healthy lifestyle: do it for the glory of God!
So, what are a couple of ways we can start to live a healthy lifestyle? Here are two ways:
So, what are a couple of ways we can start to live a healthy lifestyle? Here are two ways:
- Choose to eat healthy foods that fuel your body. So many times, I see teen and college-aged girls reach for fast food, potato chips, and sugary drinks when it comes to snacks and meals. Don't! It's junk to your body; it destroys your body. Instead, choose to eat fresh, colorful, and natural foods, like veggies, fruits, whole grain breads, fish, lean chicken, healthy fats, etc. Your body will thank you and will look and feel so much better when you put the right fuel into your body! It's kind of like a gasoline powered car: when you put gasoline into the car, it runs smoothly and has less issues, but when you put diesel fuel into the car, it messes up the whole car! The fuel you choose to eat matters.
- Regularly exercise for at least 30 minutes (but don't exercise compulsively!). Find something that you enjoy doing, like running, Pilates, weight lifting, or my personal favorite, kickboxing. Be sure to spend time switching up your workouts as well. You don't want to just work one area of your body!
Want to learn more about cultivating a healthy lifestyle through a Christian perspective? Check out a podcast episode I did a few months ago with my friend Kara on health here! Also, be sure to check out her Instagram page, @kandtheway, here for more healthy living tips from a Christian perspective!
I'd love to hear from you! What are some ways you can start living a healthy lifestyle today? Let me know in the comments below!
By: Julianna
Dear Father,
The clock is ticking on my school year, and May is right around the corner. In some ways, it feels like it can’t come soon enough. School is hard and I’m tired. But I’m also nervous. May also means the end of the structured routine of high school and an endless world of possibilities in which I somehow have to find my place.
Almost every day, I get asked that same old question: “What are you going to do?” I know people are only being kind, but they expect every graduate like me to have the rest of our lives planned out! (Or at least our college and degree plan). A lot of my friends have nice-sounding answers like “I’m going to Baylor to study communications and plan to be a journalist” or at least, “I’m working in the family business.” But I know most of those friends will probably change their plans if they’re anything like me.
Lord, in a sense, I want to carry this weight instead of being apathetic. I don’t want to waste my life or make a wrong decision that would impact my ability to serve you. That’s probably my greatest fear: what if I choose the wrong option and miss out on your plan for me? I wish the New Testament had more detailed plans for grads like me, but I’m left with a lot of wondering … and prayer … and the need to follow the Spirit, which I know is better anyway. Despite my fear, I know it isn’t possible to make the wrong decision so long as I am seeking to faithfully serve you.
Of course, your Word does give some specific directions to women. I know in Titus 2 you want me to develop a heart for the home, to recognize that I can start loving my future husband and children right now in the way that I learn to faithfully serve my own family. Help me use these years after high school to nurture a love for children and to fight the lie that serving at home doesn’t count as ministry. Whether you call me to go to college or work or ministry at church or the countless other options, may I never be ashamed of the role you have given me as a woman.
I’m also reminded that the season before I’m married, if that’s God’s will, is a unique time of being able to be “anxious about the things of the Lord” to “be holy in both body and spirit.” You’ve given me more energy and undistracted time to serve you than I may ever have again in my life. Lord, help me not to waste this season but give my all to serve you.
Lord, I pray you would help me nurture a heart for women. Whether I’m married or single, one of my primary callings as a woman is to encourage and be encouraged by women (Titus 2:2). I’m encouraged to know I have a place in the Great Commission calling to teach all that Christ has commanded. My role as a woman in that calling is crucial because some of those commands are specific to women and require women’s discipleship! Help me love the younger girls in my life, as well as my siblings, and seek to live in a way that points them to Christ.
I’m also thankful for my parents and other godly older women in my life who can help direct me. I pray you’d give me the humility and courage to approach them, ask questions, and glean from their wisdom. Give them the willingness to invest in my life and confirm the giftings and calling you are giving to me. I’m so often blind to my own weaknesses and even strengths; help me lean into my parents and mentors to gain wisdom.
Lord, wherever you call me, whatever the challenges or joys, disappointments or blessings, I want to be able to pray what Moses prayed:
The clock is ticking on my school year, and May is right around the corner. In some ways, it feels like it can’t come soon enough. School is hard and I’m tired. But I’m also nervous. May also means the end of the structured routine of high school and an endless world of possibilities in which I somehow have to find my place.
Almost every day, I get asked that same old question: “What are you going to do?” I know people are only being kind, but they expect every graduate like me to have the rest of our lives planned out! (Or at least our college and degree plan). A lot of my friends have nice-sounding answers like “I’m going to Baylor to study communications and plan to be a journalist” or at least, “I’m working in the family business.” But I know most of those friends will probably change their plans if they’re anything like me.
Lord, in a sense, I want to carry this weight instead of being apathetic. I don’t want to waste my life or make a wrong decision that would impact my ability to serve you. That’s probably my greatest fear: what if I choose the wrong option and miss out on your plan for me? I wish the New Testament had more detailed plans for grads like me, but I’m left with a lot of wondering … and prayer … and the need to follow the Spirit, which I know is better anyway. Despite my fear, I know it isn’t possible to make the wrong decision so long as I am seeking to faithfully serve you.
Of course, your Word does give some specific directions to women. I know in Titus 2 you want me to develop a heart for the home, to recognize that I can start loving my future husband and children right now in the way that I learn to faithfully serve my own family. Help me use these years after high school to nurture a love for children and to fight the lie that serving at home doesn’t count as ministry. Whether you call me to go to college or work or ministry at church or the countless other options, may I never be ashamed of the role you have given me as a woman.
I’m also reminded that the season before I’m married, if that’s God’s will, is a unique time of being able to be “anxious about the things of the Lord” to “be holy in both body and spirit.” You’ve given me more energy and undistracted time to serve you than I may ever have again in my life. Lord, help me not to waste this season but give my all to serve you.
Lord, I pray you would help me nurture a heart for women. Whether I’m married or single, one of my primary callings as a woman is to encourage and be encouraged by women (Titus 2:2). I’m encouraged to know I have a place in the Great Commission calling to teach all that Christ has commanded. My role as a woman in that calling is crucial because some of those commands are specific to women and require women’s discipleship! Help me love the younger girls in my life, as well as my siblings, and seek to live in a way that points them to Christ.
I’m also thankful for my parents and other godly older women in my life who can help direct me. I pray you’d give me the humility and courage to approach them, ask questions, and glean from their wisdom. Give them the willingness to invest in my life and confirm the giftings and calling you are giving to me. I’m so often blind to my own weaknesses and even strengths; help me lean into my parents and mentors to gain wisdom.
Lord, wherever you call me, whatever the challenges or joys, disappointments or blessings, I want to be able to pray what Moses prayed:
“See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, “I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight …And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here” (Ex. 33:12-15).
Lord, you have promised that your presence will be with me. My desire is simply that, wherever you take me, whatever work or school or location you call me, you would go with me. I hold to your promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).
Amen.
Amen.
Some resources for high schoolers/grads:
- Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
- Womanly Dominion: More Than a Meek and Quiet Spirit by Mark Chanski
- Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together by Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth
This blog post originally appears on Julianna's blog Whole Hearted. You can find the original post here. (Reposted with permission.)
I'd love to hear from you! What's one way you can apply Julianna's blog post on graduating in your life? What's something you're praying to God about in your transitioning stages of life? Tell me in the comments below!
Image credit: http://biblebootcamp1.blogspot.com/2010/07/nehemiah-12-esther-job-5-queen-of.html
By: Chris V
Most people, even non-Christians, have heard of Esther and her story. Esther was a young Jewish woman in the Old Testament of the Bible who became queen of Persia. But that's not the end of the story! During Esther's time as queen, the king's chief advisor, Haman, plotted against the Jews to have them all killed. (He hated a man named Moredcai, Esther's uncle, who was a Jew, because he had refused to bow down to him.) Because Esther was queen, she was in a position to stop the plot Haman had concocted. Esther had to stick her neck out many times, and in the end, the Jews (who are a part of Jesus's lineage, as seen in the genealogies in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38) were saved from the genocide. (You can read the full story in the book of Esther, which is in the Old Testament of the Bible.) Throughout the book of Esther, there are three key lessons that stick out to me:
Lesson 1: Trusting God
Throughout the book of Esther, we see Esther repeatedly trusting God:
- When she was taken from her home by the king's officers (Esther 2: 3-8)
- When she went to talk to King Xerxes without his invitation, she was not sure if he would extend his staff, which determined whether or not she would live or die (Esther 5:1-8)
- When she petitioned against Haman's plot to King Xerxes (with Haman in the room), not knowing what would happen (Esther 7)
"Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
~ Esther 4:13-14 ~
~ Esther 4:13-14 ~
Lesson 2: Saying "Yes Lord" and CONTINUING to trust in Him
Not only did Esther trust in God's providence in her life and say "Yes God, I will do this and continue to trust in you" once or twice, but throughout the whole book! In Esther 5-7, Esther continues to invite the king and Haman to banquets in order to expose Haman's plot, and she does! Afterward, Esther begs the king to stop the genocide of the Jews, and Xerxes does, causing a celebration among the Jews. Because Esther continued to say "Yes Lord" and trust in Him and His sovereign plan, the Jews were saved.
"If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?” King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”
~ Esther 8:5-8 ~
~ Esther 8:5-8 ~
Lesson 3: Praise God Through Everything
Even though Esther and Mordecai went through a lot of uncertainty in the book of Esther, they still continued to not only trust in Him but also praise Him. We see Esther and Mordecai praise God along with the rest of the Jews for His provision through the Feast of Purim. (This is near the end of the book of Esther in Esther 9:20-32. During this feast, the Jews' "...sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor" (Esther 9:22). The main focus of the Jews' celebration was to remember the death God had saved them from, and the joy they felt from the release of condemnation. This kind of illustrates what the Christian feels when they are saved from sin and death through the death of Christ on the cross because of God's grace and mercy towards us! Like Esther, as Christians, we should praise God for His good will and providence, and the salvation He has given us through His Son, Jesus.
"And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday..."
~ Esther 9:20-22 ~
~ Esther 9:20-22 ~
Esther: A Woman of the Faith
Esther's story- which is a true story- is absolutely incredible! Her trust in God throughout all the trials she went though is jaw-dropping, and we should want to copy that faith! One way to do that is take these lessons learned from Esther and apply it to our lives. We should pray, asking for more faith and trust in Christ, saying "Yes, Lord" to what He asks us to do when He asks, no matter how hard or terrifying it may be! (Side note: God is still with you through everything, no matter how hard or scary it is! See Joshua 1:9 and Isaiah 41:10.) When we pray and continue to trust in God and do His will in our lives, He uses those circumstances to sanctify His children and make us more Christlike in our lives and faith.
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him."
~ Psalm 28:7~
~ Psalm 28:7~
To learn/study more about the book of Esther, check out the book of Esther and Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth's study Esther: Trusting God's Plan! (Note: I nor A Message for Christian Girls recives profit from this recommendation.)
I'd love to here from you! What's your favorite lesson from the book of Esther? Tell me in the comments below!
I'd love to here from you! What's your favorite lesson from the book of Esther? Tell me in the comments below!
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