This year, we have two nieces graduating from high school. And we both have younger nieces who will be at that point before we know it. So in honor of the school year ending, I thought I would take the opportunity to dedicate a whole blog post of “advice cards” to our nieces and to any other Christian girls out there who are in that stage of life between teenager and early 20-something. I pray it encourages and strengthens the resolve of these girls to become wise and mighty women of God.
• • •
If I had only two words that could help girls avoid the worst
mistakes in life,
If I had to come up with two
words that I think every girl needs to hear and own and soak up into her
DNA and have running through her veins, they would be…
DON’T COMPROMISE.
Why are these the most important two words I can think of to tell younger
girls? Because I’ve learned by both
observation and experience that it’s very easy for women to compromise, and it
starts when we’re young and lacking the fortitude that comes with age and
experience. (Fortitude is defined as “mental
and emotional strength in courageously facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or
temptation.”)
Obviously, compromise can be a good and necessary thing, like when it comes to getting along with our siblings, friends, classmates, and co-workers, or when it comes to acting self-sacrificially, compromising our selfish desires for a greater good. But compromise in other areas can cause major disappointment, embarrassment, guilt, heartache, and regret. Specifically, this happens when we compromise what we know to be right and true, when we compromise who God created us to be, and when we compromise God’s best for our lives.
Let’s go back for a second – way back – to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It’s there we see the first example of a woman making a compromise in the Bible. It says in Genesis that God had told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But we know what happened next. Satan came along in the form of a snake and approached Eve. He questioned God’s instruction and convinced Eve that God was withholding something from her, that she was missing out on something good. So Eve compromised what God had instructed, compromised what she knew to be right and true, and she took fruit from the tree and ate it (Genesis 3). And we know how that story ends, right?
It’s also worth mentioning Sarah here, while we’re at it. Sarah was married to Abraham, who God promised would be the father of a great nation, later to be known as Israel. The thing is, Abraham and Sarah didn’t have any children and were getting up there in years, so on paper it didn’t make sense that these two people could even become parents, much less give rise to an entire nation. After waiting for so long without bearing any children, Sarah grew desperate. Not believing that God would do what He had said, not believing that He would fulfill her God-given desire, Sarah compromised God’s promise and instructed Abraham to have a child with her maidservant, Hagar, instead. Needless to say, things got complicated after that (Genesis 12-13; 15-18; 21). Years later, Sarah did end up having the son God had promised, but she could never undo her compromise concerning Abraham and Hagar. Ultimately, Sarah compromised God’s perfect plan, God’s best for her. And the repercussions were huge.
Okay, so two Bible stories, two different women. Both compromised God’s Word and His perfect plan for their lives, and both had to deal with terrible, permanent consequences. I don’t know about you, but the thought of making compromises like that scares me. So how do we avoid making those compromises, the kind that jeopardizes God’s greatest blessings for us?
1. Don’t compromise God’s Word.
No matter what anyone else says or thinks, the Bible is Truth. Lay hold of that Truth and don’t let it go. Let it be your guiding light. The Bible contains God’s instructions and promises, and none of them are to be taken lightly. Secular colleges, academic philosophies and theories, the world… All love to question, even undermine God’s existence, God’s goodness, God’s Word, and Christian morality in general. Take this brand of “intellectualism” not just with a grain of salt but with a loaded salt shaker. People who talk that way don’t know what’s true. You do. Don’t exchange truth for lies, no matter how “intellectual” those lies sound when they come from a textbook or Ph.D.
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19) (emphasis added)
“For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:3-4a) (emphasis added)
2. Don’t compromise God’s will for your life.
I used to have this terrible tendency of looking around at other people and then making plans based on what they were doing. When I was graduating from high school, most everyone I knew was making plans to go away to four-year colleges. I started to do the same, but none of the schools I looked into or visited felt right. But it did feel right and made the most sense to continue living at home with my parents and attend a nearby community college. Thankfully, I had the sense to choose the latter and saved a lot of money.
Sometimes I still find myself looking around at other people my age or who have similar aspirations and using them as a gauge to determine how well I’m doing. Don’t do that. It’s completely pointless to compare yourself with anyone else. God has you on your own path and He has plans specifically for YOU. Stay in relationship with Him, and He will let you know where you should be and what you should be doing.
Obviously, compromise can be a good and necessary thing, like when it comes to getting along with our siblings, friends, classmates, and co-workers, or when it comes to acting self-sacrificially, compromising our selfish desires for a greater good. But compromise in other areas can cause major disappointment, embarrassment, guilt, heartache, and regret. Specifically, this happens when we compromise what we know to be right and true, when we compromise who God created us to be, and when we compromise God’s best for our lives.
Let’s go back for a second – way back – to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It’s there we see the first example of a woman making a compromise in the Bible. It says in Genesis that God had told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But we know what happened next. Satan came along in the form of a snake and approached Eve. He questioned God’s instruction and convinced Eve that God was withholding something from her, that she was missing out on something good. So Eve compromised what God had instructed, compromised what she knew to be right and true, and she took fruit from the tree and ate it (Genesis 3). And we know how that story ends, right?
It’s also worth mentioning Sarah here, while we’re at it. Sarah was married to Abraham, who God promised would be the father of a great nation, later to be known as Israel. The thing is, Abraham and Sarah didn’t have any children and were getting up there in years, so on paper it didn’t make sense that these two people could even become parents, much less give rise to an entire nation. After waiting for so long without bearing any children, Sarah grew desperate. Not believing that God would do what He had said, not believing that He would fulfill her God-given desire, Sarah compromised God’s promise and instructed Abraham to have a child with her maidservant, Hagar, instead. Needless to say, things got complicated after that (Genesis 12-13; 15-18; 21). Years later, Sarah did end up having the son God had promised, but she could never undo her compromise concerning Abraham and Hagar. Ultimately, Sarah compromised God’s perfect plan, God’s best for her. And the repercussions were huge.
Okay, so two Bible stories, two different women. Both compromised God’s Word and His perfect plan for their lives, and both had to deal with terrible, permanent consequences. I don’t know about you, but the thought of making compromises like that scares me. So how do we avoid making those compromises, the kind that jeopardizes God’s greatest blessings for us?
1. Don’t compromise God’s Word.
No matter what anyone else says or thinks, the Bible is Truth. Lay hold of that Truth and don’t let it go. Let it be your guiding light. The Bible contains God’s instructions and promises, and none of them are to be taken lightly. Secular colleges, academic philosophies and theories, the world… All love to question, even undermine God’s existence, God’s goodness, God’s Word, and Christian morality in general. Take this brand of “intellectualism” not just with a grain of salt but with a loaded salt shaker. People who talk that way don’t know what’s true. You do. Don’t exchange truth for lies, no matter how “intellectual” those lies sound when they come from a textbook or Ph.D.
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19) (emphasis added)
“For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:3-4a) (emphasis added)
2. Don’t compromise God’s will for your life.
I used to have this terrible tendency of looking around at other people and then making plans based on what they were doing. When I was graduating from high school, most everyone I knew was making plans to go away to four-year colleges. I started to do the same, but none of the schools I looked into or visited felt right. But it did feel right and made the most sense to continue living at home with my parents and attend a nearby community college. Thankfully, I had the sense to choose the latter and saved a lot of money.
Sometimes I still find myself looking around at other people my age or who have similar aspirations and using them as a gauge to determine how well I’m doing. Don’t do that. It’s completely pointless to compare yourself with anyone else. God has you on your own path and He has plans specifically for YOU. Stay in relationship with Him, and He will let you know where you should be and what you should be doing.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
By the way, sometimes you’re not going to know God’s will because He hasn’t revealed it yet. That’s okay and totally normal! Don’t panic and make a sudden decision on your own just to feel like you’re doing something. Psalm 37:7 puts it best:
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way.”
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Also remember Proverbs 16:9:
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
You can make plans, but don’t be surprised if God has something else in mind. This is a good thing when it happens, though it may not seem like it at the time. Embrace the new direction He’s taking you, even if you don’t know why or where it will lead. Don’t fight it, and don’t insist on your way.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)
Lastly, don’t feel bad if you don’t have some grand, glorious answer when someone asks you what your plans are or what you want to be when you grow up or even what your major is. It is simply not realistic to have everything figured out when you’re a freshman in college. Or even when you’re a 25 year old in college, like I was when I was finishing my degree. It is not your job to impress other people, so don’t concern yourself with trying.
3. Don’t compromise your integrity.
God cares about how you live your life and the choices you make. If you ever find yourself justifying what you’re doing by saying, “Everyone else is doing it” or “It’s not that big of a deal,” stop immediately because I would be willing to bet it is a big deal to Him and dangerous ground for you. The way you live your life and the choices you make MATTER, even when you’re young. No, I take that back… especially when you’re young because the decisions you make when you’re young can last a lifetime. Even seemingly small, singular decisions can steer you off course.
The Bible says there is pleasure in sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25), but in the end “your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). Bottom line: You will never be sorry for doing the right thing, but you are bound to regret doing the things you know to be wrong, no matter how you may ignore your conscience or justify your actions in the moment.
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26)
“Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:13-14)
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
4. Don’t compromise your intelligence.
For whatever reason, some girls just act dumb. I’m sorry to say it, but I’m sure you know the type. These girls act like the world revolves around them, and they run around acting loud, haughty, silly, clueless, and foolishly carefree as if rules don’t apply to them, consequences don’t exist, and the only feelings that matter are their own. Don’t become one of these girls. Proverbs 9:13 says,
“A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing.”
For the record, these foolish and clamorous (noisy) girls act this way because they’re insecure. They play up this dumb act because A) They want attention, B) They think it will make guys like them, and/or C) Their friends do it and they don’t want to be left out. Or possibly even D) They really are that dumb and truly don’t know better.
But the Bible says we should seek after wisdom and understanding. I know, how boring that sounds, right? But hang with me for a sec. Proverbs 8:11 says,
“For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.”
Why is wisdom so great? I couldn’t put it any better than Proverbs 4:7-9:
“Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.” (emphasis added)
Are you reading what I’m reading? Having wisdom brings you honor, grace, and glory. Wisdom will promote you, or in other words help you FLOURISH. Who doesn’t want that? Wisdom is where it’s at if you want to become the best possible version of yourself and succeed in life. So how do you get it?
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)
Do it. Ask God for wisdom, His wisdom. Aim to be a wise woman of intelligence and understanding. You have so much to gain from it and will be so much more respected for it.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:13, 17)
5. Don’t compromise your value.
Sadly, a lot of girls don’t seem to understand or appreciate their own value. I believe there is one main reason for this:
Society and the media shamelessly and mercilessly propagate THE LIE that women are valuable only as long as they are objects of beauty and desire.
Are you reading what I’m reading? Having wisdom brings you honor, grace, and glory. Wisdom will promote you, or in other words help you FLOURISH. Who doesn’t want that? Wisdom is where it’s at if you want to become the best possible version of yourself and succeed in life. So how do you get it?
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)
Do it. Ask God for wisdom, His wisdom. Aim to be a wise woman of intelligence and understanding. You have so much to gain from it and will be so much more respected for it.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:13, 17)
5. Don’t compromise your value.
Sadly, a lot of girls don’t seem to understand or appreciate their own value. I believe there is one main reason for this:
Society and the media shamelessly and mercilessly propagate THE LIE that women are valuable only as long as they are objects of beauty and desire.
This evil idea is everywhere. I am so disheartened when I see women and
girls who have bought into this propaganda.
They compare themselves with other women/girls, with air-brushed pictures in
magazines, with sexualized images on TV and in movies, and then they inevitably feel like
they don’t measure up. So they
compromise their value by wearing skimpy, tight clothes, thinking it makes them more attractive and desirable. Don’t become one of these girls. Don’t get sucked into this trap. Instead, meditate on Truth:
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)
“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)
“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)
Did you catch that? God doesn’t value you based on your appearance but on who you are inside. He looks at your spirit, the quiet part of you no one else sees, and He calls that PRECIOUS. For the record, no worthwhile guy out there will ever value a girl and call her “precious” because she’s wearing shorts the size of underwear or showing cleavage. Most likely, he will think she’s cheap and easy to get, the very opposite of valuable and precious. Dear girl, don’t compromise your value by dressing provocatively and showing skin. For God doesn’t only consider your spirit precious, but your body as well:
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Your body is a temple, created by God to be a dwelling place for God. Treat it that way by clothing and presenting yourself with careful consideration. Nakedness is repeatedly associated with shamefulness in the Bible (Isaiah 3:16-17, Isaiah 20:4, Isaiah 47:3, Micah 1:11, Nahum 3:5, Revelation 3:18, Revelation 16:15), so instead of showing skin, aim for modesty.
“[I desire] that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation.” (1 Timothy 2:9a)
While we’re here, let me also point out that there is no “swimwear clause” in the Bible. In other words, the only exception made for modesty in the Bible is in the context of the marriage relationship. (Ever read Song of Solomon? Insert blushes here.) What does this mean for us as modern women? Even if we’re at the swimming pool, even if we’re at the lake or the beach, even if we’re floating the river, God still calls us to adorn ourselves “in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation” (1 Timothy 2:9a). I know these days bikinis are the norm for swimwear, even to the extent that one pieces seem like grandma-wear, but as Christians we have to look to God and His Word for the standards by which we are to live, and not the world around us:
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
Ask yourself if you would ever go in public wearing just your bra and underwear, which covers the same areas as minimally as a bikini, or for that matter a sleeveless leotard, which covers the same areas as a one piece swimsuit. If the answer is no, then ask yourself why the presence of water (swimming pool, lake, river, ocean) should make any difference in compromising your modesty. If your answer was yes, then... well... HUH?
Here’s the last thing I’ll say: Always remember that you are the daughter of the Most High God. Find your value in God’s eyes and don’t compromise it. If you ever start to feel insecure about your looks and maybe like you’re not measuring up, read Psalm 139:14 over and over, as long as it takes until it sinks in:
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.”
6. Don’t compromise your purity.
This is the last “don’t,” and it’s a big one because it concerns relationships with guys, which is such a huge area where so many girls succumb to compromise. Some girls compromise by allowing the wrong guy into their life – someone who isn’t a Christian committed to honoring them or committed to following God and His Word. Some girls compromise by playing around, flirting with and kissing guys they’re not serious about. Some girls compromise by giving their hearts away to guys who aren’t going to marry them. And some girls compromise their purity by becoming physically intimate before they’re married. These compromises cause girls more heartache and regret than any other I’ve mentioned.
Why is this area such a pitfall for us? Because we are wired to want to feel loved romantically, we desire that intimate connection with someone, and we crave physical affection. Those are normal and natural desires that God has given us, but TV, movies, and books have played up these desires so much that it seems like life can’t possibly be worth living without a guy in it. What a trap that is! Then we girls grow discontent and unsatisfied – wanting a boyfriend, wanting romance, wanting to get married – that we miss out on all the cool stuff that God has for us when we’re unattached and free.
In Song of Solomon, it says three different times not to “stir up nor awaken love until it pleases” (2:7, 3:5, 8:4). I have all three verses underlined in my Bible from when I was single. Why? Because I didn’t want to be yearning for something I wasn’t supposed to have yet. I wanted to want what God had for me right then while I was single. And let me tell you, blessed is the girl who recognizes how special and treasured she is when it’s just her and the Lord!
Look at it this way: If someone were to give you a gift, you wouldn’t open it up and then hand it back to them because you didn’t like it. That would be rude and you would seem ungrateful. Well, singleness is a gift from God, just like marriage and romantic love are gifts from God (1 Corinthians 7:7). Don’t be so quick to try to get rid of the gift of singleness, even by trying to find a boyfriend. Embrace being single and ask God to help you make the most of it.
When guys do come along and show interest in having a relationship with you, do yourself a favor and be super picky. Make up a list of characteristics you want your future husband to have and use it as your criteria. Above all, make sure he’s a legit Christian.
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
Ask yourself these questions: Is he a part of a church fellowship? Does he have other men in his life who hold him accountable in his Christian walk? Does he demonstrate the fruit of the spirit in his life: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”? (Galatians 5:22-23; emphasis added). Does he honor you and treat you with care, respect, and self-control? (Nope, not an accident I underlined it twice.) Does he treat others with respect? How does he treat his mom and sisters, if he has them? What kind of example has his dad provided him of what it means to be a man? Is he responsible, honest, and hard-working?
If a guy comes along and seems to pass every test, do yourself a favor and wait for the Lord to confirm that he’s the one for you. He could be Mr. Right… but for someone else. Don’t try to force something to happen with him. If it’s God’s will, He will make it happen.
Remember, this is the area where compromise hurts the worst. So don’t settle. Don’t lower God’s standards for you. He wants the very best for you, so don’t allow temporary, unreliable things like human emotions and desires to compromise His will for your life. Guard your heart. Don’t compromise your purity. Wait for the one God has for you. And then, wait until your wedding night.
6. Don’t compromise your purity.
This is the last “don’t,” and it’s a big one because it concerns relationships with guys, which is such a huge area where so many girls succumb to compromise. Some girls compromise by allowing the wrong guy into their life – someone who isn’t a Christian committed to honoring them or committed to following God and His Word. Some girls compromise by playing around, flirting with and kissing guys they’re not serious about. Some girls compromise by giving their hearts away to guys who aren’t going to marry them. And some girls compromise their purity by becoming physically intimate before they’re married. These compromises cause girls more heartache and regret than any other I’ve mentioned.
Why is this area such a pitfall for us? Because we are wired to want to feel loved romantically, we desire that intimate connection with someone, and we crave physical affection. Those are normal and natural desires that God has given us, but TV, movies, and books have played up these desires so much that it seems like life can’t possibly be worth living without a guy in it. What a trap that is! Then we girls grow discontent and unsatisfied – wanting a boyfriend, wanting romance, wanting to get married – that we miss out on all the cool stuff that God has for us when we’re unattached and free.
In Song of Solomon, it says three different times not to “stir up nor awaken love until it pleases” (2:7, 3:5, 8:4). I have all three verses underlined in my Bible from when I was single. Why? Because I didn’t want to be yearning for something I wasn’t supposed to have yet. I wanted to want what God had for me right then while I was single. And let me tell you, blessed is the girl who recognizes how special and treasured she is when it’s just her and the Lord!
Look at it this way: If someone were to give you a gift, you wouldn’t open it up and then hand it back to them because you didn’t like it. That would be rude and you would seem ungrateful. Well, singleness is a gift from God, just like marriage and romantic love are gifts from God (1 Corinthians 7:7). Don’t be so quick to try to get rid of the gift of singleness, even by trying to find a boyfriend. Embrace being single and ask God to help you make the most of it.
When guys do come along and show interest in having a relationship with you, do yourself a favor and be super picky. Make up a list of characteristics you want your future husband to have and use it as your criteria. Above all, make sure he’s a legit Christian.
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
Ask yourself these questions: Is he a part of a church fellowship? Does he have other men in his life who hold him accountable in his Christian walk? Does he demonstrate the fruit of the spirit in his life: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”? (Galatians 5:22-23; emphasis added). Does he honor you and treat you with care, respect, and self-control? (Nope, not an accident I underlined it twice.) Does he treat others with respect? How does he treat his mom and sisters, if he has them? What kind of example has his dad provided him of what it means to be a man? Is he responsible, honest, and hard-working?
If a guy comes along and seems to pass every test, do yourself a favor and wait for the Lord to confirm that he’s the one for you. He could be Mr. Right… but for someone else. Don’t try to force something to happen with him. If it’s God’s will, He will make it happen.
Remember, this is the area where compromise hurts the worst. So don’t settle. Don’t lower God’s standards for you. He wants the very best for you, so don’t allow temporary, unreliable things like human emotions and desires to compromise His will for your life. Guard your heart. Don’t compromise your purity. Wait for the one God has for you. And then, wait until your wedding night.
“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)
“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)
Conclusion
I know this was a lot to get through and a lot to think about. Again, my hope in sharing this post is that it would encourage my nieces and other Christian girls to reach for God’s best in their lives; to develop themselves into strong women of character so that they won’t have to deal with the painful consequences of compromise. Other people out there will say that you learn from your mistakes, and that’s hopefully true, but if you could avoid making some of the really big ones, why wouldn’t you want to?
The last word I want to leave here is a prayer for you, beloved daughters of our Heavenly Father:
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard of [your faith in Christ Jesus], do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” (Colossians 1:9-11)
A-MEN.
