I taught a message in June 2013 by the name of this same
title. My husband preaches messages through the form of conference calls and
did a series on the family. I did a portion talking specifically to the women.
I really enjoyed this not because of what I was talking about or the fact that
I got to share something, but because of the studying that went into it. I had
never studied like that before and it encouraged me to continue studying the
Bible in depth rather than seeking out one scripture to fit into whatever it
may be that I’m going through at that time. I learned so much, and I was ready
to learn more! Here are some of the things I learned:
Growing up, some of us girls are taught to be “ladies”.
Sometimes we are not taught why, though. You will find that “why” is a frequent
question for me. Some little children
are always asking “why?” and well, I didn’t quite grow out of that! But that’s
a great thing because a lot of times, our problem is that we are not asking “why?”………
So, young girls are taught to be ladies and lady-like, but I want to share with
you why and what it means to be God’s lady, a lady of righteousness. Let’s
start with the little girl.
Little Girls
The very first thing I can think of that a little girl needs
to even think about beginning a righteous life is a father. We talk about how
important fathers are for boys, but they are just as important for girls.
Basically, fathers are important and needed big time! But girls need their
father’s validation. They need that “stamp of approval”. I can remember growing
up and genially felt confident because of two reasons. One reason was because
my dad was a hero to me and he told me how great I was (smart, pretty,
responsible, etc.). When other kids tried to say bad things about me, it was
nothing because I would always come back with, “Well my daddy said…” and that
was all I needed. My dad would say it, and that was all the explanation I
needed. He said I was smart, I studied more. He said I was pretty, no one could
call me ugly. He said he liked how I was always reading a book, I read even
more. Because he had a positive impact on my life and he held the family
together and kept us in good health and safe, every good thing about me that he
complimented, I grew in. He was doing his job as a father and shaped me to
become a positive, well rounded woman. Ephesians 6:4 (ESV) says “Fathers, do
not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and
instruction of the Lord”. Had my father not done his job as a father, I would
have grown up in anger, trying to find myself, looking for validation in the
wrong people or things, frustrated from trying to fill a hole that I wouldn’t
even have known what was supposed to be there.
I mentioned that I was confident because of two reasons. The
first was because of my dad and his validation. There was something else that
he did that led to the second reason. At the end of Ephesians 6:4 it says, “…instruction
of the Lord”. My father raised me and my brother with the fear of God. I was
confident in myself because I had my father’s validation and I knew I was a
child of God. From the time I was about 7 or 8 years old, I was saved and knew
Christ as my Lord and Savior. I knew I belonged in the Kingdom of God and
because He is great, I was great. I would let the other kids know that them
being mean didn’t bother me because I had Jesus! I remember being in the lunch
line in second grade and telling another kid that, and they left me alone! I
had my father’s validation and my Heavenly Father’s validation. This is what
our little girls need, their fathers and their fathers to teach them about
their Heavenly Father. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 talks about loving God, following His
commandments, and teaching them to our children. And He said to teach them “diligently”
meaning teach it carefully, with importance and not just saying, “God is real,
he created the world, and he died for our sins, the end”. You have to teach the
word and the commandments as if you are teaching them to drive. You don’t just
put your child in a car and say, “okay, drive!” No, we take it step by step,
answer questions, have discussions, pray together, teach through example…which
leads to the next part:
Role Models
We are to be role models for our children. Fathers and
mothers, you are your little girl’s role model when it comes to following
Christ (Ephesians 5:1). Mothers, you are your daughter’s role model when it
comes to being a lady (1 Timothy 4:11-16). Whether you are doing right or doing
wrong, people are watching, especially your children. Be a good role model for
them. They will follow what you do more than what you say anyway. Keep your
actions and attitudes in check so that you may make a positive impact not only
in your children’s lives but even the other people you encounter every day.
They are all watching. Do you like what they are seeing? Does God like what
they are seeing? Think about it.
Continue reading this series in God’s Lady pt.2 (Growing Up and Having Standards) coming next week!
Feel free to leave a comment or your experiences!
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