Girls To Grow

Nurturing moms in their walk with God

Why Should I Pray?

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Hello and thanks for stopping by the blog today! I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend. Ours was nice and relaxing. It’s the second week of having both of our daughters off at college, so I think we’ll find ourselves developing a rhythm that’s all our own.

Today’s the second day in our brief series asking “Why Should I…” do certain things in our walk with God. Today we’re asking, “Why should I pray?”

Check out these five reasons we as Christians should pray

Here are five reasons.

1. To communicate with God.

Prayer is how we talk to God. If we’re reading His Word regularly, like we talked about yesterday, then we’re hearing what He says to us. Prayer is our opportunity to talk to Him.

2. To have peace instead of worry.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7

Most of us are tempted (maybe often) to be anxious or worry about something. It could be finances, work, family, health, the future – there are plenty of things that could go on the list. But the verses above tell us to take our concerns about those things to God in prayer. In return, He will give us His peace.

3. Because we’re commanded to pray.

“Pray without ceasing.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:17

That’s a fairly simple instruction. We can’t always be in a quiet place talking to God. But we can maintain a spirit of prayer in our hearts so that whenever something comes to mind, we can pray about it.

4. To keep our hearts humble.

It’s too easy to think we can handle life on our own. Prayer shows that we recognize that we need God. Remember 2 Chronicles 7:14?

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.“

Humbling ourselves enough to go to God and ask for His help is where prayer begins.

5. Because we can trust God to answer our prayers according to His will.

Prayer would be a futile act if we didn’t believe that God hears and answers our requests.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” ~1 John 5:14

As we pray and see God answer those prayers, our faith grows. We learn to trust Him. Answered prayer also gives us the opportunity to glorify Him as we share our experience with others.

Let’s set aside time each day to talk to our Heavenly Father. And as we go about our daily tasks, let’s be reminded that there’s nothing too small – or to big – to take to Him in prayer.

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Why Should I Read My Bible Daily?

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Good morning! I hope you’re enjoying this Monday so far. My husband is off work today, and I think we’re just going to enjoy some time together at home.

I decided to mix things up a bit with a different posting schedule this week. Rather than put up one longer blog post on Wednesday, I’m going to do one shorter post each weekday. It’ll be a brief series, and each post will focus on one of the basic disciplines of our Christian faith. Each day’s blog post title will start with, “Why Should I…”

So today’s post asks the question, “Why should I read my Bible daily?” It’s something we’re taught that we should do even as a brand new Christian. But why is it important?

Here are five reasons we should read our Bible every day.

Here are five reasons.

1. To learn about God.

The Bible is God’s Word. It’s a written document, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that is the best tool we have to learn about the God we want to love and serve. Whether it’s through verses that tell us directly about Him or through the stories that reveal how He interacts with people, we begin to grasp His character as we read and study the Bible

2. To know how to live.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” ~2 Timothy 3:16-17

From the Bible, we can learn what pleases God and what doesn’t. He gives clear direction, beginning with the ten commandments in Exodus and going through the gospels and epistles in the New Testament.

3. To be encouraged.

Going to God’s Word for encouragement is a precious gift. How many of us run to the Psalms when we’re deep in our feelings! We can identify with David’s writings when he’s struggling and can find hope through the same God that he followed.

4. To renew your mind.

We live in a world that is full of sin and corruption. We can easily get caught up in the temporary pleasures and pains of now and lose sight of living with eternal values. Spending time each day in the Bible gets our focus back where it needs to be – on growing to be more like Christ and sharing our faith with others.

5. To find God’s promises.

I want to know what God has promised me! Therefore I need to be in His Word so that I can find His promises and claim them for my own.

Reading the Bible daily is definitely a discipline! We have to plan for it or it won’t happen. It’s easiest for me to do it first thing in the morning. But regardless of the time of day we choose, let’s prioritize reading God’s Word.

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11 Important Things Your Teenage Daughter Needs from You

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Well, it happened. We moved our junior and freshman college students into their dorms on Saturday and said goodbye on Sunday afternoon. I guess that officially makes us empty nesters! I think I’m still in denial because I certainly don’t feel like an empty nester, but I’m sure it will hit me at some point soon.

Back at home, I’ve been cleaning their rooms and organizing what they left behind. I’m trying to maintain that balance of checking in with them to find out how things are going and letting them get the semester started without me hovering 🙂

Between our two girls, I’ve been parenting a teenage daughter for almost eight years. It seems like there’s still plenty I haven’t figured out. Yet there are lessons I’ve learned – many of them the hard way – that you might find helpful as you parent your own teen girl. Here I give you my list of eleven important things our teenage daughters need from us.

A list of eleven important things our teenage daughters need from their moms and dads

1. A listening ear

If she’s in a mood to share about her day – whether in excitement or frustration – listen. Sometimes you can tell that she wants your full attention. Other times she may seem more comfortable talking while she’s sitting at the kitchen counter and you’re chopping vegetables. Either way, take advantage of every opportunity to get a peek into her world.

2. A calm response

You may be able to traverse the seven years of female teenage-dom with no emotional outbursts from your daughter. If so, congratulations. If not, be the adult and stay calm. One or both of you may need to step away from the situation until you can talk it through objectively.

3. Assurance of your love

There may be days you don’t like her that much but she needs to know that you will always love her. Tell her as well as show her. (Here are seven ways you can show love to your teenage daughter.)

4. Approval

Tell her you’re proud of how hard she worked on that research paper or the way she resolved a misunderstanding with a friend. It’s easy to feel like her friends’ approval matters more than yours in these teen years, but she still needs to know that you notice and support her.

5. Confidentiality

She needs to be able to tell you things and know that you will keep her confidence. Don’t share with others stories or situations that you know would embarrass her. (The obvious exception would be if her struggle is one that requires help beyond what you can provide.)

6. Firm boundaries

This one is hard because teenagers love to push up against boundaries. I don’t think I did this well in every area, but there were some lines that didn’t get crossed. She likely won’t admit it, but your daughter finds security in boundaries.

7. Approachability

She should feel like she can come and talk to you about anything. As she gets older, be willing to discuss new freedoms as she approaches you with a reasonable request in a mature manner. Cultivate adult discussions that help you understand each other’s viewpoint.

8. Authenticity

Teens are well on their way to becoming adults and they can see through insincerity. Your daughter lives with you 24/7. She knows that you blow it sometimes, so be honest about your struggles.

9. Prayers

I’ve written a lot about this! Here’s 10 Prayers to Pray for Your Daughter as well as 3 Prayers to Pray As We Learn to Let Go of Our Teenagers. Our girls need us to pray for them – and make sure you tell her that you’re praying for her!

10. Perspective for the future

Teens live for now. They don’t often think about the long-term consequences of the decisions they make today. So have conversations with them about how they want their lives to look in six months, a year, two years. Encourage them to set themselves up for success later by making good choices in the present.

11. Freedom to become who God wants her to be

Sometimes we have our own agenda for our children. And while it’s fine to want good things for them, our most important goal should be for them to follow God’s plan for their lives. Let’s not put expectations on our daughters to choose a certain career or live just down the street from us. Let one of your prayers be that she would become all that God has for her to be, whatever that looks like.

Parenting a teenage daughter can be fun and challenging and may look different today than it did yesterday! Let’s encourage our girls by providing what they need as they grow through their teen years. And let me know what else you would add to this list!

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Where to Find Light When Life Feels Dark

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Welcome to Girls to Grow today! It’s the last Wednesday in August…which means I want to believe that when September arrives, fall weather will come with it. However, I’ve lived here in South Carolina long enough to know better! 🙂

I did buy a new sweater last week, but it will likely be November before it actually gets worn. I’ve noticed, though, that the days are starting to get shorter, so I plan to enjoy the rest of summer while it lasts.

We all have dark days, whether they’re for a brief time or through a longer season.  Financial difficulties, illness, death of a friend or family member, career struggles – no matter what form they take, these trials can make us feel as if the darkness is surrounding us.

If you’re in one of those times today, here’s a verse that I hope will encourage you.

The Lord will lighten our darkness. Check out these five things that light brings into our lives.

“For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.”  ~ II Samuel 22:29

When the darkness comes, we’re not alone.  No matter how dark it seems, God is with us. Just knowing that He walks with us through our troubles can make the darkness feel less overwhelming.

What else does light bring us?  Here are five ideas.

  • Light illuminates the path. Once we have light, we can see which way to go.  Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”  Letting God’s light shine into our situation can help us know how to proceed. Psalm 119:105 tells us that God’s Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. Reading and studying our Bible will help us see the way to go.
  • Light removes the fear of the unknown.  When you can see what’s around you, you’re not as scared.  A verse that comforts me in times of uncertainty is Psalm 112:7, which says of the righteous, “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.”  I don’t have to be afraid of the unknown if I’m trusting God to take care of me.
  • Light brings comfort.  If you’ve ever had a child (or been one!) who’s afraid of the dark, you know how comforting it can be to see a little night light shining in the darkness.  God is called “the God of all comfort” in II Corinthians 1:3 and He is able to comfort us at every step. 
  • Light reveals imperfections.  When the light of the Lord shines on us, we can see how much we need Him.  Through His Word and His Holy Spirit, He reveals our sin and our weakness. As we acknowledge them, God can show us Himself and His ability to meet our every need.
  • Light leads us to our ultimate desination. I think of being lost outside on a cold, dark, wintry night. Just when I feel like giving up, I see a light in the distance. That light gives me hope to keep going, trusting that there’s warmth and something hot to eat and drink where I’m headed! In the same way, we may struggle along here in the darkness of the world, but as Christians, we have a home in Heaven where the light of our Savior always shines!

If you’re going through a dark day, I pray that you will let the Lord shine into your darkness!

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9 Short, Simple Pieces of Advice for My College Freshman

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We’re past the middle of August now, and I’m guessing many of you with school-aged children are in the process of starting a new school year. I actually ended up at our daughters’ former school on Monday, which was the students’ first day of classes. I was dropping off my daughter’s cheer uniform from last year. Walking into the school office again without having a child on the campus felt a little strange!

We’re now in the single digits…just nine days until we take our youngest daughter to college. We still haven’t gotten everything on our list, but we’re getting close! Her last day of work is Monday, so we’ll have a few days to pack it all up before we head to Florida.

As a mom, you hope you’ve done a good job preparing your child for this next season in life. It’s a big step, living independently, for the most part, hundreds of miles away from home. As we count down these final days before college life begins, I have a list of nine things I want her to remember.

Tips to get her college career off to a good start

1. Take care of your body.

I dispensed this down into four words. Eat. Drink. Move. Sleep.

Eat at least some healthy foods and stay hydrated. Walking to classes on a daily basis should keep you moving, but occasionally make time for some real exercise. And, as much as possible, prioritize a good night’s sleep.

2. Spend time with God every day.

So many activities and obligations can crowd out the most important thing. Make time in Bible reading and prayer a priority in your day from the very beginning.

3. Reach out to other people.

Be the first to introduce yourself. Talk to the girl who sits next to you in History of Civ. Use your ride in the elevator or your time standing in line to buy books to strike up a conversation.

4. Find a rhythm for your week.

Figure out when you have your dorm room to yourself. Use that time to take a nap or study for that big test. And speaking of studying, figure out when and where you study best. No afternoon classes on Thursday? Designate that time to work on in-depth projects.

5. Get involved.

Join a club. Try out for an intramural sport. Start a study group with kids from your English class.

6. Try new things.

New foods, your roommate’s favorite hobby, an activity you didn’t have time for in high school – if it’s safe and interesting to you, give it a try. This is a great time in life to find out what types of things you enjoy.

7. Ask for help.

You’re not going to know everything. Find an upperclassman who’s willing to help you. Schedule a meeting with a professor. Talk to your resident assistant. Be brave enough and wise enough to reach out when you need help.

8. Develop a large circle of friends.

In the beginning, you don’t know which friendships will go the distance. Tuesdays can be for lunch with friends from Speech class. Thursdays are for afternoon coffee with your suitemates. It’s not likely that you’ll ever be around this many people in your same stage of life again. Enjoy developing these relationships.

9. Call home.

Okay, maybe this one’s a little selfish, but always remember you have a great support system in your dad and me. We’re praying for this to be a great semester of growing into the person God would have for you to be!

What other advice would you give a college freshman? Anything for a college freshman’s mom??

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5 Fun Finds for August 2021

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Happy Friday, friends!! Hope you’ve had a good week and are ready for the weekend.

One Friday a month I send out a list of five fun things I’ve found to my e-mail subscribers. It could be a blog post, a product, a recipe, a book, or just about anything that I think they might like, too.

For August, I decided to bring my list to the blog so that everyone can check it out! (If you’d like to subscribe to my newsletter, you can click here. You’ll get an email every time a new post goes live as well as a weekly update with subscriber-only content and some “behind-the-scenes” news.)

This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you click on a product link and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small percentage from any sales.  This does not affect your price in any way. Thank you for supporting Girls to Grow through your purchases!

Here are my five fun finds for this month.

Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin. I don’t read a lot of historical fiction these days. However, I really liked Austin’s last book, so I gave this one a try. It was very good! It’s set in the Netherlands in World War II.

10 Things to Say to a Strong-Willed Teen. Some of these are golden! I think you’ll find them useful whether or not you classify your teen as strong-willed.

Personal Organizer Toiletry Bag (Medium) from L.L. Bean. This is not a new find, but because we’ve been traveling more this summer, it’s gotten a real workout! I love all the pockets and dividers. The attached hook is great, too. It makes it easy to hang the bag from a hook on the back of the bathroom door or on the end of a towel rack. That saves space on those small bathroom countertops! It’s also very durable – I’ve had mine for years.

Croc Women’s Capri V Sequin Flip Flops. Here’s another product I’ve had for a while that’s gotten used a lot this summer. I have the silver sandals, and they go with everything. They’re a little dressier than your basic flip flop. I actually have three pair of Croc flip flops in different styles and I recommend them all. They’re so comfortable!

5 in 1 Professional Curling Iron and Wand Set. So my curling iron quit working on the first day of our cruise. And no, I can tell you from experience that they do not sell curling irons on cruise ships! I ordered a new one once we got home, but until it arrived, I borrowed this set from my daughter. I like that you can switch out the barrel size depending on what type of curl you wanted.

Let me know what you’re loving in August! Hope you have a good weekend!!

Is Your Faith Little or Great?

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Welcome to Girls to Grow today! I took a bit of a blog break over the last couple of weeks, but I’m happy to be back.

Last week my husband and I were able to join a group of people from his company on a cruise in the Caribbean. We had a nice, relaxing time and especially enjoyed visiting Puerto Rico for the first time.

Now we’re on the countdown to college for our girls! I’m slowly but surely marking things off the list with our freshman. She’s been able to connect with two girls who will be her roommates, so that’s been fun.

Recently I’ve been reading in the book of Matthew during my morning Bible time. It struck me one day how often Jesus comments on a person’s faith.

Here are several examples.

“When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” [8:10]

“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” [8:26]

“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” [9:2]

“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” [9:22]

“Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.” [9:29]

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” [14:31]

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” [15:28]

Many of these people had great faith for healing, either theirs or someone else’s. The disciples, though, had little faith when the storm came and rocked their boat. Peter needed faith to walk on the water.

Fatih sounds like such a big, important word..and it is. According to Hebrews 11:6, we can’t please God without it. Maybe, like me, you’re in the midst of a transition or facing a situation with an uncertain outcome and you need faith.

Four truths from the Bible to encourage us as we grow in faith

Let’s look at some truths about faith.

Faith is complete confidence and trust in God.

Do you see that word “complete?” That means totally and fully putting our trust in God. It’s not, “Yeah, I believe God is going to meet my need/answer my prayer, but I’m also trying to work it out on my own over here just in case He doesn’t.” Anyone but me ever been there?

I don’t think the blind men who come to Jesus for healing in Matthew 9 had a backup plan. Their faith was in His power to give them sight. And He did.

It’s not “blind” faith when we put our trust in God.

There are several things we can base our faith on. The first is what we know about God from His Word. Deuteronomy 7:9 says that He is the faithful God. Faithfulness is part of His character.

Not only does the Bible tell us that our God is faithful, but it shows us through the stories we find there. Hebrews 11 is full of them!

Our faith is also based on previous experiences in our lives. You don’t have to be a Christian for long before you’ll go through a trial and you will find that God is faithful. What we’re facing today may be a different circumstance than in the past, but we know God will be faithful again.

Faith will drive out fear.

Notice in Matthew 8:26 above that Jesus asks the disciples why they’re afraid. It’s because their faith was so small. I’m not judging them – I wouldn’t have been calm tossing up and down in a boat during a storm! But they had Jesus right there with them. And He’s also with us in whatever our storm is, wanting us to demonstrate our faith in His ability to keep us safe.

It’s in seasons of waiting that our faith grows.

My flesh doesn’t like this one. Waiting is hard, y’all. Yet in the seasons of waiting, we can cling to God’s promises.

It’s so easy to want to run ahead of God. Remember Abraham and Hagar? God had promised Abraham a great seed. But instead of waiting on God’s timing, Abraham and Sarah took the matter into their own hands. What a mess that was! But what a wonderful day when all the waiting was over and God blessed them with Isaac just as He had promised.

Don’t you want to be one of those that Jesus commended for having great faith?! With God’s help, we can be.

A prayer for today: Dear God, give us faith that we might please You. Help us to fully and completely put our trust in You. We have seen your faithfulness in the past and claim the promises we find in Your Word. Drive out the fear that threatens our peace. You have everything under control, whether we feel like it or not. And when you ask us to wait, may we do so with complete confidence that You know best and are always working for Your glory and our good.

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It’s One Simple (not necessarily easy) Thing We Can All Do

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A lot of times I write about women in the Bible and how we can learn from or be inspired by them. But today I want to talk about Joseph. Not the Joseph of the Old Testament, though he’s a great guy. No, I mean the Joseph of the New Testament. The one who served as an earthly father to Jesus.

As I read about him in Matthew chapters 1 and 2, I find that his life is marked by one word. It’s not flashy or spectacular or radical. It’s a very simple word.

Obedience.

Four times God came to Joseph in a dream. He is given four different, direct commands. And Joseph has the same response every time.

A lesser known and perhaps unlikely Bible character models this trait very well.

Let’s look quickly at these four passages.

“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost…Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:” ~Matthew 1:19-20, 24

Joseph is already classified as a “just man.” Yet surely this command from God was unexpected. I feel like I’d have wanted something more than just one dream to confirm that I needed to make such a life-changing decision. Remember Gideon and the fleece?? Maybe something like that. But Joesph woke up from his dream and did exactly – and, as far as we can tell, without question – what God told him to do.

He obeyed.

Here’s the second dream.

“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:” ~Matthew 2:13-14

The wise men have just left Bethlehem. Joseph has a dream and is told to take Mary and Jesus out of the country. Not just to another village, but to a totally unfamiliar place. And traveling then wasn’t like it is today, with GPS and car rental and hotel reservations along the way. I don’t know if Joseph had planner tendencies like I do, but it probably would have been nice to have a little more notice before taking off on this big trip.

How did Joseph respond? When he got up out of bed, he took Jesus and Mary at night and left for Egypt.

He obeyed.

And here’s the third dream.

“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.” ~Matthew 2:19-21

Another dream, another trip. We don’t know exactly how long the little family had been in Egypt. But now God tells Joseph it’s time to return to Israel. Perhaps this was a welcome command. Certainly, there must have been relief in knowing that those who’d wanted to kill the young Jesus were dead. Once again, Joseph does what he’s done before.

He obeyed.

And finally, just a short time later, we find the last recorded dream of Joseph.

“But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” ~Matthew 2:22-23

And here’s the fourth dream, the fourth time God tells Joseph what he should do. This time, God’s direction leads Joseph to Nazareth, the town that Jesus would be associated with when He grew to be a man. [Matthew 21:11; Mark 1:24] Joseph responds to this directive just as he has all the times before.

He obeyed.

We may not speak or sing on a stage or be recognized for our large charitable contributions. We may not feel like we have any great talent that God can use. But you and I, we can be like Joseph.

We can obey.

We can look to God’s Word for instruction and follow it. When the Holy Spirit impresses a particular action on our heart, we can follow through. We can pray for discernment to know God’s will and do it to the best of our ability.

I believe that whether it was here or in heaven or both, God honored Joseph for his obedience. And I believe that’s why he was chosen to have such a close, earthly relationship with God’s Son. May we, like Joseph, be obedient to what we know God would have us to do today.

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10 Important Prayers to Pray for My College-Bound Daughter

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If I was wondering what month it is, the weather would definitely let me know that it’s July here in coastal South Carolina! No matter how early in the morning I go out for my daily walks, it’s just constantly HOT. But we’ve had some nice sunshine lately, so I’m thankful for that.

If you read here regularly, you know that our younger daughter is leaving for college next month. The empty nest is upon us, and I’m having lots of feelings about it! She’s now in the midst of taking placement tests and registering for classes. She’s also virtually meeting other freshman girls who could potentially be her roommates.

For months now I’ve been praying that God would give her good roommates. I saw Him provide this in a wonderful way for our older daughter. She didn’t really know anyone to request to room with her first year. But God put her in a dorm room with three sweet girls that were a perfect fit. There was no drama between the four of them all year and it was truly a blessing!

There are lots of things I want to pray for my daughter as she leaves for college. Today I’m pulling ten ideas from Paul’s prayers that we find in the Bible. I think he’s a pretty good example to follow!

Ten Bible-based prayers we can pray for our children as they head off to college

I pray that my daughter…

…would know God’s will.

“For this cause we…do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” ~Colossians 1:9

She will make so many decisions in these next four years – what major to study, which friends to spend time with, classes to take, groups to join, boys to date. May her heart and mind be open to God’s leading.

…would be fruitful in God’s work.

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” ~Colossians 1:10

May the next four years be productive ones for her! Whether she’s studying for a test or ministering to others, I pray that she will do all for the glory of God.

…will increase in her knowledge of God.

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” ~Colossians 1:10

I’m thankful she’ll be in a Christian college. She’ll be exposed to God’s Word in church and chapel services as well as in the classroom. But most of all, I pray that she’ll develop a personal walk with God that will continue for the rest of her life.

…will get her strength from God.

“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” ~Colossians 1:11

My daughter will face a lot of new challenges over the next four years. There will be times when she feels overwhelmed and exhausted. May she learn to rely on God and His power to accomplish what needs to be done.

…won’t lose hope.

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” ~Romans 15:13

I don’t know what her future holds. But I know that in God, there is always hope. No matter how desperate the situation looks, may she have the faith to believe that.

…will know the peace of God at all times.

“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.” ~2 Thessalonians 3:16

There will be days when her peace is threatened by a difficult relationship, heavy workload, or any number of distractions. But as she looks to God for help, He can provide peace in her soul.

…will approve things that are excellent.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” ~Philippians 1:9-10

She’s going to have lots of chances to make decisions for herself starting next month. I pray that she’ll choose wisely the places she goes, the people she hangs out with, and the way she uses her time.

…will avoid sin.

“Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest…” ~2 Corinthians 13:7

May God protect her from evil. And may she choose the “way of escape” when temptation comes calling. [1 Corinthians 10:13]

…would know God’s love.

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” ~Ephesians 3:14-19

There may be a day that she wakes up lonely and feeling unloved. I pray that she will take those emotions to God and that His love will flow over her and give her the courage to go on.

…will trust God as He performs His work in her.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy…Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” ~Philippians 1:3-6

She doesn’t know today all that God will do in her life over the next four years. Yet He has a plan, and He will be faithful to work it out as she trusts Him.

How grateful and blessed we are to face a new season of life being confident that God hears our prayers and loves our young adult children even more than we do!

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4 Defeating Thoughts and How to Overcome Them

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Welcome to Girls to Grow today, whether you’re a first-time or long-time reader! I hope your summer’s going well so far and that you had a good 4th of July holiday weekend. It’s a fairly quiet week here, so we’re fitting in a couple of routine doctor appointments and starting the dorm-room shopping process with my younger daughter.

Lately, I’ll admit to having to work hard to keep my thoughts positive. It seems like I run to the negative side of things very quickly! I get down on myself or someone else. Or I dwell on what’s wrong in a situation rather than choosing to trust God and His timing.

But I know that’s not how God would have for us to live. He wants us to walk in His truth. In order to do that, we need to fight those negative thoughts with God’s Word. It is our sword [Ephesians 6:17], and we can use it to get victory over those thoughts.

Here are four common defeating thought patterns along with Scripture to overcome them.

We can fight against the negative thoughts that discourage us by using truth from God's Word.

1. I’ve messed up too many times for God to still love me.

Saved or unsaved, you can have this thought. Let’s remind ourselves about some truths regarding God’s love for us.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” ~1 John 4:10 We weren’t the ones to initiate love towards God. He loved us first.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ~Romans 5:8 So often we think of love as conditional. As imperfect humans, it can be hard to grasp that God’s love was so great that He loved us and sent His Son to die for us while we were still in our sinful state, far from wanting the redemption we needed.

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” ~Jeremiah 31:3 God’s love is everlasting. Nothing can separate us from that love. [Romans 8:38-39]

2. God doesn’t know or care about the little things in my life.

We get discouraged, and while we know in our heads this isn’t true, our hearts may feel differently. Thankfully feelings don’t equal truth.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” ~Luke 12:6-7 The God who remembers every sparrow and knows the number of hairs on your head knows and cares about every detail of your life.

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” ~Psalm 139:17-18 What an idea to meditate on – God’s thoughts about me are precious and more in number than the sand!

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” ~Psalm 37:23 God knows not just our whole path, but each step that we’re taking along the way.

3. No one else has the same struggles that I do.

This one has come up often for me as a mom. Other moms seem to have this whole parenting thing down way better than I do! She doesn’t seem to struggle with __________ [insert whatever difficult behavior my child is currently displaying]. But we can also allow this thought to defeat us when it comes to any type of temptation or difficulty we’re facing.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” ~1 Corinthians 10:13 This verse is pretty clear – temptation is common to all of us. Yet God knows what we can handle and makes a way of escape for us.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” ~Hebrews 4:15 Jesus, all-God yet all-man, understands what it’s like to live on this earth with its trials and temptations.

“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” ~Hebrews 2:18 We can run to Christ for comfort and support. We don’t have to do it alone.

4. My prayers aren’t doing any good.

Have you ever prayed for something that, as far as you know, is in God’s will, but it doesn’t seem to get answered?

“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” ~John 9:31 The Bible says over and over that God hears our prayers.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” ~1 John 5:14 If we don’t see our prayer answered right away, it doesn’t mean that God hasn’t heard us. We can’t know the mind of God, but we can trust that He is working out what is best.

“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.” ~Revelation 5:8 I love this verse that tells us that our prayers are before God as sweet incense!

And finally, in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we’re instructed to pray without ceasing. Why would we be told to do this if our prayers don’t do any good?

Let’s be purposeful about choosing our thoughts today. If the defeating thought you’re facing isn’t on this list, find a Bible verse that will help you overcome it. May we use God’s Word to live victoriously as Christian women today.

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