This week my daughter Amariah celebrates another birthday! Her baby days are far behind her, and I look at the speedy passing of time and am trying not to blink.
She’ll be a young lady before I know it.
It’s a joyful thought and a weighty realization that I’m responsible for her understanding of the world. There are so many things I want to teach her, but God’s Word trumps them all. Starting even now, biblical lessons on Jesus and womanhood can take root.
Year by year I will impart to her the complete and soul-satisfying identity to be had in Christ. Through life experiences, homeschooling, and my motherly example, I desire to lovingly disciple her even in the most difficult moments. I look forward to little mother-daughter dates, explaining to her the ways of the Lord.
This world is darkening, with temptations and rebellions amplifying as man invents evil and strays farther from God. It is my earnest hope, then, to lead her in the light of Christ—to see that God’s wisdom, design, and salvation surpass everything else.
I will always look for opportunities to share the Gospel to her.
As a part of that, there are 5 little lessons I wish to give to Amariah, tiny nuggets of gold from God’s Word. I hope and pray you can share them with your daughter too.
Follow Jesus, Not Your Heart
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8
Unlike what we think, our hearts cannot be trusted. Why? Because, without guidance from God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, they succumb to the pressures of this world – often leading to rash action, indecision, discontentment, and dead-ends. As the cherished hymn says, our hearts are “prone to wander.”
The Lord, however, is the most trustworthy of all. He is immutable, our ever-reliable compass in the hills and valleys of life. His truth heals and refreshes us to live rightly and fully.
By placing our faith in Jesus, we have the simple purpose of glorifying and enjoying Him forever—and what delight and clarity this brings!
Purity is a Precious Gift to God
“…And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit.” 1 Corinthians 7:34
There can be godly beauty to both singleness and marriage—and the key ingredient is purity. Whether one’s solely devoted to God, or also devoted to the husband God gives, a sound conscience and security results from outer and inner holiness.
We are made in the Lord’s image, and once saved our bodies are a “temple” of the Holy Spirit. These are blessings not to be taken lightly. We love Jesus when we carry ourselves with integrity and a thirst for righteousness.
There is a particular and wonderful life to a woman who is fully committed to the Lord – her body saved for His holy purpose and preserved for the man He specifically designed for her.
When we fall short and make mistakes in purity, God is also gracious if we repent—pleased by our desire to be made new through forgiveness in His Son.
Your Worth is Found in the Lord
“and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority…” Colossians 2:10
Nothing can complete you except for Christ.
On our own we can strive for success and affirmation, but eternal rest is only found in Jesus.
With Him we don’t have to prove anything, but instead we can humbly lay our weary and weak hearts before Him and be made whole. He gives us infinite worth through His redemption—with Him we are daughters of God.
We can be satisfied because we know Christ is enough, and His Great Commission is our ultimate calling. He is pleased when we put our hands and minds to work for His glory, trusting Him with the results. As long as we using our skills and passions unto Him, we are doing what we were created to do. This is the freedom this blog celebrates!
One of my favorite Christian shops, the Daily Grace Company, recently released a study called Worthy about finding your identity in Christ, and I highly recommend it!
Beauty Comes From Within
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” 1 Peter 3:3-4
Sometimes we roll our eyes at the cliché that “beauty is what’s on the inside,” but this aligns with Scripture. Regardless of her appearance, a godly woman radiates a beauty that is eternal, a beauty that gives hope and refreshment in its kindness and grace.
Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 Share on XI also like the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” While not usually a fan of relativism (our liberal culture goes overboard with it), I like to think of the phrase in this way: In Christ, God beholds you as beautiful—you are His beloved bride. If the Lord has set marriage on your heart, He will provide a man that sees you as lovely—not only outwardly but in your heart.
The godly, strong, ideal man will find you through your love for the Lord, not your love for makeup or clothes.
For a deeper look at this 1 Peter 3 passage see my post: 5 of God’s Desires for Women.
God Has a High Calling for Women
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
Women reflect the image of God in their own, sweetly designated way. We are not less than men, but we are different than men. We nurture, create, instruct, and build up others as we love God, our husbands, and our homes—in that order.
Our high calling is in being helpers as God is our Helper, in being heartfelt, encouraging, sensitive creatures.
Most amazingly, like God we bring forth new life, whether through discipling or mothering.
[Older women] 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. Titus 2:3-5
Recall that last statement. Our calling is so important, that if we stray from it or dismiss it, we misrepresent God Himself!
We as women reflect our own precious Savior by sacrificially serving and submitting to the Father who lovingly created us.
Mommas, my final lessons are for you! We teach these lessons most powerfully when we live them out ourselves. 🙂 Let’s also be faithful in prayer for our little ones, for their responses to these teachings are in God’s hands. Read A Prayer for My Daughter for inspiration.
You can also check out my newest study, Biblical Womanhood Defined, and do it with your daughter!
Hey there, my daughter is 12 now and let me affirm that your article is on point! “Follow Jesus not your heart” is my favorite. The cherry on top was the part where you exhorted moms to live-out what they teach, especially since children model what they see. Great insight. Your friend, Tania from TheodoraLove
Thanks Tania! That line is definitely hard to hear sometimes, especially since it’s opposite of what the world says. I’ll be praying we can faithfully lead our daughters in it! I appreciate your visit. 🙂
I have 2 daughters and I agree with your list. It’s so important for us to teach them all these things.
Great, Anne! Praying for you and your daughters as you teach them God’s Word!
Great wisdom to share with your daughter! You’re right, don’t blink! My daughter is now 16 and it seems only yesterday she was a newborn.
Wow! Time does fly, and each day counts. Another post would be how to practically and creatively share these things with my daughter. Maybe you have ideas to share? Thanks for visiting Julie! 🙂
My daughter recently turned 2 and I feel the same excitement and reservations about her getting older. I constantly pray for the ability to instill truths just like these one in her.
Praying right along with you, Kira! Our daughters will be growing up in a crazy world but thank the Lord He has given us the timeless wisdom of His Word. 🙂
I don’t have a daughter—but I do have 3 sons. I pray they find a wife who holds all of these traits. I especially like the first one–follow Jesus not your heart–I wish someone would have told me that when I was a young girl. I’m definitely sharing this post with my friends who have daughters 🙂
Blessings, friend!!
That is a good prayer as well! I also need to be praying for a godly husband for my daughter. And I feel the same way – since I didn’t grow up in a strongly believing home I learned much of this later by God’s grace! Thank you for sharing, Ally 🙂
This post is GOLD! I have a one year old daughter and a 4 year old. Your statement ‘She’ll be a young lady before I know it.’ is SO true. The years fly so fast and it is so important to be intentional at these ages to instill these truths so they are known TO THEIR BONES. I believe that God blesses these efforts and that His Word does not return void when we plant it in children. HE is faithful! Great post and one I’m saving to reference and as encouragement in future days. Thank you!
Thank you Elaine! And amen – we have to be intentional every single day. Like you said, it’s such a blessing to know that our prayers and discipleship for our children pleases God, and He is faithful to work through it. Girls are so sensitive, and so it will be interesting to see how I can share these things with my daughter over the years. Praying for you as a mama to two little ladies 🙂
Dani your word has come at such desperate times as ours. Really our daughters and young women need to be instilled with God’s word so as to make the world a better place. I have 3 daughters and I pray to see them grow and become great woman in the sight of God. Your message has blessed me so much may God continue to strengthen you and increase you on all sides. Nice work
I agree, Pamela -our society is dramatically abandoning the truth of God’s Word, and so we have to all the more pursue teaching these beautiful principles to our girls! Thank you for your kind words – I’ll be praying for you daughters! 🙂
Such a great post! I love that you share these tips to encourage our girls in a closer relationship with God.
Thank you, Starla! Hope these Scriptures can be helpful to you.
Love this post, Dani! I’ve had so much of this on my heart recently as I’ve considered watching my daughters grow. Thank you!
Thanks Charlie! We definitely have to keep these in mind with each stage of our girl’s lives. Praying your daughters grow in His grace!
A friend just introduced me to your blog yesterday, and it’s been a blessing already. Thank you for these posts full of truth, well-phrased.
Thank you for taking the time to visit, Laura! Praise the Lord that this encouraged you, and I pray to further serve you through future posts! God Bless! 🙂
Dear Dani!
I’m a 21-year- old woman from Hungary. I came across your article on Pinterest. Thank you, it was just so amazing to read. Although I don’t have a child or even a boyfriend, still it is so encouraging to read. I’m teaching English to some of my friends and this article is usually sent around to each girl, and they love it, so thank you!
With lots of love,
Kati
Hi Kati! It warmed my heart to read your words! Praise God He encouraged you with this and that you are able to share it with others. I pray this biblical truth can help many girls to love the Lord all the more! Blessings sister!
God’s Blessings will be yours, Kati. Thanks for your sweet post!!
I can’t agree with this more! In society, movies, entertainment, we are always hearing that we should “follow our hearts”. I want to teach my kids not to follow their hearts and to follow Jesus instead! Great post!