If only someone could have peeked into my heart. If only someone could have known what I needed and planted seeds of His unconditional love and truth in my heart as a girl …
From the heart of my friend and amazing author/ministry teammate, Lynn Cowell:
All summer she’s been so free; so confident. Days of pony tails and swimsuits, my daughter wakes up each day to her carefree world. No worries about her make-up; she doesn’t wear any! No concerns about her wardrobe; gym shorts fit most every occasion.
As the first day of school approached, I watched her fight to hang on to her confident summer-self. Not wanting to go backward, she has struggled to stand in God’s love and embrace who He has created her to be. It’s been a daily fight as she counted down the days.
Confidence is a major factor in young people when it comes to how they feel about themselves and profoundly affects the decisions they make. Craving acceptance, approval, and affirmation, they’re tempted to make choices that will move them forward on the popularity scale or at least not cause them to stand out. Uncomfortable, miserable even, they don’t know they were made for more than fitting in.
I have found a major key in building confidence in my daughters: teaching them that Jesus is wild about them.
Understanding Jesus is the one who fills the love gap in their hearts, empowers them to not grasp at love from guys and girls alike. Truth that Jesus was wild for them (Psalm 45:11), He sees no flaw in them (Song of Songs 4:7) and He actually enjoys them (Zephaniah 3:17) transforms the way they see themselves. But before that transformation can start, they have to know this truth and that begins with hearing it every day.
Lasting confidence only comes from one source: knowing who they are. Only a foundation built on unconditional love stands. Do you see a girl struggling with low self-image? Can you read in her eyes, “Won’t someone love me the way I am?”
She needs to know when Jesus looks at her, He is not disappointed in her. She needs to know that love from a guy, be it a dad or a boyfriend, can never fill the love gap in our hearts…but He can. This is the truth she needs every day to combat the lies the world tells her.
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ENTER TODAY’s GIVE-AWAY: What is one thing you would tell your 14-year old self or a teenage girl growing up today about God’s Love? Lynn and I would love to know. And she’s going to give one of you a signed copy of “Devotions for a Revolutionary Year,”. To enter to win, simply click on the word “comments” right below this post and type in the white box to share with us.
Do you want to help pour this truth into the young women in your life? On her website, Lynn is offering a FREE “Faith Builder” – seven devotions taken straight from her new book, “Devotions for a Revolutionary Year: 365 Days of Jesus’ Radical Love for You”. These devotions will build up the faith of the girl in your life, be it your daughter, niece and/or granddaughter so she can be filled with a confidence that is true and can stand the pressure of this world.
To celebrate the release of Devotions for a Revolutionary Year, Lynn is giving away over $75 in free contentwith each purchase! Simply purchase Devotions for a Revolutionary Year from September 4th – 11th and e-mail your receipt to [email protected]. You will receive in an email with a link to this free content on Lynn’s website at www.LynnCowell.com.
And the WINNER is…. Jennifer {announced September 19, 2012}
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I would tell her that God doesn’t think she’s too loud, too daydreamy, too smart, too much. I would tell her that He can help her when her heart gets broken again. I would tell her that He will find the most amazing people to physically hold her hand, and even when they are not there, He will be.
I would tell her that He is the best Father she could ever imagine.
I would tell my 14 yr old self that I am more than the mistakes that I make, that God loves me just the way I am, that I don’t need a man in my life to feel secure, stay true to yourself even when others are pressuring you to not be. You are loved, your are beautiful, you are worthy. Pray about everything, never stop praying.
My daughter will be 14 in a few months. I would tell her (we have had convos like this before) that God sees her, knows her every thought, fear, embarassment, struggle, sin, joy, success and dreams. I would tell her that she doesn’t need to fight and compromise and worry so much about getting attention and trying to have her needs met by humans who will fail her because she already has the undivided attention of her heavenly Father, the Lord God Almighty, her savior and the lover of her soul. I would tell her to never stop talking to Him, no matter her mood, her feelings, her anger or disappointment because He wants to hear from her, His precious daughter. I would remind her that she is made in His image and to Him, she is lovely, graceful, beautiful and loved beyond her wildest hope; that He delights over HER with singing and longs for her to talk to Him. I would remind her to pick up her Bible and see what He has to say about her, even if it seems boring or “old fashioned”. He will direct her to the places in His word that she needs to hear and needs to know about Him. I would say to her, “Jesus loves you this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
I have 2 sons but I do teach Sunday School to 6th -8th girls and I tell them every Sunday that their identity is in God….and God alone. It’s not in the sport they play or a guy they like or even their future husband or children. I pray we all truly believe this precious nugget of truth 🙂
i would tell my 14-year-old daughter that God loves her so much and that He made her to be so special. He formed her in the womb. He knows her strengths and her weaknesses. He knows all her gifts and talents. He has such special plans for her. He will be right there with her each and every moment. He loves her so much that He will never leave her or forsake her. He knows how beautiful she is. He also knows her inner beauty and to keep her focus right on Him and he will guide her to continue to mold her into just the beautiful Little Lady He wants her to be. After all, if it were so easy than we would not need God would we.
I would let her know that it isn’t what’s on the outside that even matters, but the inside. God looks at our hearts. And he has designed each of us in a beautiful, and unique way. We are beautiful to him, and he loves us so much. He laid down his life for us, so we could live. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He’s the best friend, husband, daddy you could ever have. His love is unconditional. It never fails. His love isn’t based on what I look like, or my performance. He loves us for who we are…! Beauty isn’t what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside. That is where true beauty lies, is within.
Oh, how I wish my 14 yr old self had realized this. I am trying to instill this in my own 13 year old daughter. I pray that she will never look to anyone but her Lord and Savior to fill that gap. My own daughter has battled the same thing as this school year started and she has entered 7th grade. At her school that means being in a new building with 7th through 12th grade. A whole new world of pressures. This book is definitely what she needs.
Thanks for writing it!
I hope it will be a powerful tool in her new surroundings!
I would tell my 14 year old self that God loves and accepts me for who I am. I don’t need (want but not NEED) acceptance from others, and that even if/when I get it, I will have to work/change to keep it. With God, I have acceptance and love even when I do not deserve it. God’s love isn’t based on how I look, how I act, who I date or hang out with or the clothes I wear. He loves me silly, serious, mean, nice, popular, dorky and most of all, He GETS me-and I mean the way your best friend gets you, and knows exactly what I meant to say (I had this talent for saying things wrong, I mean, I was a PRO).
I would say that God is Who every earthly father was intended to be, the prince charming that every teenage girl secretly waits for. We can’t see Him, but He’s always there with open arms waiting for us to run to Him when our world is falling apart, when no one else understands or even cares what we are feeling, and also wants to hear all of the details of our day. I would tell her that there will always be times when it feels that no one understands or cares, but that’s when you can take comfort in knowing that God will ALWAYS be there and He will ALWAYS care and He will always listen. That if you are quiet, He will speak to you through verses, through the rainbow after the storm, through the tiniest things throughout your day. He is the perfect father, BFF, husband, counselor and He is never too busy. People will always let you down because no one is perfect, but God is perfect and has a one of a kind, designer plan for your life.
Most of all, I would tell her that God’s love is unending and she can never do anything to push Him away. That He wants more for her life than she wants for herself. That surrendering to Him is not enslaving herself to chains of rules and “Do nots” or never being in control; it’s the complete opposite of what it looks like. It’s exchanging the unrealistic pressure of the world to always be in control, do what makes you happy, get them before they get you, you can have it all, you deserve it- mirrage that’s as fake as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Exchanging that for freedom in knowing that just by honoring God in your life (the way you honor your spouse in marriage-out of love) that you can have peace in the unknown because you belong to the One Who has a plan just for you.
Oh, and then I would tell myself that life is about more than just how you FEEL so stop being so dramatic and give myself a good shaking!! 😉
I would tell my 14 year old self: ” God loves you just the way you are. He doesn’t want a ‘perfect’ you…it isn’t possible no matter how hard you try. He is crazy about you, crazy enough to choose you as His bride, His child, His friend. Rest in His love…give every worry and care to Him, for he cares for you.
I would tell my 14 year old self that it really is okay being who God made you to be. And though you don’t grow up to be the super model or the most popular or all the other standards we compare ourselves too, God loves you just the way you are. So much so, that He created you like no one else in the world. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and not by the world’s standards, but Praise God by His standards. At 40 years old I find that I need to tell myself this even today. But I truly thank God that I have been able as a mother to tell my 22, 11 and 10 year old daughters how precious and loved they are by God. It does wonders to my heart to know that my daughters have a head start on their relationship with Christ now than what I had at their ages.
I also have a 14 yr old son, so I am glad I came across this, just awesome 🙂
I would tell my 14yr old self, to not listen to what others say, if the comment is negative and makes you feel bad then it is not from God and it is a lie. I would say, you are beautiful, full of life and will go far in this world. Goad has plans for you so don’t ever give up and keep moving forward and don’t look back. It is God who defines you, not man. Listen and follow God, not man. I have two teenage daughters, 13 and 16, and a 16 year old niece that I tell these things to all the time. Because I want them to be confident and grow up knowing who they are. I was beat down put down and everything in between, so I love looking out for the youth of today and women of today. I love this!!!!
GOD loves you so very very much, just the way you are ! He has great plans for you, look to him and he will provide all you need in his time. To my daughters, ages 25, 23, 17, and 16…..I believed in GOD when I was a teen, but now I have come to know him for the father who lifts me up in all circumstances, is always there for me and I who loves us more than we can ever imagine.
I would share that friends and family will always let you down at times but God and His love for you never changes. He created you exactly the way you are and loves you completely. There is nothing you could ever say or do that would make Him stop loving you. Recognize that He is for you and cheering you on. Go to Him daily and pour out your heart to Him. Trust Him with your deepest secrets and hurts, surrender to Him. He desires to make you whole, content and satisfied in Him. The Joy of the Lord is your strength! You will never regret making the decision to surrender your life to Him.
My 14-year old self had just moved to a new state and was missing her friends and feeling miserable. I would have told myself that God is watching out for me, and he knows that I can handle the challenges of meeting new people and starting new activities. Change is hard, but through God all things are possible. He loves me, he wants me to meet these people and learn from them. And the best way to live is to focus on being all I can be, to live as he intended, and in ways that would please him and honor him. Through that are the benefits for all mankind.
I would have told myself that God’s love is unchanging. He won’t love you any less if you make wrong choices and mistakes. You are His princess; He adores you!
I would have told myself about the Love of Jesus! At 14 I was so lost and alone I took live from any place u could find it !
I WOULD TELL THE 14-YEAR-OLD ME THAT GOD IS THE ONLY ONE I NEED TO PLEASE AND
THAT I CAN TRUST HIM TO PROVIDE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WILL APPRECIATE THE REAL ME
If you only knew how much I struggle with this and I’m 44. If I could go back and tell my 14 year old self anything….It would be that God Loves me no matter the hair, the skin, the clothes, the career..no matter what. thatYou are God’s previous jewel! Malachi 3:17
You have been set free from Satan’s control!
Col 1:13
You have been predestined to be like Jesus! Ephesians 1:11
You are kept from falling!
Jude 1:24
You are a candle in a dark place! Matthew 5:15
You have peace with God!
Romans 5:1
You have an anchor in your soul! Hebrews 6:19
You can do all things through Christ!! Philp 4:13
Taking one day at a time, being in the moment, living for today.
Oh if only someone had told me back then that Jesus was wild about me. Today i still stuggle with this truth. I would tell a 14 yr old everything that i didn’t hear that if i had and digested it would have changed my life