It’s Picture Day at school today. So my daughter and I took some extra time in fixing her hair this morning. As I straightened the mountain of curly locks on her head I asked her about the devotional she read the night before.
Recently we’ve made devotion time part of our kids’ bedtime routine. For a long time we’ve given them a certain amount of ‘read’ time before lights out each night. It’s been a great way for them to relax and wind down before bed.
The morning time has never been great for devotion time. My kids aren’t the easiest people to peel out of bed in the morning so time for Bible reading simply isn’t in the cards.
My 10-year old daughter is going through a devotional created for preteens. Last night’s devotional was based out of Psalm 139:13-17.
I love this scripture.
And I love how God’s timing is so perfect.
On the cusp of school picture day… the day we are more aware of WHAT we wear, HOW we look and how photogenic we are. A day we tend to size ourselves up a little more than normal. A day when girls deep inside are asking themselves, “Am I pretty enough?”… Psalm 139 is well timed.
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
The second phrase is the one that gives my pause. It speaks of a knowledge our soul has but our head may not embrace… unless we choose to.
As I fixed Josie’s hair I talked about what God’s taught me from that scripture. And there were 3 things I shared with her.
1. Know the Word, so you know the Truth – God’s Word is truth. And in order to know the Truth, we’ve got to know His Word. Culture isn’t going to tell us the truth. In fact, culture wants us to believe a lie. This makes God’s Word that much more important.
2. Align your thoughts with the Truth. The funny thing about our thoughts is they dictate so much about what we choose to believe and do. And our thoughts easily gravitate toward how culture defines beauty rather than how God defines beauty. So we have to intentionally align our thoughts with God’s Truth. Truth is truth whether we choose to believe it or not. We may as well choose to believe it.
3. Speak the Truth so your ears hear it. Sometimes your ears just have to hear His Word spoken. God promises that when He sends His Word out it will accomplish all that He sent it out to do (Isaiah 55:11). So send His Word out of your mouth and allow it to do in your head & your heart what God wants it to do.
As a mom, I want my daughter to grow up with the ability to see herself through the lens of scripture and not the lens of culture. I thank God for the ways in which He orders my steps and creates opportunities to sow the seed of Truth in her heart.
Gina McClain is a speaker, writer & Children’s Ministry Director at Faith Promise Church in Knoxville, TN. Her marriage to Kyle McClain keeps her marginally sane while their 3 kids (Keegan, Josie and Connor) keep her from taking herself too seriously. Her driving motivator is to lead Christ-followers to embrace and foster ministry in their home.
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