Equipping Moms & Daughters with Truth

In a world where we have become accustomed to the rightness of tearing one another down from the safety of our computer screens and the growing, staggering bullying statistics, it’s time to recalibrate how we view one simple truth.

WORDS HAVE POWER.

We know this, because our Lord literally spoke our world into being.

The first chapter of Genesis tells us, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

AND GOD SAID, “LET THERE BE LIGHT,” and THERE WAS LIGHT.”

God’s words have immense power, and as His image bearers, so do ours.

During my Bible study classes with moms and daughters, we always take time to uncover and discuss this important yet simple truth.

WORDS HAVE POWER.

This is part of the purpose for writing Bible studies like Becoming a Girl of Grace and Building Circles of Grace. It stemmed from a cry within my own heart to equip my daughters with Truth.

I don’t want my daughters to worship the ways of the world. I want to equip my daughters to become warriors for God.

I want them to learn all they can about the best offensive weapon the Lord has given us against the enemy, whose sole purpose is to separate us from God. The Bible tells us how to defend against such attacks by putting on the armor of God. Read Ephesians 6:10-17.

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the BELTH OF TRUTH and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For SHOES, put on the PEACE that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the SHIELD OF FAITH to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on SALVATION AS YOUR HELMET, and take the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD.”

Every single piece of armor has a defensive purpose save the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It’s the Truth, the most effective tool we have in our arsenal to defend against Satan’s schemes.

And what do we do with the Word of God?

We PRAY. We SPEAK ALOUD.

Why?

Because OUR WORDS HAVE IMMENSE POWER.

My girls and I talk frequently about how easy it is to hurl an insult via text or social media, but it is just as simple to use impart words of affirmation and encouragement in the same way.

Make no mistake, friends. The battle is waging!

In Building Circles of Grace, the prayerful intention is to equip and encourage both moms and daughters to embrace their true identities as image bearers of Christ and delve deep into the Word of God together. This Bible study is also full of conversation starters and engaging activities to keep mamas and their tween girls talking about important social hurdles we encounter through relationships with other people.

Our girls’ eyes, ears and hearts are open. If we are not diligent, the enemy will sneak into our camp and feed our girls poison. LIES!

You are not good enough.

No one likes you.

You deserve the way those mean girls treat you.

You were justified in saying those hateful words to that kid at school.

Shoving your sibling was totally okay. They had it coming.

Your parents do not care. It’s not worth talking about with them.

You deserve everything this world has to offer, and you deserve it now.

LIES! LIES! LIES!

The purpose of Bible studies like Becoming a Girl of Grace and Building Circles of Grace is not just to defend against these attacks, but also to help moms AND daughters become warriors of faith.   Equip them with Truth so they can do their part to know God and to help make Him known and do so with love and kindness.

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you” (Romans 12:1-2 The Message).