Looking for Love
Posted in Daily Focus on Friday, February 14, 2014
This wasn't the first time my teenage daughter had brought up the topic of boys. Like any normal young woman, she dreamed of the day she would meet Mr. Right!
"Mom," she began, "how am I ever going to meet anyone if we're homeschooling?"
Remembering my own daydreams of meeting someone special who loved only me, I tried to be patient as I answered, "Don't you think God is big enough to bring the right person to you at the right time? If you're supposed to meet someone, homeschooling won't stop God's plan. In fact, it may even help you meet a young man who truly loves and cares for you."
Young girls are constantly bombarded by the media's hype to be loved and wanted, and they envision their prince arriving someday on his white horse to whisk them away to happily ever after. They're encouraged to paint and decorate themselves in the hope of attracting that special someone. However, God's Word has something different to say about attracting someone with only our outward appearance: "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:3-4). God wants us to care about the way we look since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), but the best way for a young girl to make herself truly beautiful is to develop inner character qualities that reflect the beauty of Christ.
As a Christian homeschooling mom, what message are you communicating to your teenage daughter about love? Has your daughter learned to care more about the clothes she wears and the way she does her hair to attract a young man than caring for the things of the Lord (Matthew 6:33)? Have you shown your daughter where to find true love? End her search and point her again to the One who already thinks she is beautiful: Jesus. His love is true, and He will meet every need she has for love.
Father, help me to teach my daughter to listen to Your voice and find the love she's looking for in You. Convict me of anything I'm doing that communicates the wrong message about the true meaning of love. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Comments(13 comments)
ANGIE W 02/14/2011 08:10:53
I truly loved todays focus. Simply because I wish I would have been taught that Jesus has what we need instead of thinking you have to look for a spouse. I always thought thats how it was. After lots of dates in my younger days, boyfriends and 2 marriages that only lasted about a year and a half each, I believe God brought my soul mate. Now ten and a half years later and four beautiful children, I can honestly say that its totally different when God brings you together. It hasn't always been peaches and cream, what marriage is? But we both feel that all the things that life has dealt the both of us, it lead us straight to each other. We have so much in common, yet were totally opposites. He always seems to know exactly what to say or knows what I need right at the perfect moment when I need it, Its amazing to have a husband who is in tune with God, because He is the one who fullfills your needs and knows just when you might need that extra hug or even those flowers that your husband brings you that day it put the biggest smile on your face and just MADE your day, when maybe your day hadn't gone so good. Its truly a wonderful feeling, and I thank God every day for my husband. But anyway, back to the focus, we have three daughters and I pray that I can teach them its not about all the glam on the outside that counts, but its the heart that counts. If you'll just listen, He will give you what you need. Honestly, I'm still learning myself to just let go and let God have control. Sometimes I can be a little hard headed! I hope everyone has a beautiful Valentine's Day, I know I will! God Bless.
BONNIE K 02/14/2011 10:28:05
This was beautiful!
CHRISTINE K 02/14/2011 14:31:35
Thank you! Amen!
SUSAN H 02/16/2011 04:18:12
Thank you for this posting. We have three daughters and are concerned about this very topic. Thanks for the encouragement.
OLIVIA S 02/17/2011 13:37:38
So what is the meaning? My parents don't tell me anything, so busy I guess. Is it having a relationship with Jesus, I know it is, but I want to know specifically.
SUSAN W 03/16/2011 05:29:51
We're not homeschooling my daughter but she will be starting our small church school next school year for 6th grade. I thought this very thing about her! As I sat outside at her public school yesterday and saw all of the kids she will be leaving, I wondered how she will find her future husband. Thank you for reminding me that God already has it worked out. You can never undo HIS plans!
JENNIFER K 02/14/2012 03:50:09
This comment is for Olivia....parents do get too busy to talk and sometimes make the mistake of not talking about the important issues with their daughters. Basically, from my experience I can tell you that I rushed into marriage at 25 because every man I had dated before then did not work out and I thought getting married would bring me happiness. I didn't realize that God had someone special for me down the road and I should have listened to the Holy Spirit whispering to me to 'wait'. It is important for you to read your Bible every day and spend time with God in prayer. Truly listen to what he has to say to you. Sometimes we can rush things and they fail. So many marriages end today because of that reason. My marriage ended because 'I chose' who to marry instead of God choosing for me. God has forgiven me and blessed me with a wonderful husband and child. He will bless you too if you wait on Him and most importantly 'talk' to Him. He might surprise you with circumstances you never thought where possible! I will say a prayer for you Olivia.
TABITHA J 02/14/2012 08:11:46
I was 27 when I met my husband and married him this past April at the age of 29 (first marriage for both of us, hopefully our ONLY marriage).
KATHY S 02/14/2012 09:04:16
TO:
Olivia S.
If you are asking what the meaning of this devotional is. My interperatation is;
Don't worry about finding a boyfriend or husband if you are homeschooled, and maybe aren't able to meet alot of boys your age.
Jesus will provide a person that is perfect for you. So don't be in a rush, God knows when the time is right.
And, Don't worry about your outside beauty only, your inside beauty is what will be seen by a "true man of God". And, that inside beauty is what stays with you.
I am so agreeing with this devotional's direction. Take it from me, I rushed in to a "not real love" relationship, because I thought I was getting older, and wasn't married yet. Well, 14 years later, I have a son, but his father wasn't sent from God, if he was, it would have lasted.
My child is the "light" in my life, and I wouldn't trade him for all the money in the world.
But I wish I had waited on the Lord for the right person, then my son would have his father in our home too.
So Wait, and Trust in Jesus. He won't let you down !
TRACI M 02/14/2012 14:47:14
Olivia...Yes it is having a relationship...and i understand your question about being specific...I hope this helps :)
To start...i was raised in a christian home...but was married at the age of 17...yikes...yes it was a big mistake...I am happy to say though after a lot of pain and tears...and the Lords help... i am now happily married for 24 years in June :)
But i would like to tell you what took me many years to figure out...if you are not SATISFIED with Jesus 1st then you will not be satisfied with any man! In John chapter 4 Jesus talks to a women at the well..He tells her...she has been married 5 times and is not married now but with a 6th man...Jesus goes on to say that if she only knew Him...the LIVING WATER she would never thrist again...she would be SATISFIED.
How?...well I believe it is a combination of KNOWING God and Delighting in Him...its the balance of the 2 where the satisfaction is found...knowing who He is, is different than knowing Him. Do you have feelings for GOd? If not then you probably dont know Him...and that comes from spending time with Him, experiencing Him in your everyday life and then delighting in that.
Mark 12:30 says..Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.\' ...TO love GOd is to delight in all He is, to know Him, and truly delight in what you know about Him!
It can be done! I am truly satisfied with Him...I sit at my kitchen table every morning and ask GOd to fully satisfy me as i spend time with Him...then i can enter my day having no expectations on anyone...my husband, my friends...because He has met every need as I sat in His presence!
Its not easy...but seek Him...tell Him to help you to be satisfied with Him...He will!
Sorry to go on and on ...but my passion is to help young girls like you understand this before you enter into a relationship...my pasotor also says when finding a husband...be sure he loves GOd more than He loves you or you will have trouble!!!!
Hope this Helps Olivia...please let me if I can help more!!!
I will pray for you to be satisfied with Jesus!!!!
KRIS B 02/14/2012 20:20:56
I wanted to say that i am a christian mom of boys and i think it is just as important to teach boys about what to find attractive in girls and what God has to say about beauty and respect for women, boys also go through the same kind of pressure of needing to look just right or being cool it\'s just hard being young wether your a boy or a girl and as parents it\'s so important to show them the beauty of who they are and who God created them to be. I can relate to being raised in a home where I was taught that the outside was the most important and even now at 41 it is still a thorn in my side but I have the power to break the cycle because I am a child of God and i don\'t have to believe satans lies and neither do you! just love your kids, love them everyday and tell them how amazing they are, if a little love goes a long way just imagine what a whole lot of love could do, the great thing about love is the more you give away the more you have to give away so love a lot and pass it on and on and on...
TRISTA J 02/23/2012 14:22:40
Thank you for this lovely devotion. And thank you for your comment Kris B! I am also a mother of boys and was having similar thoughts about the importance of instructing sons about what is of true and lasting value in a life partner.
I wanted to also add that not everyone is ready for marriage by the time they reach their mid- twenties. We must pray and wait on God\'s time and direction.
LARECIA TUCKER 02/14/2013 16:33:03
This is so on time! GOD is so good! Our girlz group was just speaking on this, dating. My daughter is the only one homeschooled and as much as I agree with waiting for GOD to bring that mate to you I also wondered how that would happen. This devotional was SSSSOOOO on time and GOD always brings an answer! Thank you for these devotionals!