8th Grade Girls,
You girls have really been on my heart lately and I wanted to share with you some of the stuff God has really been challenging me, and teaching me lately.
I have been doing a study recently that talks about "Discovering who God is and Who I am." I have been really challenged through this and I really wanted to share it with you! Also look up the scripture as you read along!
In John 1:1-5 its talks about Light vs. Darkness and how the light (followers of Christ) shines in the darkness (meaning the world ), and the darkness has not overcome it! I feel like that is an awesome thought that we are the light in this dark world and there is NO way darkness can over power you, Although sometimes our lights begin to not shine as bright due to the stressful circumstances and experiences around us, which begins to form our specific view of God, although often our view of God does not line up with who he really is!
He Never Changes!
When we think about our view of God we have to go down to the core and think of " How do I view Myself? " I know as girls, we can be our own worst enemy, we see our every flaw we hear every negative thought about others or just envious thoughts for another. But often the way we view ourselves is WAY different than the way God views us.
As I look around I constantly catch myself comparing myself to... wow! everything... My clothes, My make-up, my hair, my body, my friends, boys... the list just never ends! I know we all struggle with this stuff, and believe me if i could turn it off I would! Basically all these thoughts,comparisons and insecurities boil down to 2 questions...
1. WHOSE am I ? (Who do I belong too?)
2. WHO am I? (Our Identity).
There are many ways we try to answer these questions, and I have come up with 8 misconceptions... See if you fit into one or more of these ( I found myself fitting into a couple)
Misconception 1.
-A Relationship
* Who I am with, will determine who I am
* Matthew 10:37-39
Misconception 2
-Body Image
* Who and what I PORTRAY will determine who I am
* 1 Peter 3:3-4
Misconception 3
-Education
* How much I know will determine who I am and who I become
* 1 Corinthians 2:9-13
Misconception 4
- Future Plans and Profession
* What I become/do will determine who I am
* Philippians 3:1-10
Misconception 5
- How much I have will determine who I am
* Matthew 6:24
Misconception 6
-What I do and How much I do for a religious practice or system will determine who I am
*Matthew 6:1-4
*Matthew 7:21-23
Misconception 7
- Activities and Hobbies
* What I choose to like will determine who I am
* Matthew 4:18-22
Misconception 8
- Opinions from Others
* The way people perceive me will determine who I am
I know we all struggle with this, but there is a point in our lives when we put the "little miss princess" away and stand up and be the woman of God we were intended to be. I know this was a long read but I want to leave you with one last scripture and I want each of you to know how much I love you! I hope this was something you needed to hear! You are all beautiful, inside and out. I know at this age things can be tough with friends or family or even just yourself... Be strong girls! Dive into his word!! I promise this too shall pass, I made it through middle school and this is YOUR LAST YEAR TILL HIGH SCHOOL!!!! Read this last passage and take it too heart! I LOVE YOU ALL!
Psalm 139
1 You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
*Love This Next Passage!*
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
-Amy
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