A Passion for Purity
A Christian Devotional on Sexual Purity for Girls
The parade stopped right in front of us and the young girls on the dance team got into position.
One, two, three, four, ready set … the music began, the neon shirts began to move and after a few minutes of it, I had to shut my eyes and hang my head.
I couldn't believe what I saw.
Gyrating hips and inappropriate sexual moves abounded. Girls aged 7-14 were “showing their stuff” for all to see. And I saw one mother walking along with them, who was beaming with pride.
You’ve got to be kidding, I thought to myself -- wondering if this was a “go-go girls” dance routine.
Now, I have to admit. I’m not much of a dancer. I joke around with my own girls and pretend to do hula-hoop routines with them. But we all really know the truth – I shouldn’t quit my day job.
So dance for me is somewhat of a “blind” area. And maybe these kinds of moves are what all the girls are “doing” these days. But when it comes down to it, I can’t get one thing out of my mind.
What does God think?
One, two, three, four, ready set … the music began, the neon shirts began to move and after a few minutes of it, I had to shut my eyes and hang my head.
I couldn't believe what I saw.
Gyrating hips and inappropriate sexual moves abounded. Girls aged 7-14 were “showing their stuff” for all to see. And I saw one mother walking along with them, who was beaming with pride.
You’ve got to be kidding, I thought to myself -- wondering if this was a “go-go girls” dance routine.
Now, I have to admit. I’m not much of a dancer. I joke around with my own girls and pretend to do hula-hoop routines with them. But we all really know the truth – I shouldn’t quit my day job.
So dance for me is somewhat of a “blind” area. And maybe these kinds of moves are what all the girls are “doing” these days. But when it comes down to it, I can’t get one thing out of my mind.
What does God think?
And the way our girls are dancing is not the only area of concern – but how they are dressing is too.
The young teen in church a few rows ahead of me took off her sweater and completely exposed the back of her black bra to the congregation. Her low shirt hung just below it.
Thankfully for her (and the rest of us) a kindhearted friend quickly pulled the back of her shirt up for her.
The young teen in church a few rows ahead of me took off her sweater and completely exposed the back of her black bra to the congregation. Her low shirt hung just below it.
Thankfully for her (and the rest of us) a kindhearted friend quickly pulled the back of her shirt up for her.
And last summer at the baseball field, I watched a girl waltz up to her mother wearing shorts that were maybe an inch longer than her underwear line. Trying not to gawk, I wondered how her mother could have “caved” on that purchase.
Buying clothes for fashion-conscious girls is getting tough for us moms. Style is dictating lower necklines, low cut jeans and high cut shorts and skirts.
To keep our daughters covered, we have to buy extra clothes like camis and biker shorts for them to wear under the short stuff that’s in style.
Last weekend my daughter and I attended a “Pampering a Princess” event put on by our local pregnancy center, AAA Life Services. The presentation on sexual purity for 5th-7th graders opened my eyes to a lot of things that my daughter is and will be exposed to.
I was glad for the talk, because it gave a Christian perspective on who my daughter is in God’s eyes and how he wants her to behave.
Buying clothes for fashion-conscious girls is getting tough for us moms. Style is dictating lower necklines, low cut jeans and high cut shorts and skirts.
To keep our daughters covered, we have to buy extra clothes like camis and biker shorts for them to wear under the short stuff that’s in style.
Last weekend my daughter and I attended a “Pampering a Princess” event put on by our local pregnancy center, AAA Life Services. The presentation on sexual purity for 5th-7th graders opened my eyes to a lot of things that my daughter is and will be exposed to.
I was glad for the talk, because it gave a Christian perspective on who my daughter is in God’s eyes and how he wants her to behave.
Hilary Boyer, AAA’s Abstinence and Character Education Coordinator, told the girls in attendance how much God loved them and reminded them that they should honor God with the way they choose to dress and act. This shows their inner beauty, Boyer said.
Teaching the girls how to exhibit proper behavior towards boys, Boyer also gave them some practical “tips” to help them measure the appropriateness of their clothing.
Teaching the girls how to exhibit proper behavior towards boys, Boyer also gave them some practical “tips” to help them measure the appropriateness of their clothing.
She backed up her instruction with the scripture 1 Timothy 2:9a: “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety. …”
Moms in attendance told me that they were grateful that someone else besides them was telling their girls about proper dress.
Recently, a friend told me about the book “Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman’s Battle,” by Shannon Etheridge (see above). The book provides an easy platform for mothers and daughters to talk about sexual and emotional integrity.
Here’s what Etheridge says about modest dress: “If we want our girls to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, we'll teach them to dress modestly. If we want to protect them from boys who are more interested in their bodies than in their minds, hearts, or spirits, we'll teach them to shop for clothes that present a passion for purity rather than a plea for attention.”
Today, on my way home I noticed a new billboard had been put up just down the road from me. From the business’s name, I immediately had my suspicions about it and when I read its slogan they were confirmed: “We bare arms and everything else too.”
Ugh, an ad for a real “go-go club.” I wondered how much trouble I’d get in if I climbed up there and wrote a scripture on that sign.
Moms, dads, grandparents … teaching the girls in our life about sexual purity starts now – today.
We can’t lose our girls to this.
Moms in attendance told me that they were grateful that someone else besides them was telling their girls about proper dress.
Recently, a friend told me about the book “Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman’s Battle,” by Shannon Etheridge (see above). The book provides an easy platform for mothers and daughters to talk about sexual and emotional integrity.
Here’s what Etheridge says about modest dress: “If we want our girls to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, we'll teach them to dress modestly. If we want to protect them from boys who are more interested in their bodies than in their minds, hearts, or spirits, we'll teach them to shop for clothes that present a passion for purity rather than a plea for attention.”
Today, on my way home I noticed a new billboard had been put up just down the road from me. From the business’s name, I immediately had my suspicions about it and when I read its slogan they were confirmed: “We bare arms and everything else too.”
Ugh, an ad for a real “go-go club.” I wondered how much trouble I’d get in if I climbed up there and wrote a scripture on that sign.
Moms, dads, grandparents … teaching the girls in our life about sexual purity starts now – today.
We can’t lose our girls to this.
Here are some Bible verses that'll help you on your journey:
1 Peter 3:3-4 New Living Translation
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
Proverbs 31:30 New English Translation
Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
1 Samuel 16:7b Amplified Bible
For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
1 Peter 3:3-4 New Living Translation
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
Proverbs 31:30 New English Translation
Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
1 Samuel 16:7b Amplified Bible
For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.