Day 27: The Power of Your Words

“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” (Galatians 1:10 NLT)

The world in which we are raising our teens has never more been affected by words than it is right now. Today our children are vulnerable to the words of others 24/7 due to digital media.

I see the accolades and “likes” my athlete boys receive on social media. I get it. They work hard, are good at what they do, and everyone needs encouragement. God directs us to use our words to encourage others.

I see young girls posting pictures with their friends along with the selfies so popular today. Compliments are lavished through comments, likes, and emojis.

But in the same environment of accolades and compliments, rejection and humiliation lurk. Years ago, we escaped the class bully or mean girl for at least a few hours every night. Today, our children often cannot. 

Sometimes the attacks are more ruthless because being mean is easier when the bully is hiding behind the screen of a digital device.

As Christians, we determine our worth in the reflection of God’s unfailing love. Not from the inconsistent and often angry reflection of the world. Yet as children conditioned by social media, grasping that truth becomes more difficult than it already was. With one Instagram “like,” our teens feel valued. However, with one negative comment, or fewer “likes” than the social norm, the enemy threatens to break the value system of our tenderhearted child.

As teen mamas today, reminding our children of the truth of who and Whose they are is critical.

Below are 3 favorite scriptures reminding us of that truth. Write them as notes to your teens. Stick them in backpacks, send as text messages, or write them on bathroom mirrors with dry erase markers.

Let’s endlessly remind our children their identity is in Christ, not in the approval of man.

‘”How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” (Psalm 139:17-18, NLT)

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.’” (Isaiah 43:1, NLT) 

​-Lori