Imagine

~by Lynne Rienstra

(used with permission)

 Imagine a girl, a precious member of the body of Christ.  She possesses a saving knowledge of Christ and His work for her and a growing dependence on the Holy Spirit. 

 Imagine that this girl is able to study the Bible for herself, and therefore has a deepening relationship with her heavenly Father (regardless of what kind of earthly parenting she is receiving). Constantly in God’s word, she is learning, memorizing, and applying the promises He has made to her.  Like footsteps, those promises guide her faith walk each day. 

 Imagine that as others struggle to answer the question, “Who am I?” this girl already knows the true question is “Whose am I?” 

 Imagine this girl is sure of her value as an image-bearer of God and recipient of His grace, she is shielded from the self-destructive behaviors of her peers. 

 Imagine her more and more able to hear God’s voice. She is less and less apt to follow the world’s voices which would teach her to define herself according to her physical beauty, intellectual power, or personal accomplishments. 

 Imagine a girl who has studied not only the heroes, but also the heroines, of the faith.  Her role models are not the pop icons of the day, but great women of the Church’s history and the godly older women around her who faithfully demonstrate Christlikeness. 

 Imagine that she is being cared for, taught, and nurtured through the ministry of spiritual mothers in her church who take seriously the Titus 2 mandate. 

 Imagine that they surround her with their loving presence, speak truth into her life, celebrate her growth, model what it looks like to know and love God, and help her develop a vision for how God might use her life for His glory.

 Imagine that she grows up discovering what a high calling God has given her in creating her a woman: as a steward of the domain in which He has placed her, as an indispensable helper/completer, as a life-giver, and as a woman of wisdom.

 Imagine that filled with the truth of Scripture, grounded in her identity in Christ, and blessed with the model of godly women, she is able to hear God call her to express his love to others through service.

 Imagine a generation of such girls, growing in grace, discernment, love, and vision.

Imagine the heritage of strength and identity that can be built into them by the time they reach womanhood and enter a broken world.

Imagine a generation of girls, beloved princess daughters of the King, who rise up as the next generation of kingdom-builders.

Imagine the power and godly influence which could be unleashed through them – in and outside of their homes. 

Now imagine being a woman who helps give birth to this vision.