breaking these verses apart~
How can my love abound more and more? In the Greek, this “love” is agape love. It is unselfish love, and indicates a direction of my will (choose to love!). Not so much as a feeling, but a choice. It is the word that describes God Himself in 1 John 4:8. Jesus said, “Love (agape) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love (agape) your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 22:37-39. It’s unconditional love. Pray for it! Ask God to teach you how to love. (ex. choosing to love others... how can you do that even when you don’t feel like it?)
How can I grow in knowledge and discernment? In Colossians 1:9, Paul prayed that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. In the Greek, this kind of knowledge enables you to avoid error. It’s knowledge that influences your life and moves you to action! So, pray that God helps you to know, or to judge, what is pleasing to Him, and for grace to act upon that knowledge! It’s a knowledge that KEEPS ON growing! you never stop! Never think you’ve reached a point where you’re so mature spiritually that you can’t fall into temptation. Pray for God's wisdom to enter your heart and alter your path. (read the story of the Communist dictator, Nikita Khrushchev from A Man Worth Waiting For, pages 128-129. discuss how head knowledge needs to turn into heart knowledge)
How can I approve what is excellent? In the Greek, the word for approve means to test, to see whether a thing is genuine or not. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Paul urges the people to examine everything carefully and to hold fast to what is good. The word excellent means what is better. It is of value. It surpasses other things. It’s what really matters. A Girl Really Living lives in what really matters! :) Am I living in a more excellent way? -involved in things that count for eternity? living a life of prayer with Jesus? The things of this world do have an effect on you; the culture is not harmless. Romans 12:2, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. You want to be the kind of girls who pursue what is best! An old quote says, the good is often the enemy of the best! The mind is so important - what you think on shows itself in actions and attitudes. Renew your mind (Scripture!! God-honoring thoughts).
Being pure and blameless- these words mean purged, unmingled, judged by sunlight - tested as genuine, innocent, holy, inoffensive, not leading unto sin, faultless, to not stumble. I Thessalonians 5:23, And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). God is concerned about the purity and wholeness of our body, soul, and spirit. Pray for Him to give you discernment so you can pursue holiness in EACH of these areas. Spirit (purified through the blood of Christ). Soul (purified through the Word of God). Body (purified through living in a careful, Godly manner - exercise, healthy eating, pure decisions). Remember that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. You have been bought with a price- the blood of Jesus. You are not your own (Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s -1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Quote from John Adams:
From all that I have read of history and government, of human life and manners, I have drawn this conclusion - the manners of women were the most infallible barometer to ascertain the degree of morality and virtue of a nation.
Your attitude, character, and manner influences others! It is powerful. Have you given any thought as to if you are influencing, or causing offense? For girls, it is so important that we pursue modesty! You can be cute and darling and modest and pure and free. Think about it! Does your dress attract inappropriate attention to yourself? Reject the lie that says you’re only as good as you are sexually desirable. Cover up. You want to be known as a virtuous woman! (Proverbs 31:10) The kind of girl who is far more precious than jewels and whose value is far above rubies or pearls! Another verse to think about is from Matthew 16:23, when Jesus rebukes Peter and tells him he is a stumbling block to Him. Peter was not setting his mind on God’s interests, but man’s. Colossians 3:1, set your mind on and keep seeking the things that are above!
Being filled with the fruit of righteousness from Jesus Christ- “being filled” indicates an action that has continuous results. This righteousness is a fruit - a result- of belonging to Christ! You have to be His in order to have it, in order for it to be lasting. “you’ll know them by their fruits” The word for righteousness means acceptable to God, purity of life. Jesus makes us acceptable to God. 2 Corinthians 5:21, For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness]. In John 15, Jesus says His Father is glorified as we bear much fruit.
Living to the glory and praise of God! The word glory means very apparent - it catches the eye and attracts attention, honor and worship. We’re to live so as to make Jesus attractive to all! Who are you living for? Who/What are you trying to attract attention to? Ephesians 1:12 says that we are to be to the praise of His glory. Daniel 12:3 (shine, turn many to righteousness!) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
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