10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall For Jesus: #youandyourgirl series (February)

10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn Cowell

Every girl wants to be wanted. We’re born that way. Desiring attention, affirmation and approval. I think it is Jesus’ way of making us yearn for Him from the very beginning of our lives.

But I would venture to say most girls, most women, for that matter, don’t realize the reason for this craving. They just know they feel a void and their heart is telling them the empty space can be filled by a guy.

It can! His name is Jesus and the earlier we can start teaching our girls to lean into Him to have this place filled, the sooner they will experience unconditional love and potentially avoid making unwise choices and experiencing heartache.

So join me over the next 10 days as we help our girls fall in love with Jesus!

If this is your first time joining us for the monthly You and Your Girl Series, you can read more about it here and see what you might have missed!

Content taken from His Revolutionary Love and Devotions for a Revolutionary Year

Last month you were challenged to start new conversations with your girl. 

I would love to hear from you and what you learned about your girl.  Was there a day that was hard to talk with her.  Were you surprised by any of her answers? Other women could will be encouraged to hear from you and your journey last week with your girl.

Day 1 of 10 | Jesus is Crazy About You | Psalm 45:11 | 10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn CowellDay 1: Jesus is crazy about you!

Whenever I sign my name, I always write Psalm 45:11 next to it.

This verse changed my life. “Now listen, daughter, don’t miss a word: forget your country, put your home behind you. Be here—the king is wild for you. Since he’s your lord, adore him.” Psalm 45:11 (The Message)

When I discover who Jesus was crazy about, it literally changed everything for me.

I guess it says something about me when I reveal I always wanted someone to be hung up on me. I knew that feeling – the one where you felt he hung the moon. I wanted someone to feel that way about me.

When I discovered He did – I felt loved, significant, valued. I suppose it shows there was something about me, some emptiness inside. But He took that void away, making me His.

I would guess your girl has experienced a taste of the “hole in her heart” too. Pour Psalm 45:11 into her heart today. The king is wild for her!

Day 2 of 10 | You are His Prized Possession | James 1:18 | 10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn CowellDay 2: You are His prized possession.

Mr. Flamm said it looked ridiculous. I didn’t care. The gargantuan class ring said one thing, “I’m his.”

To belong. Oh how it feels when we truly get, we belong. And nothing can change that. He isn’t going to get bored, find someone else or leave.

You are His…and you always will be!

He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” James 1:18 (NLT)

 

Day 3 of 10 | Jesus + You = Valuable | Song of Solomon 7:10 | 10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn CowellDay 3: Jesus + You = Valuable

“Have you ever been there? On the wrong end of the love equation? Guy + Me = Value? I simply was never part of that math problem. In school, I was told I was cute, fun to be around, a good friend. Why didn’t I have a boyfriend? What was wrong with me?

The truth was…nothing! There was nothing wrong with me! Just like I struggled in math class and had a hard time getting it, I just struggled with learning the right “formula”; understanding and getting His love.

We have always been loved in an extraordinary way; we’ve just missed the love that has been loving us all along. We don’t have to miss it anymore!

Here’s our reassurance that this is true: “I am my lover’s. I’m all he wants. I’m all the world to him!” Song of Solomon 7:10 (The Message)

Day 4 of 10 | He’d Give Up Everything For You | Isaiah 43:1-4 | 10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn CowellDay 4: He’d give up everything for you!

My favorite chick flicks are the old-fashioned kind. Give me a movie where a guy has to rescue a girl and I am all in.

Before I fell in love with Jesus, I had never had a guy come after me. Never experienced someone who wanted my love so much, wanted me, that he pursued me.

When I read this passage in Isaiah 43, all that changed!

“Don’t’ be afraid…I’ve called your name. You’re mine…I paid a huge price for you…That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.” Isaiah 43: 1, 4 The Message)

I realized not only would He give up everything for me, He already had!

 

Day 5 of 10 | He’s Trying to Get Your Attention | 10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn CowellDay 5: He’s trying to get your attention!

Ever have that strange sensation? Like you can feel someone staring at you? Some times it may be creepy, but there is also a part of you that feels really great! (Are you freaking out that I’m actually admitting some of this stuff!)

Have you ever thought of God trying to get your attention? Lately, I’ve begun discovering what I call surprises from Him. Jesus attempts to speak His love to me – even when I am not looking for it. Some days, it’s something gorgeous He made, like an incredible sunset that blows me away. Last month, I was driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway with my daughter. Singing a little bit of this (worship music) and a little bit of that (yup, we even listened to a bit of T. Swift), we were just getting from point A to point B and decided the Parkway was the way to go. Suddenly, the sky turned cotton candy pink. I had never seen the horizon look so lovely. I just knew Jesus was saying, “I love you, Lynn!” I was so sad that my phone just couldn’t not fully capture His love letter to me!

I also see His love in the way He takes care of me and provides for what I need. These and more are His gifts of love to me.

He’s calling us. Each day and every day. “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me…, ‘Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 (NLT)

Day 6 of 10 | His Love is Hidden | Proverbs 25:2 | 10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn CowellDay 6 : His love is hidden.

Sometimes I think some of God’s messages to us are hidden. Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter.” He likes being a little mysterious! Have you ever hidden something secretly, hoping it would be found?

Recently while traveling alone, I unpacked my bag & discovered a card popping out from under a pile of clothes. “You’re going to do great!” was on a handwritten note. How cool! Someone who loves me had hidden this note of encouragement. That is exactly what the Bible is: one HUGE note, filled with stories & examples of God’s revolutionary love for you! Keep a look out! Today, see where He is hiding His love to you!

 

Day 7 of 10 | Jesus wants to be more than the One I serve; He wants to be the One I love | James 4:5 | 10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn Cowell

Day 7: Jesus wants to be more than the One I serve; He wants to be the One I love.

My dorm sister knew; I didn’t get it. She watched me and listened to what I had to say about my relationship with Jesus. It didn’t take her long to get real and get bold with me.

“Lynn, you’ve got this all wrong. Yes, Jesus wants you to serve Him, but He wants more than that. He wants a close, intimate relationship with you.”

It shouldn’t have been, but this seemed like news to me. I grew up in a Christian home, knew Jesus as my savior, best friend, shepherd. But I hadn’t really thought of us loving each other.

Lynn, this doesn’t read right… please review it…

The book of James tells us just how powerful this love is: “And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find.” James 4:5 (The Message)

Jesus wants for us to be ruined. Completely ruined. Spoiled for a mundane Christian life. Boring Christianity is not what He died for. His love is extreme. He wants us to allow His love to revolutionize our hearts. The result: a passion so deep, it becomes the basis for the person we become. Secure in His love.

Just knowing He wants more for me than what I have makes me love Him more!

Day 8 of 10 | He’s Not a Scorekeeper | Isaiah 54:10 | 10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn CowellDay 8: He’s not a scorekeeper.

“Lots of us grow up thinking that the Christian life is about doing.

What about you?

Have you ever believed in this formula: Good Deeds + More Good Deeds = God’s Approval? That’s one equation that will never add up. What Jesus wants is a relationship – an intimate relationship – with you! He died for it!”

It is so important for us to know: He loves us no matter what. No matter what we’ve done, are doing or will do. Yes, He wants very much for us to live the way His word tells us too. That brings about His blessings in our lives. But nothing can cause us to gain more of His love or loose His love. Nothing, absolutely nothing, changes the way He feels about us.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken.” Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)

Day 9 of 10 | He’s Inscribed Your Name | Isaiah 49:16 | 10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn CowellDay 9: He’s inscribed your name.

Tattoos are so big today. Whether you think they are great or not, you have to admit, they are everywhere.

And they are permanent. Which is why I am too chicken to get one. I don’t want the pain. I don’t want something I can’t get rid of.

Jesus doesn’t think of you like that. He took the pain and He’s not ever getting rid of you.

Jesus has your name inscribed on his body – and this is no cheap, rub-on tattoo.

“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:16

“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm.” Song of Solomon 8:6

He’s not the type who is here today and gone tomorrow. He’s not the type who says you mean everything to him tonight, and then doesn’t call you again. He is love: permanent, powerful & persistent.

Day 10 of 10 | He’s Not Disappointed In You | Hosea 11:4 | 10 Ways to Help Your Girl Fall in Love With Jesus | #youandyourgirl series {February 2015} by Lynn CowellDay 10: He’s not disappointed in you.

My sense of being a failure seemed to swallow me up. Surely when Jesus looked at me, He was disappointed in me. Truth be told, He wasn’t disappointed in me. In fact, although He knew everything – the stuff others saw and the stuff they didn’t – He still loved me.

He knows it all and He loves you, too. Even when we make bad decisions, shameful decisions (things we would be mortified for others to discover), He knows, and it doesn’t change the way He feels about us. It doesn’t alter or erase his love!

Ever hear the saying, “love is blind”? Well this love isn’t! Jesus knows you. He knows everything you do, everything you’ve done, and everything you even think about doing. Does any of it change the way He feels about you? No! Where can you go and be too far away from His love? Nowhere!

Even knowing our deepest thoughts, our darkest deed, our disappointing attitudes doesn’t change His loving thoughts toward us. I knew that He loved me unconditionally, but I thought He would like me more, approve of me more when I did everything right.

He may not be pleased with everything we do, but His love never wavers. He cares about all aspects of what makes up the person called you.

“I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.” Hosea 11:4 (NIV)

“We please him most, not by frantically trying to make ourselves good, but by throwing ourselves into His arms with all our imperfections, and believing that he understands everything and loves us still!” A.W. Tozer – “The Root of the Righteous”

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If you enjoyed this month’s You and Your Girl series, you can read the previous ones here.

Lynn

4 Comments

  1. I really appreciate your 10 day series, Lynn. Last month I didn’t do all of them, but my daughter and I enjoyed a few good conversations. One thing surprised me: When I asked what was her favorite thing she’s ever done, she answered that it was the fund-raising dinner for Syrian refugees that she and her brother organized and put on last fall at our church here in Turkey. This was a huge family project, the kids plann But to hered, cooked, served, and SPOKE! But to here her say it was one of her favorite things she’s done–as opposed to our family trip last summer to Washington D.C.– made my heart sing!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      I am so glad you’ve enjoyed them, Betsy! If they are helpful, I am making plans to do one per month for this year. We’ll see how it goes!

  2. I grew up in the church…became a Chirstian as a preteen…but didn’t have confidence in God until I rededicated my life & began studying the depth, width, lengths of Gods devotion…the past 5 years have been wonder-filled as I’ve griwn in my relationship/confidence

  3. This information has been eye-opening for me. I have two adult daughters, one teenage daughter, and two teenage sons. I am planning to use some of the talking points from your blog to start some conversations with my children, and I am praying that its not too late for me to plant seeds about Jesus’ unconditional love.

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