Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Are You Following Jesus or Are You Following the Crowd?

Hey, Gabriel Girls,

All over the world, Christian teenage girls struggle with many of the same things. Today we're going to talk about one of the biggies: Following the crowd.

Why do teenage girls--even Christian teens--follow the crowd? The main reason is that they want to fit in. We all want to be accepted by our peers, but, unfortunately, most of the time peer acceptance demands personal compromise of one's values.

Satan uses our need to fit in to lead us down the wrong path. When the need to fit in becomes greater than the need to honor God, we are in big trouble.



So, what does the need to fit in look like in practical terms?  Here are some clues:

1--Do you need to be "in the know" regarding the latest movies, songs, recording artists, movie stars?

2--Do you need to keep up with the latest fads, like clothing styles, hairstyles, and fitness rages?

3--Do you need to have a boyfriend just because all of your girlfriends do?

Temptations to fit in are all around us. They bombard us on magazine racks at the checkout counter, in television commercials, on billboards. Everywhere we look, there is a temptation ready to draw us away from the only One we need to follow: Jesus Christ.

If you are struggling with following the crowd, what can you do to turn around and go the other way?  Here are a few tips:

1--Decide to make your relationship with Jesus your top priority. Don't let anything interfere with this relationship. If your relationship with Jesus is deep and strong, you will desire Him more than you desire the world.

2--Pray every day and throughout the day. Prayer is part of developing your relationship with Jesus. When you pray, listen more than you speak. Jesus always has something important to say to us about how to live our lives. We just have to listen. :)

3--Choose your friends wisely. Hang out with friends who follow Jesus. You may have to separate yourself from friends who tempt you to follow the crowd.

Finally, remember these words in 1 John 2: 15-17 : "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

A true Christ-Follower will live her life in such a way that she will not follow the crowd but she will inspire the crowd to follow her. Be that kind of Christ-Follower!


NOW IT'S YOUR TURN: How do you fight the temptation to follow the crowd? Please share your thoughts with our fellow Gabriel Girls in the comment box below. Thanks!  
TWEETABLE: "Are You Following Jesus or Are You Following the Crowd?" by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)

 ______________________________________________________

Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.

To Become a Gabriel Girl, you need to qualify as follows:
  • You need to be born again. This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.If you don't know how to do this, click here.
  • You need to have a desire to tell others about Jesus wherever you go and whenever you can.
  • You need to commit to following Jesus by reading the Bible and praying every day and by obeying Jesus' command to love Him and to love your neighbor.
    ____________________________________________________
You can find me on the following Social Media Venues:


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Thursday, August 4, 2016

Are You a Label-Conscious Person?

Are you a label-conscious person? Do you read the labels on clothing and buy only "designer" labels? Do you judge your worth by the labels you wear or the labels you use?

What about the labels others put on you? Do you respond with delight at positive labels, such as: You're beautiful!, You're so smart!, You're amazing!  Such a response could lead to pride and arrogance.
 
Do you respond with despair at negative labels, such as: You'll never amount to anything; You're just like your father (your mother)!; You'll never be good at that. Such a response could lead to depression and defeat.



Labels. Recently, I read a blog post by a friend of mine that talked about the labels we allow to be placed on ourselves. That blog post got me thinking and inspired this one.

Have you ever considered how much labels affect your life? If you're wise, you will recognize labels for what they truly are: an attempt to define you.

The good news is that you do not have to accept any label you don't want to accept. Why? Because no one but God has the right or the authority to label you.

And how has God labeled you?

He has put two labels on you:

1) Made by God.

2) Redeemed by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The fact that you were made by God means that He wanted you on this earth. He put you here for a purpose, and it is up to you to discover that purpose with His help.

The fact that you were redeemed by Jesus Christ means that He loves you, that you are precious to Him, and that you belong to Him.

These are the only labels you must accept in life. No one else has the right or the authority to label you. Only God has that right and that authoriby because only God truly knows who you are. And He has labeled you His own.

So, the next time someone tries to label you, don't accept the label. Instead, remind yourself that only God's labels matter in your life.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN: What false labels have you accepted in your life, and how have they affected you?

TWEETABLE:"Are You a Label-Conscious Person?" by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)

"Labels are an attempt to define you." ` Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)


______________________________________________________
Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.

To Become a Gabriel Girl, you need to qualify as follows:
  • You need to be born again. This means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.If you don't know how to do this, click here.
  • You need to have a desire to tell others about Jesus wherever you go and whenever you can.
  • You need to commit to following Jesus by reading the Bible and praying every day and by obeying Jesus' command to love Him and to love your neighbor.
    ____________________________________________________
You can find me on the following Social Media Venues:
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