Occasionally my husband and I, others at our church, or the tape ministry will receive letters asking us how we prepare our born again young ladies for their futures. These letters are often asking if we send our girls to universities, to Bible colleges, to seminaries, etc. With currently twelve youth thirteen years and up living in our home, and numerous others in the past, we have spent much time in prayer and practical application on this area. I will try to answer the question from our own experience. I am sure there are others who could add much wisdom to the subject. This is just one family’s perspective.

Young converted girls in the home bring so much joy, vitality, and sweetness to the home. They are wonderful helpers, companions, prayer warriors, and encouragers! They teach us now! Yet their days of training are not over. Just as many people in the world will spend a fortune training their youth in colleges, we still want to invest our time, love, and prayers in the continuing of our young peoples’ preparation for life! They are a treasure and the future Kingdom of God should Jesus tarry.

It seems that in Titus when instructions are given as to how to train young women, we are to train them AS IF they are going to marry and bear children. We know that some women are called to serve God in a single state, and we want our girls to be content in whichever state God chooses for them. We explain to our girls that there is a possibility marriage will not be their future, we also explain that training in that direction will still be very beneficial. Should they remain single, they will still operate in the same “realm” in many ways: in a home with their parents or a sibling; helping a family on the mission fields; working at a Christian residential home for the disabled, orphaned or elderly, etc. God has a wonderful plan to use each of these young women for the furtherance of the Kingdom.

Influence…

What is a “woman of influence”? Who is she? Where is she? Just what does her life “look” like? You are either a woman of godly influence or a woman of ungodly influence. Is there a woman near you that is in need of a godly influence upon her life? Maybe she is someone that needs help with her children, to catch up her housekeeping, who longs for a submitted heart. Our walk and salvation is connected in a beautiful working pattern as we carry on every day of our lives. Our relationship with our husbands, the way we raise our children, the way we keep our homes, our dress, our speech, our actions, our deeds are just some of the many examples to a world full of women who are hungry for godly influence.

As I have meditated on this verse the Lord has shown me some areas in my life that need attention. Let me share them with you. Perhaps you can benefit by my struggles, and hopefully you will not make the same mistakes.

Please read 1 Peter 3:1-9 to get the context of the verse. Now, allow me to quote from the Amplified Bible.

“In like manner, you married women be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them and adapt yourselves to them] so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God] they may be won over, not by discussion, but by the godly lives of their wives; When they observe the pure, modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband]. You are to feel all that reverence includes; to respect, defer to, revere, honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and in the human sense to adore him, that is to praise, be devoted, to deeply love and enjoy your husband. Let not yours be the external adorning. . . But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceable spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up but] is very precious in the sight of God. For it was thus that the pious women of old who trusted in God were [accustomed] to beautify themselves and were submissive to their husbands [adapting themselves to their husbands as secondary to and dependent upon them]. It was thus that Sara obeyed Abraham [following his guidance and acknowledging his headship by] calling him lord [master, leader, authority]. And now you are her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you]. . . ye are joint heirs of the grace [God’s unmerited favor] of life in order that your prayers be not hindered and cut off [otherwise you cannot pray effectively]. Finally all of you should be of one and the same mind [united in spirit] sympathizing [with one another] loving [each other] as brethren [of one household] compassionate and courteous [tenderhearted and humble]. Never return evil for evil or insult for insult [scolding, tongue lashing or berating] but on the contrary, blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness and protection and truly loving them]. For know, that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing from God—that you may obtain a blessing as heirs [bringing welfare and happiness and protection].”

The Bible speaks to everyone who follows in the Way,
But some parts are specific in the things they have to say.
The fathers are encouraged, and those alone in life,
And there are admonitions for the mother and the wife.

I always linger over these; they speak to my estate.
They offer me direction in the small things and the great.
To be a godly woman is the goal I want to reach,
And so I need to study what the Scriptures have to teach.