let your light shine

    Jesus said in Matthew 4:19, “Come, follow me,” but what did He really mean by that? We, as Christians, are called to take up our cross and follow our Savior, leaving everything behind and pursuing Him with our whole hearts. However, there are many Christians today who say that they are followers of Jesus, but continue to live a life of this world.

    “…Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) Do you shine the light of the Lord while you’re out with your friends or when you’re by yourself in your bedroom? Sometimes the person we are when we’re with others is different from the person we are by ourselves, but God knows exactly who you are because He is always with you.

    Our generation has the amazing opportunity to show this media driven and celeb crazy world what it means to be princesses of the Most High God! Living a life after Jesus means that we aren’t ashamed to tell people who He is; to watch or listen to appropriate things; to talk without using profanity; to wear modest clothing, or to lay everything down at His feet in order to obey Him!

don't be afraid to shine

    Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…” When we listen to voice of the Holy Spirit and obey when He tells us to talk to someone about Jesus, we should do it willingly! At the end of the day, whether that person takes your words to heart or tosses you aside, we have nothing to lose. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather talk to a stranger when God tells me, than miss an opportunity to share the gospel with a person who needed to hear what I had to say. You don’t know what’s going on in a person’s heart; but God does, so don’t be afraid and take the leap of faith!

anti conformity

    “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 Godʼs will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) Have you ever felt like you shouldn’t be listening to a certain song or watching a certain movie? If you have, then you have the discernment of the Holy Spirit. Discernment is one of the greatest gifts God has given us because it shows us what is of God and what is of this world. Even though it may be the most popular song or movie, does that give us the right to listen or watch it? Will it uplift us and draw us closer to God? If the answer is no, then maybe we should turn it off before the message and the words affect our spirits.

watch your words

    Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Were you taught, growing up, that you were not allowed to swear? Have you ever said a curse word?

    Swearing has become a regular part of communication. No matter where you go, you’ll hear at least one swear word. It’s in the music, movies, tv shows, books... you name it and it’s probably there. I’ve even heard Christians say swear words because they believe that the words aren't that bad and bring a new effect to what is being said, but is that a correct understanding?

    I don’t know about you, but when the Bible says not to do something, I try my best to obey what is written. Speaking from experience, swearing makes you feel dirty and isn’t needed in order to get your point across. If certain words cause movie ratings to go from a PG to a PG-13 or makes you feel like you need to refrain from saying them around your parents, then are they really words we should be using with friends or by ourselves?

    “Let these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14) Words hold power, so we need to make sure that whatever comes out our mouths will encourage and not discourage! We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, so we need to build one another up and not continually tear one another down.

taking the road less traveled

    Fashion is one of the most popular topics amongst teen girls. When a new style comes out, do you jump on the bandwagon and join everyone else? I have never been an obsessed lover of fashion, but as I’ve started to dress more girly, I’ve noticed the interesting clothing choices that many teen girls are wearing.

    Crop tops, for instance. They were all the rave last year but are they modest for us to be wearing? “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Does showing your belly bring honor to God? Boys have a hard enough time trying to stay pure in heart, why should we make that struggle harder? Do a brother a favor and choose to dress modestly. 

the heart of surrender

 Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31 is a great guideline for what we, as daughters of the Most High, should strive to become. Before we can meet our future Prince Charming’s and marry him, we need to learn a key lesson that God wants everyone to grasp — how to lay everything down for Him.

    We all have dreams. What are yours? Where do you want to go in life? Have you ever asked the Lord to reveal His plan of your life to you? Have you ever asked if your deepest desires were from Him?

    Living a life as a follower of Jesus is never easy. It’s no walk in the park! Instead, we are constantly asked to question our beliefs and are challenged in all areas of life. In this era, the world does not want us to know our Messiah, but will that stop us from searching for Him?

    Life isn’t about how much money you make, how good looking your boyfriend is, or the clothes you wear; it’s about what’s in your heart and your relationship with your Savior. So, I challenge you to look into your life and ask the Lord if your deepest desires coincide with what He has planned for you! You might be surprised at the answer. Are you willing to lay even your deepest desire at His feet in order to get God's 'Happily Ever After'?

Remember He is the potter and we are the clay! It is a joy to surrender everything in our lives and watch Him make something beautiful out of it! Check out this song called "Have It All" and make the decision to give Jesus your everything, every single day. 

shine on!

    Don’t be afraid to be different and shine Jesus' light out for the world to see! If we stay in the shadows and fear disappointing people, we will never truly fulfill what the Lord has planned for us! Following Jesus is the most rewarding journey you will ever go on, so what are you waiting for? Let’s pick up that cross and follow our Savior to the place He wants us to go!

about the author

Hi, my name is Tessa Granville, I’m nineteen years old, and live a life of adventure. My parents are missionaries, so wherever God tells us to go, that’s where we end up. In my life, I have lived in three continents and have traveled to some extraordinary places!

Check out my blog!   http://thesecretlifeoftessa.weebly.com/