The Christian Woman

As a friend and I were talking the other day, it's hard to find devotionals for women that don't leak and pour estrogen off the page. But this isn't a estrogen filled post, it's not intended to be at least.
I have never been married, and I'm only 22 so there isn't much I can say about being a woman, or a married woman at that. But I can at least speak to the girls, who are becoming women and encourage them as they become who God wants them to be. We are all still on the path to becoming what God wants us to be. Young and old. We continue to learn.
First and foremost I have to stress, respect yourself. This is hard for me too. You are a child of the King. I see so many young girls disrespect their bodies and put revealing pictures of themselves on facebook and try to draw outward attention. Whatever means you have to take, respect yourself, you don't belong to yourself. You are property of God. If you know Doctrine, then you know that we are to image Christ, and we are to be good stewards of our bodies. It all belongs to God. From the clothes we wear to the make up we put on. God can help us with this. He doesn't command us to do something then leave us to do the best we can. More so, God bought us with a high price, He will train us and take control of our lives. We as human fleshly beings are to weak to control our lives, we must be controlled by the Spirit. The one who will teach us to live, and the one who bridles our tongue.
Lately, I have really been studying about the tongue and our words, in relation to James. We all have to watch our mouth, but I believe more so we as Christian women should watch what we say. There are many times when we want to express ourselves especially in a group setting, we feel the need to put our 2 cent in. We have to give our opinion, especially when something upsets us. This is also otherwise known as, gossip.
I remember in the summer of 2008, my pastor did a sermon series on the family. One Sunday he did an entire sermon on wives, and I will never forget this quote, as it still resonates with me still: "Women should never be known for speaking her mind." It's true. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." Earlier in this same passage of scripture Peter encourages us women to live a godly life, because in doing so it will speak to those around us better than any words. They will be won over by watching our pure, godly behavior. When our lives honor Christ, even silence is eloquent. I believe as Christ followers, we are identified as having a quiet spirit. Jesus had a quiet spirit here on earth, especially in his last hours here before crucified. We are to live quietly before the Father, allowing His voice to always be heard. We can sing, and we can pray, but we must find the time to have silence. There is no better way to quench the natural strength of your old nature than by silencing it. Guarding the tongue. As we become more aware of the presence of God withing you, you will see how He is able to keep your words, thoughts, and desires in check. It's a process.
We must walk cautiously through life. As Thomas Manton put it, "You carry a sinning heart within you. As long as there is fuel for a temptation, we cannot be secure; the man who has gunpowder with him will be afraid of sparks."