Raising pure daughters

Let our daughters be as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace (Psalm 144:12)

In this world today, raising up pure innocent daughters is not something that will happen without forethought and planning. But it is not an impossible task for the parent who has a vision in mind for the precious girl God has given them.

Purity is held in high esteem by God. Matthew 5:8 says “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” 1 John 3:3 says “Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 2 Timothy 2:22 says “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
There are many more, a look in a concordance under pure and purity will give you a lot of scriptures to think on.

But in a world bombarded with the idea that sex sells, and that thinks children need Barbie’s and Bratz dolls, not to mention T-shirts with suggestive sayings and shorts with words displayed about the fanny to bring the attention of anyone and everyone to that area, how do we go about keeping our daughters pure and innocent?

We must follow another Bible teaching: 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 “For we are the temple of the living God: just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate”, says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean: and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me.” Says the Lord God Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

“Come out from their midst and be separate” says the Lord. This is a tall order, and one to be taken seriously. If you do not separate your daughter (and yourself) from the defilement of the world, it will be hard for either of you to be clean, but especially your daughter, who is more impressionable than you are.

Public school is no place for your precious daughter. There is no way to keep her clean and pure in that environment. Even if there are Christians teachers there, and there are many teachers who teach in public school as a ministry, they cannot shield your daughter from everything she will be exposed too. Don’t think you are sending your sweet daughter to school to be a ‘light’. The Bible tell us in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that “Bad company corrupts good morals”, not the other way around. Even when Jesus sent out his disciples, he trained them for three years first, and then sent them out in twos. Don’t expect your young daughter to withstand what even a lot of adults have trouble withstanding. Keep her safe, guard her mind and body. Keep her either at home and homeschool her, or a distant second best, send her to a trusted Christian school, where the atmosphere is more controlled.

Television is another thing that corrupts an innocent mind. Even if the show you are watching is fairly pure, the commercials are usually not. Today’s cartoons and other children’s programs are also filled with suggestive conversation. You can do better than this. Keep it away from your children.

Watch the books they read. Don’t let their minds be filled with worldly ideas and issues. Give them books with good morals, book that build their character and teach them how to be women of God. There are not many of those written today, but you can go back a few years and find them. Go online and check into the Christian homeschooling sites, and you will find some ideas. Home Fire Publishers has some good books for both adults and children, as does Rod and Staff and Christian Light Publishers.
Always remember, what you put into your mind will come out your mouth eventually. Matthew 12:34-35 says: “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good, and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.”
Make sure your daughter’s hearts treasure is good!

In dressing your daughter, get your ideas from 1 Timothy 2:9-10: “”I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.” And 1 Peter 3:3-4 “You adornment must not be merely external – braiding the hair and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses: but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”
Let your daughter’s clothes cover her body. There is no reason for a child to dress like a hooker, in tight pants, short tops that don’t cover their tummies, and pants that ride so low that if they bend over, their behinds are exposed. Long modest dresses or skirts are the best choice. A young girl who has not yet learned to keep her dress down all the time can wear bloomers or leggings under them. 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 tells us that God also intends for a female to have long hair. Keep your daughter’s long hair pulled back in a modest way, too, unadorned for the most part. You might even consider covering it.
Give your daughter the look of a modest, pure, innocent young lady, and it will help her act the part.

Take your daughter with you where ever you go. Help her learn to be a lady by watching you. Teach her how to react in public in a quiet dignified manner. Teach her to be a good example to other young girls.
Teach her to cook, sew, crochet, help the needy or any other kind of womanly art. If you aren’t sure what they are, you can look in Proverbs 31:10-31.

Helping your daughter grow up to be a beautiful, pure woman of God takes a little effort, but it is such a blessing. There is nothing better you can give her.