The Girl In The Mirror

As I told you earlier, Mrs. Liz, our Youth Pastor's wife, is doing a study with our teenage girls. Her study is based on a book called The Girl In The Mirror by Michelle Grover. It discusses the difference between the problematic girl and the praise-worthy girl.



The question is When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Do you see the problematic girl or do you see the praiseworthy girl?

I. The Problematic Girl - Proverbs 2:1-22 (esp 16-17)
A. Definition of Forsake - forsake is to quit or leave entirely, to depart from
B. Characteristics of a forsaken woman
1. She walks in darkness - v13 with her attitudes and actions
Her attitudes are selfishness, bitterness, complaining, and anger
Her actions are no prayer life, no Bible reading, misses church
All these attitudes and actions are because she WILLINGLY chooses this way. This is a girl who has at one time accepted Christ, knows what is expected of her, but she CHOOSES these attitudes and actions.
2. Looks for ways to sin. -v14
a. sin is pleasure to her. She desires to disobey
3. She goes with the crowd v 15
a. crooked ways
4. Flattereth with her words
5. Forgetful of God's covenant
6. Deadly lifestyle v18-19
a. Her life leads to ruiin and destruction and brings down other people with her


C. A Closer Look
1. Is there any reason to praise this woman? NO!
2. This is clearly a problematic relationship with God.

D. How does this relate to a teenage girl's life?
1. Chapter 2 is a godly father speaking to his son and instructing him on staying away from this type of woman.
Are there characteristics in your life that would make a godly father keeping his son from dating/marrying you?
Are there areas in your life that are problematic with God that would cause you from missing out on God's will concerning your friends and dating/marrying relationships?

II. The Praiseworthy Girl - Proverbs 31:10-31
A. Definition of virtuous
1. Virtue - acting in conformity to the moral law.

B. Characteristics of a praise-worthy woman
1. Rarity v10 who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies
2. She does her husband good and not evil and she treats others by stretching out her hands to the poor and reaches out her han to the needy.
3. Work Ethic v13-willing with her hands
4. Providing for her family v15 and v21 She gets up early, stays up late, nothing stops her, she is consistent.
5. Inward Clothing v25 - strength and honor. She should be above reproach.
6. Future thoughts v25 anticipates the future (Phil 3:13-14) She's looking ahead to God's will in her life
7. Her speech v26 - wise and kind
8. Praiseworthy v 28-30 She shall be praised by her husband, children and God. She has a healthy fear of the Lord.

A Closer Look
1. She may or may not be outwardly beautiful, but she certainly had an inward beauty.
2. Fear of the Lord-profound reverence and awe towards God. Simply - fear of the Lord is respecting Him in every area of your life. Prov. 1:7, 8:13, 16:6, 19:23
3. These great characteristics v10-29 are wonerful to have, but they don't make the woman. V30 the fear of the Lord makes the woman and is the key to a praiseworthy life.

D. How this relates to a teenage girl's life
1. Proverbs 31:1 - The chapter was written by King Lemuel who was advised by his mother to look for these characteristics in a wife.
2. We as teenage girls should be daily striving to have these characteristics in our lives. They don't happen overnight and won't appear at a certain age. It is a daily process that is accomplished by the fear of the Lord.

When you look in the mirror and see a problematic girl, change the appearance that God sees. Become a praiseworthy girl! Fall in love with God first and all of your other loves will fall in place.