This entire blog (and the book it was named for, Lies Young Women Believe) is dedicated to uncovering lies told to your generation by the Evil One. We are committed to helping you identify the lies that have wrapped their way around your heart, but we also want to encourage you to replace those lies with truth. What truth exactly? Let me direct you to the only source of truth that has the power to radically transform you—God's Word. John 8:32 says, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." It's true! The truth found in the Bible has the power to free us from many types of bondage. But did you catch what this verse says about the role you play in that liberation? The truth has the power to free you, but first you must know what truth is. We toured the country talking to girls like you during the research phase of LYWB, and we were surprised (and more than a little concerned) by how little time the girls we interviewed spent learning the Word of God. We only interviewed Christian girls, many of whom were leaders in their church and youth group, and yet, we couldn't find much evidence that they knew what God's Word really says. This is dangerous because failing to know the truth sets us up to be easily trapped by lies. Nancy writes about this in Lies Young Women Believe:
There's one habit that was emphasized more that any other in my (Nancy's) home as I was growing up. I don't think there is any more important habit that you could possibly develop as a teen. It is the practice of spending consistent time getting to know God through His Word. Every aspect of your life, short term and long term, will be affected by this one habit. I am so grateful that my parents modeled this practice and encouraged me to develop a consistent devotional life as a young girl. I cannot adequately express what a huge difference it has made in my life. I'm not saying it's easy—as much as I value my time with the Lord, there have been plenty of mornings when I've allowed the pillow, my laptop, or other distractions to win out and ended up spending only a few hurried moments with Him. But I know that I can't be the woman God made me to be apart from having an intimate relationship with Him. And that requires spending time on a regular basis listening to Him speak through His Word and responding to Him in worship and prayer (Lies Young Women Believe, 167).
What is true for Nancy's life is true for all of us. You can't be the woman God made you to be without receiving regular doses of truth from His Word. Neither can I. So, I am committing to take a challenge that Nancy and Dannah issue in the book. It's called the 30-day challenge, and it's simply encourages readers to spend time reading their Bible every day for 30 days. Will you join me? Will you commit to spending at least some time reading the Bible every day for the next 30 days? I hope so. If you're ready for a heavy dose of life-changing, bondage-breaking, freedom-bringing truth, join me by spending time reading your Bible every day for the next 30 days.