"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

It seemed harmless enough. A song playing on her iPod. The dinging of an incoming text. It was anything but.

The next thing I knew, my daughter was weeping in her room, a torrent of twisted emotions consuming her tender heart.

What happened?

Minutes ago, we were laughing together! Now, as her heart oozed with rejection, loneliness and self-doubt, I felt helpless to comfort her.

From the surface, hearing that specific song and receiving the text at the same time seemed like a coincidence. I've been learning, however, it isn't always chance.

In our key verse, Peter the Apostle tells us: "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

Just waiting.

For the chance.

The truth is we have an enemy. And he is always looking for the chance to trip us up.

Looking, scheming, scouting, just waiting for the perfect opportunity to:

• Bring back the hurt through a familiar song.

• Remind us of a past mistake.

• See pictures on social media to rub in the rejection.

Satan will hold back nothing to get at our hearts and into our minds, whatever it takes to drag us down. It's his purpose, his goal. And he knows your daughter will believe it was the boy, the friend or the crowd who made her feel that way.

As women, we can learn to stay alert so we are less likely to get caught unaware and fall into the trap of an emotional spiral. For us to be on guard, we need to daily pour in the truth that we are unconditionally loved, adored and pursued by the One, our Love, Jesus.

Then we can teach our kids how to watch for what they don't see coming. Whether we're 16 or 46, we can learn to be on guard.

If we will consistently do this, when the disappointments and hurts in life inevitably come, they'll find our heart full of perfect love and less vulnerable to rejection and offense.

But what about our daughters?

How can a girl, just years away from playing with dolls, learn to fight emotions that seem too powerful? Deal with mood swings that try to take her peace away? And avoid the daily surfacing "girl drama"?

From you. She learns from you.

After the hugs and listening, you can teach her to see what she doesn't see coming. To be on guard by being selective to the music she hears, whom she follows on social media and to whom she entrusts her heart. And be intentional to pour God's truth into her heart each and every day.

Not only will her life be more peaceful, yours will too!

Lord, by reading Your Word and spending time in prayer, help me to first learn to be on guard for the enemy's tactics to trip me up. Empower me, as I learn to share this truth with my children and those I have an opportunity to influence. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

***

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Ephesians 6:10-12, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (NIV)

James 4:7, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (NIV)

RELATED RESOURCES:

Please join Lynn Cowell today on her blog where she is sharing 5 Tips for Guarding Your Heart. She is also giving away a Raising a Wiser Daughter Gift Pack.

His Revolutionary Love and Devotions for a Revolutionary Year help young women to fill their hearts with the unconditional love of Jesus and empower them to guard their hearts.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:

Can you pinpoint one area in particular, in your life or the life of your child, where you are vulnerable to emotional letdowns? Share this with a trusted friend and ask her to pray for you.

What is one step you can take to make yourself less susceptible? Music you listen to? Social media? People you interact with?

© 2014 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.