Dear Next Generation of World Changing Girls

Dear Joy and Joni … and Ashley and Jenna … and Alyssa … and Caroline … and Tori and Olivia … and Hayley, Rozy and  Jordan … and …

Perhaps I should say it this way … “Dear Next-Generation-of-World-Changing Girls …

One of my favorite quotes is this, “Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.”  These words are attributed to Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision.

Have you ever thought about the things that break the heart of God?  I do … I think about them almost daily.  Some days I actually weep wondering if I have participated in any actions or heart attitudes that my have broken His heart of unconditional love.

As I have watched the conversation and debate swirl over the performance of Miley Cyrus at the VMA awards, I have wondered if God’s heart was broken that night.

You, lovely ladies, all have grown up in the same decadent and promiscuous era as did Miley.  I believe that you are different from Miley … and will continue to be different,  not because you would refuse to sing a promiscuous song on stage in a barely-there outfit with sexual and provocative gestures, but you are different because your passion has taken and will continue to take you to a different place.

You are the young women of this generation who are passionate about making a marked difference.

You are the young women of this generation who aren’t afraid of making hard choices.

You are the young women of this generation who refuse to be intimidated or swayed by the mediocrity and compromise of our culture.

You ARE the passionate and purpose-driven women of this generation!

Oh!  How I wish that your lives could impact the life of Miley Cyrus!

Oh!  How I wish that CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox News were following your life stories …

As I have watched the video of Miley’s performance, let me tell you why it broke my heart. … and then we will get to God’s heart.

What broke my heart is that Miley was made for so much more!

Miley was made to be a woman of honor and to embrace world-changing goals.  Instead she has chosen to embrace the compromise of our culture.

Miley was made to be a show and tell of God’s extravagant and relentless love.  Instead she has chosen to show and tell things that were never made to be shown in the public.

Miley was made for joy and peace and excellence. Instead, Miley has chosen a life of hollow words, devastating and cruel addictions and a life of empty lies.

Miley was made for more … and so are you.  The difference is that you know it … and she doesn’t know it.  Has anyone ever told her?

Has anyone ever modeled to Miley a life of extraordinary commitment and a focus on that which is priceless rather than that which is cheap?

One thing that I always want you to remember is the difference between mere “platform” and world-changing “power”.

Miley Cyrus has platform but she lacks world-changing power.  Her face has been on every morning show this week, on every news website and she has been discussed on everyone’s blog.  Including mine.  Platform does not equal power.

Power happens when you willingly choose to give your life to the leadership and high calling of the Kingdom of God.  You are among the most powerful leaders of your generation when you choose to live for the “much more” that God has called you to.

Will it be hard?  Absolutely!

Will you fail at times?  Without a doubt!

But let me tell you right now that you are more than a body … you are more than a cute figure … you are more than your weight … and you are more than your sexual longings.

God has called you to make a difference with your life at this moment in history.  He is looking for girls just like you who are passionate enough to say “no” to the wrong things and “yes” to the right things.

He is looking for girls and young women who choose to live in a place of honor when their culture calls them to compromise.

He is looking for a generation of women who understand that sex is a beautiful gift too glorious for words when expressed within the covenant of marriage.

Why do I think that God’s heart was broken on Sunday night?

I think that His heart was broken because our culture has taken that which He created for beauty and has turned it into something tawdry and cheap.

I think that His heart was broken because we live in a generation that values platform over power.

I think that His heart was broken because Miley was created to make a resounding and eternal difference at her moment in history and she has settled for a life of tawdry and temporary pleasure rather than the eternal value of a life lived well.

I think that His heart was broken because God really does care … He cares about how we live and the daily choices that we make.

He cares about the friends that we choose and the voices to which we listen.

He cares because you were made to exhibit the character of God.  You were created to imitate Him and all that He is and not to conform to the call of your culture.

The cry of my heart to your generation is that you will chose your role models well.  Look at the lives of Kari Jobe, Natalie Grant, Bethany Hamilton and Meredith Andrews.

Make a determined decision that you will honor God with choices great and small.

Honor Him in the clothes that you choose to wear.  Honor God in the songs that you sing.  Honor God in your relationships with young men.  Honor God with the words that you speak.  Honor God with the movies that you watch.  Honor God with whom you follow on Twitter and Instagram.  Honor God in how you treat your parents.  It matters.  It matters very, very much.

I can tell you this, my dear bevy of gorgeous, powerful girls, it pays to serve Jesus.  It pays to honor Him in every area of life.

If the world laughs at you, know that God is on your side and is cheering for you.  If your friends mock you, know that there is a crowd of raucous, enthusiastic and unseen heroes who are standing to their feet in a grand ovation of your life!

When you choose to be a young woman whose heart beats in sync with the heartbeat of God, you will never break His heart but you will become like Him.

I am praying for Miley, are you?

I am praying that she will understand the difference between platform and power.   I am praying that she will snuggle up into the presence of the God Who created her and hear His loving voice.  I am praying that Miley will know that she was made for more.  And so are you!