Modesty, Lust, Affections.

I never thought I would learn so much from a lesson intended for 7th-grade girls, but I have been incredibly blessed this past semester with so many opportunities to learn from the lessons AND from my girls. I have spent many tender moments with these precious girls, and I can honestly say that teaching them has been one of the most humbling, overwhelming, blessed, hilarious experiences of my life!
I was informed this week that we will be talking about lust tomorrow morning in middle school... and at first I was not too excited. But the more I dug into the lesson and studied up on what Jesus has to say on a 12-year-old level about lust and desires, the more I realized I am less than qualified to teach this lesson. As the solo teacher of this group of crazy, fun-loving, caring girls, I will single-handedly be sharing my experiences and advice on the harmfulness of flirting, the shelfishness of immodesty, and the sin of consuming desires & affections.
I feel unqualified because I was very recently a middle school girl struggling with the same issues. The desire to be wanted and loved, along with the confused and mixed messages of the world, have caused me to fall into the trap of being a stumbling block for guys. "Lust" takes on a whole new definition for the female type, and it can nearly be defined by Romans 14:13:

"Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide
never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother."

Immodesty is selfish and cheapens relationships. Flirting is a desire to attract men, which is an element of lusting. It causes our brothers to stumble. I know this, but I have clearly messed up. I desire so much for my girls to understand this incredibly important value, and I cannot go to sleep tonight until I wrestle in prayer that God will soften their hearts and prepare them for the lesson. Also, that He would continue to soften and break my often-hard heart towards this issue in my own life.
I so desire for my sweet girls to desire purity... and I pray that they will embrace the truth of 2 Timothy 2:10:

"For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by
the good things they do."

I am so humbled. I am so overwhelmed.