I have a 16 year old daughter who in recent months has developed more interest in wearing dresses. As we are navigating this new season in her life, I have become more acutely aware of the importance of training our daughters how to dress in a way that will glorify God.

One of the most important principles that you'll find repeated over and overagain, in the bible,is the importance of parents teaching their children the ways of God. Ladies, we must rise up to this challenge in the area of teaching our daughters the importance of modest dress. We should teach our daughters to have a heart for modesty and to understand the importance and the need for modesty in every area of their lives. Teach them to place more emphasis on true spiritual beauty and for godly character, and not to place an over-emphasis on physical beauty.

We live in a culture that teaches women to display themselves and their bodies in ways that are designed to get sexual attention, to be the center of attraction. Don't let your daughters learn their view of modesty or their view of what's proper and acceptable from the culture around them. If you do, they will never learn to be modest, because there is nothing modest in this culture.

Titus 2 says, "Train the young women," train your daughters, "to be self-controlled, to be pure . . . that the Word of God may not be reviled. . . . So that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior" (vv. 3-5).

If your daughters ask why they cannot dress like their friends, teach them the principles of God's Word:

• The principle of ownership: Your body is not your own; it belongs to God once you're a child of God.

• The principle of Lordship: Jesus is Lord over all...including your body.

• The principle of citizenship: If you're a child of God, you belong to a different kingdom; you don't belong to this world.

• The principle of stewardship: God has entrusted a body and beauty to you. You are responsible to use them in ways that are pleasing to God

As you train your daughters, affirm them when they make good choices. Get your husband involved. If she knows that her dad affirms her for her good choices she's not going to be as driven to seek approval from men who value immodesty.

Very Important...make sure your children (daughters and sons alike) see you model true modesty-in your behavior and your dress!