- If you could write a letter to yourself when you were younger, what would you say?
- What things would you focus more on?
- What would you tell yourself to focus less on?
(Focus more on the lessons you have learned over the years. Example: I would not worry so much about what others think. etc.)
I will be preaching on this in a couple of weeks.
I would read more of my bible. I would be further along in my spiritual maturity.
ReplyDeleteI would not sweat the small stuff. We need to be like a duck and let the water roll off. I would focus more on others needs and less of my needs.
1. I would explain to myself how much easier things are if you apply yourself. School would have been so much easier had I actually done homework.
ReplyDelete2. I would work more on issues of anxiety and self-esteem early on... It's funny how the Bible gives such good instruction and examples of these things.
3. I would make different choices in the friends I had during high-school. Frankly that would probably have made a tremendous difference in my life.
4. I would have listened more closely to my parents. Yes, they really were right most of the time.
5. I would have focused more on spiritual matters and studying. As a young Christian this is so vital but sometimes doesn't get the proper attention.
All these things may not seem spiritually focused but the reality is that almost everything we do can impact us spiritually in one way or another.
The important thing in life is not looking back and desiring to correct past behavior (because you can't). The more pressing matter is making certain that life's lessons are learned and applied correctly moving forward (especially spiritual lessons).
Not that I would listen to myself, I would try to explain to me that you will be living with the results of your decisions for the rest of your life. It seems obvious and easy to say but very hard to understand at a young age. When you are young “what is done is done” and we move on. At the time you don’t think how that decision will shape the rest of your life. This could be as simple as believing someone who tells you that “you will never be able to do ______” (fill in the blank), or on the positive side “you’re really good at ______, you should pursue that as a career”. Now depending on which one you choose to belief the rest of your life could be drastically different from the other choice.
ReplyDeleteI hope that makes sense. ;-)
Pray for wisdom, choose wisely, and don’t be self-seeking.
What a wide field of thought this is! I will offer a top five list.
ReplyDelete1. I know you want to be accepted and popular, but this is what you want to look for when you pick your friends:
HONESTY-GENUINE CHARACTER (not someone who is trying to become like someone else)-DON'T PICK FRIENDS BY HOW THEY LOOK, BUT BY THEIR ACTIONS.
2. Priority # 1 - READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY .... SLOWLY .... SO THAT YOU KNOW THAT IT IS GOD WHO IS SPEAKING TO YOU.
3. Pay close attention to the people who are getting in trouble and avoid what they are doing ... and avoid them.
4. SATAN IS REAL! HE WANTS YOUR SOUL, HE WANTS YOU TO THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE RICH, POWERFUL, POPULAR, IN FACT BETTER THAN ANYBODY AROUND YOU. BUT WHAT HE WANTS IS FOR YOU TO BECOME ADDICTED TO YOUR DESIRE TO GET RICHER, MORE POWERFUL, MORE POPULAR. YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TIME FOR GOD's PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THIS WORLDLINESS. TRUE HAPPINESS AND JOY WILL BE A SCARCITY IN YOUR LIFE.
5. Look around you frequently and ask these questions: Where did the stars come from? Why do we have changes of seasons ... and why are they are so precise? Why is the universe so big? Where did life really come from? Why are the best things in life free? And lastly, why did JESUS die for me? SEARCH FOR THESE ANSWERS, AND THE PURPOSE OF LIFE WILL BE IN THE FRONLETS OF YOUR EYES.
P.S. NEVER FORGET PRIORITY # 1
1. I am a masterpiece!
ReplyDelete2. God knows my name!
3. My opinion is just as good as any other; share it
4. Life is easier if you marry a Christian
5. I have everything I need
6. Its never to early to follow the Lord
7. Its never to late to follow the Lord
8. Everything comes in HIS time
9. Study, study, study
10. Remember why you're here
11. Surround yourself with God's people
12. No matter where you are, or who you are with, you are an example to someone.
13. Even those you are closest too disappoint; God never does.
14. God has a plan...He is in control.
15. Sing and be happy
16. Talking to God gets me thru the day.
In my letter, I would first tell myself that no matter how bad things get, God is the answer--not drugs and alcohol. True friends will find you and when they do they will be with you through the good times and the bad. With a true friend, not someone who acts like one, you can be yourself and trust them. No matter what may happen, do not worry, for God has a plan for you, and He will help you to achieve what He has planned for you. Do not joke about going to hell, because if you leave the Lord, that is exactly where you are going. Never walk away from the Lord, for He is the truest friend you could have. Don't sit back and wait for something bad to happen for you to make things right with God. Tomorrow may be too late. Read His word and talk to Him.
ReplyDeleteI would focus more on being positive and try to be more outgoing. Growing up I was shy and afraid of my shadow, so to speak. Don't think of the "what ifs" and don't be anxious over silly things, don't sweat the small stuff. Take advantage of opportunities to share thoughts with others, talk more about the Bible and speak up to let others know what I believe and why I believe it (regarding God and what the Bible teaches).
ReplyDeleteThis is more of a “tool” to use when you’re younger to help with your focus. I wish I would have learned it at a younger age, but didn’t start implementing this until my 20’s. When things were not going well (ie: someone was making me feel inadequate, insecure, unattractive, stupid, making false accusations etc.) I began looking at a clock as they were talking to me. I would time the incident and see how long it took for them to say whatever it was that they felt should be said. I would then take that time frame and begin to look at it with a very broad perspective. My self talk was something like this, “That was 30 seconds out of my 8 hour work day, out of my 24 hour day, out of my 7 x 24 hour week, out of my 24 years I have been on this earth, out of eternity that will someday be my reality in heaven if I live my life according to His word. Wow, that was nothin!! I can wipe that one out of my mind and keep on going.” There was something about stretching it out to the eternal that helped me realize how insignificant that moment really was. There have been lots and lots of these moments so it has been an important tool.
ReplyDelete