In my sixteen years of life (I will be 16 in 3 weeks.) I've learned a very important thing: you cannot escape the love of God. His love for us is inevitable; it's so pure that man cannot even define it in words. To truly allow His love to run through our veins, we must humble ourselves and lay low so that His glories will be revealed in us. We are children of the highest and most exalted God, and because His love is so strong for us, we cannot run from it or hide from it. The only thing we can do is choose to believe or not to believe.
Faith in God is a mission that only the determined will pursue. If your faith lies on sheets of ice, then you will fall at your first test of faith, but if you are standing firm on your faith on solid ground, then you will be able to overcome your tests. The more firm you are in your faith, the more tactics the enemy will throw your way. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says "[9]Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [9]Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." In these scriptures Peter is giving us warning about the enemy's tactics. As believers, we need to understand that God isn't the only one who has a plan for our lives. Satan also has a plan for us. We need to recognize whose to embrace and whose to battle. Satan's plans are to get you as far away from the kingdom of God as possible and to guide you into darkness. My Nana always told me, "Don't let the devil use you." When I was young, I didn't understand what that fully meant, but being in the mindset that I am in today allows me to define what she meant. As believers, we need to stop being hypocrites. Yes, I said it; hypocrites. Hypocrites are people who pretend to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not pursue or live out. Once we commit to God, we must strive to be more like Him. James 1:5-6 says, "[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [6] But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." God tells us that we can ask for wisdom to push through our tough days and He will give it to us freely, but when we ask for wisdom of the mind, the next day we cannot drift back over to the enemy's ways. Being confused in your faith is a place you do not want to be. Either your faith lies in God or it lies in Satan. There is no such thing as being in the middle. "No shades of gray." -Jonathan McReynolds Being in a relationship with Christ means sacrificing your old ways to gain new ones. God forgives you of sin, but it's you who determines when you want to be forgiven. God will make himself known, but it's you who decides to let Him in or not. Honestly, we decide a lot in our lives. We decide if we believe or don't believe, if we follow or distance ourselves, if we allow God to come in or shut Him out, if we stand on shallow ice or solid ground, etc. We cover up the door when God wants to open it. We doubt the God who gives us breath. Why? God allows us to witness His presence and love but still we doubt. Enough is enough. We as believers must stop placing our faith in other places. It's time to get it together. Humbling Ourselves Once we begin believing and trusting in God's perfect plan, God will reveal things within us that will strengthen us in our walks, but we must remain low and humble so we can hear from Him. 1 Peter 5:6 says: "'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.' [6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." Staying humble is a huge part of our walk. If we portray ourselves to be high and mighty, then how will we hear from God on when to move and when to stay still? If God cannot speak to us, then what makes you think He will continue sending blessings our way? Don't put yourself before God. Remember who put you on, and recognize how easily He can take you off. Each day is another opportunity to seek God for who He truly is. Each day is a new learning experience. As we lay low, we grow. 16 years old being in a strong relationship with Christ can be difficult. It can be difficult when you have people who judge or distance themselves from you. But I've come to realize that they're not distancing themselves from me, but the God who lives in me. As long as I hear God's voice I know that I'm doing the right thing- the best thing. I may come off as someone who "loves Jesus too much", but it's those kind of people who God allows through the gates of His kingdom. Lastly, Don't put God off. Don't say, "I got plenty of time to get it right, but for now I'm going to 'turn up'". God can take you right now and there would be nothing you could do about it. We need to be ready at all times. Meditate on this: We, as believers, hold the torch, but it's God who lights the fire for us to see through our darkest moments. Will we allow Him to light the fire or continue to walk blindly? Being young and wise can be hard, but it's all worth it. Every single second of it.
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