“Decisions Made in Our Youth by Jonathan Shields”

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Teenage years can be one of the most trying times of your life. Not knowing what career you want to go into, or who your spouse is going to be can be daunting. Sometimes, you are deciding whether you want to do right or wrong. Just know that your decisions in this period will impact you for a lifetime:  what spouse you choose, what career you pick or how your life will end up, whether good or bad.

One such decision is how we treat our parents.  We all love our parents and don't intend to hurt them, but what you do can affect your mother and father. Proverbs 17:25 talks about “a foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to his mother.” It is wise to honor your father and mother. Ephesians 6:1-3 says “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”  Our choices will impact our parents.

Some decisions will be about what activities you get involved in.  A lot of teens experiment with alcoholism, but Proverbs 23:19-21 explains that being a drunkard can cause you to become poor. Only following God can make your life good on earth and even better in heaven.

We have to surround ourselves with the right kind of people.  In I Corinthians 15:33 it says, “Evil companions corrupt good morals.”  Even though it may seem like it is not a big deal to be around someone who isn’t living right, they are influencing you and corrupting you though you may not be aware of it.  On the other hand, if you choose friends who are seeking God and living right, they can encourage you when you are weak.     “Two are better than one for they have a good reward for their toil.  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow,” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.  

One of my favorite scriptures is James 4:7. “Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” The devil only affects you when you let him in your life. Try to use the power of God to get you through the devil’s obstacles. You will make mistakes but you can recover from those mistakes. Trust, believe and obey God and you will become stronger in things you never thought you would overcome. Just remember that whatever obstacles you come across, God will always be there to pick you up if you're ready to do what's right. Pray and believe in your prayer, and God WILL deliver.

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