Teen Talk Devotion: True Maturity

“Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

~Romans 12:2 MSG

There’s a difference between being a “mature” teen and being a spiritually mature teen. For some reason, teenagers have been brainwashed into thinking that being mature means doing things we are not supposed to do. This involves smoking, drinking, partying, etc. The girl that is timid and stays away from this type of lifestyle is supposedly immature, and in the process gets rejected. In the musical "Grease", a quiet “goody-goody” is made fun of by her friends. In the end, she decides that she needs to “grow up”, so she asks one of her friends to help her to come out of this shell and become more like her peers. When this is accomplished she feels accepted by her friends and is suddenly viewed as being 'cool' because she chose to compromise. Unfortunately, she didn’t grow up. She just stooped lower. And that’s what we need to realize. Being mature doesn’t mean doing something stupid or illegal. It doesn’t mean getting a car for your 15th birthday, having a baby at sixteen, or even being able to carry on a mature conversation with an adult. True maturity is developed when we are able to stay close to God and not let the surrounding culture influence us. It isn't based on popularity or knowledge, but on wisdom.

In my latest Teen Talk Tuesday post, we discussed how difficult it is to be different from other teenagers who aren’t Christians. We as teenagers do not like to be rejected, so many of us make stupid decisions just to feel accepted. But we need to realize that true acceptance only comes through Christ. Sure, we may be rejected by other teens because of our relationship with the Lord. But in the end, the teenager that can go through high school and remain true to God is the one that God will bless the most.

There are many things that today’s teen culture has accepted as okay, even for Christians. That’s why we need to stay close to God. This way, he’ll be able to help us to discern right from wrong and develop true maturity in us. However, it won't be easy and you will have to fight hard against the high school culture. This may bring rejection from your friends, but so what? Wouldn’t you rather please God and allow him to bless you eternally than try to earn temperal worldly acceptance from your so-called “friends”? So would I.

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Thoughts to Ponder:

1. Are you influenced more by your friend’s way of thinking or God’s way of thinking?
   The more you hang around your friends, the more you become like them. So who are you hanging around most? Your friends, or your God? Maybe the people you hang out with are Christians, but they don’t completely live for God. They still like to have 'fun' in the wrong way every now and then, and might even convince you that it’s okay, since God forgives anyway. This is when you must ask yourself, do their words match up to The Word? Don’t let them brainwash you. They may try to water things down to make them seem “okay”, but refuse to let them make you think their way. Listen to God only, not the culture around you.
2. Is there anything that you have accepted as okay, even though you know God probably isn’t pleased with this decision?
   We can also brainwash ourselves and water down God’s word to fit what we like to do and what we may think isn’t bad. Naturally, we as teenagers don’t like discipline, so it’s not that easy forcing ourselves to do the right thing. Maybe you don’t do bad things or hang around bad people, but some of your actions are questionable. Are you listening to too much secular or the wrong kind of music? Are you completely obsessed with a certain band or celebrity? When you pick out your outfit for the day, are you trying to please guys or God? No matter how big or small the sin is, you're still ignoring God’s truth. Don’t convince yourself that these small things are okay just because you’re not breaking the law. Make the decisions that Jesus would make and that you know would please God. Surrender to him only, that way he can completely develop true maturity in you.
3. Based on Romans 12:2, why do you think it’s so important to stay true to God in high school, even if that means not having any friends at all?
   The Bible never promises that life will be easy.You’ll be rejected. Hurt. Dissapointed. But the one who can 'stick it out' and be tough to the end gets the reward. And based on Jeremiah 29:11, God has a special purpose designed for each one of his children. If we fight through the tough times and remain close to God, then he will lead us towards the plans that he has for us. High school is a great time to prove to God that he means more to you than friends. Keep Romans 12:2 in mind when school starts back next fall, and remember that you can get through anything when God is on your side.

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Q4U:
Have you ever been pressured by your friends to do something that you knew wasn’t right, but you gave in anyway? How did it make you feel afterwards, or did you have to suffer the consequences?

Teen Talk Devotion: Relish Your Youth

"You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But also know that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it."

~Ecclesiastes 11:9 MSG

It's hard staying true to Christ. Especially in high school, when the level of peer pressure and insecurities are the highest. But I believe this is one of the most valuable times in our lives. This is when we plant the early seeds that will harvest as we grow older. What we do during our youth can influence who we will become for the rest of our lives.

Some people suggest just having fun while being a teenager, and not to worry about trying to pursue a career or begin to develop a certain craft. But this verse clearly states what teenagers are to do - pursue your desires! Draw close to God during this time. Be different. Go for the desires God has placed in your heart. Don't only strive to get into a good college, make great grades and have fun. This is the most valuable time to go for your dreams. But don't forget the last sentence of this verse: "You have to answer to God for every last bit of it."

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Thoughts to Ponder:

1. What is something you love to do? Do you love working with your hands and being creative in activities such as scrapbooking, sewing, or drawing? Maybe you're more talented in music or sports. Or perhaps you're skilled in math, science, or technology. Talk to God about these desires and gifts that he has given you. Pray about them. Ask him to remove any desire that isn't of him. If you don't feel as if you have any "gift", pray about it. God has blessed everyone with a gift. Ask him to reveal to you what it is. He won't ignore you.
2. How can you go ahead and begin to pursue this talent? For some authors, it takes years and years before finally getting published. Some people don't even realize their desire to write until college, or even afterwards. It takes time to study the craft, practice and develop it, then look for opportunities to turn this into a career. This doesn't happen over night. Do what you can now! Are you into sports? Practice daily. Make schedules and goals for yourself. Go ahead and start planting the seeds. If you feel like God wants you to begin pursuing this, then ask him to open doors so that you can develop and use your craft. He will lead you and give you favor at the right places and at the right times - but only as long as you stay close to him.
3. Are you letting teen difficulties effect your lifestyle? Teenagers feel things deeply. It feels like the end of the world when a boy dumps you, or when your best friend stabs you in the back. Don't let drama like this keep you from pursuing your calling and your relationship with God. Be different from the other kids. Satan will try his best to put difficulties in your way to keep you from fulfilling God's will for your life. Just trust God, and continue the path that he has given you.

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Q4U:

When we were very young, we were asked the question "What would you like to be when you grow up?" Think back to that time. What did you want to be when you grew up? A firefighter? A singer? Now answer this question again. What would you like to be when you grow up? Is it the same answer as before?

Sunshine Award

I have been awarded by Sarah.

1. Post the logo on your blog and/or within the post.

2. Pass it on to 12 other bloggers.

3. Add links to these 12 bloggers within your blog.

4. Let them know they are receiving the award.

5. Share the link of the person from whom you received the award.

I would like to give the award to…

1. Kath

2. Love Unawakened

3. Julie

4. Katie

5. Write in the Way

6. Jennifer

7. Jessica

8. Susan

9. Susan F.

10. Isabella

11. Cleverly Inked

12. Novelists Thoughts

The Birth of Your Book

Many people long for the day when the copies of their first book arrive in the mail, including me. I’ll finally have in my hands the book that I’ve worked on for so long!

Just as pregnancy isn’t always an easy thing, the process of writing a book isn’t, either. Recently I’ve had to devote much of my time into finishing my manuscript. I’ve learned it’s a long process and involves much hard work. But in spite of all of that, it’s exciting. Anticipating the day that I will get my package in the mail is what keeps me going.

Satan will try his best to make this dream seem impossible, though—especially at the lowest point of your suffering. Doubts and fears of the birth of your book will come to mind. What if the “baby” turns out unhealthy? Or worse, what if it doesn’t come at all, and all of this pain and dreaming of being a mother is for nothing? What if I’m doing something wrong? It’ll be my fault if it doesn’t come out right. So why risk it?

The first days of the process may be exciting: planning your story and writing the first draft. I’ve never published a book before, but I’ve heard that the hardest part for most authors is not trying to find a publisher or writing the first draft—but actually having to go through the editing process with your editor, right before the book is published. Isn't that much like the birth of a baby? The pregnancy in general isn’t a comfortable thing. It may be fine at first, when you find out you’re pregnant and the idea of having a baby excites you. The dream of being a mother is finally going to come true! But then comes the nausea. Inconveniences. Doubts of being a good mother, and fears that the baby won’t come out right. Going into labor is the hardest part, but you’re so close to the baby being born that there’s no turning back. You have to go through it if you want your dream of being a mother—or author—to come true.

Isn’t it worth it, though? Going through the “pregnancy”? Every time you start to have fears during the process or if you find yourself about to give up, go back to the dream and God’s promise to give you the desires of your heart. The “pregnancy” won’t be easy. But I’m sure that when the stork brings your baby in the mail, it’ll all be worth it.

John 16:21-22~

“When a woman is in labor she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. So you also have sorrow now… But your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy.”