FOREVER YOUNG? The Battle for Your Youth.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 & 7 – “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”. …and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (NIV)
It is a great privilege to be young don’t you agree! Therefore let me congratulate you! The most exciting time of a young man or woman’s life is the period of his/her youth. This is a period of great strength, agility, alertness, and freedom. Every nerve in your body yearns to be expressed and the spirit of adventure runs hotly through your blood.
But, as exciting as the time of youth is, it is also a crucial period. Important choices have to be made. Choices that will set the foundation for the rest of your life. The life you will have in 5-10 years from now will be as a result of the choices you make now that you are young. So let me pause here and ask, What choices have you made and are you making?
Yes, this is the peak of your life! Enjoy life to the fullest because this is the time to discover, explore and try out new things. But also remember, whatever you do while you are young has lasting effects on you. Therefore, this is also the time to keep your Creator at the center of your life. The Bible says to “Remember your Creator in the days of you youth…” Not when you are old, frail, retired, and less busy. No-no. It is while you are young and strong enough to work for God. This should be the focal point of your living as a young man or woman. This is the perfect time to bear good and lasting fruit for the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:32-34 also lays emphasis on the fact that a young man or woman should be concerned about the Lord’s affairs. This is no time to run after the world’s pleasures because they will but bring you to ruin. Why waste your youth and sit back when you are old filled with regret because of the wrong decisions made? You wanna live life to the fullest? Try living it God’s way. Try investing your youthful strength into working for Him. You will have lasting results instead of lasting regrets. He is interested in your strength and so is the devil. This brings us to the fact that there is a battle over your life as a youth. Because the devil is interested in your strength, he will do any and everything to harness it for his use. But you see, allowing the devil access your strength while you are young will only destroy you and fill you with regret later in life.
However, the choice about who wins the battle over your life is solely yours. Who you turn your strength over to for use is very important. But a choice must be made! What will it be?
The battle is a fierce one as the devil never gives up. He will fight against your body, soul, and spirit. He will question your beliefs. He will give you reason to give him your strength. But this is the time to Remember Your Creator.
I know you feel like you could go on being young forever but the plain truth remains that you are only young once.
So why waste your youth?
Why give the devil a chance?
Why lay a shaky foundation?
Why follow the crowd?
Why set wrong priorities?
Why make the wrong choices?
Why forget your Creator?
Make your youthfulness count. Invest in your youth. Make wise choices. Give your strength to God today.
Be young to the fullest; God’s way.
YOYO (You’re Only Young Once).



References:
True Images Bible (NIV) Zondervan
Battle for the young. Gbile Akanni
The Holy Spirit

Hello Critics…

Mark 5:36 “But Jesus paid no attention to what they said...” (NCV)

Criticism is one of the prices you will have to pay to achieve your dreams. There’s really nothing you do, good or bad that people won’t talk about. But you see the thing is, you just can’t let it get to you. You gotta learn to swallow talk and move on. Especially if you are convinced that what you are doing is in accordance with God’s will. Let them criticize. Remember, talk is cheap. But Follow your dream. Cos unless you live your dream, no one else will live it for you. Max Lucado has this to say, “I love that line! (Mark 5:36) It describes the critical principle for seeing the unseen. Ignore what people say. Block them out. Turn them off. Close your ears. And, if you have to, walk away. Ignore the ones who say it’s too late to start over. Disregard those who say you’ll never amount to anything. Turn a deaf ear toward those who say that you aren’t smart enough, fast enough, tall enough, or big enough- ignore them. Faith sometimes begins by stuffing your ears with cotton. Jesus turns immediately to Jairus and pleads: “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” Jesus compels Jairus to see the unseen. When Jesus says, “Just believe…” He is imploring, “Don’t limit your possibilities. Don’t listen for the audible. Don’t be controlled by the logical. Believe there is more to life than meets the eye!”

Even Jesus paid no attention to His critics. And that’s because He had purpose and work to do. If He listened to His critics, He wouldn’t have healed Jairus’ daughter, let alone fulfill His divine purpose.

Yes, People will criticize you, but how you respond to criticism is what matters. When you are criticized, examine the criticism carefully, pick what is relevant and dump the rest. Do not let it get to you and prevent you from going for your dream.

You wanna achieve your dreams? Then say Hello to your critics…

References:

The Holy Bible (New Century Version)

Put Your Dream to the Test by John C. Maxwell (Pages 149&150)