Life in the Spirit

There is so much you have to look forward to in your life. Every day there are new and wonderful opportunities awaiting you. There is a perfect plan laid out for your life, prepared for you by a loving God who created you in His image. What could be more wonderful? Only one thing: exercising the power that God’s grace affords us to accomplish all that He has in store for us. That special grace comes only because of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

God has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.

· He gave us faith to believe; John 10:27, Ephesians 1:4-5

· He gave us new life and His deposited His Spirit within us; Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17

· He redeemed us; Romans 5:8, Galatians 3:10-14

· He justified us; Romans 5:1-11

· He sanctified us; Romans 8:15-17, John 14:26

· He has promised us a new imperishable body and an inheritance in heaven; 1 Peter 1:3-5

All of this was done simply because He loves us. It is almost too incomparable to imagine. Perhaps that’s why we often live beneath our means. But we don’t have any reason to stay there. Every day, God makes Himself available to us to grow us up in the “grace and knowledge” of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; 2 Peter 3:18. We can learn by His example how to live a life that is pleasing to God and victorious for us. But there is one more thing you must realize if you don’t already. God will not be mocked (made a fool of, or taken lightly). Because He is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and immutable (not changeable), don’t even think that somehow you can put one over on Him. That may work on your parents and friends when you try to get your way, but not on God.

The bible teaches us that God’s grace is sufficient for everything you need; 2 Corinthians 9:8. Unfortunately, many teens have not quite figured out the difference between a ‘need’ verses a ‘want’. You, however, are not solely to blame for this, for the fact of the matter is that your parents and even some grandparents have not mastered the difference either. But now, you are at an age that God holds you accountable for what you do with the gift of salvation and the blessings and talents that He has given to you and you alone. You must learn to desire the things that God desires for you. Choose to say “yes” to God’s will and His way.

No one has to have the “next big thing” before the last big thing is even old. Don’t be fooled by social media that tells you that the more “friends” you have, the better. Facebook and Twitter are only distractions keeping you pre-occupied so that the purpose for which you were created is not realized. The only friend you really need is the one who is able to deliver that which is beneficial to get you to the place that God wants you to be (The Holy Trinity). This doesn’t mean to suggest that you shouldn’t have any earthly friends, but a true friend will help you to live for God.

Here are just a few reminders to help you as you “walk in the Spirit”.

· Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength; Luke 10:27

· Treat others the way you want to be treated; Luke 6:27-36

· Talk to God every day. Pray as the Spirit leads you and listen for direction; 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18

· Study the bible. God has revealed so much of who He is and what He commands in His word; 2 Timothy 2:15

· Be light! Others should see the good that you do as a reflection of what you believe; Matthew 5:14-16

· Be bold and not ashamed to stand up for Christ; Romans 1:16

· Thank God for everything; Psalms 107:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Be Blessed!