Your Best Year Yet
Some of you have begun the new school year this week and the rest of you will beginning in the upcoming weeks, with this in mind, I would like you to take sometime and think about making this your best school year yet. Whether you are a 6th grader or this is your senior year this can be your best year!
First, lay out some ways that this can be your best year. What were some ways that made last year hard for you? Then look at what the Bible says about what you should do. For instance, maybe you had a teacher that just did things to drive you nuts, maybe someone hurt you, whether the meant to or not. Maybe you were bullied. Maybe you were in a relationship that didn’t go well. Let’s begin this year with a clean heart. God say’s in Matthew 5:43-45 (NLT) that we need to pray for these people.
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ [a] and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! [b] Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.
As we pray for these people, a change takes place in our hearts that allows us to then follow another command from God, which is to forgive these people. In fact, in Matthew 6:14 (NLT), it is made very clear:
14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
You may be thinking, they need to ask for my forgiveness, but it doesn’t say only if they ask. God’s forgiveness is for their sin. Our forgiveness towards them is so we can keep our heart and motives clean before God. This allows us to walk in love towards these people. Think about it, as you pray for these people, forgive them, and walk in love towards them you could ultimately lead them to the knowledge and love of Jesus.
Keep in mind that all people are going through struggles, all people are growing and learning, and this is probably truer for young people than any other age group.
Let me leave this with you, as you know, we have three sons, two of my sons, both have had other young boys whom they did not get along with, while growing up. They just didn’t like each other. One son and another young man couldn’t even sit together in children’s church without getting into an altercation. The other son had one on one physical battles with another young boy every time our families were together. It didn’t seem to matter what, we as parents (on both sides) did, nothing seemed to help. So we all just decided to not have them together. If we were in children’s church or at an event they were kept separate. As they all grew and grew in understanding and applied the principles above, they became friends. Visiting each other’s homes, going camping, attending special events, graduations, each other’s sporting events, concerts and even studying the Bible together and asking each other to pray when life’s situations arise.
If you had told Dany and I that any of these boys would be friends today or even just able to sit next to each other without altercations, we probably would have rolled our eyes. But now they really truly are friends! And they all have turned into wonderful young men of God! But think, if they (any of the 4) had allowed bitterness to overtake their hearts, and hadn’t shown forgiveness and been able to just move on from that, they would all still be miserable, but instead they are all friends and are enjoying life! This is the miracle of God’s love. I promise you as you apply God’s Word in these areas, you will have taken a big step towards this being your best year of schooling yet. God is that good!
This week’s challenge is to find a scripture that you can apply this school year. Then I want you to post it where you can see it, not only before you leave for school, but also where you can see it throughout the day. Maybe in the notebook you use during the class you need it the most, or in your locker.
To be eligible for this month’s drawing you must send or bring me the verse you have chosen. This in addition to the next few weeks’ correct answers will allow you to be entered into the drawing for this month’s prize. The drawing will be held during the 4th Sunday morning Krave service. You must be in present to win.