9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Sometimes we need to know the right thing to do, but I think more often we know what is right to do, but we choose not to do it. We face a constant struggle, and there are influences that will get us off course, distractions that can shift our focus from the things of God to the whims of the world. So, to be grounded in God's Word is essential. Careful study and meditation in the Word of God - making His Word a priority - can help us find that strong foundation that equips us to not only face life but to, as Romans 5 says, reign in life, rather than allow life to rein us in. We can be challenged to walk as an overcomer, more than a conqueror, someone who follows God's path and walks boldly through life, trusting in the Lord.
In Jeremiah 29, we see a passage of Scripture that can be used not only in praying for our children, but it can be a watchword and source of encouragement for young people who are facing the future:
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
An era ended last night. I know am the proud father of a high school graduate. Our daughter, AnnaBeth - yes, that little baby girl who so many in our Faith Radio audience had prayed for, even before she was born, has grown into a beautiful, vibrant young woman, and her mom and I couldn't be prouder. With tearful beaming, we watched and rejoiced as she walked across the stage last night and became a graduate of LAMP High School.
Now, she enters this new chapter of life, with all the anticipation of going to college - 4 hours away - seeking to follow her dreams. It is our prayer as parents that she will follow God's call and fulfill His purpose for her. I believe that He has opened incredible doors for her already in her life, and has confirmed in so many ways over the past few months that indeed His plan includes attending Berry College in Rome, Georgia. I believe He has some wonderful things in store for her...
...as well as those members of the Class of 2013 who will follow His path for their lives. Over the past 2 or 3 days, she's had the opportunity to hear plenty of advice - great wisdom for church staff members, fellow students, and school officials. Now, it's time to soar.
And, the advice has been inspiring, no doubt - I think you could summarize the advice given as:
I think you could summarize it as: follow Christ. If He's Lord of a young person's life, then he or she can be challenged to follow the things of God and desire to be a light on a college campus and beyond.
God has been placed here for a purpose; recognize that life is bigger than just yourself.
You know the difference between right and wrong, so choose wisely.
Allow God to use your life so that at the end of your life, what you have done will exceed the days of your life here on earth.
Pursue what lasts.
Seek out the Christians on your college campus - don't wait for them to come to you.
Do what you're passionate about - perhaps what you enjoy the most is the career path God is calling you to.
And a few other quotes:
Theodore Hesburgh: "The
very essence of leadership is [that] you have a vision. It's got to be a
vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You
can't blow an uncertain trumpet."
Daniel Webster: "“If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work upon brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and instill into them just principles, we are then engraving that upon tablets which no time will efface, but will brighten and brighten to all eternity.”
Billy Graham: “People are the stocks into which we are to invest our time … the best of all investments you can make is to help people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. You can make a commitment right here and now … I’m asking you today not to graduate but commence a new life for God every step of the way.”
Martin Luther King: “Education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. … We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”
Jonathan Falwell: “When one considers our nation’s educational foundations — Harvard, Yale, Princeton and most of our respected institutions were originally Christian — it becomes evident why we, as Christians, maintain a passion about remaining true to the foundations of Scripture.”
(Thanks to www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com)
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