We're often graduating

A friend posted earlier about words of wisdom for new graduates... I wrote down several things that came to my mind... They apply to any stage of life and growth but are truths I wish I'd learned earlier for sure! Every facet of life includes maturing & "graduating" from one step of our journey to another... my advice to you when in that transition time is this: It's okay to be different and to celebrate your unique gifts, talents, style, personality, etc., just remember not to be quick to judge those that are a different kind of "different" than you. Don't fall into comparison traps. God gave you unique talents and abilities to fulfill His purpose. Give Him the glory when you become successful in those. Learn young that wisdom is a gift worth asking for and true wisdom comes from The Lord alone. Practice listening more and talking less. Choose every day to journal and write down things you are thankful for... Then be content with those things. Live. Debt. Free. Most of life's biggest joys, delights, and triumphs come only after the deepest tragedies, losses, and difficulties. God is more concerned with your character than your comfort. Read your bible, study how to rightly apply it to your life, and pray every day for discernment and deeper faith. God's word truly has every answer needed for every problem you will ever face! You will always make decisions based on what you believe. Make sure your beliefs always line up with the truth of God's word. Laugh. Every. Day.... Laugh even more on the hard days. (YouTube has available anytime Chonda Pierce and Tim Hawkins videos) :) Leave a legacy of love, grace, mercy, and following God's unique plan for you. It's okay to seek wise counsel but ultimately you'll be at your best only when following God's will, not man's. Remember your first mission field will always be the family God places you in... Love them well, pray for them, be first to forgive and seek forgiveness, and trust God to give you His daily sufficient grace to accomplish that. Learn to live in community and fellowship with other believers... They will be used by God to strengthen, encourage, admonish, and walk through life's fires with you. Guard your heart. Walk humbly. Pursue holiness not happiness. Seeking Purity of heart, mind, body & soul is worth it. There are only three enemies you will face: (1) Society -- which is self-centered and has a culture that has forgotten God -- don't get sucked into the lie that success comes from fame, fortune, and fast-living. (2) Satan, the enemy of your soul who seeks to devour, kill, steal and destroy -- don't forget he is the accuser and if he can't keep you in bondage to idols, distractions, and neglecting prayer and bible study, then he will discourage you and try to keep you feeling defeated. (3) Self (your own sinful heart) -- we have desperately wicked hearts and must seek Christ's righteousness first to overcome. Only Jesus can give us a new heart and motives, thoughts, words and deeds that honor Him. Look for ways to serve every person you come into contact with in some way. Leave people better than you found them, whether it's a 5 second encounter or a long-time friendship or anything in between. Everyone sins, everyone makes mistakes, everyone has past regrets, and that's ok. It's not ok to let those things define you, damage you, or develop bitterness within you. Preach the gospel to yourself each day and the sins of others won't bother you nearly as much as your own. Be thankful for God's extravagant, undeserved, unmerited grace! Keep short books with God. Repent daily. The ground is level at the cross. We were ALL born sinners, we ALL fall short, and we ALL need Jesus! You'll never find completeness in people, places, pleasures, or possessions. True completeness only comes through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ! Most importantly, nothing in this life matters unless you're prepared for eternity!

#Growth #Graduate #Learning #Lifeadvice