I don’t think it’s healthy to live in the past.
Rather than walking through life burdened by regret, choose to turn your “today” around for good.
But our past mistakes aren’t an accident. Everything can be used to teach and bless others.
Though I’m not old by any means, if I could offer advice to my younger self, this would be it. And this is the advice I would give young people who have their entire lives ahead of them.
1. Don’t Ignore the Practical
Obeying the will of God is the greatest aim of your life, but “waiting on God” as an excuse for not making decisions is stupid. Instead of waiting for doors to open, I wish I would have busted more doors open, failed, and learned quicker.
2. Study Entrepreneurship
Too many people are stuck trying to find a “job”. You have potential to make more money and have a more open lifestyle by starting your own business.
Even if you are called into full time ministry, being an entrepreneur and learning how to generate income is a valuable asset to what you do.
3. Love the Local Church
I used to think it wasn’t all that. Love it. Serve it. Be connected.
4. Don’t Glorify Big Stages
God is using you in little ways that are massive in heaven. If you magnify the stage, you’re not as effective as you could be in the little things. An arena of adoring fans means nothing in the courts of Heaven when you stand to give an account with your life.
At that moment, it will be more about what person you discipled.
5. Take Risks
Most of my young life was about playing it safe and following the rules. If I could do it over again, I would have taken bigger risks for the cause of God on the earth.
6. Lower Your Expectations
Going through life with expectations of how things should be is only frustrating. I’d rather accept people, circumstances, and life as it is rather than longing for it to fit within my idealistic box.
7. Make Jesus Your Day’s Highest Priority
Life only gets busier. Responsibilities pile up. Anything and everything will seek to crowd out the presence of God from your life. Though oftentimes it feels unproductive, spending time with Jesus is the most productive activity of your day. Guard it.
Your turn.
If you could offer advice to your younger self, what would you say? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
One advice I would give to my younger one, it’s don’t rush things be patient. Even though I am still young and trying to learn how to be patient.
Good point, Conny. I think I’m almost the opposite. I can be too patient and delay making any decisions. I’m a chronic procrastinator 😉
I believe it’s too easy to get stuck in our cultural ways and forget there is a whole world of people who God made that live differently. I often evaluate, “Does my life HAVE to “look” like this?” How am I parenting? How will our kids be schooled? What are my habits? How do I relate to other people? If you are able to have more cultural experiences, it completely changes your worldview, and allows you to think outside of “your world”. I often think of my experiences in missions throughout the world throughout the week, and it truly changes my attitudes and habits and gratefulness.
That’s awesome, Anneke. That’s really challenging to me. It’s so healthy to expand our vision beyond our small little world.
don’t stress about “the girl”…don’t stress at all about boyfried or girlfriends…
that has it’s time…
pour yourself in HIM!!!
seek firt the kingdom and it’s rightousness…and everything else will fall into place…
oh, so good. For a second there I thought you seek “seek flirt the kingdom” 🙂
Be humble and teachable, I was pretty arrogant as a teen. And don’t quit piano lessons (another big mistake).
Fantastic. I can attest to the ‘not quitting piano lessons’ adage. It works if you pour your heart into it.
Amen
1. Believe my value is not found in my looks
2. Learn to be other-focused. Learn the value of serving.
3. Not care so much about what others think of me.
4. Quit trying to be someone I’m not and be who I am (the only real me)
Thanks,
Leigh