fruit bearing tree

Psalm 1:1-3

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

I find that every once in awhile I am trying to achieve things through my own power or someone else’s power but not through God’s power. Especially in situations with finances, women, and even ministry some times I try to do everything by myself. But do I think to pray to God to help? Honestly most of the time I don’t. In all situations if it is blessed by God then it will happen.

When I’m in a situation and I don’t know what to do I typically turn to my friends and family for advice, but sometimes that leads me down a sinful path that I wouldn’t have been on if I relied on God. How can he bless something that I don’t completely give up to him?

We as Christians need to be better than the majority, we need to set a good example for those that look to us as leaders. As humans we will make mistakes and we will slip up, but we are also leaders and we have people that look up to us and notice all those mistakes. Especially in youth ministry some of the kids really look up to us and will think that everything we do is ok because we are church leaders. The bible says that if you cause a youth to sin you should be thrown into the sea with a millstone around your neck.

I know that we can never be perfect, but we can make changes in our lives so that we don’t constantly make mistakes and cause others to stumble in turn. Especially purity for me has been a constant struggle. I cant tell someone not to look at a smokin’ hot girl if I am already looking. So I have taken precautions to help me to stay pure. I have deleted my Myspace because the ads were to “racy”, I only use my computer certain times during the day, and when I’m out I make it a point to not look at women like they are objects.

Unfortunately trying to live a life without sin is a never ending story, but if we give it to God and believe that he has our best interest at heart he will bless us and we will be like trees planted along the riverbank.

God, I pray today that I could continue to live my life whole heartedly for you and that I can really be an example to those around me so that they can do the same. I also pray that you bless the youth ministries and all the people that they are trying to reach. In Jesus name

Amen.