Young People,
I'm praying for you. I love you and know that you are going to do mighty things for the LORD. Your past is history. Your present circumstances are in his hands. He is for you, even though at times you can be your own worst enemy.
The thing that will set you a part is your ability to take ownership for the wrong you have done. This is key, Friend!
If you look in the WORD you will find a King named Saul, that was insecure and refused to take ownership for his disobedience. This man cared more about the opinions of others, than the WORD of GOD. This caused him to be rejected by the LORD, and replaced as KING. His heart was hardened, and the spirit of jealousy had its way.
Also, you will find a man named David, who was not the KING, but was anointed to take the place of the KING. He was accustomed to doing all the dirty work as a shepherd boy, and his gifts and talents were over looked. David also disobeyed GOD on more than one occasion, but he took responsibility for his mess. He took his punishment and did not try to cause harm to others because of his own pain.
(Scriptural References 1 Samuel 15-18 & 2 Samuel 11-12)
God works with those that take accountability, this is how we grow.
He will not resist you, because you're coming truthfully to the throne of Grace.
Thank the LORD, Saints, that he sees our hearts, and does not rely on what LOOKS good, but really isn't Good!
I can tell you that putting my heart before GOD has empowered me over the years to live above the influence. I do not sweat the small stuff, or the small people that hang around as spectators. In fact, I do what GOD has instructed me to do, which is be the EXAMPLE.
My Friend,
I want to give you a WORD that the LORD gave me as I was growing in his love.
1 Timothy 4
11.Command and teach these things. 12.Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13.Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14.Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.15.Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16.Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
This has proven to work well for me in my 14 years of serving the LORD. I grew to be steadfast in his love. I grew without the appreciation of others, because I was called to be an EXAMPLE. It took three years to breakout of all the templates that was in my life, but GLORY to GOD his will was done. The rest was preparation and training.
I am in no way telling you this is an easy task, but in order to grow in proportion to his will, and not crookedly, you have to take accountability, and responsibility for your life, both spiritually and naturally to grow in his love, and to mature in knowledge, application and demonstration.
You are unique to the BODY of Christ, and we need you to take your place. Press into in his LOVE, Stay in his WORD, stay connected to a community of Believers that LOVE with correction, and wish you well as GOD is calling you higher in him.
I'm excited for you and praying God's best in your LIFE!
Agape!