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Sacrifices vs. Peer Acceptance

Things are going better now than the first few days of school. Once and a while I slip but when I do I catch myself and repent. Tomorrow is “see you at the pole” and I’m really excited. It’s my first time ever doing it. I’ve got to get up super early so I’ll be at school for 7am. I really don’t want to get up that early but when you sacrifice things for God your sacrifices will come back to you in blessings. Many times when it comes to sacrifices for God or anything we don’t always want to do it, but God sees those sacrifices and he knows that even though many times you may not feel like it when you do, it shows obedience and for that God will bless you. You may think that sometimes when you pray that God doesn’t always hear you but he does and though he may not answer your prayers right away, when the time is right God will answer. The Lord has a plan for us all and we don’t know what it always is but when the time is right he’ll show us the path he has chosen for us. God gives us choices and true we don’t always make the right ones, but sometimes it takes making the wrong decisions to really help us open our eyes and show us where we really need to be. God isn’t forceful so at times he may send people to witness to you and open a door to your heart that before had a wall around it. That makes me think of the verse “Behold I stand at the door and knock, whoever lets me in, I will come in and fellowship with him.” We have a choice in our lives, which is the biggest one of all - that’s when God knocks at the door of your heart. Will you let him in or stay with the world? So today when God knocks don’t shut him out. Let him into your heart as your Lord and Savior and live for him. It’s not always easy when you give your life to God. People may ridicule you and try and break you down. That’s when you need to pray! Remember the verse, “If they hate you, know that they hated me first”. That always keeps me strong. I remember that God is always with me. And I won’t lie. Sometimes I go to bed in tears from being ridiculed. Sometimes by my own family but those are the times I really get focused on God and go to him in deep prayer. The life of a Christian can sometimes be very difficult. Some of my family isn’t saved so they don’t understand why I love God so much, but I keep praying that one day they will get saved also. Only God knows when. All I can do is pray and stay strong and obedient to God. -dk

Thought: Do you sometimes feel misunderstood by friends or family who are not saved? Do you wonder if God sees your sacrifices or hears your prayers? Please be assured that he does and he will answer right on time. He is concerned about everything in your life. He has a plan for you and he will be sure to make it happen. Others may let you down, but you can count on God always.