The Bible offers advice to teens on topics such as honoring parents, avoiding youthful passions, and living a life of faith and Love.
The following are the top 25 tips to our younger self.
– Don’t let fear hold you back.
– Talk less, listen more.
– Don’t take yourself too seriously.
– Live each day as if it was your last. Put Jesus first in everything.
– You will survive.
– Never lose your imagination.
– Say your prayers every night.
– Brace yourself! You’re in for one wild ride!
– Enjoy the season you’re in.
– Study more.
– You’re an idiot!
– Be bold.
-‘Be who you are in Christ (I’d scream this!)
– Be kind.
– Follow my dreams, not other people.
– Be you with confidence.
– Dreams bigger!
– Start writing younger.
– Exercise and eat right.
– Hold on to Jesus and never give up (I still hold tightly to Jesus – The Center of my life!)
– Buy IBM stock
– Don’t doubt your dreams.
– Always be kind.
– Put Jesus FIRST!
– Read, practice, and live The Word of God. Be like Jesus!
- Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”.
- 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in Love, in faith, in purity”.
- 2 Timothy 2:22-26 “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, Love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart”.
Honoring parents
- Honor your parents as a sign of maturity and pleasing to the Lord
- Don’t treat your parents with contempt or belittle them
Avoiding youthful passions
- Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace
- Set believers an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity
Living a life of faith and love
- Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace
- Call on the Lord from a pure heart
Other advice
- Live each day as if it were your last
- Don’t let fear hold you back
- Talk less, listen more
- Don’t take yourself too seriously
- Never lose your imagination
- Say your prayers every night
- Take time for yourself
- Don’t compare yourself to others
- Treat others as you want to be treated
- Be yourself and follow your passions
Reflecting on my journey, it made me wonder, what advice would you give your younger self? What would you say to that woman in the midst of life’s chaos and challenges?
I believe many of us would offer words of comfort, wisdom, and faith. Perhaps we’d say:
- Trust in God’s plan; He has a purpose for every trial.
- Don’t be so hard on yourself; you’re doing better than you think.
- Seek support from your sisters in Christ; you don’t have to carry the burden alone.
- Embrace each moment and find joy in the journey.
Though we can’t change the past, we can certainly learn from it and extend the same grace and encouragement to our younger selves as we would to our sisters today.
As we navigate the complexities of life, let’s also remember to be kind and compassionate to ourselves. God’s grace is sufficient for all our weaknesses and inadequacies. And with His guidance, we can look back on our younger selves and say, “We made it, and we’re stronger because of it.”