Daily Devotional: 5/26/2018 - 30 TURNING 18

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16

It is obvious that everyday we die a little (morbid, right? Sorry, but it is true). Just because this is true you do not have to lose hope, you can always look at it glass half full. Growing up sucks, there are bullies, you get more rules, there are more expectations, and math seems to get harder. As a kid everything went, it was the life. Life was freeing, there was a naptime, we got recess, there was no car payments, there was only one way to solve 2+2, Pokémon Cards were used as currency, and the opposite gender had coodies. Then it hits you out of no where, life changes on a dime; textbooks go from ten pages to 4,000 and your backpack goes from weighing 10 ounces to as much as you. However, with every bad there is a "equal and opposite" good to balance it out, simple math. Growing up and aging has its perks. When you turn 16, you get to drive and finally get to get a job. When you turn 18, you are now legal and about to graduate high school. When you turn 21, you are now legal to drink and your are almost done with college. While you are growing up you get more rules, but less restrictions. There are more expectations, but less fear. Age brings wisdom and righteousness. Proverbs 16:31 says, "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 20:29 says, "The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old."  Grey hair shows wisdom, so do not be discouraged, use it as your right of passage. As you age you fail and fall, it is natural and going to happen, but you learn from these mistakes. You learn something new everyday, there is always something for us to learn and grow from. In some cultures the old are the head of the tribes, it is because they have seen the most and most situations that the community is going to face the elder has already seen or dealt with it in the past. Have ever realize that your parents are usually a while step ahead of you, and their parents a whole step ahead of them? It is because they have been through life already, they have already learned from the mistakes you are making now. Believe it or not, they tried the same things you are trying. They have already thought and done all you are doing. Even though you are growing old on the outside, you are getting younger on the inside. This is all thanks to Jesus. Jesus makes us new everyday. Jesus died for our sins and in order for us to be forgiven. We get a second chance every time we open our eyes in the morning. Jesus died in order for our past to be our past and our future to be our future. He died in order for our future to be bright (full of his Light) and to have an eternal life in heaven. Age is only a number, we are renewed daily with the love of Jesus. His love gives us the energy of a kid, the joy of a little boy getting a new toy car. Our soul is younger than our body. When we get baptized we are killing our old self. We are gaining a newer and younger soul. We have to have an old mind, but a young soul. We have to be filled with wisdom and joy.

Lord, thank you for all you do, you truly are an amazing God. Our thanks is not enough. Your wisdom, your righteousness, your love, your grace, and your mercy is greater than anything. You are the best thing in this world. We are never done getting better and learning new things, you are never done molding us. I pray you continue to constantly mold us to be the people you want us to be. Help us to be the best we can be for you. Mold us like clay, we are made in your beautiful image. I pray all this in your son's name, Amen.

#LetsBeAMovement