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“Pushy Peers!!”

What is the age limit for peer pressure?

Peer pressure touches all of us no matter how old we are.  If someone wants to say that they are older and have gotten over that problem they probably are blind to it.  Subconsciously we can respond to the pressure of others and then afterward realize what we did or we may even catch ourselves right in the middle of it.  No matter what your age I challenge you to take another look at peer pressure.

Driving

This really hit home a few days ago when I was driving.  On my way to work there was this truck that started following me not long after I had left home.  I live in the country so there were a couple of roads that we were on before hitting the main highway.  This truck was not allowing me my space, he/she was following me really close.  I think that you can all relate to that.  It is very nerve racking to have someone right on your tail.

After about 3 miles we entered the highway.  I got up to speed (55) and this person was still right behind me riding my tail.  On my way to work, I often sing so I was singing and I thought I was ignoring the truck.  I always check my speedometer now and then when I don’t have it on cruise control to make sure I am still on track.  When I looked down I was amazed to find that I was up to 65 and he/she was still riding my tail.  At that point, I slowed and put my cruise on.  What amazes me the most is how the peer pressure was affecting me even though I didn’t even realize it.

As I slowed and put my cruise on I noticed that there was another truck behind the one following me.  He/she in that truck was also in a hurry and passed me first and then the one behind me passed.  After they passed they were going so fast that the distance between us was quite a distance in seconds.  It is true that they didn’t make it far before there were more people going the speed limit.  I am old enough to be a grandma now but I have never been pulled over and I don’t plan on starting now.  But here’s the question, is that a good reason to go the speed limit?

Following the crowd

What came to my mind is how easy it is to follow the crowd; the truck behind me without even realizing it was pushing me.  He/she was so close that it made me automatically speed up without any thought.

It made me think about how it is as a Christian.  We are in a group at work, school, or even church and they may be doing something we know is displeasing to God but we don’t want to be different.  Sometimes we just don’t even think about it.  The next thing we know we are involved with some gossip, bad mouthing someone, or just listening in to an ungodly conversation.

When we start to feel the pressure we feel uneasy and we don’t like that uneasy feeling.  We are afraid about what others are going to think.  But we suddenly forget about what God thinks.  The question is why does it matter so much what others think?

Sin

My son is away at school and he called me the other day and asked, “What is sin?”  I replied, “Separation from God.”  He said, “It is the absence of Love.”  I agreed.  This is so true.  Who do we love?  Do we even have true love?

Without love, it is impossible to please God.  I was thinking after those trucks passed me how many try to avoid the law.  We can be Christians that believe that we are following God.  I mean we go to church, don’t kill, steal, etc.  But are we Christians.  I know people who claim to be Christians that have Fuzz Busters so that they can speed and not get a ticket.  There are many examples that could be cited here but this is just one.  Are we truly a Christian if we try to avoid the laws of the land?  And when we avoid the laws of the land does that affect our relationship with God?

I believe that as a Christian we need to obey the laws of the land or any law that we may be under, at our school, work etc.  “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,” Titus 3:1-4.

Some people may be asking how can that be, we can’t obey every law because it may be going against God.  And yes that is true.  We need to obey every law unless it goes against the laws of God.  “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” Acts 5:29-32.

A lot of times we make excuses for not obeying laws that do not seem to go specifically against God’s law.  But the reality is if we disobey authority over us, whoever they may be, and what they are asking us to do does not go against God’s Law we are disobeying God.  We are not being a Godly witness.

Love

The thing that is amazing is it still goes back to love.  Our human love is full of frailties.  But God’s love is not and He will give us His love as we surrender our lives to Him.  No matter what choices we make, even if it seems that we are doing some wrong to others, we are really doing wrong to God.  It reminds me of Joseph in Genesis 39:7-9, “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”  Every sin that we commit no matter who it is against is actually a sin against God.

Everything that we do goes back to whether we love.  And it is whether or not we love God supremely.  If we love God supremely we will love others.  If we try to love others without supreme love for God it is a selfish love.  We can only love selfishly.  But thank the Lord He will give us His love.

Here is a quote from one of my favorite authors.  It really sums it up perfectly.  “All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us” {DA 668.3}. The bottom line, fall in love with Jesus.

The question is how?  Spend time to get to know Him.  Read about what He has done for you.  And then ask Him for that love.  And if we give all to Him He will make it happen.  Prayer is such a key, I am realizing this more and more.  And it is not just talking but also listening.  “Lord, what wilt thou have me do today?  Who can I serve today?”  We need to get our minds off of self.  If we can reach out to others it will change our perspective.  We may think life is tough but when we ask God for someone we can help or serve He will bring us to people and we will realize how great we really have it.  When we focus on self, our failures, people who have done us wrong, or anything that is of self, we become discouraged and depressed.  We need to keep our eyes on the One that loves us with so much love that He gave up His life so that we can live eternally with Him.  Now that is love.  That is the kind of love that He can give us.

Dear Father,

I want this love.  I want to surrender daily my life to You and be of service to others.  Give me Your love because my love is so full of self.  Show me today who I can serve and share Your love with.  Thank You for Your love and what You have done for me.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Surrender all to Him today, asking Him for His love.

Love you all!

Do you have a story about peer pressure?  A story where you stood your ground and did not give in to peer pressure or a story where you gave in to peer pressure and the results of it?  Share below I would love to hear your stories.

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“Repent??!!”

Repent

Repenting can be a very hard thing; I think we can all attest to that.  But why is it so hard?  I would suggest that it is because pride is in the way.  In order to repent, we have to humble ourselves.

Relief

I can attest to the fact that when a person finally humbles him or herself and repents it brings such a relief to the soul.  I remember as a young adult going against my parents.  They had said no and I ignored that no and did what I wanted anyway.  For years I always defended my position and felt my parents were wrong, even though the choices I made were making my life miserable.  I did not want to admit that my parents were right and I was wrong.  My parents never brought up the fact that I had gone against their wishes they just loved me and tried to help me in any way they could.

Years later

Several years went by.  I had gone to some workshop and what I heard really hit home.  The realization came to me that even though I could not change the choices I had made I could humble myself and repent.  I went to my parents and asked them to forgive me for my disobedience.  Of course, they forgave me, they already had.  It was me that had a wall between us that made me feel uncomfortable.  Even though my circumstances did not change there was a relief that came to my life.  Remember repenting is not for the other person it is for us.  When we hold something inside it does not affect the other person it only affects us.  I also made things right with God as well, what a blessing.

Our day begins in the evening

I believe that is why God made our day to start in the evening.  We always think of it as the end of the day but it is really the beginning.  If we do not make the right moves in the evening it affects our sleep and the next day.

Before going to sleep at night going through your day and evaluating how your day went, what you learned, maybe how you could have done things better and setting goals for the following day is a good thing to do.

The most important thing is to go to the Lord in prayer and repentance for anything that you have done during the day that has been displeasing to Him.  If you have a forgetful mind like I do I need a little help and God can help us remember.

Psalms 139: 23, 24

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

God knows everything about us.  Our “heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

As your allowing God to search your heart He will show you those that you need to go to and ask forgiveness.  As far as possible it is good to do it before you go to bed, which if it is a family member you can.  But if it is someone not in your home you may need to wait until the next day but make sure to make things right as soon as possible.  It is so relieving in the evening to make things right as far as possible and it starts your day right at night.

What does true repentance look like

You can go through the motions of asking someone or God for forgiveness but how can you know if it is genuine or you are just going through the motions.  The motive is very important.  I know that the Lord can help you see your motive.  There are a couple of stories in the Bible that make me think about the difference.  One is the story of Esau and the other is David.

Esau

Esau came from the field after a big hunt and he was hungry.  He felt he could not make it home and live.  His brother was cooking some food and he begs him for some.  His brother wanted the birthright that Esau had as the first-born so he said, “sell me your birthright and I will give you some food”.  So Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of food.  Later Esau repented but for what reason.  Was it because he was really sorry he had sold the birthright or was it because he realized the consequences?  The latter was really the case for Esau.  He could care less that he disobeyed he was just sorry for the consequences.  Esau did not have true repentance.

Hebrews 12: 15-17

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for on morsel of meat sold his birthright.  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was reject: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”

True repentance means change, not just words.  Esau was not living the life that he was supposed to live in order to receive the birthright.  And when he realized that he was not getting it he “repented” but it was for the wrong reason and was not true repentance.  He wanted to blessing without having to do the responsibilities that went along with it.

David

David is the second one I want to look at.  When you read the story in 2 Samuel 11:1-27 it is mind-blowing.  Here he committed adultery with the wife of one of his soldiers and when he found out she was pregnant, he eventually put him on the front lines so he was killed.  So he committed both adultery and murder.  This seems way worse than selling your birthright.

God sees things way different what we do.  To God sin is a sin.  There is no category.  Sin separates us from Him no matter what the size.  Sin also separates us from others.  True repentance brings down the barriers and is so freeing.

David had true repentance but he still suffered some consequences.  True repentance does not always take away the result of our sin.  David’s true repentance is found in Psalms 51.  Read it and make it a part of your life.  The first verse really tells us what kind of God we serve.  “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”  God says in Acts 13:22, “….I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill My will.”  David wasn’t perfect but he was humbled when God showed him his error.  He was truly repentant and that is what makes the difference with God.

Dear Father,

I want to have a repentant heart.  I know that even repentance is a gift from You.  Convict my heart of sin and give me a repentant heart.  Thank You for Your forgiveness and love.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Remember no matter how much wrong you have done God loves you and is just waiting for you to come to Him.  He is full of love and forgiveness.  Ask Him to forgive you and surrender your whole life to Him today.

Love you all.

Do you have a testimony of God’s forgiveness?  I would love to hear it.  Share below.