Minors With Major Impact - #Life Sample

Counter Culture

Be a thermostat and not a thermometer. A thermostat changes the temperature of the room, but a thermometer simply measures the temperature. I have been both in my teenage experience. I have stepped into the room, as a student, and whatever everybody is doing, I would do as well. The lifestyle of wanting to fit in. That is a thermometer. Sin kills you and destroys your life. Walk into a room and change it. If you cannot change the room, then flee. Get out of the situation. 

Do not be conformed to this age. Change your mind to the truths of God, and your actions will follow. Society is saying to live in the actions of sin, and then let’s change our minds about whether it is sin or not. But God wants you to live by truth. The truth will renew and transform your mind. The culture we are living in wants you to rethink and conform rather than transforming. J.B. Phillips says this about a widely known verse: “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” 

Be a Shadrach, a Meshach, an Abednego, a Daniel. Change what is happening around you because there is a challenge of culture and media all surrounding you. There is a challenge of performance and worth. You never have to worry if your mom or dad approve of you. They love you. They are more for you than anyone else. You are going from their approval not for their approval. Do not run out looking for approval from this culture. 

God could really use you if you would quit worrying about what everybody else thinks about you. My youth pastor once told me that and it hurt. Our personality is wired to want people to think well of us. But you know what? We have to walk for the approval of God. 

In your timeframe, it is difficult when you are the odd one. Everybody is doing something, and you are choosing to live a life that pleases God. Understand that it is a journey. Thirty years from now you are going to see that it was a good road to be on. 

Be a thermostat, not a thermometer. Allow God to do something great in your life. If you walk with purity of heart, you are going to walk in blessing. God will renew your mind. There are so many challenges coming at you. Live for the glory and greatness of God.