Youth

 The Bible is !

Letting Go Of:

Breaking down and letting go of those things that have been built up in us that are only destroying our lives and the lives of those who are around us.

• Dealing With Pride

Thinking that we are better than others.

Pride - Now this is a big one to deal with.  In this life we all want to feel good about ourselves and we would like everyone to like us and to speak good about us,

 but unfortunately it doesn't always happen like we plan it.

So sometimes we get into error, by allowing jealousy, envy, and other things like this, to enter and fill our hearts until we begin to spill over with anger and begin to spew out words that cut down others, because it makes us feel better.

And as the scriptures says: out of that which you've allowed to fill your heart your mouth will speak

It's ok to smile and to feel good about ourselves, especially when we've done good and we know that our actions are pleasing to the Lord. But when we get to the point that we feel that we have to step on others in order to elevate ourselves, and when we feel that we have to look down on others  in order for others to look up to us, than we fall into sin and we've missed the royal law, which is "to love one another as you love yourselves".

The scriptures tells us to strive for unity. This is not always easy, because we live in a world with different people, with different personalities, from different cultures, and who have different beliefs. But with the Lord's help he will show you how to live at peace with all men, without giving into the temptation of following the disobedient life style that many have chosen to follow.

We don't have to revert to trying to exalt ourselves by looking down on others in order to make ourselves look or feel better, we don't even have to try to justify our ourselves in the sight of man, because the Lord has indicated that it is he who justifies his people through his powerful word which has cleansed us and has made us able to stand before his presence without spot or wrinkle. Jesus is our high priest who lives forever, speaking to the heavenly father on our behalf, for his glory.

23 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,  24  but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23,24)

• Dealing With Anger

Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry (James1:19-20).

God gives us this advise: "in your anger do not sin".   But unfortunately we can see in the scriptures what happens when we disobey God's counsel, we may find ourselves taking out our anger on those around us and hurting the very ones we love.

The Anger of Cain-who took his anger out on his brother Abel:

1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man."  2  Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  3  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.  4  But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,  5  but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  6  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  7  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."  8  Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.  9  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"  10  The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground (Genesis 4:1-10) .

The Bible instructs us: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom.12:21).

The Bible says: "do not to let your anger cause you to sin" and "...do not let the sun go down while you are still angry..." (Eph.4:26,27) When your anger causes you to lash out in outbursts of anger towards others, because it makes you feel good getting back or getting even, then it's wrong.  But, the Bible does indicate to be angry at the sin, but to love the person.

• Dealing With Sadness

The Joy that God gives, will  Strengthen you (Nehemiah 8:10).

He will fill your heart with joy and happiness.

Rejoice in the Lord always . I will say it again : rejoice! (Phil.4:4-9).

 The Word of God clearly shows us that when we place ourselves outside of the will of God, because of a foolish decision that we have made, we are not guaranteed true success. Everyone has his own definition of what true success really is. But without God's assistance we can only measure our success by our own standards and our own strength. We all have big goals in life that we want to accomplish, and God who created both you and I has given us a big imagination so that we can think big because we serve a big God, who thinks big, and has a big vision for his people. God can illuminate our vision beyond whatever you could ever think or imagine and he can give you true success.

I'm sure that we don't want to live our lives as we think is best and not even consider what God thinks about the decisions that we make on a daily bases, about the words that come out of our mouth, which have an affect on all those who we come in contact with, and about our actions, which are being viewed by people whom you don't even know. If we insist on going at it solo (living our lives without God's help),  Later on down the road we will only find ourselves saddened; feeling let down;  feeling guilt; and outside of the Lord's protection, because mankind in his self (apart from God) is weak. And though we would like to believe the best from our friends and love ones we have to remember that mankind in his weakness can let you down. But God (who created you) has promised to never let you down, if we allow his word to instruct us and to guide us through our decision making. The Lord tells us that "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord..." (Jeremiah 29: 13,14).

He will lead you to the path of life, and He will see that your plans succeed.

"  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.      "(Jeremiah 29: 11)

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalms 16:11).

• Dealing With Hurts-Unforgiveness

Letting Go of Hurts

Forgiving from the heart (Matthew 18:21-35, 35)

God takes our forgiving one another very seriously. God forgives us  as much as we are willing to forgive others (Matthew 6:14). Does that mean that our being forgiven by God is directly related to how much we are willing to forgive others?  Yes! (Matthew 6:14,15)

The bible also tells us to forgive and you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37).

For-giving requires giving: Giving someone a smile when in your heart you may not really want to. But this is a good start.

Speaking  (which also is a form of giving) a good word and even praying for the good of another person even when you a wrestling with wanting something bad to happen to the person who did you wrong:
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  3  The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good (Proverbs 15:1,3).   

It may even require giving a candy bar or inviting a person for a bowl of chili cheese fries:

 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.  22  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you  (Proverbs 25:21,22).

If we are obedient we will be greatly rewarded by God, yes, even in this present life. I speak from experiencing God's power and goodness in action. God is faithful.

• Dealing With Fear

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one  (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

"...be strong in the lord and in his mighty power. Put on the whole armor of God so that you can take your  stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:10,11).

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith, he will never let you down.

 Peter a disciple of Jesus began to sink in the water when he took his eyes off Jesus. When we have our eyes on the Lord and his word, he will be able to encourage us, and we will see success in our lives     (Matthew 14:22-31).

Matthew 14:22-31 
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.  23  After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,  24  but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  25  During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  26  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.  27  But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."  28  "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."  29  "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  30  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"  31  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"                       

• Dealing With Pressure

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)

 
"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." (Proverbs 15:30)

• Dealing With Stress

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do , and your plans will succeed" (Proverbs 16:3).

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,  2  for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.  3  Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  4  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.  5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  6  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight
(Proverbs 3:1-6).

Have the peace of God that will Guard and rule in your heart & mind in Christ Jesus:
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  7  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).