Youthful mistakes

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

This is what I have been praying for recently. Satan comes at us when we are out weakest mentally and physically; he loves to strike when we are down. If we are burning the candle at both ends, carrying mental strains that turn into long hours with little rest, our bodies and minds become weak. You can inject your battle of “youthful lusts” of any sorts out there. Something you desire that wisdom has taken a back seat to. As we get older in life we should move from making some poor decisions as a result of learning from those decisions as we have grown up. I even look back at much of my life when I was old enough to know better, but still to young to care.

Paul’s letter to Timothy is his dying words, his last words to Timothy before he is put to death. This epistle is very poignant; Paul addresses his protégé’ very directly on many things he will battle as he progresses in the ministry that God has laid out for him. Paul uses the words “I charge you therefore before God,” in this epistle; strong convicting words to hear for Timothy. I truly believe we are living in the times of what Paul describes to Timothy; 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The only way to flee the youthful lusts of any kind is to guard your mind and heart by spending daily time with God in prayer and his Word. The battle is directly related to the time invested there. That is where your strength is found, spiritual nourishment to fight a spiritual battle. Only the gospel outweighs my hearts desire to encourage you to spend daily time with God. Our world is turning it’s back on God, and just as Timothy we must pursue righteousness and live from a pure heart for God, sharing the gospel to a dying world. 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. Spend some time with God today and let him give you the strength to grow up in your faith.