Start the Party - High SchoolSample

One day when I was in middle school, my youth leader invited me to a gathering in our church called “Tuesday Morning Prayer.” Each Tuesday, from 6-7 am, people in my church came and prayed together in the sanctuary. When we walked in, I knew this wasn’t a youth-group-related event as I was easily the youngest person in the room. It was definitely out of my comfort zone. In the prayer circle we formed a few minutes later, I was among pastors and church elders, people I had only ever seen from afar. However, this was an incredible opportunity for me. I met these people and soon realized I could learn a lot from them. Since that first morning, I have continued going to Tuesday Morning Prayer, not just to worship and pray but to be among older and wiser people than me. The wisdom they give me and the stories they tell are invaluable and have continually guided and encouraged me in my faith. Ultimately, it’s worth waking up at five in the morning.

Today, think about who you surround yourself with and get advice from, and write down their names. Ask yourself, “Are any of these people encouraging me or guiding my faith in God?” If the answer is “no,” pray that God will lead you to mentors and friends who will do this for you. Then, seek out someone you admire and consider asking them to speak into your life more. After all, we're not called to live life alone, and as Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."