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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 at 6:00 am, people in my church came and prayed together in the sanctuary. When we walked in, I knew this wasn’t any type of youth group event, as I was easily the youngest in the room. I 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 was able to meet these people and realized that 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 with older and wiser people than me. The wisdom they give to me and the stories they tell are invaluable and have continually guided and encouraged me in my faith. It’s been something that’s worth waking up at 5:00 in the morning for!

Today, think about who you’re surrounding yourself with. Write their names down. Then, ask yourself, “Are any of these people helping me grow in my faith?” If the answer is “no,” pray that God would put someone in your life to help you grow in your faith.If the answer is “yes,” thank those people for being people who encourage you to grow!

Written by Jillian, age 17, from Ashburn, Virginia, USA