GALATIANS 2:20
I think the first day that I realized the difference between living for myself and living for God was the day my youth group did community outreach. We went to churches all around the island and danced, performed skits, and talked about why we believed in God and how we each had gotten to know Him. Everywhere we went, we hoped that we would impact at least one person, but by the end we had seen so many lives change than we could have hoped for. Many of our new friends got excited about following God and living for Him, and it was an awesome thing to see. Before, I thought I was fine sort of going through life and not giving all of me to God. But when I saw Jesus working in people’s lives for the first time, the idea that God only wanted part of me popped like a bubble and disappeared. For so long it was easy for me to make excuses to avoid doing what was right. But suddenly, I got tired of my many excuses. I have been finding out that change is not easy, but when I chose to let God really be my God, He made me alive for the first time. I made the choice to follow hard after God, and I hope that you do the same. It’s just not worth it to live for ourselves.
Victoria T. Kaopua, 15, Kealakehe High School, Kailua-Kona, HI
When I tell someone about You, Father,
I feel so happy. I know I am doing Your work,
and I want to keep doing it!