I Can Be a Positive Influence Too

12–15 minutes

Center · Stillness

Settle in

Put the phone down. Take one slow breath, and say: “God, I am here. Speak, I am listening.”

Read · The passage

Scripture

Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12, BSB

Learn · Reflection

Reflection

Your words, your decisions, and your actions can deeply influence the people around you. You don't have to be an adult or famous to make a difference. God can use your life to bring hope, encouragement, and good changes to people through small gestures of love, responsibility, and kindness.

Boyan Slat was still very young when he began to worry about the pollution in the oceans. While many people believed he was too young to make any difference, he decided to develop ideas that could help take care of the planet.

In time, his projects inspired people in different parts of the world to protect the environment, and showed that young people can bring about positive change too.

Sometimes we think that only adults, famous people, or those in important positions can influence others. But God can also use the life, the words, and the actions of young people to bring good to everyone around them.

Your choices, the way you speak, and the way you treat people have far more influence than you imagine.

You can be someone who encourages, helps, inspires, and brings hope to people's hearts. You are never too young to make a difference. God can use your life to light up the lives of others.

Talk · Conversation

Talk about it

What problem around you bothers you, the way ocean pollution bothered Boyan, and what could you start doing about it?

Thank · Gratitude

Give thanks

Today I thank God that he isn't waiting for me to grow up before he uses me.

Ask · Prayer

Pray together

Lord, thank you for believing in me even though I'm young. Make the way I speak and treat people a good example today.

Begin · Application

Carry it into the day

Encourage someone who has been feeling down today, and say out loud one thing you admire about them.

Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible. Public domain (CC0)