A More Excellent Way: A Spiritual Growth Journal for Young People

By Marina Abraham

God is inviting you to live a fantastic life!

But do you wonder where to start?

Many young people aspire to be closer to God, but their spiritual growth is hindered by setbacks, peer pressure and a lack of guidance.

A More Excellent Way is here to help you, full of practical ways to develop a Christian attitude and lifestyle. Discover who you are in Jesus, grow in prayer and learn how to follow His way of love. By filling in the journal pages, you will see the daily progress you are making towards reaching your amazing potential.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: May 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546289951

Marina Abraham

Marina Abraham is a lawyer, youth pastor, mentor and Christian author. She has worked with young people for over twenty years and is passionate about helping them to achieve their dreams and live life to the full.

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© 2018 Marina Abraham. All rights reserved.

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Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Scripture quotation marked (ESV) are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Published by AuthorHouse   05/01/2018

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Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

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The Common English Bible Study Bible. Nashville: The Common English Bible, 2011.

The ERV uses the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (1984) as its Old Testament text with some readings from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Also, it follows the Septuagint when its readings are considered more accurate. For the New Testament, the ERV uses the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament (4th revised edition, 1993) and Nestle-Aland Novum Testament Graece (27th edition, 1993).Copyright © 2006 by Bible League international.

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Dedication

To God my creator, thank you for your unfailing love for me, for choosing me as a vessel worthy of your use. I return the glory for this work to you my Father.

To my husband, Samuel Abraham, thank you for all you do for our family.

And to all the young people throughout the world for whom I write this book, that you may come to know and imitate Jesus Christ in all you do.

Contents

Chapter 1   Introduction: Your Spiritual Journey

Chapter 2   Setting Spiritual Goals

Chapter 3   Winning Habits

Chapter 4   The Way of Love

About the Author

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION: YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

I will show you a more excellent way

As a teenager, I went to church every Sunday. I enjoyed going to church because it was a day we got to wear our best clothes. But I hardly understood what Christianity was all about. I heard about Jesus dying for us, but that didn’t really sink in (my friends didn’t want to get into trouble for someone else, let alone die for them).

Only at university did I start to have a clearer understanding of what Jesus had done. By that age, I had to start unlearning some habits and attitudes which did not reflect my life as a Christian. I realised I needed to be a representative of Christ in all areas of life, but this was a real struggle because I didn’t know how to go about it.

There is no amount of work we can do that will buy us salvation or make us worthy before God (Ephesians 2:8). However, God wants us to be like Him. He wants the price paid by Jesus to be appreciated by us and shown in our lifestyle and attitude.

Achieving this can be difficult, perhaps especially for children and young people, because of the particular challenges they face. Some young people do not have the spiritual guidance they require to grow, while others succumb to peer pressure and leave the path they have been taught to walk while growing up.

This book can help you. It sets out a practical way to develop a more Christian attitude and lifestyle. You will begin to appreciate who you are in Christ, grow in joy and peace, and start to realise your amazing potential.

At the beginning of the year, many people set goals for their lives; these may be around their studies, career, sport, health, family or relationships… the list goes on. People rarely set goals for their spiritual lives, and because many adults fail in this area, they feel incapable of guiding their children in spiritual growth.

You may be successful in other areas of your life, but without being spiritually successful, you won’t find total fulfilment and satisfaction. Having a genuine spiritual life is key to success because it is a sign that you know who and Whose you are. Young people in particular are precious to God (Matthew 19:14). He wants to relate with you, and He wants you to relate with Him too. His greatest desire is that everyone will discover their identity, and recognise Him as their Father.

The apostle Paul studied Jesus’ life and saw in it a more excellent way to live, hence he followed that way and urged us to do so as well (1 Corinthians 11:1). I believe using this journal will make following the way easier for you. By working with this book on a daily basis, you will develop the habits that will help you to imitate Jesus. Practice makes perfect, so they say. The more you practise these habits, the more Christ-like you will become.

For Christians, Jesus’ life is a lamp by which we must see and walk. Becoming like Him does not happen overnight (and sometimes it can feel like a tough journey), but by cultivating the right attitudes and habits from an early age, a Christ-like life is attainable.

While using this journal, you will find references to verses from the Bible. Perhaps you are not familiar with the Bible. It is a book read and treasured by Christians (followers of Jesus Christ). We believe it is the word of God Himself, His message to mankind. It teaches us how to live a life of obedience to God and to love and care for others.

Knowing Jesus

Before delving into the journal, you may want to consider your faith. Are you a Christian?

For those who do not know Jesus, Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God. He became a man and died for our sins, to heal our relationship with God. That is why we call Him saviour, redeemer and friend. I believe that we all need Jesus; without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

If you would like to establish a relationship with Jesus before beginning this life-transforming journey, just say the prayer below:

Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner; please forgive me of my sins,

and help me to live like you do. Amen!

If you say this short prayer, you have become a member of Jesus’ family and all your sins are forgiven. Congratulations and welcome into the family of Jesus! After taking this step, be sure to visit a church near you where you can become a member of the family of God and be helped to know Jesus better.

In the next few chapters of this book, we shall be looking at:

• goals and why we need them for this spiritual journey

• winning habits - what they are and how they can bring us success

• the way of love –vital to further the work of the kingdom as Jesus did

• how to make the most of your daily journal.

Let’s begin!

Chapter 2

SETTING SPIRITUAL GOALS

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible. - Tony Robbins

Having spiritual goals is every bit as important and effective as setting day-to-day goals in any other area of your life. As someone who wants to excel in their Christian life, you will need spiritual goals to grow. Before we look at spiritual goals, it’s worthwhile thinking about goals in general and why we need them.

Goals and why you need them

Do you remember in chapter one, I mentioned how I never knew the purpose of being a Christian until I was at university? Even after understanding that Jesus died to save me and that I had to live an exemplary Christian life, I just took each day as it came. Although I had a goal to become a better Christian, there were no plans in place for me to grow; I just wandered through life. Like my old self, many people simply wander through life, taking things as they come. They have no goal or plan, their attitude is simply, What will be, will be.

Now consider the world of business. Most companies become successful as a result of understanding and following the principles of goal-setting. Some schools achieve outstanding GCSE and A level results because they have set goals and targets for their students to work towards. Many churches have a spiritual goal for the year so as to help their members grow.

Most successful people are successful because they understand and practise the principles of goal-setting. Why not you too?

My intention in writing this chapter is to help you realise that you can set goals in any and every area of life in order to attain the success you dream of. After reading this book, you may want to begin setting spiritual goals to attain your spiritual growth and walk in a more excellent way.

What is a goal? A goal is something you aim to achieve in the future. Be it spiritual or in other areas of your life, to achieve a goal, you must have a plan and deadline in place. People who set goals are like people who know the formula to a mathematical problem. Not only do they want to reach the answer, they know how to reach it!

Goals don’t mind who they belong to, and they’re unique to everyone. Anyone who has a realistic goal and lays out the right plan of action has a much better chance of realising their dreams. Sounds straightforward, doesn’t it? So why do so few people have goals and a plan to achieve them? Let’s look at three very common obstacles.

Obstacle 1: Negative mind-set

Many people, young and old, are hampered by a negative mind-set, a state of mind formed by bad assumptions about themselves. Perhaps others have led them to believe they are born failures and that they won’t succeed.

I have heard a lot of young people say, I will never amount to anything good. They don’t want to set goals because they are afraid of failing, so it’s safer not to aim for anything at all. Even some Christians feel unworthy to be called Christians, because they think they have committed grievous sins and cannot be forgiven. Some feel they are not worth loving, while others - especially teenagers - don’t want their friends to know that they are Christians.

Don’t let poor self-doubt and fear hold you back. Believe in yourself, even if others have tried to put you down. We all behave according to the kind of mental picture we have of ourselves, so you need to believe that you are worthy and capable of success, and are loved by Jesus as you are (1 John 3:16). Always remember the truth expressed in psalm 139 (verse 14), that body and soul, you are marvellously made!

Here is the starting point: don’t listen to negative people or harbour negative thoughts. Feed your mind with positive stories of those who are successful, and look into what they overcame to achieve this. No matter who or where you are in life, you can achieve great things.

There is a well-known saying which goes: If you think you can, you are right. And if you think you can’t, you are also right. Believe that you can succeed in life and do what it takes. It is possible to walk in a more excellent way, because Jesus has given us the strength if we are willing. Remember:

goal + goal setting + action = success

Everyone loves to watch Serena and Venus Williams play tennis, but behind their massive success lies a story of very dark moments in their childhood. This is almost forgotten now, because these women didn’t get held bound by the obstacles their family faced, nor allowed a negative mind-set to take root in them.

The Oprah Winfrey Show became one of the highest ranking shows in American history, even though Oprah’s first boss told her she was too emotional and not right for television! According to Forbes magazine, in 2011, Oprah was the highest-paid female in the entertainment industry. She remains the richest self-made woman and the only black female billionaire.

Have you ever tried thinking what would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Obstacle 2: Lack of commitment

I try to live according to the following saying by politician and author Roy T. Bennett: The level of success you achieve will be in direct proportion to the depth of your commitment. Many people set goals in life but are not committed to taking the necessary action to attain those goals, hence they fail.

They work without a plan, a focus. They expect things to come their way without acknowledging that we must all build the foundations for our future. Usain Bolt did not just ‘happen’ to be the fastest man in the world: he took his talent and spent hours of work and sacrifice in perfecting it.

Success in anything is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort. - Paul J. Meyer.

Make a plan for your life, then, be committed in following it. Setbacks and falls may come our way, but we must pick ourselves up and start anew.

If you wait until you feel like doing things, you will never get them done. Plan your day and commit to seeing that plan through. Stop thinking about it, and just get on with it! This will take discipline, but will soon become second-nature. Once you learn to live with purpose (and see the results), motivation and energy will follow.

Obstacle 3: Wasting time

Like so many people, I used to think I didn’t have enough time. I put things off, waiting for the right time to come along. But the ‘right time’ never did come along. Things were left undone: year in, year out.

I came to realise that my problem was not lack of time, it was lack of organisation and focus. I may have been busy, but not with the things I really needed to do. To waste time is to spend your day doing things that will not add value to your life or move you closer to your goal. Don’t confuse activity with accomplishment!

Have you fallen into the trap of wanting to check something on social media quickly, then spending over an hour on it? Or going to a meeting which was supposed to last half an hour, but you find yourself still there after two hours? These are some of the ways we waste time. You must make a conscious effort to identify these ‘time stealers’ and avoid them. Walking in a more excellent way requires being accountable for how you spend your time.

Set your goals

Life is full of choices. You cannot avoid making them. Failing to choose is a choice in itself. Life is like a buffet. You have the menu and many options to choose from, but the amount of nutrition and satisfaction you get from the food will be determined by what you choose to eat.

Opportunities come our way on a daily basis, but we let so many slip away. By having clear goals in mind, you will start to spot the opportunities around you and turn them to your success. You will even create your own opportunities!

Some people think that setting goals will create more work. In fact, once you have a plan, life often becomes easier! You know when to play and when to work. You find the right balance. You have peace of mind, because you know you are not drifting.

A man once told me about his daughter. Whenever he encouraged her to study, she would always reply, Dad, I know what I am doing; I know when to play and when to work. He never believed her until she got excellent grades and a place at the university of her dreams.

When God the creator of the universe wanted to create heaven and earth, I believe He had a goal in mind. Everything was well planned, hence everything was good (Genesis 1:31). For example, God only created man after He had created food for man to eat! He provides everything we need to enjoy the world that we have been placed in.

A well laid-out, written goal brings success. Hence in Habakkuk 2:2-3, we are told to write out our vision, to make it plain and clear, so that we may always be reminded of it and take action to bring it about.

Here are some examples of different areas in which to set goals, to help get you started. You can of course add your own ideas to this list!

Educational goals:

• Be punctual arriving at school and for each class.

• Do my homework on time.

• Listen to my teachers.

• Spend time on subjects that are difficult.

• Do not bunk off classes.

Family goals:

• Spend time with my family daily.

• Do my fair share of chores cheerfully.

• Give attention to / play with my siblings.

• Take care of the family pet / walk the dog.

• Reduce my time on gadgets and social media so I can give my full attention to those in my family.

Health goals:

• Take care of my physical and mental health.

• Try to eat well and avoid regular junk food.

• Resist the temptation to try cigarettes and alcohol: it is not worth it.

• Try to get outside for fresh air and exercise every day (even just a short brisk walk is good for body and mind!)

Career goals:

• Identify what I want to become and why. (If you are not sure, it can help to think about what you have a passion for doing, as well as what things cause you pain, things you would like to change in the world to make it a better place.)

• Set out a practical path of how to achieve this.

• Do a review every few months of what you have achieved.

Spiritual goals:

Setting spiritual goals can help you focus on and trust in Christ. Ultimately, they set you on the path to