By: Alton Russell (Tsunami Small Group Leader)  

Do you live your life in the present or the future?

Living in the future means you’re always thinking about the way things are going to be.  You may always worry with a bunch of what if questions.  Maybe you may put your hope in the future, saying “as soon as this happens, I’ll be happy,”  or, “As soon as I get here in my life, I will start following God more.”

God doesn’t want you to live in the future. He wants you to live in the present.  It’s ok to get excited about the future, but you are here now.  And there are plenty of exciting things you can do right where you are.

God says, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.”  He’s not talking about plans that start once you’re all grown up, or plans that will begin once you get to high school. He’s talking about plans that start now. Today.

You can do amazing things as a middle schooler.  You guys can love other people and show them God’s love just as easily as anyone else.  Through Jesus, you have the power to transform lives.  If you start really getting to know God, maybe by spending time in his Word or praying for Him to give you opportunities to share Him with other people, He will use you right where you are.  And based on my experience, there aren’t very many things that can make you happier than serving God and seeing people changed as a result.

Guys, there is a God in heaven who is dying to spend time with you.  He has a fantastic love story spanning from eternity to eternity, and He wants you to be a part of it right now.  There are people all around you who are hungry for the love of God, and they don’t even know it but they’re waiting for you to start sharing God’s love with them.  What are you waiting for?

If you wait until tomorrow, you’re not going to ruin God’s plans, but you’re going to miss out on something amazing and exciting and fun. So get started right now. Pray to God that He will give you opportunities to serve Him.  And keep taking the steps He puts in front of you.  Take steps to get to know Him better on a personal, friendly level as well as steps to love other people and let them know with your actions and words that God loves them too. 

This is what you are made for.