how to help the teenagers to grow?

well just now while i was taking my shower, i was thinking how to help the teenagers, or even anyone, to grow, to change, to mature. it seems the things i've done, isn't helping them very much. in my cell, i'd think that Sunmei is pretty mature, and it would seem to me that she is more mature than her average peers too. so i asked myself, what is it that made her more mature? the first thought that came to my mind was that, it's her grounding in the Word of God. it's her desire to want to know God more. it's the relationship with God.

i was reminded of one of the testimonies Pastor shared during the sermon today, that how regularly reading the Bible and praying changes people. i'm reminded of the testimonies by Pastor Zhang and his wife, of how praying changes people.

many times we are reminded that we need to focus on God, but yet we still fail to remember that. we fail to do it. all the activities, the events, we forget to involve God in the things we do. of course for new friends, activities and events are important too, but most importantly, we don't forget the existing sheep that we have. i guess i've failed in bringing my sheep before God. i didn't pray together with them enough, to read the Bible together with them enough. i didn't do enough to bring them back to the presense of God, and let God minister to them, to help them grow, to mature in their thinking. sorry, but i think the teenagers have a lot to learn, and much to mature in their thinking. i really don't know how to help them change their mindset, or their way of thinking. i think only God can do that. so let's let God do it. i just need to bring them before God. maybe just regularly praying together with them, reading the Bible together with them, will be good enough...

God, i pray that all these that You've impressed upon my heart now, i will remember it, and put it to action. remind me that i am nothing. i am capable of nothing, but You can accomplish all things! Lord, just use me as a vessel to bring them to You. may everything i do, is to bring people back to You, before You. no matter are they new friends, or Christians. for new friends, i just want to bring them to know You. for Christians, i just want to bring them before You, so You can minister to them, and for them to know You more, to desire You more. Lord Father, impress this deeply into my heart, my soul, that in everything i do, i do it with this in mind. i thank You Father, for listening to my prayers. i pray this, in Jesus' precious name. Amen!