Peer Pressure

I was always taught not to give into peer pressure. I was taught by my parents and teachers to hang out with the right people, because I might get tempted, and I might give into that temptation. This concept makes a lot of sense, and I am for sure going to tell my kids that same thing, but I don't think that peer pressure is the biggest deal for me. I don't have as much of a problem giving into the pressure of my peers as I do giving into myself. My downfall is myself, which proposes a couple of problems.

1. I am more likely to give into the pressure of my peers. Let's say, for example, I go to a party (I don't go to parties, but I am in college so it's relevant). Like most college parties, this party has alcohol. A buddy I know from school asks me if I want a beer, and my mind automatically starts weighing the pros and cons.

-What good could come out of this?

Maybe a funny story, it might feel good, it would relieve a little stress

-What bad could come out of this?

Get in trouble for underage drinking, getting sick, hurting someone, and hurting my image and people views on christianity.

I ask myself if it's really worth it. For some reason my mind says yes, but my mouth says no, and my buddy would go on about his business, but I would still be surrounded by it, I would see everyone having a "good time" and my mind would start to work even more, trying to justify the reasons why I should, and I would start giving into myself, and into my thoughts. I'm not saying I'd give in, I'm saying it would be hard not to.

I believe this is true for all human race. I believe that our greatest downfall is ourselves. I believe it is easier to hear Satan say "Do It" then it is to hear God say "Don't do it."

and...

2. I get lazy. It gets harder to get up earlier to spend quiet time with God. I wake up and listen to my body telling me "go back to sleep" instead of listening to God saying "get up, get some coffee, and spend time with me." I may wake up late one morning, and I don't have time to spend that quality one on one time with God. I try to rush through a bible study, but I don't get anything out of it, and I feel no connection with God. After that I have to get ready for the day, and I may only have a short amount of time to do that. I get stressed because nothing is ready and I'm rushing around trying to find things, and I lose all focus. I lose all focus on the one thing I should be focused on all day every day. I lose all focus on God.

and...

I didn't do the one thing that I felt convicted to do, and that is this blog. I haven't posted anything in a very long time, and it started getting to me. Going into this I wanted to take people with me through my journey through transformation. I wanted to update this blog weekly to tell what God has taught me, but I gave into myself and my laziness. I listened to that voice telling me to do it later.

THIS ISN'T JUST A BLOG TO ME. This is a ministry. This is my opportunity to share my testimony. This is a chance for me to show the wonderful things God has done in my life, and in turn give them hope for theirs. A preacher doesn't skip church so he can sleep (there may have been a few, but you know what I mean). A committed missionary in Africa doesn't give up an opportunity to share the Gospel with the children there. Jesus Christ didn't decide that he wanted to die the next day because he just didn't feel like it that day. Why am I putting this off? Because I'm giving into myself. Because "myself" is lazy...