Dear Editor, To the graduates: Congratulations on completing this milestone! You have the potential to do great and wonderful things with your life. Life brings many unexpected challenges and trials. Your potential will be realized by your responses to these events. The comments below are few of the lessons I have learned. I share them as advice for the future y-o-u.
You’ve had many teachers/professors throughout your life. This will continue, because life has many teachers.
Be willing to learn, but be very careful which teachers you select. (Mark 4:24-28) (Galatians 5:7-9) Look to those who are wise and have experience to learn things that will truly be of help you. (Proverbs 13:20) Friends are great and have their opinions, but do not always have the wisdom and experience learned in the School of Life. (Proverbs 12:26) When it comes to teachers, there is One who is above all others, One who loves you more than any other, One who will always and forever be there for you, One who is eager to help, One who respects you and wants to give you the desires of your heart. He is the only One you need and He is always ready to help. This One is God, your Creator. (Romans 8:41-39) It can take decades to understand this, but if you can grasp this understanding early, you will be way ahead of the game.
Always, no matter the circumstances, put God first in your decisions. Keep your eyes on Jesus and seek His will for your life (Ephesians 5:15-20), for He only wants the best for you. God created you with the promise that He has great and wonderful plans for your life. He has a special purpose for YOU that nobody other than you can fulfill. Never doubt that. (Jeremiah 29:11) However, His timing is rarely ours (Isaiah 41:31), so try not to be impatient. It is so easy to get caught up in the distractions of life and responsibilities that we miss something God wants for us (Philippians 4:8).
You are human and will make mistakes. We all do. Do your best to stay right in the middle of God’s will, and you will be in the safest and best place in the universe.
To truly know His will for you, take time to be still, read His Word, and listen to His voice (Joshua 1:8). Do this daily, knowing that He will guide you to that straight and narrow path. (Matthew 7:13-14) Stay focused so that you do not miss out on His very best for you. The Word of God is Truth and should be the basis of your beliefs. (Proverbs 5-6) Never allow others tell you what you should think.
Contemplate what you hear, BEFORE deciding whether you will accept or reject it as fact in your life.
(2 Peter 3:17) (Psalm 86:11) Do not be a puppet of the world, repeating and reacting as it dictates (Proverbs 16:3). There will always be strongly opinionated people eager to proclaim their beliefs. Although it may sound acceptable at the time, you should always think it over and pray as to what you will believe. (Romans 12:2) Knowledge is a great thing, when used properly.
However, knowledge can’t touch wisdom. (Isaiah 11:2) Wisdom is knowing how to apply the knowledge you have. (Proverbs 3:13-19) Wisdom is reflected in the decisions you make. Wisdom is what you need to live a happy and prosperous life (James1:5). Prosperous doesn’t necessarily refer to money, although it can be that. Prosperous means being satisfied and content in whatever the future holds, wherever it may lead you. (Proverbs 21:21) If you follow Wisdom, you are following the Voice and Truth of God. (Philippians 4:13) Practice The Golden Rule. “So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) “But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
(Matthew 5:44) “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10).
Vince Lombardi shared that “The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work.” Success doesn’t just happen. It must be earned.
There is so much more I would like to share with you, but space is limited so I will end here. “I bless you in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 129:8).
Sincerely, Debra Hall
