A teen's honest conversation about God

This is the cover for Delilah, one of my novels.

“But I don’t believe in all that God stuff. I just wanna do my own thing. Why even try to be a Christian when I know I’m just gonna do my own thing. I can’t do this Christian stuff,” said a teenager to her mother.

Her mother looked at her and answered calmly, “You can’t do it…But the Holy Spirit can help you to do it.” The rebellious teen stared at her mother with angry teary eyes. “You can’t do this Christian thing by yourself because your self don’t want God. Our flesh want to do its own thing. We want what we want when we want it. But the Holy Spirit helps us to live right if we let him.”

“But I tried that already and it don’t work,” said the teenager.

“Remember the stories in the Old Testament about the animal sacrifices? Do you think those animals wanted to be tied to that altar and burn?”

“No,” the teen answered tentatively, wondering what the animals had to do with anything.

“The animals wrestled, not wanting to die. However, they were being offered up for a greater purpose. Likewise, we Christians have to do the same thing. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to tie us on the spiritual altar.” The teen listened closely.

The room became serene. “We don’t want to obey because we want to do our own thing…anything that makes us feel good. But we have to allow the Holy Spirit to tie us down to the altar until those unpleasant things burn in the fire of purification. Why? Because God has a great plan to prosper us his way.”

“But what I do ain’t bad. I like to listen to certain music. I want to pierce and tattoo right her. ” She pointed to a section of her body. “I just wanna do me.”

“Listen, don’t get it twisted…some of the good things we do can be idols in our lives too just like all those questionable behaviors. Anything that distracts us from deeper worship to God is an idol, so ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if your desires are in his perfect will for you.”

The problem is…we don’t want to find out from God about anything. We just want to do our own thing. Period, her mother thought.

“But how do I know if something is an idol?” the teen asked.

“Each day the Holy Spirit will teach you. Read that Bible. And when God sends you people to show you the right way, listen to them. Do you think the Devil will send people to correct you?”

“No.”

“Okay then,” answered her mother.

“But last year I read my Bible a lot.”

“The Bible says give us this day our daily bread…It also says that God’s mercy is new every morning. Yesterday’s worship is supposed to prepare you for today’s worship, not replace today’s worship altogether.”

“Okay.”

“Repent and turn back to God. Satan wants to ruin your life. His goal is to present you with a gold necklace that’s really a snake because he wants to KILL, STEAL, and DESTROY you.”

“Wow.” God, help me to do this thing for you. Change me, said the teen within.

Her mother paused. A couple of seconds she continued, “But God has so much blessings for you. You just have to hold on to that altar and obey him. Galatians 2:20 says, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

“I need to try again.”

“You can’t do it alone.”

Like a humble rose by the road, the teen replied, “The Holy Spirit and me.”