Religion as many of us have experienced it can be a complete turn off! I remember going to church as a teen and being faced with some of the same challenges as I found on the outside: peer pressure, being confronted with people who seemed to be more superficial then real, hearing spiritual truths that were beyond my

comprehension and the list goes on. I also remember thinking that I had all the answers and that my parents like most adults did not have the ability to really understand me.

Now as an adult I understand that the church is not a perfect place filled with perfect people, but many are a work in progress, God is changing them day by day. I was probably one of the people that needed the most change but somehow its easier to see the problems that others are having and more difficult to see our own issues.

I also came to understand that natural wisdom comes with age and experience. Nothing can speed up the process. This is why your parents are such an invaluable gift - you can benefit from their wisdom if you remain open to them. Spiritual wisdom on the other hand comes as we study the word and as the Holy Spirit gives us understanding - even as a teen you can become a recipient of this type of wisdom (See Proverbs 2:1-7).

Have you ever thought about how it would be if you could go back in time and live life differently? I have - it would probably make a good movie! One of the first things I would do is pursue intimacy with God. I did not know what intimacy meant or that I could really be connected my heavenly father. To be honest, I really did not have the greatest role models to help me discern spiritual truth nor was I really interested! But now I know that achieving intimacy with God is the most important thing we as Christians can accomplish (and this is only by God's grace) and it has nothing to do with age. The Prophet Samuel is a good example of a biblical character that had relationship with God as a boy. He was sleeping when he heard God calling Him (1Samuel 3:4-19). The Greatest King in the Old Testament, King David, was a mere Shepard Boy when God called him as a man after God's own heart. His Confidence in God was demonstrated as he struck down the giant Goliath with one small stone (See 1 Samuel Chapter 17).

While Samuel and David were special believers, they had something in common that you can also have. They spent time with God…they pursued Him, and they loved Him with all of their hearts. The word says:

I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you. When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me, I will let you find me, declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29: 12-13

Would you like to know God more intimately? Here are some things you can do:

• Make sure that you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. You can do that right now you don't have to wait for Sunday; your decision is between you and God (Click here if you want to accept Jesus now)
  
• Ask God to fill you with His Spirit (Luke 11:10-13) · Find a quiet and private place to pray, it could be your bedroom or some other place and just tell God you want to know him better (see Mathew 6:6)
  
• Begin to read His word - especially the books of the New Testament. Use an easy to understand bible with study notes if you can afford one. Make sure you say a prayer before you start your reading time - asking that God would help you to understand what you are reading (John 14:26)
  
• Spend time with God every day even if its only a few minutes at first (John 14:21)
  
• Expect that God will grant you the desires of your heart! (see Mathew 7: 7-11, Proverbs 3:5-6)