The Fight To Do Good

 I type out this opening with a burden on my heart. Lots of them, actually. Big ones.

 More every day, something that I find is important is doing good. I find it to be hard…so hard. Everyone can absolutely relate to that, I am sure of. Doing good is not easy on any level. It requires lots of strength, lots of passion. I think, as Christians, we should have a burning desire to do good in the sight of the Lord.

I’m sixteen years old. I am home schooled, so, yes, I am sheltered. Probably more than others. But, I am associated with the Enemy, the world, and all of the problems that follow from there. It is a choice that I, as a Christian, have to make to do good. To say good things. To act in a good manner. To show good things.
 Like everyone, I fail. So many times. Over and over again. It isn’t an easy way to go, trying to choose to do good. I am tempted constantly. Strength is required on this journey to stand strong against the push to do wrong.
 It is easy to often want to just push away your morals and to live on your own free will, just once, at least. We get tired of staying strong against temptation when fitting in is so fun. It is easy to let down your guard against evil. It is easy to follow into wrong things, because at the moment, it feels good…it’s fun…who really cares, right? I know that it’s easy.

 In the past couple of months, I have been told these words by Christ-honoring mothers: “I want my daughter to be like you when she is your age.” Those are strong words and I choose to keep them in my mind at all times.
 We are being watched. Even when you don’t realize it, we are being listened to. Christians, we are being heard.
 The thought of actually having these young girls being like me when they are soon this age has rocked my world. The thought has caused me to examine myself, to watch myself, to listen to myself, to hear myself… If these young girls who are watching me are going to follow me, then I MUST take a stand against evil. I MUST build my strength to resist the temptation to follow the world. I MUST fight to keep a clean mind and a pure heart because my outward appearance completely reflects the inward part of me. I shall NEVER give up in the fight to do good.

 Galatians 6:9 tells us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” In a side-note in my Bible, it says, “Always getting picked on for being the “good girl”? Going against the flow can get tiring. Now’s not the time to give up though - the harvest is just ahead.”
 Earlier in chapter 6, it says, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
 Those words from God are so powerful. So mighty and so motivating.

 I realize that I speak for all Christians when I talk about temptation to do wrong. I am fully aware of the sinful nature that we are all born with. But, as children of God, we were not meant to form to the world and to be a part of the sin inside. We were created to stand OUT from the crowd and to shine our light to the darkness of the earth. Britt Nicole said, “When we look different and carry something different, people are going  to see that and want it, too.”

 It’s a long and hard journey. But, do not let yourself become weary; take a stand against evil… Fight for the strength and passion to do good for our great God. The eternal reward in doing good is much greater than the temporary pleasure in doing wrong.

-Emily