Habits in Middle SchoolSample

Written by Alice, age 16, from Bethlehem, Georgia, USA

These days, a lot of people have their own cell phone. We have access to tons of information, entertainment, and instant communication right at our fingertips. However, after we’ve used our phones for a little while, a notification pops up that tells us the battery is low. When that happens, we have two choices: ignore the notification or plug the phone into the charger. Plenty of times I’ve ignored the notification, and my phone has died. Then I was forced to plug it in. Why? Because if my phone has no battery, it’s useless.

This is a silly example, but I believe the same is true for our lives. Jesus tells us to remain in Him and that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Without God, we’re like the dead cell phone. We need to connect to Him—the “power source”—to live the way that He created us to live.

What does this look like? It could be as simple as reading a short verse every morning before school. It could be saying a prayer each night before you go to sleep to tell God about your day. It doesn’t have to be anything grand or extravagant. Most of the time, the biggest changes come from seemingly small actions. When we choose to remain in Him, His love for us does not change, but our awareness and understanding of it grows.

So this week, what’s one thing you can do connect with God?