Tastes the Same

Shopping with a young teenager can be a very tiring and frustrating experience. A mother's opinions and suggestions are seldom valued at this stage. What one finds attractive or becoming is not reflected in the other's viewpoint. But eventually our children hit 16, and as they make the climb toward 20, there seems to be a gradual "realigning." One day as my daughter and I trudged through a mall, we both stopped and exclaimed over the same outfit at the same moment. As we looked at each other and laughed at this rare and unexpected event, she said, "Gosh, Mama, I guess our tastes are getting to be the same - that's scary!" It was a realization to both of us that she was growing up. This made me wonder how long it takes for our "tastes" to come into line with those of God. When what He likes and what we like start to converge, I suppose we are on the way to spiritual maturity - a bending and blending of our will with His!

Proverbs 22.15 - A youngster's heart is filled with rebellion.

Isaiah 30.1 - Woe to my rebellious children, says the Lord; you ask advice from everyone but me, and decide to do what I don't want you to do.

1 Corinthians 3.3 - You are still only baby Christians, controlled by your own desires, not God's.

Ecclesiastes 11.10 - Remember that youth with a whole life ahead of it can make serious mistakes.

Hebrews 12.9 - Since we respect our fathers here on earth, though they punish us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to God's training so that we can begin to really live?

Psalm 25.6-7 - Overlook my youthful sins, O Lord! Look at me instead through the eyes of love and forgiveness, through eyes of everlasting love and kindness.

Psalm 119.32 - If you will only help me to want your will, then I will follow your laws even more closely.

Ephesians 5.17 - Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to do.

2 Peter 1.5-6 - You must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do. Next, learn to put aside your own desires, so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his own way with you.

Hebrews 10.16 - I will write my laws into their minds, so that they will know what I want them to do without my even telling them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Ephesians 4.14,15 - Then we shall no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe, because someone has told us something different. Instead we will lovingly follow the truth at all times.

Matthew 6.10 - May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven.

1 John 2.17 - And the world passes away and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever.