Are you growing in your faith? Is your current level of spiritual maturity and understanding the same as it was 5 years ago, 10 years ago, when you were a teenager? I trust that as you have grown older physically, you have also been maturing spiritually. And you should realize that you’re still not done! So why do we have sometimes unreasonable expectations that

our teenagers will be at the he same place we are? Like you and I, they are still “works in progress” and need time to

continue growing. Here’s the danger that comes with spiritual maturity expectations that are unrealistic: They may feel encouraged to conform to the outward standards of behavior and conduct to simply appease us and maybe even get us off their backs! “not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,” Ephesians 6:6 (ESV) “For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV) Did you catch that? You are NOT looking for simple outward behavior, just as God is not pleased with outward behavior. We should be looking for their HEARTS! We need to be patient as God’s Holy Spirit works in their lives to change their hearts. The outcome will be changed desires and changed behavior. Please don’t make the mistake I have made too often in putting the cart before the horse. Pray for their hearts!