So you want to be a Godly Youth? You’re not alone. I’ve seen many young people who really want to build their faith and live holy lives. However, we live in a world where that seems daunting. Our world is full of distractions. People, earthly pleasures, and circumstances will often try to deter you from living the wholesome life that Christ has prepared for us through his death and resurrection.
There seem to be a lot of rules about Christianity. Go to church, don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t party, don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t wear this, don’t wear that…..the list goes on and on. As a youth, it’s easy to get distracted trying to keep up with all these rules and get discouraged when we fail them.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be so difficult and your willingness to do it is the first step. Clicking on this article already shows that you’re on the right path.
Before I talk about the things you should do to become a Christian teenager or youth, I’d like to briefly highlight some of the characteristics of Godly Youths.
1. Godly Youths don’t try to fit in.
As Christians we are called to live a Christ-like life, and let’s face it, the world isn’t Christ-like. If you try to change your views and values just because of one thing or the other, then you would never be able to live a holy life. Instead, portray Christ in everything you do and every situation you find yourself.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
2. Godly Youths are obedient
Part of being a youth is entering a phase in which we rebel against the teachings or rules that were taught when we were younger. As godly youths, that phase should be skipped. We are to follow and respect all rules(as long as it conforms to the word of God).
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
John 14:23
3. Godly Youths are fearless.
As Christians we will face a lot of trials and temptations, but, we are not to fret. This is because as children of God, we have been given the authority to trample upon snakes and scorpions. To walk even in the valley of the shadow of death, and the assurance that nothing shall by any means hurt us. So then, why are you afraid?
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:19
4. Godly Youths are diligent.
Diligence is one of the attitudes that a godly youth must portray. To fulfill the work that is set before us, we must avoid procrastination and haphazard work. We must carefully assign our time so that we can go through activities in an orderly way.
Proverbs 6:10-11
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes to poverty.
5. Godly Youths have self-control
As godly youths, we need to control our desires and wants. This is done by prayer and by committing them to God. We should not run after everything that tickles our fancies. Remember all that glitters is not gold.
Proverbs 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control
6. Godly Youths are kind and unpretentious
A godly youth is meant to reciprocate the love which Jesus Christ had for us, an unrequited love, laying down his life for sinners so that we could receive salvation. His example of love was a teaching moment on the love we should have for others. Remember, love is the greatest commandment of all.
Romans 12:9
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13:13
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:39
9. Godly Youths are nonjudgmental
God is the only true judge. Why’s that? It’s because of his perfection and purity. Only a perfect Christian has the right to judge or condemn an unbeliever, or even a believer that hurt you or annoyed you. Hence, as godly youths, we should refrain from casting judgment on people.
Matthew 7: 1-4
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Are you feeling overwhelmed already? By now you may be thinking “I certainly don’t have all these characteristics, so I’m not a Godly youth and there’s no hope for me.”
Don’t say that!
These characteristics aren’t built in a day, and since God expects Perfection from us as his children, these characteristics shouldn’t stop growing within you. If you are lacking any of them, this should not discourage you but rather inspire your growth. To do this, I am going to share a few things you should do as a young person who wants to grow in the faith of Christ.
1. Ask for help from the Holy Spirit
To live a Christ-like life, we have to subject ourselves to the holy spirit. Trying to live a godly life without the help of the Holy Spirit is impossible. The work of the Holy Spirit is to empower you to live like Christ. He gives you the ability to pray (Romans 8:26), he gives you an understanding of the scripture (1 Corinthians 2:10-12), and he also whispers to you to tell you when you’re going wrong (John 16:13).
The characteristics of a godly youth can only be seen in a youth that works with the power of the Holy Spirit. When you’re lost and in need of strength, when you don’t know how to pray or what to pray about, when you’re anxious or fearful, when you’re finding it hard to overcome temptation. Ask for help from the holy spirit.
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
John 15:26 NKJV
2. Read your Bible
The principles of how to live a godly life are all found in the word of God. It is the foundation for the growth of any Christian. 1 Peter 2:2 says, “as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word of God that you might grow thereby”.
Don’t just think of the Bible as a book containing the “do’s and don’ts” of Christian living. The Bible is a living word that has the power to transform anybody. Make bible study a habit and do so understanding that it’s God’s word, and unless your eyes are opened, you wouldn’t be able to get anything from it.
Here are a couple of tips on how to engage in bible study.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
II Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV
3. Detach from friends and environment that entice you to bad habits.
There is a famous statement: “Show me youR friends and I will tell you who you are”. This emphasizes the importance of friends. Hence, if you want to live like a godly youth, then you must have holy youths as friends.
The importance of having a Christian friend cannot be understated. Proverbs 27:17 says, “as iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”.
I’m sure you’ve heard this before but, if you keep a friend that has bad habits, you’d find yourself partaking in such habits too. In the letter to the church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29), the fault found against the church was that they tolerated the woman Jezebel. (A woman that preached about sexual immorality and openly committed sexual sins.)
Your friends can be your downfall, hence, to live as a Godly youth, you have to choose your friends.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
4. Have fellowship with other teens.
Just as you shouldn’t be found amid unbelievers, you should be found in the presence of other believers. The Bible tells us of many benefits, some of which are;
• It invites God’s presence. (Matthew 18:20)
• There is a great manifestation of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)
• We encourage each other to grow stronger in faith. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
• Through our unity in faith, our requests are heard by God. (Matthew 18:19)
Having fellowship with other teens and youths encourages you to continue living a holy life, because you know, you’re not doing it alone.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
5. Give up harmful desires.
In our article on how to overcome temptations, we mentioned that most temptations come from our desires. The desire for love, desire for money, desire for shelter, desire for food. All of these aren’t inherently bad, but they can be a driving force towards a roadblock on our path to becoming a Godly youth.
We should learn to offer our desires to God and know that he’ll grant our needs and good heart desires. Doing this would prevent you from thinking about what you’ll eat, or what you’ll wear.
Is there something you desire? Present it to God, and spend more time in his presence in prayer and he’ll grant it one after the other according to his will for you.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 NKJV
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 NKJV
Godly Youths Hub 
Youths really need to understand this and grow to the point where they don’t need to fit in to do the right thing as well as live a godly life.
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I agree, that we as youths need to come to the point we’re we live thinking about what God wants them to do rather than what others think of them
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