Number 1:
Get right with Christ and let Him be Lord of your life.
Die to your own desires and the desires of your flesh.
Take up your Cross and follow Him daily.
Get off of the throne of your own heart and let Jesus take over that throne.
Our pastor preached a great sermon last week about how maybe the reason that we aren’t seeing enough “progress” in our lives is because we aren’t dead enough to ourselves, and that made me think about the areas that I’m still trying to control, rather than handing them over to Jesus.
Number 2:
Tithe. Start tithing with your next paycheck. It forces you to be open handed with your finances and invites God to steward your financial affairs. It is a huge form of worship and is so often overlooked.
Number 3:
Find a woman that loves Jesus more than you do and that loves Jesus more than she loves you. It makes life a lot easier.
Number 4:
Read your Bible every single day. There’s research that says people who spend 4 or more days a week in the Word of God are less likely to live sinfully, and more likely to have peace. Make a point to spend time in The Word and pray every single morning before you proceed with your day.
Number 5:
Take responsibility for your own actions. It’s not a matter of if you screw up, but when. You’re going to screw something up, some time. It could be at work, in your personal life, or whatever. Lean in, take responsibility and ownership over your mistakes and learn from them. Start that with your internship with FE. It’s the fastest way to grow your confidence.
Number 6:
Precision in language reflects precision in thought.
(I think I heard that on a Jack Carr podcast one time)
Number 7:
Don’t be afraid to say that you don’t know. If you don’t know, ask to learn
Number 8:
It’s okay to be a quiet person. Use that quietness to absorb the environment around you.
Number 9:
Take a notebook everywhere. Take notes and review them often. Keep a journal and keep a planner. It will help you stay organized.
Number 10:
Wear a watch. Not an Apple Watch, but an actual watch. It can be just a $20 Casio, but it will show that you value time, because time is the one thing we never get more of.
Number 11:
Don’t get a credit card. Stay out of debt. Credit cards are the dumbest thing that someone in their twenties can possibly get. I know, because I learned this the hard way. If you’re getting a gun/watch/optic/fancy dinner/etc and you have to use a credit card to pay for it, then you don’t need it.
Number 12:
Put money in savings and start an IRA. Max out your contributions to IRAs and 401ks early in life so that you can reap the benefits of long term growth for retirement. These aren’t the only investment tools, but they are a dang good start.
Number 13:
Ain’t a single one of us getting off this rock alive, so prioritize spending time with the people that matter most to you
Number 14:
Be a student of weaponscraft. Spend time at the range learning how to shoot better. It’ll teach you more about self discipline than you think.
Number 15:
Travel and get out of the world that you know. It’ll help you understand why other people think the way they think and will help you connect with people more personally.
Number 16:
Pay attention to the news and the world around you. It’s not cool to be ignorant. Just don’t become so absorbed by the news cycle that you don’t focus on anything else. There’s a balance to everything
Number 17:
Don’t date girls that have small dogs, are nurses, into golf, have a rock collection, or don’t have a good relationship with their parents. Actually, don’t date girls. Date women. Learn and understand the difference between the two. Date with the intention of marrying and if you don’t see yourself marrying that woman, dump her and move on.
Number 18:
Call your mom. This is one of the more important ones. As frustrating as parents can sometimes be, it’s worth your time to make amends and ask for advice. You don’t always have to take the advice, but you do have to hear it.
Number 19:
Do it afraid. Whatever you are wanting to accomplish in life, put your mind to it. Be willing to take the risk and to not have it 100% figured out. Don’t wait, just do it. Even if it means doing it afraid.
Number 20:
Don’t ever ask anyone permission to buy anything with your own money. Especially a watch.