Current and Future You
How to use this Journal Activity
If you are in a group: Complete the sections that have a white background together. The sections with a peach background should be completed individually. Then come back together and talk about what you have written.
If you are doing a solo devotional: Read through and complete the journalling prompts as usual, and use the discussion questions as an additional journaling prompt.
Summary
When I was in high school, I couldn’t wait to leave. There were a lot of reasons why I was already a victim of senior-itis as just a sophomore, but the biggest one was my own perspective on my situation. I was angry and frustrated and sad. So I waited. I kept my eyes on my prize: college.
From the outside, to most people, I seemed fine. But in my quiet moments, I let all my angry frustrated feelings fester. I let them grow and take over. It made me anxious and prone to think poorly of myself when I had fights with my friends or struggled in school.
One day in my senior year, a friend of mine who was a year older came back to our hometown to visit. I don’t remember what our conversation was about. But, he said one thing that stood out: “You are so focused on the future that you are missing right now.” I don’t know why that moment hit me so hard. I’m sure others had said the same thing to me before. But right then, I heard it loud and clear. And the solution was clear too, I needed to change the way I was thinking about my last year in high school.
The thoughts you are having today will have effect on you tomorrow.
The decisions you are making now will have an effect on your future self.
Your current self has been hurt by things that your past self did.
That is the tough news. The good news is that you can make wiser choices now. The current you is shaping the future you. Are you doing the right things to create a future you that you are proud of?
I’ll repeat: Are you doing the right things to create a future you that you are proud of?
I think that this is a hard question. Because right now you don’t feel like you are a bad person. And you don’t feel like you are making terrible decisions. You aren’t actively trying to destroy your future self. You are just living your life. Just getting by. Just waiting. Just working. Just existing. Just trying your best.
Your future you is shaped by the thoughts, actions and attitudes you have right now. No matter how insignificant your current thoughts might seem, you are either building yourself up or tearing yourself down.
How You Shape Your Future Self
The best way to shape your future self is to fix your mindset. As Paul writes “think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.” (Phillipians 4:8-9 MSG). The more time you spend in God’s Word, the more opportunities you give the Holy Spirit to shape the way you think about yourself, other people, your future, and anything else that worries you.
During this quiet time, we will give God an opportunity to put us in the right mindset by reading 31 quotes of good advice. The entire book of Proverbs is full of good advice. This is a great place to turn to when you want to fill yourself up with wisdom.
Before You Read
Pray this prayer:
“Dear God, Thank you for preserving Proverbs for me to read today. Please block out any distractions around me so I can clearly hear the wisdom you have to teach me in this moment. Amen.”
Read Proverbs 11
Journal
Read through the passage again. Choose one proverb that stood out to you the most. Write this verse down at the top of your journal entry.
Answer the following questions in the form of a prayer:
Why did you choose this verse?
This verse stood out to me because _____.
Before reading it, did you know it to be true? Or do you disagree with the wisdom? In the next paragraph talk to God about how this verse makes you feel.
I find this advice hard to follow because _____.
I know this is true, because I experienced it when _____.
Tell God what is on your mind currently.
In the last several days, I have been thinking a lot about _____.
Ask God to align your thoughts with His way of living.
God, I want to live a good and full life. Help me to change the way I think about ____.
Thank God again for speaking into your life.
Thank you for _____.
Discussion Questions
Which verse did you choose to journal about?
Scan over the reading again. Which proverb do you know to be true from your own experience? OR Which proverb seems obviously true to you?
How often do you allow God to shape your thoughts?
Do you tend to seek God’s advice first? or the advice of friends?
Did you feel like God revealed something to you?
