Letter to My Young Men
“I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong,
and the word of God abideth in you,
and ye have overcome the wicked one.”
— 1 John 2:14
Young men, because ye are strong!
Strength is your portion, vigor is your banner,
and passion your constant companion.
But take a little pause, young man —
let us examine another scripture.
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall.”
— Isaiah 40:30
I hear you whisper, “That’s a contradiction.”
Is it really?
Or is there a mystery hidden between both verses?
For another voice speaks:
“By strength shall no man prevail.”
— 1 Samuel 2:9
Ah! There it is.
You will not win by strength alone.
Because the flesh will tire,
Ambition will fade,
And passion will sometimes lose its pulse.
But those who walk with God —
their strength is renewed,
their hearts burn again,
and their spirits rise like dawn after long darkness.
Awake, O Young Man
“Awake to righteousness, and sin not;
for some have not the knowledge of God:
I speak this to your shame.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:34
The world beckons with distractions,
but Heaven is calling your name.
Awake, young man!
Shake off the slumber of apathy.
Awake to your calling, your consecration, your covenant.
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,
while the evil days come not.”
— Ecclesiastes 12:1
Before the noise of life grows louder,
before responsibilities crowd your devotion,
before your dreams become buried under survival —
remember your Creator.
Put on Strength
“Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion;
put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem.”
— Isaiah 52:1
Your strength is not in muscle but in Spirit.
Your garment is not cloth but consecration.
Your beauty is not in trend but in truth.
For this is the hour when men faint for lack of purpose,
When passion is mistaken for calling,
and potential for destiny.
But you, young man —
be different.
“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
— Luke 18:1
If you must stay strong, stay on your knees.
Fan the Flame
“Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee.”
— 2 Timothy 1:6
Within you lies a seed —
faith, wisdom, fire, and purpose —
But the gift must be stirred,
The fire must be fed,
And the altar must stay burning.
For nations await your rising,
The creation groans for the manifestation of the sons of God.
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth
for the manifestation of the sons of God.”
— Romans 8:19
Don’t sleep through your prophecy.
Don’t trade your inheritance for applause.
The world doesn’t need another loud man —
It needs lighted men.
Run with Purpose
“So run, not as uncertainly;
run, that ye may obtain.”
— 1 Corinthians 9:24–26
Don’t chase shadows.
Don’t waste your youth in endless comparison.
Run the race that Heaven marked for you.
Keep your eyes on the incorruptible crown.
“Fight the good fight of faith,
lay hold on eternal life.”
— 1 Timothy 6:12
The good fight is not for fame,
but for faith.
The crown is not of gold,
but of glory.
Faithful Men
Men boast of strength,
But Heaven counts faithfulness.
“Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness:
but a faithful man who can find?”
— Proverbs 20:6
“It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:2
When the applause fades,
when the lights dim,
may you still be found faithful.
Faithful to truth.
Faithful to calling.
Faithful to God.
Watch and Pray
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always,
that ye may be accounted worthy to escape
all these things that shall come to pass,
and to stand before the Son of man.”
— Luke 21:36
Because there will be days of adversity,
and the measure of your strength will be revealed.
“If thou faint in the day of adversity,
thy strength is small.”
— Proverbs 24:10
So don’t faint, young man.
Don’t quit.
Don’t be weary.
Renewed Strength
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.”
— Isaiah 40:31
Wait — not idly, but intimately.
Wait in prayer, in purpose, in purity.
And when the time comes, you will soar.
Finally, My Brethren
“Be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of His might.”
— Ephesians 6:10
Be careful for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,
Let your requests be made known unto God.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:6–9
Whatever things are true,
whatever things are honest,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report —
if there be any virtue, if there be any praise —
think on these things.
Focus on them.
Zoom in on them.
And the God of peace shall be with you.
Selah.
O young man, be strong.
Not in muscle, but in mind.
Not in flesh, but in faith.
Not in fame, but in faithfulness.
For your strength is in the Lord —
and they that wait shall rise again.
