Twenty-Three Golden Life Lessons:  Wisdom Based on the Word of God and Lifelong Experiences

Based on my 48 years of life in Christ and the Word of God, the following 23 golden life lessons have helped me to make it through.  This list is neither comprehensive nor complete.

You came into the world, leaving the world.  You were never meant to stay.

You came here with nothing, and you’re going to leave with nothing.

Life is a test.  Only those who successfully pass the test will enter the Kingdom of God.

You cannot make it through life by yourself.  You need your fellow travelers, so be gentle with them.

As you come to the light, walk in it, never looking back or berating yourselves for what you didn’t know.  Just don’t continue in the error or repeat the mistake once you know better.

Learn to forgive and ask for forgiveness.

Learn to forgive yourself, but only when it’s warranted.

Know your own value.  If Jesus died for you (and He did), if God gave His best for you (and He did), and if the devil is fighting against you (and he is), you must be worth a pretty penny.

Encourage someone else by sharing some of your failures.  It will keep pride out of your life and strengthen others to do better.  (They don’t have to know everything.  Leave some of that under the blood of Jesus).

Determine that no matter what comes or goes, what trials you may face, and what you experience, you will make it into the Kingdom of God.  It just takes a made-up mind. 

Also, take as many others with you as you can.

Use the special tools that God gave you to achieve a successful passage through life:

People.  Wise counselors, loving individuals, and even haters will be placed in your path.  Listen to and learn from them all.  Even your haters can help you grow.  Also, remember that we are not competing with people; we’re all trying to make it in.

The Holy Bible is your key to a victorious life.  It is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.  It is literally the living Word of God.  Read it, learn it, love it, live it.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Ps. 119:105).

The Holy Ghost.  Quit fighting against Him and allow Him to do His job of comforting, teaching, and reminding you,  with your forgetful self.  You can’t make it without Him.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,          he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I       have said unto you.  (John 14:26).

Prayer.  Realize that prayer is a privilege, and we get to use it as much as we like and need.  Think about it.  We get to directly communicate with the God of the Universe and have Him speak back to us.  Set up a definite and orderly time to share with Him daily, letting nothing hinder you.  During your prayer time, intercede for others.  Don’t make it all about you.  Write down a list of people and situations to pray about so you don’t forget.

The House of God.  Attend church regularly.  Receive from others and give to others.

 25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (Heb. 10:25).

Discipline yourself.  Your flesh needs a resounding NO! from you every now and then.   (e.g. “No!  You do not need that Louie Vuitton bag.  You know the car note is due.”)
Fast to keep your flesh under control.  You know it can be a noisy little rascal.  Sometimes, you can speak to your flesh and command it to come subject to your Spirit, man.  Here’s the technique:  Get in the mirror and out of your sanctified, Holy Ghost-filled powerful Spirit, say these words: “Flesh, By the power that God has given me over you, I command you to come subject to me.  My will is to do the Will of God, and you are trying to make me disobey Him.  Shut up!  And quiet down!  You, flesh, and I are going to live Holy.”  Watch it work.

Make life work for you.  You’re here now, so you might as well make the best of it.

Stay humble.  No matter how God moves in your life, do not allow yourself to be “lifted up” with pride.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (1 Peter 5:6).  

Pride cometh before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

Love God, love people, love life, even love pets but never love the world.  Love not the world, neither the things in it (1 John 2:15).

If God says to walk away from something or someone, just do it!  Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).  You don’t have to understand it.  Just know that God knows what is best for you.

When God peels away your distractions, don’t resist Him. Yield your will unto God.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  (Rom. 6:13)

Eat and drink in moderation, eliminating those things that are harmful to your body.  Your body is a fearfully and marvelously made machine.  Quit destroying it by eating and drinking what you know to be harmful to you.  Discipline your appetite.  And use the mirror technique in #13 if you must.

Discipline your body with exercise, but don’t make it a cult practice.  We can overdo anything, even exercise.

Use the earthly help that God has provided, like doctors, nurses, police, etc., but never allow them to control your life.  That’s God’s job.

Take excellent care of your teeth.  (That includes brushing, flossing, regular dental visits, and no ice crunching.)  You will need each of those little soldiers if you have any hope of looking like your younger self later.

Always, always, always give God His glory.  Why?  Because He’s coming for His glory.  You don’t want Him to find it hiding in your closet.

I hope the 23 life lessons I’ve learned so far are a blessing to you.  Feel free to add your own favorite life lessons in the comments section.  God bless.