Greg Laurie - What I Would Tell My Younger Self - Part 1

What would I say to a young Greg as an older Greg? What advice would I give myself? What things would I tell young Greg to avoid? What things what I tell young Greg to do? Well, there’s the obvious answers. I would tell young Greg, brush your teeth every day, boy, 'cause you do not want to have to spend as much time at the dentist as older Greg has. Of course, I would tell younger Greg, wear sunscreen. I was a blond kid out at the beach a lot. I don’t think I hardly ever wore sunscreen. And I’ve had more than one trip to the dermatologist.

So, I’d certainly give that advice. Maybe I would say to a young Greg, you know, when «Star Wars» comes out and all those figures are in the original packaging, don’t open those. Save those because you’ll be able to sell those for a lot of money later. I think that’s true of original Barbie dolls in their packaging. I just read the other day that an original copy of «The Legend of Zelda» video game sold for, get this, $411,000. So, I guess I would say, young Greg, go find a few copies of «The Legend of Zelda» because they’ll be worth half a million one day, but don’t take it out of the original packaging. Now, these are silly things, things that don’t matter all that much. But I want to talk about things that really do matter, what I would say to a younger me. And in effect what I’m saying to young people right now. Let me give you a little bit of advice. Maybe you don’t have a mom and a dad that are doing this for you or a grandfather.

Let me be your dad for a few minutes or your grandfather and say things to you that you need said to you as a younger person. This first one may be surprising, but I’m gonna start with this. Whatever you’re going through, it’s going to be okay. Whatever you’re going through, it’s going to be okay. I know when you’re young and you’re experiencing things for the first time, life can seem kind of scary. You’re wondering about what you’re gonna do with your life, where you’re going to go, who you’re gonna marry, what career path you’re going to choose. And then maybe something bad happens to you. You have a huge setback. You break up with your boyfriend or your girlfriend, and it almost seems like your world has just ended. Listen, it’s going to be okay. You’re gonna get through this. I look at photos of my younger self.

By the way, I just rediscovered these really old photos of me as a little boy. I believe they were taken when I was living in New Jersey. I was at around six or seven years old. And I look at this little guy and knowing now what I know now, I know that little guy’s gonna go through a lot of suffering. His mother would effectively abandon him. He would never have a father. Growing up, he would be passed around from aunts and uncles. He would spend a considerable period of time in military school. Life would not make sense to him. Sometimes he would be up all night wondering when his mother was gonna come home. And she wouldn’t come home and he’d have to get himself ready for school and take a lot of responsibility on as a little kid. But here’s what I would say. God has his hand on you. God is going to watch over you.

I mentioned I was passed around to family members. And I did spend a bit of time with my grandparents. And that was probably one of the most stable times in my life because they functioned as parents. But they were parents from another century. They were quite old when I was living with them. And they believed in old-fashioned values. But fortunately, they believed in old-fashioned food too because this is the kind of food I ate before I moved in with my grandparents. They’re called TV dinners, and by the way, even though these photos don’t make the food look all that good, the food actually looked much worse than this, and it didn’t taste very good either.

Here’s the chicken TV dinner, and by the way, we didn’t put these in microwaves, those didn’t exist yet. Yes, I’m old enough to have lived before the microwave. And so, we would heat these up in the oven. So, there’s the chicken dinner. Here’s the turkey and gravy. And then here’s the Polynesian one, that one is kind of weird. And look at this kid eating this. You know this is a posed photo. The kid’s acting like he actually is enjoying this meal. This food, I’m just telling you, was not good. So, I went from that kind of food to living with my grandmother who made everything from scratch, starting with fried chicken. And by the way, when we had fried chicken, we didn’t just go to the market and buy chicken like normal people. My grandfather would kill a live chicken, cut its head off.

I remember as a little kid watching him do it one time. He took the chicken, he put it on a tree stump. He took out the hatchet, or the axe, I should say, boom, off comes the head. And the body’s running around spurting out blood. And as I recall, it started running toward me. And I’m thinking, how does the chicken body know where to go? I felt like the little chicken head laying there was saying, «Go straight, turn right, turn right,» whatever. It traumatized me, I still break out in a cold sweat when I go by Chick-fil-A, not really. But fresh chicken, mashed potatoes made from scratch, black-eyed peas, so many incredible things she would make every night. But her crowning achievement was her biscuit. This was a biscuit unlike any other I’ve had any place else. It was good. It was stable.

And I remember we would sit in the front room of my grandparents' house. They each had sort of a La-Z-Boy type chair, and I’d sit in a little stool in the middle. And I remember we watched this guy on television. I would later discover this man’s name is Billy Graham. And how was I to know, as a little boy, that I would one day meet him and actually become friends with him? My grandparents also had a little painting of the face of Jesus over the furnace. It was a floor furnace, and I remember I would look at that picture of Jesus for hours thinking about him. There was something about him that interested me. How was I to know that I would come into a relationship with him and he would change my life forever?

So, despite the hardship I went through as a little boy, I was able to react to it in a different way because at the age of 17, I put my faith in Jesus Christ. Listen to this, you don’t decide what hand you will be dealt in life. Some of you are in a stable home with mom and dad raising you in a wonderful way. Some of you are from a broken home. In fact, probably more of you are from a broken home, and you are facing an uncertain future. You don’t get to pick what hand is dealt to you in life, but you decide how you will react to it. And here’s the thing you discover in time. No matter how bad your upbringing is or bad the experiences are that you go through, your pain can be effectively turned to gain. God can take your setbacks and turn them into setups. Your tests can become a testimony because what you have gone through was not designed to destroy you, but to develop you, to develop you so you’ll be a different person.

And I’ve been able to take the pain of my past and use it as a tool to help people who are going through similar pain. The Apostle Paul speaks about comforting with the comfort that we, ourselves, have been comforted with. So, maybe a young person is watching this right now and you’re filled with anxiety and stress. I read just the other day that the majority of Gen Z has high levels of anxiety and stress. So, let me say something to my younger viewers right now. I know it’s harder for you than it was for us when we were growing up. I know older people will say things like, «You know, when I was a child, it was so much harder». No, it’s harder for you guys.

One of the reasons it’s harder is many of you are coming from broken homes. Another reason it’s harder is because everything has been escalated. In my day, I might get beat up at school. In your day, you might get shot in school. The drugs are much more serious and much harder. And, of course, you have social media that amplifies everything and has changed things dramatically. I also read that Generation Z are afraid of the future. And one-third of this generation struggle with suicidal thoughts. Am I talking to somebody right now who has contemplated suicide? Maybe you’ve even attempted to take your own life. I want you to know something. I want you to know that you are loved. I want you to know that you are wanted. I want you to know you’re loved by more people than you could ever imagine. And I also want you to know that God has a special plan for your life. You matter. We need you. Don’t contemplate ending your life.

Listen, it’s never too late to change. I don’t know what trajectory your life is going in right now. I don’t know what bad decisions maybe you’ve made at this moment. But it’s never too late to change. And it’s not just changing the way you feel. You need to change the way you think. Christ can change the course of your life. Listen, just as surely as there is a God in heaven who loves you, there is a devil that’s headed to hell who hates you. And Jesus summed up the contrast when he said in John 10, «The thief,» speaking of Satan, «comes only to steal, kill, and destroy». But in contrast Jesus said, «But I have come that you might have life, and that more abundantly».

So, there’s your choice, life in a relationship with God, death outside of a relationship with God. Don’t let the devil whisper in your ear that you should take your life. The Bible says he’s a liar and he’s the father of lies. Sometimes people are apprehensive about giving their life to Jesus because they think, «Well, it’s gonna be misery and rules and regulations,» au contraire. That’s French for snails with garlic… no, that’s escargot. To the contrary, God’s plan for you is better than your plans for yourself. God himself says in Jeremiah 29:11, «I know the thoughts that I think toward you,» says the Lord, «thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give you a future and a hope».

All right, so back to our message. Things I would say to my younger self, number one, it’s going to be okay. Whatever you’re going through, you’re going to get through it.

Number two, what would I say to my younger self? Put God first in your life. Put God first in your life. This, of course, starts with asking Christ to come into your life, but then it means following him. Jesus summed it up this way in Matthew 6:33, «Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you». Now, what was he talking about when he said all these things? Jesus said, «Don’t be like the non believers. All they think about is what they’re gonna wear, what they’re gonna drink, what they’re going to eat. But I say to you, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and these things will be added to you».

And we’re obsessed with all those things, what we’ll eat, what we’ll drink, what we’ll wear, where we’ll go, what we’ll drive, where we will work, where we will live. These are not bad things, by the way, to think about. But Jesus is saying, don’t make those the focus of your life, put God first in your life. Seek first the kingdom of God. What does that mean? The kingdom of God is the rule and reign of Christ in your life. See, one day we’ll go to heaven and enter into the kingdom of God and the kingdom of God will come to earth. But also, when the Bible tells us to seek it first, it means just put Jesus first. Think about God’s will when you make those decisions. Don’t put money first. Don’t put career first. Don’t put politics first. Don’t even put ministry first. Put Jesus first, and he will take care of you in life.

There was a young Solomon ascending to the throne. His father David had died. And the Lord comes to Solomon and says, «Solomon, ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you». Imagine for a moment if God came to you and said, «Ask what you want and I’ll give it to you». What would you ask for? Solomon said, «Lord, I pray for wisdom, wisdom to lead your people». The Lord, in effect, said, «Because you didn’t pray for stuff, you didn’t pray for possessions, you didn’t pray for great wealth or honor, I’m gonna give you the wisdom you asked for, and all these other things as well». It’s a perfect illustration of why putting God first is the right thing to do. That doesn’t mean that God’s gonna make everybody incredibly wealthy. But what it does mean is God, the Bible says, will supply all of your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

So, you want to put God first in every decision you make in life. «What is the will of God,» you might ask, «about this thing I’m about to do? How do you know the will of God»? Answer, by reading the Word of God. He’ll reveal his will to you in scripture. Understand this, why are you in this earth? And this answers a big question, the question of, «Why am I here? What is the meaning of my life»? Here’s the answer. The meaning of your life, you are here to bring glory to God, not to bring glory to yourself. Isaiah 43:7 God says, «Everyone who is called by my name whom I created for my glory». That’s why you’re here. So, know this, God wants to speak to you. God wants to fill you with his Holy Spirit each and every day. Put God first in your life, and the rest will be blessed.

Here’s point number three. What would I say to my younger self? I would say, young Greg, read the Bible every day. And I pretty much followed that advice, thankfully. And I hope many of you are following it as well. Because sometimes I think Christians, as they grow in their faith, think, «Well, I don’t need to read the Bible as much as I used to». No listen, you need to read the Bible every single day. You should start the day with it, you should end the day with it.

In Psalm 1 it says, «Happy is the man, or the woman, who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful». Listen, «His delight is in the Word of the Lord and in it does he meditate day and night». Then it goes on to say, «He’ll be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. His leaf shall not wither and whatsoever he does shall prosper. Happy is that man». You want to be a happy man? You want to be a happy woman? Read the Word of God. It says meditate in it. In Eastern meditation, one seeks to empty their mind. In biblical meditation, one fills their mind with the Word of God. This is how you’re going to grow spiritually. This is how you will be able to resist temptation. We’re told in the Psalms, how shall a young man cleanse his way? Answer, «By listening to what the Word of God says».

So, you need to read the Bible every day because scripture says, «Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth». Listen to this, success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the Bible you get into your life on a regular basis and how obedient you are to it. I’m gonna repeat that. Success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the Word of God you get into your life on a regular basis and how obedient you are to it. So, read the Word, treasure the Word, memorize the Word. I’ve never met a strong Christian who was not full of scripture.

Here’s the fourth thing I would say to a younger me. Stop worrying and start praying. I know we all have things we worry about in life. But I’m reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4 when he says, «Don’t worry about anything. Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, thank him for all he has done, then you will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your heart and mind as you live in Christ Jesus». Worry, worry can ruin your day. It can ruin your week. It can ruin your month. Actually worry can effectively ruin your life. The word «worry» comes from a root word that means to choke or to strangle.

A number of years ago, my grandkids would like to come up and choke me from behind. They thought that was very cute and fun. And it was okay. They were very small. They weren’t hurting me. And so, they would come over and say, «Papa, can we choke you»? Well, as they’ve gotten older, if I let them do that now, I might die, so we can’t play that game anymore. But that’s what worry does, it chokes you out. It doesn’t make things better. It makes them worse. John Curtis, director of the University of Wisconsin Stress Management Institute says, quote, «I believe that 90% of the stress we face is brought on by not living in the present moment, worrying about what’s already happened or what’s going to happen or what could happen».

Listen to this, when you worry about the future, you cripple yourself in the present. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength. I mean, even when things aren’t going well, oh, it’s a good day. Nothing’s going wrong and then you start worrying. «What’s gonna go wrong? Something’s gonna go wrong. I just know it». What’s that all about? That cannot be helpful. I read a Peanuts comic strip and Charlie Brown says, «I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at a time». Well, actually, Jesus said this, «Today’s trouble is enough for today».

Don’t worry about tomorrow. Just take each day and take that worry and turn it into prayer. I would compare this to a natural reflex and a conditioned reflex. To learn how to turn worry into prayer is a conditioned reflex. Let me explain, natural reflex, you don’t have to teach this. If even a little child touches a hot stove, they pull their hand back, right, because they know that’s hot. They know they should not touch that, that’s a natural reflex. If you touch a hot iron, the same thing happens. I heard about a guy that went to see a doctor. He had two horribly burned ears. Of course, two, everyone has two ears, right? Both of his ears were burned, I should say.

So, the doctor said, «What happened to you»? He says, «Well, Doc, I was ironing and I got a phone call. And I answered the iron instead of the phone». The doctor was horrified. «I can’t believe you did that. But what happened to the other ear»? The guy says, «Well, he called back». Okay, so anyway, natural reflex, I touch something hot, I pull back again. But then there’s a conditioned reflex. This is something I’m taught to do. So, now in the same way worry hits, anxiety hits, panic hits. Right away, pray. «Oh, I’m scared». Let’s pray. Just let’s pray. Stop everything you’re doing and commit it to the Lord. In 1 Peter 5, we read these words, «Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you».

By the way in the original language that signifies a definite act of our will where we choose to stop worrying and let God assume the responsibility for our welfare. You take out the trash. I don’t know why it is, but men have been basically chosen to take the trash out, that is our job, and that’s what we’re supposed to do. And I don’t know why, but I always put off taking the trash out. It’s not hard, I have these big plastic cans with a handle and a wheel. All I have to do is throw the trash in the can, take it out a few feet, put in front of my house, and the trash man picks it up, but I have to take it out. Your worries, your anxieties are like trash, take them out and make a deliberate choice to give them over to the Lord. The same is true of all anxiety and worry, pray more and worry less.