By MONIQUE MICHEL / L’Observateur / October 14, 1998

On vacation this past summer I met some guys from Metairie. They attend alarge school in Metairie and are on the football team. They would often bragabout how they could get into any bar and how often they would get drunk. Iwasn’t in the least bit impressed. I challenged them that if what they did wasn’tillegal, they probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much. They admitted that they hadnever thought about it that way, but that I was probably right.

But what really surprised me about them was the fact that before every one of their football games, the whole team gets together to pray. No matter how muchthey had sinned that week, or how drunk they knew they would be getting after the game, for 30 minutes every Friday night they put on a religious front. I triedto explain to them that their spirituality was based on a lie, but they had trouble understanding the point that I was trying to get across.

The point is, that in Isaiah 29:13, it says: “these people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Godwants and deserves more then just lip service or vain prayers from us. Oureveryday thoughts and actions do matter.

The bottom line is that talk is cheap. We can claim to be anything andeverything, but people will be able to see through us and determine who we really are by our actions and the way we live our lives.

I know that I hate people who say they are one thing, but their actions speak otherwise. Anybody can say all of the right words, but it takes a strongindividual to let God guide all of our thoughts and actions. If the only time thatyou pray is right before a test or game, God will not honor those prayers. Hewants us to pray daily and spend time with Him so that He can guide us and show us His will for our lives.

Pray daily for your family, friends, teachers and your future. Remember that lipservice is never enough for God. He’s interested in what’s going on in our hearts.If you have any questions or comments, please contact me, Monique Michel, at P.O. Box 1493, LaPlace, LA 70069, or “straightkids@juno.com”

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