May He . . . Give Success to All Your Plans - WHAT PLANS WILL YOU MAKE FOR YOUR FUTURE?

How can you plan to be a full-time minister?  More than anything, spiritual qualities will help you be successful in serving Jehovah fully.  So be diligent in your study of God's Word, meditate deeply on its meaning, and look for ways to express your faith at congregation meetings.  During your school years, you can acquire experience and skill as  a preacher of the good news. Learn to be interested in people by tactfully asking their opinion and listening to their response. Also, you can offer to do things in the congregation, such as helping to clean and maintain the Kingdom Hall. Jehovah is pleased to use those who have a humble, willing spirit.  (Read Psalm 110:3; Acts 6:1-3)  The apostle Paul invited Timothy into missionary service because "he was well-reported-on by the brothers." -Acts 16:1-5.  

Full-time ministers generally need to earn a living.  (Acts 18:2, 3) Perhaps a short school course will qualify you for part-time work that is in demand locally. As you make plans, consult your circuit overseer and the pioneers in your circuit. Ask them what work is practical for pioneers. And, as the Bible says, "commit to Jehovah whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." -Proverbs 16:3;  20:18. 

You can be sure that Jehovah wants you to "get a firm hold" on a happy future.  (Read 1 Timothy 6:18, 19)  Full-time service brings you into contact with fellow full-time servants and helps you to mature as a Christian.  Many have found that serving Jehovah fully during youth also helped them to have a more successful marriage.  Often, those who pioneered before marriage have been able to continue in that service together as a married couple.  -Romans 16:3, 4. 

Planning involves your heart.  Psalm 20:4 says of Jehovah:  "May he grant you the desires of your heart and give success to all your plans."  So think about what you want to do with your life.  Consider what Jehovah is doing in our time and how you can have a share in his service.  Then plan to do what is pleasing to him. 

Serving Jehovah fully will bring you deep satisfaction because it is the way of life that honors God. Yes, "find exquisite delight  in Jehovah, and he will grant you the desires of your heart."  Psalm 37:4.

Next time:  Is There a Creator That Cares About You? /Chapter One - What Can Add Meaning to Your Life?

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