"Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, 'I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12

Every day scrolling through social media, I'm reminded that I have chosen to live my life a different way than some old friends from school and other teens across the country. I don't swear, I don't drink, I don't smoke and I don't sleep around.

In fact, some people that I know might say my life is "boring" because of what I don't do, but it's quite the opposite, to be honest.

"So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy and all unkind speech." 1 Peter 2:1

I start each day with Jesus and His Word. I immediately open my Bible and listen to what He has to tell me and then seek Him in prayer. Not only does it grow my relationship with Him, but it also prepares me mentally and spiritually for the day I'm about to have.

I never understood the importance of it when I was younger, but as I've grown up and grown spiritually I see now that is the most vital thing we can do. We have to be prepared for when Satan attacks and temptation comes, because trust me, it will come.

The only way we can get through that is with Jesus.

"They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise. Amen!" Romans 1:25

The other day at service my pastor spoke on this. He held his fingers just a few inches apart and said, "We can't have this much Jesus," then held his arms open as far as he could, "and this much of the world."

And he's right!

Nowadays, it is so easy to push off time with God or push off God altogether. He is the only reason we're here, and he needs to be our top priority — not just something we'll squeeze in when we can.

I had an old friend who I've grown apart from tell me a few weeks ago that her whole life is focused on college, her boyfriend, her job and her friends. That she doesn't have time for Jesus, and that she's "grown out" of Him.

I was completely shocked and didn't know what to respond to that.

A close Christian friend of mine read the texts and looked at me, completely dumbfounded. "That sounds like a pathetic and empty life," she said, sadly. "A life without Jesus?"

That's exactly why we had grown apart — I chose Jesus, and she apparently chose the world. See, as we've gone to different schools the past few years, I have grown abundantly in my relationship with Christ.

I know she's gone through her share of trials and rough times — I have too — and somehow, that's made her focus on things in this world to take away the pain rather than our Lord and Savior.

I've overcome everything that has come to me with Jesus fighting for me. Even when it feels like He's not, I know He is, and I know there is a reason why I am going through it.

So, to the friend who has fallen from the Truth, I am praying for you. I am sorry you have fallen away, and I hope you can one day find Jesus like I have and realize how much better life is with Him.

Trials come to every single person, even Christians. It's how we handle it, how we grow through it and where we put our trust: Jesus or the world, that matters.

Will you look towards the cross and the man who died for you or will you turn to alcohol, boys and the wrong friends?

Jesus loves you, even if you feel you've "grown out" of Him. I hope you'll see that one day.

"You know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God." 1 Peter 1:18-19