By Daniel Darling

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say,"I find no pleasure in them"

What are you doing this summer? I had a talk with a youth leader a few days ago and he shared a concern with me. He says that teenagers typically take the summer off, not just from school, but from God.

I know what he’s talking about, because as a young person, I often did the same thing. I allowed my plans, my desire for fun to sort of crowd out my need to spend time with the Lord.

Fortunately, my summers were spent working with my father’s construction business, so even if my mind was far from God in the summer, I couldn’t exactly get into too much trouble with dad around.

I also spent several weeks every year working at a church camp in northern Minnesota. I loved those summers spent cleaning fish, mowing lawns, bailing boats, painting cabins, fishing, observing black bear in the wild, and building bonfires.

Looking back, I think I survived my summers, because my summers always had purpose. My parents didn’t just let me float around, they made sure my hands were busy with something.

Does your summer have purpose? The Scripture tells us that idle hands are where the devil does his best work. I believe that. Any trouble I ever encountered happened because I had a lot of time on my hands and no accountability.

We’re in July, but its not too late to give your summer some meaning. Maybe this is the summer you volunteer at a local park district or get a job as a lifeguard or at some sports camp for kids. Or maybe you can leave on a missions trip or even volunteer at your local church.

And give your summer some spiritual purpose as well. You might even check out my book, "Crash Course, Forming a Faith Foundation for Life." This 100-day devo, perfect for the summer months, will walk you through the five most important areas of your life.