Watchtower Study, Take Care of Your Spirituality While Pursuing Further Studies. Week of July 27 to August 2, 2026, Comments and Responses.

Watchtower Study, Take Care of Your Spirituality While Pursuing Further Studies. July 27-August 2, 2026, Comments and Responses.

“No matter how far we have come, let us keep walking uprightly along that same path” (PHILIP. 3:16).

1, 2. a) If you decide to pursue further studies, what will you need to make sure of?

Someone who decides to pursue further studies will need to make sure that he maintains a close relationship with Jehovah and continues walking uprightly in the same way; that is, continuing to serve him with the same faithfulness he has shown so far.

Although studies can help you get a job to support yourself and serve Jehovah fully, you must be prepared to face situations that will test your faith and make sure that your spiritual activities continue to take first place in your life.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

That now we will have to continue walking correctly along that same path; that is, serving Jehovah with the same faithfulness with which we have done so far.

1, 2. b) What does it mean to keep “walking uprightly along that same path”? (Philippians 3:16).

To continue “walking uprightly along that same path” means to keep “marching” without stopping or turning back in Jehovah’s service. It involves standing firm, guided by Bible principles. In fact, there is a verb in that phrase in Greek that was often used in military contexts to describe the united way in which soldiers marched.

Therefore, even if a person pursues further studies, he or she should continue to apply the Bible principles he or she already knows, maintaining his or her spiritual activities and faithfulness to Jehovah both during his or her studies and after completing them.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The paragraph explains that the phrase uses a verb that was commonly employed in military contexts to describe the orderly and coordinated manner in which soldiers marched. We know that a soldier could not stop whenever he felt like it. He had to keep marching alongside his comrades until he reached the goal or completed the maneuver.

The military had missions to accomplish. These missions could be compared to the spiritual goals that young people might set for themselves, such as becoming pioneers or ministerial servants. Therefore, we do not want studies or any other distractions to divert us from these goals or delay us in achieving them.

Throughout this study, we will see the importance of young people remembering their school years. As the first paragraph states, they should recall any situations during that time that tested their faith and how they overcame them. This will help them continue walking the right path as they pursue further studies, remaining faithful, just as they did in school.

Philippians 3:16 says that no matter how far we have progressed, we must keep walking uprightly along that same path. This indicates that we should never stop progressing; that is the goal: to keep advancing spiritually. Therefore, “keep walking along that same path” means to continue progressing in order to maintain a good relationship with Jehovah.

MAINTAIN A GOOD PROGRAM OF SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES

3. While pursuing your further studies, what should you be careful about when adjusting your daily routine?

While pursuing further studies and adjusting daily routines, one must be careful not to begin to place less importance on serving Jehovah. Although it is natural to want to be a good student, one should not allow this to gradually lead to neglecting meetings, the preaching work, personal Bible study, and prayer.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Those who pursue further studies will dedicate more time to studying and learning different subjects. This can make them feel tired. When that happens, they may begin to reduce the time they spend on spiritual activities.

Meetings, preaching, personal study, and prayer can be compared to the four legs of a table. If one of them fails, the table loses stability and may fall. Similarly, if we neglect any of these spiritual activities, our spiritual progress will be affected. That is why it is so important to keep them strong in order to continue advancing spiritually.

The text of Revelation 2:4 mentions that Jesus counseled a congregation that had lost the love it had at the beginning. That is precisely what we must avoid. If we decide to pursue further studies, we must be careful that our love for Jehovah does not weaken.

The note on Revelation 2:4 is interesting, where it mentions the expression: “You have lost the love you had at first.” It can also be translated as “You have abandoned that love.” When someone abandons something, they usually do so gradually, almost without realizing it. That is why it is so beautiful to see how much Jehovah cares for us by warning us that we must make sure we do not lose that love.

4. How can we follow the counsel to be “very busy in the work of the Lord”? (1 Corinthians 15:58).

We can follow the counsel to be “very busy in the Lord’s work” by always giving our service to Jehovah first place. Even though we devote time to further study, we must remember that we are Jehovah’s servants first and students second, not the other way around.

If we keep spiritual activities as our top priority and are willing to make changes if our studies affect our friendship with Jehovah, we will remain spiritually strong.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The paragraph illustrates this idea well with the example of a bicycle: to stay upright, it must be in motion; otherwise, it falls over. The same is true in a spiritual sense. We must keep ourselves in spiritual motion, always engaged in the Lord's work and in serving Jehovah.

If we devote a lot of time to other matters, we should ask ourselves whether we are truly putting Jehovah’s service first. Matthew 22:37 reminds us that we must love Jehovah with our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole mind. Therefore, rather than asking ourselves whether we are spiritually busy, we should ask ourselves, “What is the quality of our spirituality?” If we apply the words of Matthew 22:37, we will find the answer for ourselves.

The paragraph sums it up very well: you are first a servant of Jehovah and then a student, not the other way around. Therefore, we cannot neglect spiritual activities because of our studies.

5. What can you do to keep busy in your service to Jehovah?

To keep busy in my service to Jehovah, I can plan before I begin my further studies how to continue attending meetings, sharing in the preaching work, and doing my personal Bible study.

It is also helpful to learn from my past experience and ask myself what helped me to keep those activities a priority and what I can improve. In that way, I can strive to be a good student without sacrificing my friendship with Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The paragraph raises a number of very practical questions that any young person considering a career or further studies should ask themselves. For example: “Before I begin my studies, have I thought about how I will organize my time to attend meetings, share in the ministry, and maintain my personal study? What did I do during my previous studies to keep spiritual activities a priority?”

The questions in the paragraph teach us the importance of planning ahead. If we organize our schedule in advance, it will be much easier to prioritize spiritual activities.

The additional information encourages us to strengthen four key aspects: studying the Bible, praying to Jehovah, continuing to share in the preaching work, and attending meetings regularly. It also briefly explains the key text, the difficulties we might face, the help Jehovah provides, and suggestions from other young people. Studying this information in depth is very useful for everyone, but it is especially helpful for those about to begin higher education.

We are reminded that this is not just a matter of time, but also of priorities. We see this when Jehovah, in Joshua 1:8, tells Joshua that the Book of the Law should not depart from his mouth. A king would have many duties and responsibilities, but the most important thing, before anything else, was to be a good servant of Jehovah.

The article emphasizes the difference between attending school and pursuing further studies. While school may have been easier to manage, as the subjects were often less demanding, further studies typically require significantly more time and focus.

As mentioned in the paragraph, what one did in the past can serve as a reference for organizing oneself now and avoiding becoming unbalanced due to the heavy workload involved in additional studies.

In the paragraph, there is a footnote that links to the article “What Should I Do After I Get Baptized?” There, a young man shares a comment expressing the opinion of other young people. He says: “Jehovah knows us better than we know ourselves.” That is why it is so important to pray to him before making a decision, rather than asking him to bless a decision we have already made. He also comments: “When I pray to him, I feel very calm because I know that I am trusting in him and not in myself.”

The note emphasizes the importance of remaining active. It's true that everyone has their own responsibilities; for young people, one of these might be pursuing their studies. Even so, they should continue studying the Bible, dedicating time to prayer, participating in the preaching work, and attending meetings. These four pillars can be compared to the legs of a table, as they provide support and stability to our spirituality.

6. What self-examination can you perform? (See also the image).

The self-examination I can do is to periodically ask myself, “Are spiritual activities still my top priority?” I should also be alert to warning signs, such as missing or arriving late to meetings, thinking about tasks during them, or attending only via video conference unnecessarily.

In addition, I need to pay attention to whether I am praying and reading the Bible less than before, or whether I am beginning to view preaching as an obligation I want to finish as quickly as possible. If I notice any of these signs, I must act immediately so that Bible studies do not take precedence over my service to Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

A good self-examination involves checking whether spiritual activities still take first place or whether studies are beginning to take time and attention away from serving Jehovah.

So far we've covered the theoretical aspects; everything is very well prepared and planned, so to speak. But now the young person begins their studies, and this is usually a stage that can last quite a while. Therefore, it's recommended that they occasionally do a self-assessment to check for any warning signs.

For example, if a young person pursuing further studies is starting to miss some meetings or neglect other spiritual activities. After all, both studies and spiritual activities require time, so it's important to frequently review what's taking up more attention and remember that spiritual matters should always come first.

It's not just about attending meetings, but about asking ourselves if, when we do attend, we're truly paying attention and participating. We might be present, but preoccupied with all the studying we have to do, or even log in late. That's why we need to make sure we give meetings the value they deserve and attend actively.

How grateful young people going through this stage of their studies must be to see how much Jehovah cares for them! We see this in the paragraph that asks, “What self-examination can you do?” Not only does this paragraph invite us to ask ourselves questions, but throughout the entire article, young people are encouraged to reflect by asking questions that help them examine themselves.

It's also very interesting to note how frequently the article encourages young people to perform self-exams. It mentions that this could be done roughly every month, indicating that it should be a regular practice. Of course, we don't have to wait until we're pursuing further studies to do this. If we notice any of these warning signs, we should all take action, because life's circumstances change and this could happen to us at any stage.

The image shows a young man setting a good example because, although his computer screens are on and he may have homework or other things to do, his calendar is also full of activities. Even so, he is prioritizing spiritual matters and not performing them mechanically.

The picture shows an open Bible with notes, indicating that the young man is reading and delving deeper into what he is studying in The Watchtower. In this way, he sets a good example by putting Jehovah's service first and not allowing additional studies to take precedence.

ILLUSTRATION

A brother looks up Bible texts while studying an article from "The Watchtower" in depth.

Do not let your studies take precedence over your service to Jehovah. (See paragraph 6.)

PROTECT “YOUR ABILITY TO THINK”

7. While pursuing your further studies, what ways of thinking should you be wary of?

While pursuing my further studies, I must be wary of ways of thinking that do not accord with Jehovah’s principles, such as “false philosophies and reasoning,” including atheism and evolution. I must also avoid developing a self-reliant attitude, believing that success depends solely on my own abilities.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Colossians 2:8 speaks of false and empty reasoning based on the elementary things of the world. Atheism and evolution are examples of reasoning that can contradict biblical teachings. Furthermore, within classrooms, our sense of justice can be appealed to, and political ideas—which can also be false and empty reasoning—can be subtly introduced.

One of the world's prevailing ideas or philosophies is that one should rely solely on oneself, one's accomplishments, and one's own efforts. However, Bible teaching contradicts this way of thinking, because we should always put Jehovah first.

A sister who studied at university commented that one of the biggest challenges she faced was competition. Her father, who was not a Witness, had forced her to study, and at university she was taught to constantly compete. The problem she had was that when she arrived at the Kingdom Hall, she found a completely different environment, where that competitive spirit didn't exist. So, the question is: how can we balance what we've learned and prevent the world's views from influencing our thinking?

8. Why is it important to “protect your ability to think”? (Proverbs 5:1, 2).

It is important to “protect our ability to think” because Satan and his world try to influence our thinking in order to weaken our faith. The world’s ideas about moral standards, the origin of life, or the existence of God may seem very wise, but they contradict Jehovah’s way of thinking.

Therefore, it is important to carefully analyze what we hear and allow the Bible to guide our thinking, remembering that “the wisdom of this world is foolish to God.”

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We need to protect our ability to think because something is trying to attack it. The way of thinking in this world, especially for those pursuing further education, can be very different from Jehovah’s way of thinking. That is why they need to be better prepared to protect their thinking and keep it in harmony with Jehovah’s principles.

It is interesting that, in 1 Peter 5:8, Peter does not simply say that Satan is a lion, but a roaring lion. A lion’s roar can paralyze or disorient its prey. Similarly, Satan tries to fill us with fear or pressure, such as the fear of not succeeding, of being different, of not fitting in, or of missing out on opportunities because of obeying Jehovah. If we do not protect our ability to think, we could begin to make decisions based on those fears instead of trusting in Jehovah.

We also want to think like Jehovah. Jehovah’s wisdom is superior to that of the world. As the text says, to God the wisdom of this world is absurd. Therefore, if we protect our ability to think and strive to think like him, we can prevent any influence of this world from affecting us.

9. What can you do to protect your ability to think?

We can protect our ability to think by strengthening our convictions before beginning further study. To do this, it is helpful to ask ourselves why we believe in God, why we are certain that the Bible is His Word, and what convinces us that His moral standards are superior to those of the world.

It is also helpful to learn from past experiences, identifying situations that have tested our faith and considering how we can strengthen it. In this way, we will be better prepared to reject ideas contrary to the truth and continue to be guided by Jehovah's principles.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Before beginning their studies, they should ensure they are convinced of their beliefs and have a solid foundation. For example, they should be certain they truly believe that God exists, that the Bible is the Word of God, and that the moral standards presented in the Bible are good.

Another question is: “Did I find it difficult to resist the temptation to imitate some of the bad things my classmates did?” If, in the midst of all this turmoil, we think about what we can learn from the past and reflect on whether we could have done something differently, we can identify how to improve and strengthen ourselves so that similar situations don't happen again.

The note speaks of not being deceived by worldly wisdom. It analyzes aspects such as sexual immorality, our self-perception, and pride. If we analyze this information along with the questions that appear in the paragraph, we can gain insight into our spiritual condition.

If, in examining ourselves, we find any cracks, we can correct them before facing situations that could expose us to thinking as the world thinks and not as Jehovah thinks.

When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, he spoke of some men who despised what was holy and were leading others astray. In 2 Timothy 2:18, he mentions that they were ruining the faith of some. Therefore, it is very important for young people to protect their ability to think critically so that their classmates do not weaken their faith.

The first three questions are closely related. They all seek a reason or basis that convinces us; that is, they help us find the motives behind our beliefs. Furthermore, these answers serve as a foundation for the other teachings we hold. Having clarity on these points greatly helps us when defending our beliefs. On the other hand, for those born into the truth, it can mark a turning point, because it allows the truth to truly become theirs.

10. What can you do to continue protecting your ability to think?

To continue protecting my ability to think, I must regularly examine myself and ask myself if the world's ideas are beginning to influence the way I see things.

For example, I can ask myself: “Do certain lifestyles no longer seem so bad to me?”, “Am I able to detect empty philosophies?”, and “Am I still fully convinced that only the Kingdom of God can solve humanity’s problems?”

Furthermore, I must continue to study the Bible and meditate on it, because being a good student of God's Word is the best antidote to doubt.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The pressure isn't going away, because it comes from Satan's system. That's why it's important that we continue doing what we did before we started studying: making sure we are convinced of biblical truths.

We must put into practice what 1 Timothy 4:15 says: to keep reflecting on these things and dedicating ourselves fully to them. If these truths constantly occupy our thoughts, there will be no room for doubts to arise.

The paragraph literally says that he must continue studying the Bible, meditating on it, and being a good student of God's Word. That is the best way to remain a good Christian and strive to be a good student.

If we're already immersed in these studies, and perhaps a few months have passed, the questions raised are very timely. After spending time with our classmates, we should ask ourselves: "Is their lifestyle affecting me? Am I able to recognize when something taught in this course is just empty philosophy?"

It is very important to continue doing self-assessments as our studies progress, to evaluate how we are being affected by both the teachings we receive and the influence of our peers.

MANAGE YOUR TIME WELL

11. While pursuing your further studies, what should you be careful about when managing your time?

While pursuing my further studies, I must be careful with my time management so that academic demands, especially during exam periods or project deadlines, don't cause me excessive stress or lead to burnout. Therefore, it's important to organize my time well and take care of my physical and emotional health.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The most important thing is to learn how to manage your time well. Otherwise, you could become overly stressed or even burnt out. That's why it's so important to take care of your physical and emotional health.

It's quite normal for additional studies to be very time-consuming. Therefore, during exam periods or when a project is due, this can also affect physical and emotional health.

12. What activities will you need to include in your schedule? (Ephesians 5:15, 16).

To make good use of my time, I must include all important activities in my schedule and maintain a good balance. Although my studies will require time and effort, I must prioritize my spiritual needs, such as attending meetings, preaching, personal study, and prayer.

I also need to set aside time for my family and fellow believers, fulfill my family and work responsibilities, exercise, and get enough rest. This way, I can manage my time well and avoid neglecting important aspects of my life.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Of course, spiritual activities come first, but we must also consider family activities and take care of our health. Taking time to rest is also essential for overall well-being.

The text of Ephesians 5:15-16 speaks of making the most of our time. Therefore, it emphasizes the importance of balance in all aspects of life. If we neglect one area to focus on another, we can lose our equilibrium. It's like building a house: if it has uneven ground or an unstable foundation, it won't stand.

Even though they have to study hard, as Proverbs 18:1 says, isolating themselves will not be good. Therefore, they should do what Psalm 133:1 mentions: it is very good and pleasant to be with the brothers. Although they may not find brothers of their own age, that should not be a hindrance, because in the congregation they have many brothers of different ages. The most important thing is that they all have something valuable in common: they love Jehovah. Furthermore, they should continue to put Jehovah’s service first.

As Matthew 6:33 says, we must first keep seeking the Kingdom and the righteousness of God. Then we will receive everything else as an added blessing.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 speaks of the importance of rest and avoiding overwork. The truth is, if we are stressed and exhausted, we will not be able to face these challenges. Therefore, it is best to make time to rest, practice a sport we enjoy that helps us unwind, spend time with our brothers and family, and pour out our hearts to Jehovah through prayer. All of this will help us to better face challenges.

We have many activities to deal with. That's why it's important and necessary that we learn to use our time well, giving each thing its due time and, above all, making sure that our priorities don't change.

13. What can you do to make the most of your time?

To make the most of my time, I can make plans and create a realistic schedule before starting my additional studies. It's also helpful to analyze how I managed my time previously, what I could have done better, and what changes I can make to improve. This way, I can take ownership of my time and prevent activities and responsibilities from controlling my life.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The Bible says in Proverbs 21:5 that the plans of the diligent worker yield good results. Therefore, before beginning your studies, it is important to create a realistic schedule.

The article briefly highlights the importance of time management, the obstacles we'll have to overcome, and five helpful tips, along with advice from other young people. All of this aims to help us organize ourselves effectively, especially when we're pursuing additional studies and have less time available.

Proverbs 21:5 reminds us that the plans of the diligent worker will prosper. So, before we begin studying, it's important to create a good, realistic schedule so that, as the paragraph concludes, we are in control of our time. Let's strive to be masters of our time so that time doesn't become masters of our lives.

The article “How can I better organize my time?” mentions five very important points. One of them is preparing a list of mandatory tasks and another of things we want to do in our free time. It also highlights the importance of creating a plan and sticking to it, and finally, rewarding ourselves when we have finished everything important.

At the beginning of the article “How can I better organize my time?” time is compared to money. It mentions that if we waste it, we won't have enough when we need it; but if we invest it wisely, we'll have free time to do the things we enjoy. That's why creating a good plan is so important.

14. What questions should you ask yourself?

It's a good idea to do a self-assessment every now and then and ask myself: "Does my schedule allow me to exercise and rest enough? Do I have time to be with my siblings? Am I turning in my assignments on time? If I'm not, is it because I have too many responsibilities or because I'm leaving everything to the last minute? Would my friends and family agree with my answers?"

These questions will help me identify if I need to make changes to my schedule or be more disciplined in managing my time. I can also ask for advice from people who are good role models in time management.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

For example, ask yourself if your schedule is allowing you to exercise and rest enough, and also if you have enough free time to spend with your siblings.

We can also ask ourselves, "Am I able to submit my assignments on time?" If not, we should analyze whether it's because we have too much to do or because we leave everything to the last minute.

In Proverbs 11:14 we see two important expressions: one indicates that when there is no expert guidance the people fall, and the other shows that when there are many counselors things turn out well.

To avoid being guided solely by our personal desires, it's important to seek the opinions of family and friends. For example, if someone is asked, "Do you get enough rest?" and replies, "Yes, three or four hours of sleep is enough for me," they might need to reconsider that habit, as it's not a healthy one.

We could also apply this if the young person is struggling to organize their plans. In that case, they can ask for advice from others who are good at time management, observe how they do it, and learn from them.

“WALK WITH THE WISE”

15. While pursuing your further studies, what should you be careful about?

While pursuing my further studies, I must be mindful of the influence of my classmates. Although I may have things in common with them and spend many hours together, we don't necessarily share the same values.

If I spend too much time with people who don't respect Bible principles, I could begin to see their attitudes, their way of thinking, or their actions as normal. I must remember that “bad company corrupts good character,” as 1 Corinthians 15:33 states.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Because of the relationships we have with our classmates, we'll be sharing a lot with them during that time. They might invite us to do activities together, but we need to be careful, because they don't share our same values, ways of thinking, or tastes.

Often, classes will be five days a week, perhaps eight hours a day. That's a lot of time spent with people who don't think like us or who don't serve Jehovah. So why would we want to spend more time outside of class with people who might be a bad influence on us and who won't encourage us to serve Jehovah more?

The way our colleagues think can also influence us at work. That's why, as 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived. Bad company corrupts good character.”

The brother mentioned in the paragraph spent more than 40 hours a day studying with his classmates and, over time, he stopped thinking the way he used to and began to think like them. This was reflected in his taste in music, his obscene language, and other things that Jehovah disapproves of. Of course, we must be very careful about the influence that those around us can have.

16. What does Proverbs 13:20 teach us?

Proverbs 13:20 teaches us that the people we associate with can influence our thinking and actions. If we choose the friendship of wise people who love Jehovah, we can learn from them and strengthen our spirituality. Therefore, we should seek the company of those who want what is best for us and help us to stay close to Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It teaches us that if we associate with fools or bad company, as mentioned in Proverbs 13:20, that is, with people who do not share our values, we will end up badly by letting ourselves be influenced by their way of life or their bad habits.

The text of Psalm 119:63 tells us: “I am a friend to all those who fear you and to those who obey your commands.” This shows us an important requirement for the friendships we want to have: that they be people who respect Jehovah and strive to obey his commands.

A beautiful piece of advice is found at Psalm 101:6, which says: “My eyes will be on the faithful ones in the land, so that they may live with me. The one walking blamelessly is the one who will serve me.” So, as young people, we can talk with older brothers and sisters who have lived in the truth for many years and ask them how they have seen Jehovah’s hand in their lives and decisions. Such firsthand experiences can help us to maintain our integrity when facing an environment like that of a university.

17. What can you do to avoid bad company?

To avoid bad associations, I can decide in advance what boundaries I will set in my relationship with my study partners. While I should treat them with respect and get along with them, they don't need to become my close circle of friends if they don't share my spiritual values. I can also analyze what I did in the past, what I could improve, and resolve to keep walking “with the wise,” seeking the friendship of those who love Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It's important to set boundaries in your relationships with classmates. As Brother Trenton says, he gets along with everyone, but he doesn't spend time with them after school. That way, he understands that he treats them as classmates, but they aren't part of his close circle of friends.

The note makes it clear that, for better or for worse, we will end up resembling the people with whom we spend the most time. Therefore, if we spend too much time, or more than we should, with people who do not share our spiritual values, we could drift further and further away from Jehovah.

18. What is a good question to ask yourself? (See also the image).

It is good for me to examine myself periodically and ask myself: “Is my relationship with my colleagues becoming too close? Am I being influenced by their way of speaking, thinking, or acting? Would Jehovah approve of my responses?” These questions will help me identify if any negative influence is affecting my friendship with Jehovah.

If I notice that something is starting to harm me, I need to make changes right away and make sure that my closest friends are people who love Jehovah. I can also take the opportunity to talk to my coworkers about the truth and help them draw closer to Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Sometimes it's good to reflect, because, without realizing it, by analyzing our attitudes we can discover if we are going astray. Questions such as, “Is my relationship with my companions becoming too close? Would Jehovah approve of my answers to these questions? Is my way of speaking, thinking, or acting becoming contagious?” can help us examine ourselves and correct any necessary aspects.

It is striking that this self-examination no longer asks whether our friends or family would agree, but instead directly considers Jehovah: whether he would agree with our answer. This is because many things may not be visible to others.

Others cannot know if our relationship with Jehovah is weakening or if our way of thinking is changing. That is why it is so good to reflect on Psalm 11:5 and be honest with ourselves, because Jehovah wants us to be happy.

In the image, we see how the sister is taking advantage of the opportunity to share her testimony and preach to this young woman. This is a territory that, as the paragraph states, is only accessible to young people who are studying. So it's important that they make good use of this opportunity, because it can yield very positive results.

As the paragraph concludes, in the image the sister is taking advantage of her unique position, because this companion already knows her. There is no initial barrier; the young woman knows she is a normal person, like anyone else, and this helps her a lot when preaching to her.

ILLUSTRATION

A sister shows the tract "Is God pleased with all religions?" to her cosmetology classmate.

Don't hesitate to preach to your colleagues. (See paragraph 18.)

PREPARE YOURSELF WELL

19. Before you begin your further studies, what can you do to prepare for potential challenges? Give an example.

Before I begin my further studies, I can prepare myself by strengthening my faith, putting on “the full armor that God gives” and being clear about what my true goal is: to give glory to Jehovah with everything I do, not simply to obtain riches or recognition.

For example, before starting a hike, a good hiker needs to be well prepared: making sure they have the right clothes, are in good shape, and, above all, know exactly where they want to go. Similarly, we should make sure we are well prepared and keep in mind that our main objective is to serve Jehovah and give him glory in everything we do.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Like the example of the good hiker, who knows that before starting his route he has to be well prepared.

Before you begin, you must ensure you have strong faith, as we discussed in the article. You must also put on your full armor to combat a lack of faith and be clear about the goal behind your studies.

We must remember that it is not about getting rich or achieving importance in this world, but about giving glory to Jehovah and using studies as a means to continue serving him.

20. How can you put into practice the advice “Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are standing firm in the faith”?

I can put into practice the counsel “Continue to examine yourselves to see whether you are standing firm in the faith” by regularly examining myself. I should ask myself if I am maintaining a good schedule of spiritual activities and if I am protecting my ability to think so that I am not influenced by the wisdom of this world. In addition, I can ask myself if I am managing my time well and if I am seeking the friendship of the brothers and sisters while avoiding bad company.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Asking themselves from time to time whether they maintain a good program of spiritual activity, whether they protect their ability to think, whether they manage their time well, and whether they seek the friendship of the brothers instead of the company of the world.

One striking aspect of this article is that, after each reflection or self-examination, the question is posed: “Do my friends and family agree with my answers? Would Jehovah agree with my answers?” This helps us to be more honest and sincere when we conduct this self-examination.

BEFORE YOU START FURTHER STUDIES, HOW CAN YOU MAKE SURE YOU WILL CONTINUE DOING THESE THINGS?

Maintain a good program of spiritual activities.

Before beginning further studies, I can ensure that I maintain a good program of spiritual activities by setting my priorities in advance. I must remember that I am first a servant of Jehovah and then a student.

Therefore, I need to plan how I will continue attending meetings, participating in the preaching work, and doing my personal Bible study. It is also good to analyze what helped me in the past to maintain these activities in the first place and what changes I can make to improve.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

There is a phrase mentioned in the article: “Jehovah comes first.” Therefore, we must remember that we are first and foremost servants of Jehovah, and then students; never the other way around.

Protect “your ability to think”.

Before embarking on further studies, I can ensure I protect my ability to think by strengthening my convictions. To do this, I must ask myself why I believe in God, why I am convinced that the Bible is His Word, and why I consider His moral standards superior to those of the world.

Furthermore, I must prepare myself to confront ideas that could weaken my beliefs and continue studying and meditating on the Bible. In this way, I will be able to detect false reasoning and prevent the world's way of thinking from influencing me.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Protecting the ability to think involves strengthening one's convictions and ensuring one is convinced of one's own beliefs before beginning further study. The best antidote is to continue studying and meditating on the Bible.

Manage your time well and avoid bad company.

Before beginning further studies, I can ensure I manage my time well by creating a realistic schedule and setting priorities. I must remember that, while studies are important, attending to my spiritual needs must come first.

In addition, I need to dedicate time to my family, to my brothers and sisters in the congregation, to rest, and to taking care of my health. I can also analyze how I managed my time in the past and think about what aspects I can improve.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Prepare an activity plan, set boundaries, and establish priorities. We must be aware that friendships have an influence and, therefore, we must monitor them.

It is very important to remember this idea regarding our classmates: we have to spend time with them during classes; we have things in common because we have chosen the same subject, but they are our classmates and not our circle of friends.