Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

When people do wrong to us, what is the first thing we want to do to them? Usually, it’s not something good. But as Christians, we know that God loves us with an enormous love, and He also calls us to love others. Even when people do wrong to us, we do not have the right to do wrong to them. Why? Because we did wrong to God. We sinned against Him again and again, and we still do! Because God is the source of all goodness, He requires justice: payment for all the wrong we have done. Yet, because He loves us, God was willing to pay for our wrongs Himself by sending His own Son, Jesus, to die the death we all deserve. Jesus, who never did any wrong, let Himself be killed in our place; then He rose from the dead and defeated sin and death! When Jesus comes again, He will right every wrong, and whoever has put their trust in Jesus will live with Him forever. His forgiveness means that sin no longer separates us from God. So how do forgiven followers of Jesus live? When someone asked Jesus which of God’s commands is the most important, Jesus said, ââ¬ËYou must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ââ¬ËLove your neighbor as yourself’ (Matthew 22:34-40). And when He says neighbor, He means everybodyincluding our enemies (Luke 6:35). If we say, I love God but hate someone who is part of God’s family, we are not being truthful (1 John 4:20). Instead of hating, God calls us to do good to other people, especially those in God’s family (Galatians 6:10). At the very least, this means we don’t harm people. And at the very best, we create ways for everyone to be included as we follow Jesus alongside each other. Most of us have both positive and negative feelings toward the people we love. While it may not be easy to get along, we should always respect, encourage, and be kind to one another. Jesus said everyone would know that we are His disciples if we love one another (John 13:35). Love is important for everybody and anybody. God loves the whole world (John 3:16), and as Jesus’ forgiven followers, we have His Holy Spirit in us, empowering us to love people like God loves us. When our hearts are full of God’s love, there is no room for hate. Jendayi Owens When is it hard for you to love others? How might remembering God’s love for you, and for the people around you, help in these times? We love each other because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NLT) Read Verses: Galatians 6:1-10; 1 John 4:19-20

I think of Andrew, Peter’s brother, as a seeker. When Jesus told His disciples to give the crowd of over five thousand people something to eat (Matthew 14:16), Andrew looked for a solution. I imagine him saying, Jesus, here is a lad with five barley loaves and two fish. Not enough to really feed this crowd. But Andrew pointed the boy out anyway. When they offered Jesus what they had, He multiplied the food to be more than enough! Sometimes, the things God wants to do seem impossible to us, but when God invites us to do something for Him, He provides a way. God gave me the desire to write for Him. I discovered words are powerful, so I learned to listen to people’s stories people like my friend Jane, who loved rainy days. Jane’s husband was a farmer, and rainy days were his days off. When it rained, they got to go to town together. Jane was always prepared to go if it rained. Her story reminds me of Andrew. When Jesus said to him, Come, follow me, Andrew dropped what he was doing and followed Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20)! I also learned to listen for God’s voice speaking to me. When I read the Bible, I am in awe of Jesus and how He told stories that still speak to people’s hearts today. But Jesus didn’t just tell stories He is the hero of the entire story of the Bible. He came to rescue us through His death and resurrection. And now, He invites us to follow Him and take part in His amazing story. In my own life, I wanted to tell people about Jesus, but I used to be terrified to speak to almost anyone who was not my family. So God provided people who helped me overcome my shyness, allowing me to speak and write for God. When God asks us to do something for Him, He will provide the training. As we rely on Him and seek His wisdom, He prepares us for what He calls us to do. Jesus never really sends us out empty-handed. Anna M. Gregory Do you feel like God is inviting you to do something to share His love? How might God be providing ways for you to do what He’s calling you to do? How can you set aside time to seek God in His Word? Who are trusted Christians who can help you discern God’s wisdom and encourage you to follow Him? And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT) Read Verses: John 6:1-15; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Peter 1:3

If you grew up in church, it can be easy to take God’s Word for granted. And sometimes, the Bible can seem like just a bunch of weird stories and rules that make life boring. But the Bible is indeed special; this book is God speaking to us! God inspired people who listened to Him so that they wrote what He wanted to say. The Bible is the words of God Himself, and because this book is God speaking to us, it is a unified whole. Think about this: the Bible was written over a period of time of about 1,500 years by more than forty different authors. These authors came from various occupations, such as David (a king), John (a fisherman), Matthew (a tax collector), and Daniel (a prime minister). These authors wrote in different places: in prison (Paul), in the desert (Moses and others), and in palaces (King Solomon). These pages were written on three different continents (Africa, Europe, and Asia) and in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). The contents of the Bible deal with many controversial subjects, yet the Bible is a unit. From beginning to end, there is one unfolding story of God’s plan of salvation for the people of the world and for the entire cosmos. The whole Bible works together to point to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christwho is the Word of God in human form. If you don’t think this is amazing, choose ten people from your local area who share the same background, all speak the same language, and have the same cultural thinking. Then sit them down and ask them to write their opinions on numerous controversial subjects, such as the meaning of life. When they have finished, compare what they wrote. Would they agree with each other? Probably not. The Bible did not have ten authors, but forty; it was not written in a day, but over 1,500 years. These writers had different educations, cultures, and languages. Yet, all the words of the Bible are in complete harmony and tell of a glorious and wonderful Creator God who rescues humanity from sin and offers eternal life in renewed creation. Doug Velting What are some examples of how the Bible is one unified story? If you can’t think of any, who is someone you could ask? Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4 (NLT) Read Verses: Romans 15:4; Psalms 119:9-11; Hebrews 4:12

As a child of the eighties and a teen of the nineties, I’ve seen computers come a long way. My Granny was one of the only people I knew who had a computer in the late eighties and early nineties, and I was awed by the math and geography games I could play on it. To start the computer, Granny had to insert two different rigid floppy disks with the adeptness of a DJ, then wait for the computer to read one disk, translate it to the other side, and slowly warm up. On that old machine, I wrote stories and first imagined myself a real-life writer. I would love to be able to show my kids the games I played on that computer. Unfortunately, my modern-day laptop would have no way of understanding how to read one of those rigid floppy disks any more than I could converse with you in an ancient runic language. There’s gold in there, but I can’t access it or share it. If you know Jesus, as you grow in your understanding of Scripture, you may find yourself in a similar situation. All around you, you’ll see people struggling and despairing of hope, while you have a sure hope you can stand on, even when life is really hard. And that sure hope comes from Jesus. As you abide in Him and study His Word, you enjoy blessings like peace and wisdom. You ache to translate the riches you’ve discovered to people in such need, but it seems their operating systems are so dissimilar to yours, there’s no way to communicate. Ah, but with Jesus, there is always hope. God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). God’s wisdom can only be revealed by His Spirit. He opens doors no one else can open, making it possible for people to understand the truthto put their trust in the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. As Jesus’ forgiven followers, we have His Holy Spirit inside us, who guides us as we seek God through Jesus. He knows what words and actions will be able to translate His love to different people. As Christians, we have the mind of Christ that can bridge those gaps and get truth to those desperate for it. And God promises to give wisdom freely to anyone who knows they lack it and simply asks (James 1:5). So let’s ask, then share. Rebekah Dorris Jesus is the source of true wisdom, and, if you know Him, He lives in you through the Holy Spirit. How might this knowledge affect the way you share the gospel? so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:5 (NIV) Read Verses: 1 Corinthians 2

Do you have a best friend? I do. She’s wonderful, and what’s awesome is she lives one door down from me! I’ve known her my whole life, but that doesn’t mean everything was always perfect. We’ve had many ups and downs, but we haven’t left each other’s sides. And for a long time, it was just me and her. She was the only best friend I had, and she is still my best friend But now, I have another best friend. His name is Jesus. When He was with His disciples, Jesus said, I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father (John 15:15). If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He calls us friends! Isn’t that amazing? Jesus, the almighty God of the whole universe and King of everything, wants us to be His friends! A friend can be defined as someone you share a bond of mutual affection with. “Mutual” isn’t a word that would describe a one-way relationship. In my opinion, Jesus has shown His side of mutual affection in our friendship in countless ways. The climax of Jesus’ affection was when He died a terribly gruesome death (a death we all deserved to die), and He rose from the dead to make a way for us to be in close relationship with God forever. It was all worth it to Him because He wants to be best friends with us. How do we live in friendship with Jesus and show our affection toward Him? Once we’ve put our trust in Jesusbelieving in His life, death, and resurrectionone way to express our love back to God is by talking with Him. It might feel weird at first, but try venting to Him. Literally tell Him everything going on with you. Yes, He already knows, but tell Him anyway. Admitting your struggles to God is often the first step toward relying on His strength and entering His rEsther He is a great listener. Talk to Him at any time, even if it’s not serious. (I’ve literally told Him about a really funny joke I heard.) Jesus wants the true you. He wants to be your best friend. And even though our friendship with Jesus is still different from our friendships with other people, and it’s hard that we don’t get to see Jesus in person, we can look forward to when Jesus will return and we’ll get to be with Him (in the flesh) forever! Lily Davito How is being friends with Jesus similar to being friends with a neighbor? How is it different? How has Jesus shown the kind of relationship He wants to have with us? Though you have not seen him [Jesus], you love him 1 Peter 1:8a (CSB) Read Verses: John 15:9-17; 1 John 4:7-21

When someone has mistreated or hurt us, it feels like we have a right to hate that person. Even if we know the Bible teaches we should forgive, sometimes we just don’t want to. One of the ways Jesus taught about forgiveness was by telling a parable where the king represents God and the servants represent us. The king in the story wants to make sure his finances are in order, and he discovers a servant owes him ten thousand talents. A talent is worth six thousand denarii. Since a working man received one denarius a day, one talent was equal to about twenty years’ wages. This servant owes ten thousand of these, a debt of over two hundred thousand years’ wages! It’s obvious the servant cannot pay back such an enormous amount of money. When the servant pleads with the king to be patient with him, what is the king’s response? The king has compassion and cancels the debt! Why would he do that? It is in the king’s character to be compassionate. Love and mercy are who the king is. Now, this servant whose massive debt has just been forgiven finds a fellow servant who owes him money. How much? A hundred denarii, or a hundred days’ wages. Did you notice that the second servant’s plea is the same as the first servant’s plea to the king? The first servant has the legal right to jail the second servant who can’t pay his debt, but does he have the moral right? That is the entire point of this parable. We owed a massive debt of sin to God, the holy King of everything. We could never pay back our debt. But God forgave our debt by paying it Himself: Jesus died on the cross for our sin, and He rose from the dead to give us new life! If we’ve put our trust in Jesus and received His forgiveness, He commands and equips us to show fellow sinners the same mercy He showed us. The sin others commit against us is incredibly small in comparison to Jesus’ mercy. And His Holy Spirit is in us, transforming us to become more and more like Jesus, the forgiving King. Once we receive forgiveness from God, we have no right to refuse to forgive others. Doug Velting Are you struggling to forgive someone? God sees your hurt, and it’s a big deal to Him because He loves you. It cost Jesus greatly to forgive you, but it was worth it to Him. How might remembering how Jesus forgave you and relying on His Holy Spirit help you forgive others? In some cases, after we forgive someone, we still need to have healthy boundaries with them. Who are trusted Christians you can talk to about when and how to put up loving boundaries? forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32b (CSB) Read Verses: Matthew 18:21-35

No other love we can experience will ever compare to the love Christ Jesus offers. We may get glimpses of love shown by others, but it will never compare to what Jesus has to offer. His love is so pure, strong, measureless, fulfilling, and satisfying. He completely understands us. He has provided for us when we fail. He always longs for us to be in relationship with Him. John 3:16 displays a simple yet profound layout of God’s love toward us. The world needed a Rescuer because God’s good creation was broken by sin when the first humans went their own way against God. When we were all hurtling toward death because of sin, God intervened. Because God loved the world He created, He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully human. Jesus willingly sacrificed His own life on the cross to forgive sin, and He rose from the deaddefeating all sin, death, and brokenness. Whoever believes in Christ Jesus will be saved and have eternal lifeliving with God forever. Believing in Jesus means putting our trust in the person of Jesus, with all that He has accomplished in His life, death, and resurrection. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are forgiven and free. And we can be sure that nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love, no matter what sin we’ve committed. God’s grace is enough; Jesus took the penalty for all our past, present, and future sins on the cross. And when Jesus returns, He will resurrect us from the dead and renew His creation! As believers in Jesus, we are forgiven, loved, and redeemedand this truth affects the way we live. Jesus said in John 8:36, So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. Christians aren’t slaves to sin anymore (Romans 6:15-23). Because Jesus’ Holy Spirit is in us, He empowers us to follow Him, saying no to sin and instead living in God’s good ways as His love overflows from us. But no matter how many times we fail, Jesus’ forgiveness is always enough to guarantee our eternal future with Him. Rebecca Miner The good news of Jesus is a wonderful mystery that God reveals to us through His Word. You can read more about the good news on our “Know Jesus” page. When we understand that we need the gospel, this naturally flows into a desire to share the good news with others! What opportunities might God be giving you to share the gospel? For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (CSB) Read Verses: John 3:1-21; 8:31-59; Romans 8:38-39; Romans 10:9-13

The Book of Ruth is known for the loving relationship between Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. But while these two women demonstrate both love and unity, there were barriers that Ruth and Naomi had to cross along the way. Looking at how they crossed these barriers can help us get a picture of how Jesus crossed every barrier to live in union with us. Now we, His church, can embody this unity with each other. Let’s take a look! The Family Barrier: Ruth and Naomi were related by marriagethey didn’t grow up in the same household. Their backgrounds and families were different. Like many of today’s blended households, they had to decide to think of one another as family. Naomi took the lead in this; in Ruth 1:11-13, she called Ruth and Orpah her daughters. Naomi saw them not as outsiders but as her own flesh and blood. Naomi’s inclusion of Ruth allowed them both to cross over the family barrier. Similarly, in Christ, we are God’s children (Romans 8:14-17)! The Cultural Barrier: Naomi was Jewish, and Ruth was a Moabite. Their respective countries were enemies, and their cultures were very different. But Ruth desired to be part of God’s people, and she embraced Naomi’s faith. This pictures the unity God’s people experience in Christ. We were enemies with God, but through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can live in unity with Him (Romans 5:9-11). Jesus has broken down cultural barriersand it’s a good thing too. Cultural diversity makes the body of Christ richer and should not be a barrier to love. The Age Barrier: Ruth and Naomi were a generation apart, but their bond could not have been closer. And we can see that Jesus doesn’t look down on young people either. He even welcomes children to Himself (Mark 10:13-16). In the church, cross-generational relationships can benefit old and young. Like Ruth and Naomi, age differences should be no barrier to love. Ruth and Naomi give us an example of how God’s love makes it possible for us to cross barriers to bring unity and understanding. And we can look to Jesus, who crossed every barrier to make a way for us to live in relationship with God and one another in perfect love and unity. Laura N. Sweet Does it seem easier to love people who are like you? Why may this be true? How do family, cultural, and age differences actually deepen and enrich our relationships? Where you go I [Ruth] will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth 1:16b (NIV) Read Verses: Ruth 1:8-18

Broken, I come now They are not sorry Broken, I come now They damaged me in the darkest way Broken, I come now Each day a new sorrow Broken, I come now Still living in pain Lord, heal my heart When no apology has been said Lord, heal my heart When the pain is deep Lord, heal my heart When the injuries are many Lord, heal my heart As I wait for Your return Emily Acker Because He loves us, Jesus made a way for us to be near God, the compassionate Healer. He came to be with us and identify with our hurt. He endured the cross and rose from the dead, offering forgiveness to all who put their trust in Him. He offers healing now, and when He returns, He will raise us from the dead and fully heal all hurts. Are you ready to come to Him? If you’ve experienced a deep hurt and need someone you can talk to about it, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. Psalm 6:4 (NIV) Read Verses: Matthew 11:28-30; Psalm 6:2-9

Maybe your parents just got a divorce. Maybe someone you love died. Maybe you moved and started going to a new school, and you miss your friends. Maybe you feel alone in your pain. We live in a broken world where bad things happen, and because bad things happen, we hurt and feel the emotional pain this sinful world brings. We may wonder why God doesn’t shield us from all these hardships. After all, God loves us, so why doesn’t He protect us from all this hurt? We may never know the answer before Jesus returns, but we do know that sin and all its effects (like pain, death, sickness, mental illness, and brokenness) entered the world when Adam and Eve first sinned (Genesis 3). So does God just sit in heaven not caring at all when we hurt because of humanity’s sin? No, no, no! God’s response to our sin, pain, and brokenness was to send Jesus, His perfect Son. Jesus, who is God, experienced everything it means to be human in this broken worldhurt, pain, rejection, and even death. Then He resurrected from the dead, totally defeating all sin, death, and brokenness! He sent His Holy Spirit to be in His forgiven followers, and He promised to return to renew this broken world and get rid of all sin and death, permanently. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you are God’s child. He loves you more than you can know. He is with you through your pain and the tough times of your life. God longs for you to depend on His comfort to bring you through the times of hurt. When we are hurting, sometimes God seems so far away. Even Jesus Himself felt abandoned by God on the cross (Matthew 27:46). But God has a great love and affection for you, and He has a deep desire to stand by you in your pain. God is a God of compassion and a God who comforts. Read the passages in 2 Corinthians again. These verses reveal that as God comforts us, He also equips us to comfort others. The most important thing we can do as Christians is to receive God’s love, especially through the body of Christ (fellow Christians), then overflow His love to others. In the same way, as we receive God’s comfort, we can comfort others. And we can look to Jesus, who knows firsthand about pain and suffering. Doug Velting Are you experiencing hurt right now? If you’re ready to bring your hurt to God in prayer, He is always ready to receive you. He longs for you to draw near to Him and be honest about your pain so He can comfort you and give you hope. Sometimes, the pain feels like it’s too much. Many people in the Bible experienced this, just take a look at Psalm 22. This psalm also anticipates Jesus and the pain He would endure because He loves us. How might it comfort you to know that Jesus suffered so He could be with us and, when He returns, remove all suffering forever? Often, God comforts us through other people. Who can you talk to about your hurt? If you’re not sure who to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 22; Matthew 27:45-50; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; 4:16-18

I feel them before I see them. They slither over my feet, wind their way up my jeans. Smooth yet sticky. Tendrils like tar that move like worms, like snakes. I try to pull them off, kick the tendrils away. But every time I shake one from my skin or my clothes, it whips back, clings tighter. The tendrils come faster. It’s like one great octopus has claimed me for its meal. More tentacles attach themselves to me. Grabbing my arms, worming between my fingers, slithering down my throat. I grab at them, desperate to breathe. My eyes widen in terror. Then I see something, through the tangle of tentacles. Someone. He’s not that far off, and He’s looking at me. A place deep inside me stills. All I know is I want to be closer to this man. The tentacles can sense something is different, and they cling all the more, jab me and pull me. But I can still see the man. He’s waiting for me. I lift one foot and take one step in His direction. Somehow, the tentacles can’t hold my foot anymore. I move my hand, reaching it forward, and the tendrils flee from my fingers. The remaining tar tendrils constrictI can feel them in my lungs. But strangely, I’m not afraid. The man speaks. Come. I can’t help but smile. As I start walking toward Him, the tendrils loosen and release. They slip off, unable to hold me the more I walk toward this man. They can’t come near Him. Now I’m running, running to this man who holds my gaze. His smile is contagious. I feel like laughing! He reaches out for me and pulls me into an embrace. Hannah Howe Today’s story is an allegory. Jesus, the Light, is stronger than any darknessevil, sin, temptation, addiction, fear all these latch onto us because we live in a world broken by sin and the enemy wants to destroy us. But Jesus came to set us free. His love, perfectly expressed on the cross, disintegrates all darkness. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He has rescued us! And He continues to help us as we wait for His return, when He will permanently banish all darkness. How do Jesus’ death and resurrection make it possible for us to be with Him and follow Him? (Take a look at our “Know Jesus” page.) What darkness are you facing today? How is Jesus inviting you to come to Him? The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV) Read Verses:

God is the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). He sees every tear we cry. He is always with us, even in the times when we feel alone. Many of the Psalms talk about heartache and pain. The psalmists cry out to God for help in times of weakness and fear. They testify that He gives comfort to the weary. And God knows what is on our hearts and minds all the time, even when we keep our feelings to ourselves. When we are sad about a loved one dying or being diagnosed with a sickness or disease, God knows about it, and He cares. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept with his sisters, Mary and Martha, even though He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11:35). When we are heartbroken because of a broken relationship, a lost opportunity, or any kind of pain, God knows about that too. And He groans along with us in our pain (Romans 8:26). Jesus, the Son of God, came because life isn’t supposed to be this way. As a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief, He carried our suffering (Isaiah 53:3-4). Because Jesus loves us, He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). And Jesus defeated sin and death when He rose from the dead so that we could be with Him forever! As we look forward to the day when Jesus will come back to heal all brokenness and wipe all our tears away, we are not alone. Jesus sends His Holy Spirit to be in all those who’ve put their trust in Him. And He calls the Holy Spirit the Comforter (John 14:26). God always knows what we are thinking and feeling. He knows about our disappointments and our greatest heartaches. God offers us comfort and peace in every moment. We can count on Him to be there for us through all the pain we face. Bethany Acker All of us experience heartache, yet we’re never truly alone. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can comfort you, mourn with you, and remind you that God is near even in the midst of suffering, sorrow, and loss? How can you extend the comfort Jesus has given you to those around you (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)? He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. Revelation 21:4 (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 116:1-9

Other people talk about dreams they have and plans they’ve made for their future. I listen to them and I wonder “what is my plan? What do I really want for my life? Is there some big goal I am trying to reach?” It makes me feel scared and disappointed when I realize that I don’t have exciting plans like others do. Maybe you feel the same way. But regardless of where we are in our lives or how much we have planned out, we can know that God has a plan for us. God sees our futures, and He knows every detail about how our lives are going to look. Through every high and low, God will be with us. And if we’ve put our trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we can know our eternal future with Him is secure. While it can be exciting (and wise) to plan for the future, I don’t have to worry about making my own plans. I can lean into God’s plan for me. He’s better at the whole planning thing anyway, and I can trust that He is always working to bring about good. A life devoted to Him will be meaningful, no matter what it looks like. Ultimately, my identity is not in my plans but in Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). As you get closer and closer to adulthood, people may ask you about your plans. If you have no other answer for them, it’s ok to say you’re not sure, but you’re asking God to guide you and help you honor Him with your plans. And it’s a relief to know that you can follow God right now, right where He’s placed you, knowing that Jesus is with you. God guides with future plans even as you make the most of every opportunity in front of you today. Emily Acker Do you have lots of plans for your future? Are you not even sure what you’re going to be doing next week? Somewhere in between? God loves you no matter what kind of planner you are! And, as a forgiven follower of Jesus, you are an important part of His kingdom. How might it comfort you to know that God knows your future and will always be with you? In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) Read Verses:

When I was working at a bank, a lady came to the door. I tried to explain that the inside doors were shut but she could still go through the drive-up. She didn’t understand what I was trying to say. She left, not knowing she could’ve done what she came to the bank to do. I felt horrible. I thought, “I should have opened the door and made sure she understood before she left! I failed.” But God still loves me when I fail. And I’m not the only one. Peter failed many times. He even denied Jesus before they hung Him on the cross. Three times Peter denied he even knew his Savior, and Jesus still took Peter back into the fold. After Jesus rose from the dead, He assured Peter that He still loved him and wanted him to do the work God set for him to do. Jesus told Peter, Feed my sheep (John 21:17). Jesus wanted Peter to continue to show His love to others, telling people how much Jesus loves them and how He gave His life for them. As a forgiven follower of Jesus, I want to help others understand how much He loves them. Jesus wants everyone to put their trust in Him, to come in and become part of His family, and to live and reign with Him forever. And there are so many who still haven’t come in. Every single one of us has failed. But no matter how bad the failure, Jesus still has plans for our good (Romans 8:28). Jesus’ death and resurrection are enough to cover all our sins, and because He is so amazingly good, He can even use our failures as opportunities to show His love. When you fail, Jesus still loves you, and He still wants you. Every time you fail, Jesus wants to bring you close to Himself, reassure you of His love, and empower you to be part of the good work He is doing. Anna M. Gregory What failures are you mourning right now? How does Jesus comfort us in these times? If you know Jesus, you are not defined by your failures. Your identity is found in Jesus and His death and resurrection. When you start believing the lie that you are defined by your failures, who are trusted Christians who can remind you of the truth? It is because of Yahweh’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn’t fail. Lamentations 3:22 (WEB) Read Verses:

We train for lots of things in our lives. We might train to play an instrument or train to get a good grade on a test at school or train to win a race. I ran track for two years in high school. I left practice exhausted, but I felt stronger. The physical training was good for me, even on the days when I didn’t feel like moving. I love Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 4, as he writes to the young pastor Timothy. Paul reminds Timothyand, in doing so, reminds usthat while physical training is of some value, it’s nothing compared to godliness. No matter how strictly we stick to our workout schedules or to our other training, our muscles, endurance, and skill will eventually fade. But when we train our hearts and minds in Jesus Christ and His life, death, and resurrection, we remember the promises He’s given us for this life and the one to come. And this spiritual training has value that will never pass away. But how do we train our hearts and minds in Jesus’ promises? First, we have to realize that growth is possible only through the work of the Holy Spirit. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in us and transforms us to be more and more like Jesus. He empowers us to pursue godliness instead of sin. But if we do sin, Jesus’ forgiveness still holds true (1 John 2:1). There’s no picture-perfect workout plan to help us pursue godliness, but God’s Word is filled with instructions on how we can live more like Jesus. In 1 Timothy 4, Paul reminds us to receive God’s creation with thanksgiving. To nourish ourselves on the truths of the faith by diving into God’s Word. To serve those around us. To love those on the outskirts of society. So let’s train for the promise, knowing God will be with us every step of the way, in the present life and in the life to come. Becca Wierwille What are some things in your life that you spend a lot of time training for? How is that training similar to training for godliness? How is it different? Take another look at today’s Bible passages. What examples can you find for ways we can train our hearts and minds to be more like Jesus? Who encourages you to pursue godliness in your life, reminding you of the truths of the gospel? Who can you encourage with these same truths? For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV) Read Verses: Philippians 4:4-9; 1 Timothy 4:1-10; 2 Peter 1:5-11

When you feel like giving up, where do you look for inspiration to persevere? The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians by an unknown author. The audience was struggling to keep their faith amidst persecution, and some of them thought that the laws and sacrifices of their old faith were easier than following Jesus. Hebrews reminds readers that Jesus is greater than anything else and encourages us to persevere, because following Jesus is worth it. The writer starts by reminding us that Jesus is greater than anything else, comparing and contrasting Him to the Old Testament laws and sacrifices. The sacrifices covered the sins of the people and allowed them to enter God’s presence, and the laws taught the people how to live in God’s good ways. But no one could follow the law perfectly; it only revealed our sinfulness. The sacrifices covered sins temporarily but couldn’t take sin away permanently. Jesus, on the other hand, is greater than the temple and the Old Testament law (Hebrews 9). He followed the law perfectly, and He died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice to wash away our sins. Since Jesus rose again to life, His sacrifice is for everyone who puts their trust in Him, allowing us to be with God forever! The author of Hebrews then lists many Old Testament heroes of faith (Hebrews 11). These people were sinful like us, but they trusted God and persevered even when it was hard and even when they didn’t understand God’s plan. Hebrews concludes with a call for us to persevere. None of these heroes saw God’s promise of salvation fulfilled, but we live knowing that Jesus has gained the victory! Therefore, we can persevere by keeping our focus on Jesus. No matter what struggles you’re facing, God is faithful. His promises are unshakable (Hebrews 12:28). He is greater than our problems, and He is with us in the midst of our struggles through His Holy Spirit, His Word, and His people. Jesus is greater than anything. Abby Ciona If you know Jesus, His sacrifice is enough to cover all your sinspermanently. He has made you holy in God’s eyes. How is His sacrifice greater than the sacrifices in the Old Testament? What makes it possible for us to persevere in our faith (Hebrews 12:1-3)? Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NIV) Read Verses:

When God created the first humans, Adam and Eve, they didn’t criticize each other. They were content to love each other without making judgments. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the world, appearances began to matter. They were ashamed of their bodies. We see this fixation on appearance throughout human history. The account in 1 Samuel 16 is a great example. When God told the prophet Samuel that He had chosen a new king of Israel, Samuel probably had assumptions about what the new king would look like. The current king, Saul, was tall and handsomeand Samuel probably guessed the new king would be too. But when Samuel arrived at the house of Jesse of Bethlehem, God crushed those expectations. Seven of Jesse’s older sons passed before Samuel, but God didn’t choose them. God chose David, the youngest son. A shepherd boy was destined to be the future king of Israel. Generations later, when Jesus came (fully God and fully human) to live among us, He didn’t look very impressive either. Born in Bethlehem out of wedlock into a lowly family, Jesus had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him (Isaiah 53:2). Yet Jesus is the King of Kings who created His people (John 1:3) and loves them so dearly that He died and rose again so that they could be forgiven and live with Him forever. While we wait for Jesus’ return, we continue to deal with issues of appearance. So often we make assumptions about people based on appearances or what they seem capable of or how we feel about them. In truth, only God knows people’s hearts, and only the redeeming love of Jesus can break the cycle of judgment. All people have stories. All people have hurt that comes from living in a broken world. All people’s hearts long for redemption. As Christians, we can repent from judging others and instead rely on the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to look at the heart, like God does, so we can share His limitless love with those around us. Becca Wierwille When we’re tempted to judge others, how can remembering Jesus’ compassion toward us help us extend compassion to others? Have you ever experienced the judgments of others based on your appearance? How might knowing how God sees you give you comfort in that sort of situation? People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7b (NIV) Read Verses:

One of my favorite Bible passages is Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep. I’m amazed by the idea of a God who loves His children so much that He will leave the ninety-nine to chase down one. Just picture this story for a moment and imagine what you would do if you were the shepherd. You have one hundred sheep, and you lose one. Do you choose to leave behind the rest of your flockall ninety-nine sheepto pursue the one who is missing? If this were me, I don’t think I’d leave behind ninety-nine healthy sheep to chase after one sheep who may or may not still be alive. But the shepherd in Jesus’ parable goes after the lost sheep, carries it back on his shoulders, and celebrates its safe return with great joy. This parable is Jesus’ response to the Jewish religious leaders who muttered against Him for hanging out with notorious sinners, like tax collectors (who overcharged to fill their own pockets) and prostitutes. These people were rejected by the religious community, but not by Jesus. He says, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15:7). In correcting the religious leaders, Jesus reveals the heart of God. He always wants to save people who’ve gone their own way against Him, who’ve gotten lost. God longs for everyone to repent, to turn around and come to Him. That’s why He sent Jesusthe Good Shepherdwho rescues us sinners and brings us home to God. We all need Jesus, and if we’ve put our trust in His life, death, and resurrection, all heaven rejoices that we are His forever! And as Jesus’ forgiven followers, we get to follow Jesus’ example. Instead of shunning fellow sinners, we get to welcome those with messy, hurting hearts because Jesus longs to bring us all home. Because Jesus first loved us, we get to show overflowing grace and love to others! And when we are lost and hurting, Jesus will leave the ninety-nine to draw us back to Him and reunite us with the flock. Becca Wierwille Why did Jesus hang out with people who others rejected? (Check out Mark 2:13-17.) How does the strength of God’s love for you make it possible for you to love those around you? Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4 (NIV) Read Verses: Luke 15:1-7; John 10:1-21; 1 Timothy 2:4; 1 John 4:7-21

Breathing deeply, I ran along a dusty ridge at twilight. This strange planet was rocky and laden with traps. My commanding officer had warned me not to take shortcuts but to think clearly about where each path would lead. He said this trail’s end contained wormholes to other worlds; my training would help me choose wisely. I swerved around a boulder and saw a faint glow. Reaching the precipice, I skidded to a stop and discovered three large stone faces. Their mouths were taller than me, and their eyes glowed brighter as I neared. Welcome, friend, said the first face. Yearning for something? Tell me your desires. He smiled, showing a full set of stone teeth. Something inside me ached to step closer. The center face rolled her eyes at him, pulling my attention. Then she said to me, You’re too important to waste your time on him. I’ll give you a kingdom to rule. But the first face’s smile only widened. Is not the purpose of power to increase one’s pleasure? I specialize in human delights. I’ll take you where your cravings lead. Are you the wormholes? I asked. We are, the first face replied. So, what pleases you? Money? Love? Just step inside. He opened his mouth wide. The desire inside me surged stronger. You know nothing of love, the third face suddenly said to him. This new face squinted His eyes and looked at me. I have called you. I have a purpose for you deeper than yourself. Lame! called the second face. She spoke to me, His purposes will never cause people to envy your position and power. You want respect! You want to be worshiped! Choose me. Step through here. She opened her mouth. But I walked to the third face. What purpose do you have for me? I want you to be with me and enjoy me forever, for I am good. Following me means laying your own life down and serving others. In my kingdom, you will grow in wisdom and have steadfast peace, even when the trails are rough. Then, when the time is right, you will reign with me forever. He opened His mouth. A force started dragging me toward the first two faces. Help me, I begged the third face. Instantly, I entered His mouth and rode the wormhole to a new life. Michelle Cochran This story is an allegory of 1 John 2:15-17, which describes different types of temptations. As a human, Jesus faced all these temptations just like we do, but He never gave in (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus lived a life that honored God the Father and served others. He did not strive to make a name for Himself or bring Himself fleeting pleasure. He even chose death on a cross so our sins could be forgiven, and He rose from the dead to offer us new life. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, He has forgiven all your sin, and now His Holy Spirit is in you, helping you to follow Jesus. You will always have temptations in this world, but Jesus offers you the power to walk away from them and choose Him instead. What temptations are you facing today? How might knowing and memorizing the Bible help you recognize deception and sin? How might keeping our eyes on Jesus help us follow Him instead of giving in to temptations (Hebrews 12:1-3)? If you want to know more about what it means to put your trust in Jesus, check out our “Know Jesus” page. For consider him who endured Hebrews 12:3a (CSB) Read Verses: Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 12:1-3; James 1:13-18; 1 John 2:15-17

I. am here, Oh, my Maker, surrendered to You. Fill me with Your love in all that I do. I am here, my Defender, You save me from fear. Hold me in Your hand and wipe ev’ry tear. I am here, My dear Father, You hold me so tight. Keep me in Your arms. I’m loved in Your sight. I am here, Saving Stronghold, to praise Your great name. For by Your great grace You keep me from shame. Macy Lee God always loves us and is here with us, calling us to Himself. Through Jesus, we can respond to God. We can come to Him anytime and receive His help. Which of the above stanzas resonates with you today? Why? Look! I [Jesus] stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20 (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 34:4-9; Isaiah 6:8; Hebrews 4:16

Does the gospel affect how we treat the planet? I began wrestling with this question a couple years ago, and God has shown me so much of His goodness as I’ve sought Him. 1. This planet is good. God created everything with a purpose. He made this wonderful home for us, and we can live in it with joy. 2. We are called by God to be stewards of this good creationto reign over it with love and care. It’s one of the first commands given to humanity (Genesis 1:28)! 3. God cares deeply about how we treat His creation. In Leviticus 25:1-7, He commands Israel to give the land a sabbath rest every seven years, which means that His people would have to completely depend on Him while the land got a chance to rest, regrow, and replenish. Unfortunately, Israel disobeyed God’s good commands, and God sent them to exile in Babylon. And, in 2 Chronicles 36:20-21, we see that one of the reasons the Israelites were exiled was for God to give the land the sabbath rest the Israelites always denied it. God takes this seriously. 4. When Adam and Eve sinned, brokenness entered all of God’s good creation, bringing death, hardship, and suffering. But, through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, He brought salvation to all of creation. If we’ve put our trust in Him, He promises to resurrect us from the dead so we can live eternally with Him. Jesus will one day return to restore all of creationincluding His people! He will get rid of sin and all of its effects, like death, disease, and famine. This earth is where JesusGod in human fleshcame to dwell and make His home with us. Because of this, I’m learning how to care for this planet well. That’s what God calls all of us to dolove this place like He loves it and tend it out of joy and gratitude, not fear or guilt. Jesus’ work on the cross means we can work toward caring for creation well, even as we rest in the secure hope that He is the only One who can ultimately save the planet. Taylor Eising What is your favorite part of creation? How does it reflect God’s glory? When we care for creation the way God intended, it makes life better for everyone! It helps the ground produce more healthy food and plants create more oxygen for us to breathe. How does this show love to our neighbor? How can caring for the planet point others to Jesus? Then God blessed them and said, Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground. Genesis 1:28 (NLT) Read Verses: Genesis 1; Leviticus 25:1-7; 2 Chronicles 36:20-21; Revelation 22:1-5

Have you ever wondered why God created us with bodies? Why aren’t we just disembodied spirit creatures floating around everywhere? Why do we need bodies? We may never know the answer. But we do know that our bodies are important to Godotherwise, He wouldn’t have made us this way. He created us as bodies, He loves us, and He dwells in us through the Holy Spirit if we know Jesus. Think about that for a minute. Jesus came to earth as a body, died on the cross as a body, resurrected as a body from the grave, and ascended to heaven as a body. And if you know Jesus, the totally holy, all-knowing, all-powerful God of the universe dwells in your physical body. Not only that, but when Jesus returns, He will resurrect your permanent, everlasting body from the grave to live with Him forever in renewed creation. And if our bodies are as much us as our souls, and our bodies matter that much to Jesus, let’s consider what that means for how we treat our bodies. If Jesus loves us enough to die on the cross to resurrect usbody and soulthen it makes sense for us to love our bodies through: 1. Exploring and enjoying different nutritious foods. 2. Finding fun ways to move and strengthen and stretch our bodies. 3. Setting aside time to rest so our bodies can be restored. 4. Listening to the advice of medical professionals like doctors and therapists because God has given them wisdom and knowledge to help us be healthy. 5. Avoiding harmful substances. 6. Living out a gospel-centered sexuality that recognizes God’s intent for sex to be an expression of marriage between husband and wife. All these are acts of loving our bodies and worshiping the God who created and sustains us. They are reminders of God’s goodness, which He infused all of creation with. And they point us to Jesus, who promises to perfectly restore our bodies when He returns. Taylor Eising What kinds of healthy foods do you enjoy? What is your favorite kind of exercise? Since your body is not a container you live inside but is as much you as your soul is you, how might this affect the way you live? Why does it matter that Jesus cares about your body? I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 139:13-16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 15:20-26; 1 Timothy 4:8

Prayer is something Christians are called to do, and a lot of Christians comply without thinking. But what is prayer, and why do we do it? Usually when I think of prayer, I think of long phrases, gracious requests, and powerful missionary stories. If you’re anything like me, it’s hard to live up to that standard. But prayer is not just some chant that we recite, nor is it a formula where we have to say all the right stuff. Prayer is simply talking to God. Even if we already know this, we often turn prayer into something burdensome, or we go to the other extreme and just mark it off our checklist. But prayer is a special time of communication with God. A very personal and beneficial time. In Matthew 6, Jesus says our words don’t have to be anything fancy and God already knows what we need before we ask Him. But then, why ask? Why should we pray if God already knows what we need? It’s a bit of a mystery, but what we do know is that God responds to the prayers of His people. He invites us to depend on Him for small everyday things, huge concerns, and everything in between. When we pray, we recognize our dependence on God and experience relationship with Him, which He made possible through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. There are many reasons prayer is important, such as confessing our sins and saying thank you to God for all He has done, but one of the things that makes prayer so essential to a Christian’s life is that it provides a way for us to give our burdens to God. Our lives are often full of pain, injustice, and difficulties, but prayer reminds us that we are not alone. God wants us to come to Him as we arenot with flowery speeches, but with all of our frustrations, worries, and tears. The Psalms are filled with desperate pleas and angry cries, but the book of Psalms always circles back (as prayer often does) to what the psalmists know to be true: God is faithful, powerful, and full of compassion. Prayer reminds us of how great and wonderful God is and that we can put our trust in Him. Deami O. Have you ever felt pressured to pray a certain way or felt like your prayers weren’t as good as other people’s? Remember that you don’t have to talk a certain way or pretend to be something you’re not. God wants to hear anything you have to say, and He loves you just the way you are. What would you like to talk to God about today? Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) Read Verses: Matthew 6:5-8; Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 4:2

There are times in my life when I have hard thing after hard thing stacked on top of one another. I have something stressful going on with my work, and then I have a tense relationship with my family. I am sucked into all the bad news about the world, and then I also have a headache or a backache. Everything combines until it feels impossible to keep moving. In moments like these, I remember that I need to call out to God. I rely heavily on God’s comfort and guidance when everything in my life is adding up to be too much for me to handle on my own. I am so thankful that He invites me to put all my burdens on Himnot only when I’m overwhelmed but all the time. When I am stressed out or in pain, when I am physically or emotionally tired, He is there with me. God knows what I’m struggling with, and He cares. In fact, He cares so much about me that Jesus came all the way to earth, died, and rose again to save me. The new life Jesus invites me into is one of rest, relying on Him and submitting to His gentle and humble leadership. Because I have put my trust in Him, I know that I am never alone. His Holy Spirit is in me, comforting me and empowering me to follow Jesus. He never leaves my side, and He is waiting to carry my heavy load. There are good and bad moments in my life, as I am sure there are good and bad moments in your life. It is amazing to me that God stays the same through them all and He is always right there, waiting to help. Emily Acker When you feel like all the things going on in your life add up to be too much for you to carry, remember God doesn’t expect you to be able to handle it all by yourself. What are some practical ways you can make time to come to God in prayer and give your worries over to Him? One way God provides help is through other people (Galatians 6:2). Who are some people in your life you can turn to for help when you’re feeling overwhelmed? Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (WEB) Read Verses: Matthew 11:28-30

Do you want to serve God with your life but have questions about what that looks like? If so, you may be encouraged to learn about Susanna Wesley. She never published books or held a formal leadership position, but her daily work inspired and guided those around her, contributed to the growth of two prominent spiritual leaders, and helped spur on an entire revival movement. Susanna lived in England in the late 1600s. At age nineteen, she married a minister named Samuel Wesley. They had nineteen children, but nine of them died young. They also had very little money and many large debts, and their house burned down two different times. Despite these hardships, Susanna always worked hard to educate her sons and daughters. She wanted to ensure they would all know not only how to read and write but also how to love and serve the Lord. She wanted them to know the gospelto rest in the knowledge of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and to let that knowledge transform every area of their lives. Susanna’s children studied for six hours a day from the age of five. Each night she took one of her children aside for private discussions to encourage their spiritual growth. In a letter to her husband, Susanna wrote, I cannot but look upon every soul you leave under my charge as a talent committed to me under a trust. She saw the value in each of her children and devoted much time and energy to their upbringing. Susanna also took seriously her own relationship with God, setting aside time to read the Bible and pray alone with her kitchen apron over her head! As her children grew up, God worked in their lives in amazing ways. Her son John became a theologian and evangelist. Another son, Charles, wrote thousands of hymns. Churches still sing many of Charles’ hymns today, such as Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus and O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing. John and Charles Wesley also led a revival movement. If you feel discouraged about your ability to serve God, remember Susanna Wesley. You can serve with whatever talents you have, wherever you are, right now! Andi Potter List some things you love to do or are especially good at. How might you use these gifts to serve God and His people, today or in the future? Who is someone in your daily life, such as a classmate, coworker, or family member, who you could encourage or pray for today? And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 (NIV) Read Verses: Colossians 3:16-17; 1 Peter 4:10-11

Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books of the Bible, and Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 are some of my favorite verses. It’s true that Ecclesiastes can be a complicated book; however, its message has been one of the most helpful truths I have learned in my life. Before we can understand the point of Ecclesiastes, it helps to know a few things about its structure. The author remains anonymous, but the character who speaks during the majority of the book is an unnamed teacher. Some believe this teacher was Solomon, the son of King David, or someone adopting Solomon’s persona for teaching purposes. Whatever the case, it’s helpful to know that Solomon was the most prosperous king of Israel, amassing so much wealth that even silver was considered worthless (1 Kings 10:21; 2 Chronicles 9:20). Not only was Solomon incredibly wealthy, but more importantly, he was the wisest person to ever live. When God gave Solomon the opportunity to ask for anything, Solomon asked for wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15). So God blessed Solomon with more wisdom than anyone before him, and anyone since. The book of Ecclesiastes addresses the quest to find satisfaction. People chase after pleasure, status, wealth, careers but it’s all “hevel,” a Hebrew word meaning vapor or smoke; it’s all fleeting, impossible to grasp. Most of us feel like if we just had fill in the blank, then we would be happy. If I just had a career plan I loved, if my family just had more money, if I just had more friends, if I just had a boyfriend or a girlfriend, if I was just more successful then I would be happy. You see, Solomon had it all, and it still wasn’t enough. Ecclesiastes teaches that, while it’s good to find temporary satisfaction in the fruits of our labor, nothing in this world can ever ultimately satisfy our souls. True contentment comes only from living in right relationship with the Creator, and this is only possible through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. As Jesus’ forgiven followers, we can experience true joy, peace, and satisfaction in God. When we choose to respond to God’s love for us by putting our trust in Jesus and following His good ways, we experience contentment as a gift from God. Jonathon Fuller A posture of gratitude helps us enjoy God’s good gifts, like a beautiful day or a good meal shared with loved ones. How is a life of gratitude and contentment possible through Jesus? When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. Ecclesiastes 12:13 (CSB) Read Verses: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 5:18-20; Matthew 16:24-26; Romans 1:25

As a test pilot for spacecraft, I was in control. If the beryllium alloy hull became too hot, I knew how to cool it. If the inertial reference came out of alignment, I knew how to calibrate it. If toxic gases infiltrated the air system, I could run a detect and purge them. I studied each craft’s schematic, and I had a plan for every contingency. However, my personal life was crumbling like asteroids impacting the moon. How could I be promoted for my skills but fail at the rest of life? My relationships were falling apart, and I was falling further and further behind on my goals. The expanse of space with all its brilliant colors surrounded me. I was alone. Perhaps I could create a master plan for how to fix my life. Sheer will could solve problems, after all. Yet, much as I’d tried before, my life had never been perfect. Why did I think I could shape my life into what I wanted? Every time I fixed a problem, another one arose. Then I felt a presence around me, something bigger than me. Soft words spoke to my heart: “Will you trust me?” Who are you? I said. A warmth enveloped me. “Your Creator. I made these starry host, and I made you. I know your deepest needs.” Tears welled in my eyes. I couldn’t even identify my deepest needs. What do I do? “Trust me. Get to know me. Spend time with me. I will live in you and guide you step by step. I knew it had to be the God of the universe.” Yes, Lord. I felt a calmness in my core. I could never make my life perfect, but I could trust someone who controls the planets’ orbits to control my life. Michelle Cochran God is the Creator and Ruler of all. He created us out of love for relationship with Him. But because humans sinned and were separated from God, Jesus came to rebuild the relationship we destroyed. Now, we can know Him again. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, He offers us new life, different from and better than anything this broken world has to offer. The life He invites us into is one of humility. It’s not an easy thing to give someone else control and give up our own way. But God is here. He knows everything, and He understands your life. He is completely good, and He wants what is best for you (Romans 8:28). Are you willing to trust Him? What might it look like to spend time with God and get to know Him? Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) Read Verses: Proverbs 19:21; Matthew 16:24-26; Romans 8:5-11

READ: GALATIANS 6:1-2; EPHESIANS 2:1-10; 5:25B-27; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:11-20 Jada sat on the bathroom floor, sweating and scared, staring at the timer on her phone. She didn’t know how she would explain this after she got the results. How did we let things go so far? she thought. What happened to following God’s plan for sex and marriage? What will Zach say? The timer went off, and she reached up to grab the plastic stick from the counter. She had tried so hard not to look at it while waiting. Holding her breath, she examined the results. Wait a minute... She frowned, picking up the packaging the stick had come in. That means... All this stress... Jada drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Even if I’m not pregnant, what Zach and I did was still wrong. She hugged her knees and dropped her head down, choking back tears of shame and relief. Her mom knocked on the door, and Jada opened it without thinking. She fell into the arms of her mother—the one who had been there for her when her dad abandoned them and who had comforted her each night she had cried for him. Jada clung to her mom, ignoring the fact that she was going to see the test and know about all she’d done. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” Her mom rubbed her back. “Oh, sweetheart, we’ll figure this out. We’ll make a home for this baby.” “No... I’m not...” Jada tried to explain things, but her tears kept her from speaking. “We’ll figure this out,” Mom said. “God has shown grace to me many times, and He will show grace to you and Zach and your little one.” Jada squeezed her eyes shut. Grace? she thought. I don’t deserve grace. After a few minutes, Jada pulled back from her mom. “It was negative.” “Oh.” Mom’s brows lifted. “But it could have been positive, Mom,” Jada said quietly. “I am so sorry.” She stroked Jada’s hair and said, “Negative or positive, God’s grace is enough.” “You’re not mad?” Jada asked. “You told me about God’s design for sex and marriage, and I didn’t...” “God’s grace, Jada,” Mom said tenderly. “We all need His forgiveness. When we come to God, He is so willing to forgive, to restore what’s been lost and heal what’s been broken. What Jesus has done is enough to forgive all your sins, including this one. You’re still His. He loves you, and He doesn’t leave you, no matter what.” Grace. After all the shame. All the guilt. Could God really forgive me? Held there in her mom’s arms, Jada sensed God’s invitation to come and be held by Him. Grace sounded like just what she needed. • Emily Acker • Have you ever done something that caused you to feel a deep sense of shame? Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we see that God’s grace runs deeper than our shame. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are perfect in God’s eyes, all of our sin washed away (you can read more about this on our "Know Jesus" page). How could this truth free you to follow Jesus with love and joy? • God created sex to be the act of marriage—the total, permanent union of one man and one woman. And that union points to the union of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:25-33). How does the gospel affect the way you view sex and marriage? • If you’ve sinned sexually in any way and want to start over in following God’s good plan for sex and marriage, there is so much hope. Once you’ve put your trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, you’ve been washed clean of every sin, and the Holy Spirit is in you, equipping and empowering you to run away from every sexual sin—including lust (1 Corinthians 6:18; 10:13). If you are part of an unmarried...

Not every day of our lives is going to pass by without issue. We all know that. We know to expect trouble and that there are going to be times when life is really hard. Where is God when things start to fall apart? He is there in the drama. Some of us face issues with family members. They are constantly fighting with us, nothing we do pleases them, or they abandon us and we can’t even get in touch with them. Where is God when our own families are hurting us? He is there in the drama. Some of us have health issues that cause us to struggle, and we are always tired and never at our bEsther Some of us are scared about our futures and wonder how we will get by financially. We wonder why God isn’t making life easier. Where is God when we are suffering? He is there in the drama. God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, into this broken, messy, painful world to be with us. He lived through what we’re going through: family issues, intense suffering, and ridicule. While God might not take away all the mess we face until Jesus returns, He is right there with us as we walk through it. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, He gives us hope. As we struggle to figure out what moves to make, He has answers for us. Life on earth isn’t always going to be easy. We all know that. But God is there in all the drama. Emily Acker If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse or neglect, or if the situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. If you need someone to talk to but are not in need of immediate help, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. When life is really hard, how might knowing that God is right here in the mess with us through His Holy Spirit, His Word, and His people encourage us (Romans 5:3-5; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11)? The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (CSB) Read Verses: Psalm 23:4; 32:6-11; John 14:15-21; 16:33

Clean water is a vital component in keeping our lives functioning and healthy. We use it for so many things: quenching our thirst, cleaning our bodies, washing dirt from surfaces, and nourishing our crops. We travel over the surface of water to explore the earth or search for food. Our fruits and vegetables are mostly water. If you place a drop of clean water under a microscope, you can see it is teeming with the life that we all need. In John 4:10-14, Jesus spoke of living water as He stood by a well with a Samaritan woman. Just like the Samaritan woman, we all long to know how to have this living water that satisfies endlessly. Jesus never said or did anything without purpose, so what could He have meant by living water? Later, in John 7:38, Jesus talked about living water again and said, Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. When Jesus offered living water, He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, the reservoir of God’s life within us, who Jesus would give to His followers later. Jesus knew what He was doing when He used water as an example to reveal the abundant life He offers through the Holy Spirit. We need water to live. Without Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we would all die, alone in the desolation of our sin. But if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He quenches our spiritual thirst like a drink of cold water reviving us in an empty desert. This abundant life, this living water, is teeming with every good thing, just like that small drop under the microscope. It is not stagnant or full of harmful bacteria but is fresh and flowing as a mountain stream. God is the source of all good things. Jesus promised, To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life (Revelation 21:6). Like the Samaritan woman, all we need to do is put our trust in Jesus to accept His beautiful gift. Susan Sundwall It can be difficult to accept that we’re helpless to save ourselves from death, like a traveler stranded in a huge desert. It requires humility to receive help rather than try to earn our way out. How might it be freeing to know that God wants to give us life to the full, even though we can never earn it? (To find out more about this good news, check out our “Know Jesus” page.) What does the Holy Spirit produce in the lives of Christians who live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:22-23)? With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3 (NIV) Read Verses: John 4:1-26; 7:38-39; 10:10; James 1:17

I read this passage and was struck by how many ways Jesus refers to Himself as the bread of life. Take a minute to read John 6:28-58 and count how many times Jesus refers to Himself as bread or says that He should be eaten. How can Jesus be bread? How can we eat His flesh and drink His blood? It sounds cannibalistic. (Actually, one of the earliest criticisms of Christianity was because of a rumor that Christians were eating human flesh at their gatherings.) To understand Jesus’ teaching, it helps to look at the Old Testament. The temple sacrificial system called for a perfect animal with no blemish to be a blood sacrifice. Lambs, bulls, and even turtledoves (if the person was poor), were all brought to the temple alive, then sacrificed on God’s temple altar to atone for sin (Leviticus 9:1-4). God decreed the meat should be roasted and served as food for the priests as their portion (Leviticus 6:25-29). Because priests didn’t farm or make things to sell, the food from sacrifices gave them their nourishment, sustaining their life physically and pointing to life spiritually. Jesus, who was perfect with no blemish of sin, became our final sacrifice for sin when He died on the cross. In John 6, Jesus was expressing that He is like the manna that nourishes and gives life. Similarly, eating His body as bread when we take communion is akin to the temple priests eating animal sacrifices. We take in Christ’s body and blood poured out for us instead of an animal sacrifice. Jesus promises us: Whoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day (John 6:54). This is true because once we’ve put our trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, our sins have been atoned for. Christ substituted His own body for the animal sacrifice. His brutal death became an amazing and loving giftHis sinless body given for our sins. After Jesus died, He rose back to life, defeating sin and death completely! Now, communion is a beautiful reminder of Christ as the Lamb of God and the Bread of Life, who gave His life so we could live with Him forever. D. Robin Newman What did Jesus do right before He talked about being the Bread of Life (John 6:1-24)? What questions did people ask Him (John 6:25-31)? Does communion ever seem strange or irrational to you? What questions do you have? If you want to dig deeper, you can read more about communion in Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:1-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. John 6:51a (NIV) Read Verses: John 6:28-58

What shakes you? Peers? Pandemics? Politics? Perhaps your family has moved. Maybe you’ve lost someone close to you. Your school situation may have changed. When the world around us shakes, how does Jesus make it possible for His followers to be unshakable? In Hebrews 11, this New Testament author describes the stories of many people who put their faith in God. The next chapter, Hebrews 12, begins by calling all these people a large cloud of witnesses whose testimonies cheer us on and encourage us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the One who makes our faith perfect. From Abel to Rahab, we read about men and women whose lives were shaken, and yet they stood firm in Christ and acted in faith, knowing that God is greater than anything. In the Old Testament, when Moses was about to receive the ten commandments on Mount Sinai, the people saw lightning and smoke as the Lord descended in fire. The mountain trembledand the people with it (Exodus 19:16-18). Moses was the only one who was allowed to approach God, so everyone else remained at a distance. The people could not stand before a sinless and holy God. Because they couldn’t follow His good ways, priests had to continually make sacrifices for their own sins and the sins of the people (Hebrews 7:27). But when God sent His Son as the perfect sacrifice for all sin, He established a new and better covenant (Hebrews 8). When Jesus let Himself be put to death, the very earth shook (Matthew 27:50-54). And when He rose from the dead, Jesus revealed that His sacrifice was enough to cover all our sins and give us access to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. If we’ve responded to God’s love by putting our trust in Jesusrelying on His once-and-for-all sacrificewe belong to God and are citizens in His kingdom. Because His love for us is unshakable, God uses all the trials we endure in this life for His good purposes, and through it all, His Holy Spirit helps us reflect Christ and become more like Him. Our faith’s goal is our salvationand that is unshakable because its foundation is on Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-9). No matter what we face here in this broken world, our future with Christ is set and will never be shaken. Savannah Coleman When life is shaky, how can relying on Jesus and leaning on the church help you feel steady? Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28 (CSB) Read Verses: Exodus 19:1-13; 20:18-21; Hebrews 12:1-3; 12:18-28

Anxiety is not always cured just by taking a deep breath or going on a nature walk. While these thingsalong with getting enough sleep at night, eating well, and prayingcan help, sometimes they’re not enough. If you are still feeling anxious, know that you’re not alone. There is no reason to be embarrassed about your anxiety. We live in a broken world where things are difficult and confusing. God made our minds and our bodies good, but since the first humans sinned, all kinds of death and sickness entered the world, including mental illness. Whether it’s having unending thoughts about what-if scenarios, feeling like we’re in danger even when we’re not, or some other form of anxiety, God has compassion on us and offers us help. One way God helps us is through other people. If you have anxious thoughts all the time, or if you cannot find the calm and peace you seek, it’s ok to ask for help. God has given us each other to comfort, encourage, and help one another. Some people can also give advice on how to deal with anxiety in healthy ways, such as counselors and pastors. God provides people you can talk to about what you’re experiencing. Also know that God is not unaware of your anxiety. In fact, God knows about anxiety because He lived through it. Jesus experienced anxiety while on earth, especially as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, knowing He would soon face death (Luke 22:39-44). Psalm 22 even offers us a glimpse into what it was like for Jesus as He experienced a high level of anxiety on the cross as He bore the sin of the world. Jesus cares about what you’re going through. He’s been there. He knows. He sees you and everything that is going on in your life. When we seek God, He helps us. Sometimes He helps through other people. Sometimes He gives a moment of peace or reveals a truth in His Word that offers hope. We can talk to God when we feel anxious, being honest about what we’re experiencing and asking for help. Sometimes, thanking God for His blessings can help us remember that He is loving, powerful, and trustworthy. When life feels overwhelming, we can also take a break and spend time with friends, and we can reach out for help when we need it. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we can know God’s love for us is stronger than anything, including anxiety. When Jesus returns, He will heal all mental illness for good! In the meantime, we don’t have to be afraid to admit when we’re feeling anxious. Many people feel the same way, and with help from God and each other, we can move toward a life of peace. Bethany Acker If you’d like to talk to someone about anxiety but you aren’t sure who to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. God lives in perfect community as the Trinity (three Persons in One), and we are made in His image. Because of this, we are designed to live in community. And, if we know Jesus, the same Holy Spirit lives in each of us, uniting us around the gospel. It’s because of this unity that we can be open and honest with each other about our struggles, including struggles with anxiety. Who is a trusted Christian you can talk to about your questions? How can you listen with compassion when other people tell you about their struggles? Even if you don’t struggle with clinical anxiety, we all feel anxious from time to time because we live in a broken world. What things are you worried about right now? If you’re ready, you can take some time to bring these worries to God in prayer. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19 (NIV) Read Vers...

When I travel away from home, I often still attend church by visiting a church near my destination. It’s always been a good experience of getting a different perspective, but there was one time when I was so distracted that I couldn’t focus on the sermon. It wasn’t because every wall and ceiling of the church building was adorned with art, even though it was. It wasn’t even because the preacher was speaking in a language that was foreign to me, even though he was. Instead, I was distracted by the thoughts in my own head. I wondered why I had a slightly deformed spine. I wondered why I had to deal with all the health problems I had. If I was just a bit more normal, I wouldn’t have to deal with so much pain. I spent the sermon asking God why. When the service ended, I exited through a side door that led to the church’s belltower. I wonder if the builder of that tower also asked God why he couldn’t be as normal as the other architects. He tried building a normal belltower, but as he added more levels, he noticed that the tower started tilting. The ground was too soft to support such a tall structure, but he was still obligated to finish. After the blundering bell tower’s completion, the architect chose to remain anonymous out of embarrassment. Little did he know that over the next nine hundred years, millions of visitors would come to this little town just to see the uniquity of this belltower. I figured that if God had a plan for the accidental Leaning Tower of Pisa, then He also has a plan for my imperfections. Jessica Lippe Why do you think God allows people to have imperfections? Because we live in a world broken by sin, we all have imperfections and hardshipssome more obvious than others. God cares about our suffering so much that He sent Jesus to live among us, give His life for ours, and be raised from the dead. Now, if we’ve put our trust in Him, He is with us in the midst of our sufferings through the Holy Spirit. One day, when Jesus returns, He will make all things well and new! How might this sure hope give you comfort? Have you ever asked God why you have a specific struggle in your life? Sometimes God shows us a reason, and other times He provides comfort and hope through His presence with us. Who has God brought into your life who you can talk to about this struggle? That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV) Read Verses: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Philippians 4:11-13

Do you ever feel like you don’t have the words to say in prayer? Have you ever been overjoyed and just want to sing the Lord’s praises? If you’re looking for something to help you express your emotions to the Lord, check out the book of Psalms. I guarantee there’s at least one chapter out of the 150 that you can relate to. Psalms are songs, poems, and hymns written by various authors in ancient Israel. These were written down and collected so that God’s people could sing them together. Psalms help us express our emotions before God through worship and prayer, and they help us remember God’s faithful love, matchless power, constant presence, and promises. Though the circumstances we experience may be different from the Psalms’ original readers, the purpose of the Psalms in expressing human emotion crosses the borders of time, making these writings relevant to us even today. Isn’t it amazing that thousands of years later, we can use these same texts for the same purposes? Not only are the Psalms useful for expressing our joys, sorrows, frustrations, and requests to God, but they also point to Jesus time and time again. Jesus Himself quoted them often throughout His ministry. A few noteworthy psalms that foretold Jesus are 22, 34, and 69. Psalm 22 outlines much of the agony Jesus would face when nearing His death, even specific details such as the taunts of those around Him while He hung on the cross and the casting of lots for His clothing (verses 8 and 18). And, in His perfect obedience to God the Father, Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 while nailed to the cross, My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Matthew 27:46). When Jesus rose from the dead, His followers saw that He is the Messiah His people had been waiting for all alongthe promised Savior the Psalms point to again and again. God gave us the Psalms as a gift to help us express ourselves to Him and know Him better. Whether in joy or sadness, we can approach our Father in prayer and worship whenever we need. Emily Rondello What kind of psalm would help you express a prayer before God today? One of joy? Sorrow? Longing? Frustration? Repentance? Request? Even when we don’t know how to express ourselves to God, He understands us anyway (Psalm 139:1-6; Romans 8:26-27). How might this truth free you to come to God even when you don’t know what to say? Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 89

“God, why can’t you hear my prayers? I shout, storming into nowhere. Why did Mom have to leave us? Clenching my fists, I start to run. The brilliant sun dazzles me, except it isn’t the sun but a man who shines like lightning, standing in front of me. Jordan, the man says my name. His compassion dissolves my anger, and he continues. You think God isn’t listening to your prayers, but it isn’t true. “How do you know!” I try to say, but the words stick in my throat. My hands tremble. Don’t be afraid, Jordan. Trust. My body is weightless, floating until I’m in a deep valley filled with vibrant flowers. Waterfalls cascade down the hill. Butterflies mingle. Melodies echo. This is the valley of prayers. Jesus receives them, and God hears them all, he says. Some prayers are songs, some are flowers growing up to heaven, others are tearful waterfalls and sweet perfumes. All are answered. God knows what’s best, whether it’s a yes, a no, or gifts of courage and comfort. Where are my prayers? I ask and suddenly hear the echo of my voice begging God for Mom to come back. Prayers like raindrops falling into the waterfall. No one knows why God answers the way He does. But He loves you, and He will never leave you. Remember that when all was lost, He sent His Son, Jesus, to heal humanity’s brokenness and save everyone who puts their trust in Him. No matter what happens, know this: Jesus will walk with you through this journey. Even when you think Jesus isn’t there, He is with you through His Word and His Spirit inside you, giving you strength and caring for your hurts as you seek Him. Tears blur my vision. Oh, Jesus, help me trust you, I pray. Help me through this. A flower sprouts at my feet; I stare at it in wonder. Then the man says, He will. Don’t be troubled, Jordan. God has a wonderful plan for you. Remain hopeful. He cherishes you. I stay bathed in beauty and love for what feels like moments before floating back up to earth. My body is refreshed. The sun fades beneath the horizon as I walk back home, but there is peace in my soul. Cindy Lee Do you ever feel like God doesn’t hear your prayers? What is troubling your heart today? God cares, and He waits eagerly for you to come to Him. Even now He is working His plan of renewal (John 5:17), and He will make all things fully right when Jesus returns. Until then, He promises to be with us through all the heartaches of life. Are you waiting for the answer to a prayer? Do not be afraid. God listens. He has heard your cry, and He will help you whatever the outcome is. How might knowing that God hears you affect the way you pray? You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12 (WEB) Read Verses: Psalm 31:22; 56:8; 66:19-20; Romans 8:26

READ: PSALM 32:8-11; PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18; JAMES 1:2-8 For as long as I could remember, I wanted to be a police officer. During my senior year, I was accepted into one of the best law enforcement programs in the country, but I was experiencing something I had never experienced about my future plans: doubt. I had just finished my first summer working at a camp, and I saw God do some incredible things. Prior to camp, I barely believed that there was a God, let alone tried to live for Him, but after camp everything changed. Jesus had drastically changed my heart in those eight short weeks. I even felt like He was leading me to pursue ministry after high school! But that forced me to ask a difficult question: “What about my dreams of being a police officer?” I was torn. Do I do what I’ve always wanted to do, or do I pursue something I know nothing about? I thought. What do you do when you don’t know what to do? For starters, I called my youth pastor and asked for his help. He advised, “Pray for wide-open doors or doors to be slammed in your face. If you think a door is open, walk through it. If you feel peace about it, keep walking.” When we don’t know what to do, we can ask God for wisdom, guidance, and opportunities: open doors and closed doors (if you’re stubborn like me, you may also need doors to slam in your face). Most importantly, we can listen for answers. When I began to ask God for direction in this situation, I immediately realized that I was seeking MY plan for my career, not HIS plan. When I asked what His plan was, everything started to become clear. In life, we are faced with challenging circumstances and difficult decisions all the time. In his letter to the early church, James confirms this almost immediately and tells us how to respond: with joy! James tells us that God uses these trials to strengthen our faith, and if we lack wisdom, we can ask God and He will give it to us generously! If we’ve put our trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, His Holy Spirit is in us, providing a never-ending source of wisdom. God is waiting for us to ask for His guidance and direction. When I started to pray for HIS plan rather than MY plan, doors started opening and peace was flowing! • Hunter Taylor • While God calls some of us into ministry careers, He also calls many of us to follow Him in different ways. How might the gospel shape the way we view the future and make decisions (Matthew 6:33)? Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. James 1:5 (CSB)

Have you ever felt like you didn’t have any friends? I moved about two years ago, and I still have a hard time making new friends. I sometimes have dreams of meeting the perfect friend who loves the same things I do, has my same interests, and maybe has experienced some of the same situations I have. But I never seem to find the perfect friend like I dream of. One night, as I was praying to God, I realized that I will never find a perfect friend. Every person is different, and throughout our lives, we will have different friendships. Yet we all have one thing in commonwe are sinners in need of God’s mercy and love. And God doesn’t give up on us. He wants us to be in friendship with Him, so He made a way for us to be forgiven. Jesus calls us His friends, and He made the ultimate sacrifice by taking our sins and dying on the cross, then resurrecting from the dead to defeat sin and death so we can be with Him forever when He returns. Until then, He has sent His Holy Spirit to be in everyone who has put their trust in Him. After I realized that only Jesus can be my perfect friend, I was excited. He is available whenever I need to talk to Him, and He always wants to listen to me. Through His Holy Spirit, Jesus is with me throughout my day, He gives me wisdom and strength when I need it, and He comforts me when things are hard. God doesn’t just want to give me the resources I need. He wants to be my resource. He wants to be my friend. The Bible says that God designed us for community and that friendship is important. God even offers us wisdom in choosing our friends. We all need a good friend, but it’s important to remember that we will never find a perfect friend. Sometimes, you may feel like you don’t have any friends. But in those times, remember that you’re not alone. Jesus is near. And keep praying for God to guide you to another friend in His perfect timing. Aubrey Hairr Have you ever thought of God as a friend? What might it mean to be friends with God? Have you been hoping for a friend? Is there someone in your life you might have overlooked because they didn’t seem like a perfect friend or because they’re different from you? While we are called to be kind to all people, what is different about being friends with someone? How can you be a good friend (Proverbs 13:20; 16:28; 17:17; 22:24-25; 27:5-6)? How has Jesus been a good friend to you? No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 (CSB) Read Verses: Luke 6:31; John 15:12-15; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:11

The Bible is really repetitive. I don’t mean that it’s boringfar from it! But throughout the Old Testament, God sends people called prophets to speak to the Israelites on His behalf. And, while they did predict future events, the prophets were mostly sent to tell Israel what they already knew: follow God’s good law. The prophets would call on the Israelites to remember the Lord and all He has done for His people. When God tells us to remember something, He doesn’t mean Store this away in a dusty compartment in your brain. Rather, He’s saying Keep this truth in front of you all the time. Tie it to your forehead. Talk to others about it. Let the reminders of My love change your life. Amazingly, this is also how God remembers us! When the Bible talks about God remembering something or someone, it doesn’t mean He had forgotten about it. Rather, when God remembers, it means that He is paying special attention. And, as we see in Isaiah, God remembers us this waywe are always before Him. Remembering is a purposeful action. It’s kind of like remembering that you have a doctor’s appointmentit doesn’t do much good to know you have a doctor’s appointment if you never actually go to it. In the same way, remembering the truth of who God is and what He has done for us will lead us to action. So, what exactly should we be remembering? First and foremost, we remember Jesus. When He gave communion to His disciples, Jesus said, Do this in remembrance of me. Every time we take communion, we pay special attention to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and we look forward to the day of His return (Matthew 26:29). When we keep this gospel truth in front of us continually (not just during communion), it changes the way we look at everyday life. It’s a truth that never gets boring, no matter how many times you repeat it. Taylor Eising Why do we need reminders about who Jesus is? What are some ways you can remind yourself and others about the amazing truth of the gospel? How might remembering the gospel change the way you interact with others? What about the way you view responsibilities, tasks, and fun activities? Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Deuteronomy 6:7-8 (NLT) Read Verses: Deuteronomy 6:4-12; Isaiah 49:15-16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

When I am oppressed Pushed down When I can’t lift my own head When I am controlled Held back When I can’t go my own way When my enemies are winning With cheers When I can’t celebrate When I am destroyed I’m done God, hold me up Fight for me today Push on God, guide me through Emily Acker Do you ever feel like the author of this poem? What makes you feel that way? How might it comfort you to know that, even when we feel trapped and depleted, God is our strong helper? Jesus knows all our hurts, and He hurts with us. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He is with us even in our darkest moments through His Holy Spirit inside us. And He invites us to bring our hurts to Him in a practice called lament. In lament, we tell God what hurts and express all our anger, fear, hurt, and frustration and we ask Him to do something about it, trusting in His unfailing love and resting in the knowledge that He will acteither now or when Jesus returns to make all things right. We can find examples of lament in the Psalms (Psalm 13, 38, 42-43, 88, 130, and many more), in Jesus’ prayers (Luke 22:41-44), and in many other places in the Bible. Because Jesus went through hurt, He can empathize with us and heal our hurts. Because of what He has done for us on the cross, Jesus is our refuge. Take some time to lament to God, being honest with Him about your hurts and resting in His love. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9 (NIV) Read Verses: Exodus 14:14; Psalm 10:16-18; Romans 5:6; 2 Corinthians 4:6-18

I felt ugly when I was young. I did not see any beauty in me. I had low self-esteem. I was not confident. And I did not think I was special. I did not feel smart or intelligent. I felt shy and vulnerable. I did not want to be around people. I thought there was nothing likeable in me that would draw people to me. Have you ever felt like I felt? As I grew older, I began to learn what God says about me in His Word. These things are true about you too: It is written in the Bible that you are wonderfully made. God made you in His imageto reflect His glory and goodness. God is wonderful, kind, patient, beautiful and because you are made in His image, you get to be those things too. You are one of a kind. You have a beautiful nature. You are unique. You are special because the God who created the universe is the God who perfectly made you, and He loves you. However, we live in a world broken by sin, where we are all broken, and we all do wrong. Sin separates us from our loving Creator and distorts the good way God made us. But Jesus came to make us new. Through His life, death, and resurrection, we can be reunited with God. As Jesus’ forgiven followers, we get to discover how God truly made us when we abide in Him (John 15:4-5). His Holy Spirit is in us, transforming us to be like Christ and restoring us to the ways God made us to be. God has planted talents and abilities in you that you may shine and be a blessing to others (1 Peter 4:10-11). Through Jesus, He has given you self-control so that you can make good decisions (2 Timothy 1:7). He has also given you a kind, loving, caring, considerate, gentle, joyful, and forgiving heart (Galatians 5:22-23). You have a body that can do good things for you and other people. You have senses that were made to behold the beauty of nature and of others around you. And God has brought you to places where you can make a difference. Know that God made you with a purpose, and you can reflect His love to others. You were made wonderful so that you may (as the Westminster Shorter Catechism says) glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Golda Dilema Do you sometimes look down on yourself? When it’s hard to believe that what God says about you is true or see the good ways He’s made you, who is a trusted Christian you can talk to? How does knowing the way Jesus views you affect the way you view others? I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14a (NIV) Read Verses: Genesis 1:27; 5:1; Psalm 139:13-18; Romans 8:28-29

Going out to look for one sheep when there are a number of others in need of care seems a little crazy. What if something happened to the other sheep while the shepherd was off looking for the one that was lost? It can be hard to imagine anyone caring enough about me or you to go out and look for us while also taking care of dozens of others like us. In God’s eyes, our value is equal to the value of the people around us. As much as it might not feel that way sometimes, it’s true. When we are lost, God cares enough to seek us out. If you are trying to hide from God because you are doing things that go against His good ways, know that He sees you and He wants to rescue you. God was willing to give up everything for you. He gave up His only Son, Jesus, to die so that you wouldn’t have to. Then Jesus rose again from the dead, defeating sin and death to make a way for you to be brought home to God’s family. God wants you to be with Him forever because He loves you. If sending His Son to die and raise from the dead wasn’t enough to prove that God loves you, think about the shepherd with the sheep. While he could have stayed with his ninety-nine sheep, he went off to find the one and complete the family. Nothing is too hard for God, and He will do big things to get your attention and to look out for you. Emily Acker Do you ever wonder if you are as valuable as other peopleif God loves you specifically and not just because He loves the whole world? How might today’s passage speak into that? Do you feel lost sometimes? Maybe you’ve been making bad choice after bad choice and are pushing God away. How might God be reaching out to you today? To learn more about what Jesus did to make a way for you to be with Him, check out our “Know Jesus” page. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I [Jesus] will give you rEsther Matthew 11:28 (NIV) Read Verses: Matthew 18:11-14; Luke 19:10

One of my all-time favorite group games is capture the flag. The goal, obviously, is to capture the other team’s flag. But, if you get tagged in the other team’s territory, you are captured. You must follow the tagger to jail and wait there until someone from your team comes to rescue you. You have been taken captive! In the city of Colossae during Paul’s day, a fierce battle was taking place. This wasn’t a battle with swords and shields, however. It was a battle over the hearts and minds of the people. Some were seeking to challenge and subvert the gospel and influence the new believers to follow other ways instead of relying on Jesus, who rescued them by His life, death, and resurrection. Paul warns the Colossians against these false teachings by explaining that if they abandon the truths of God’s Word, they will be taken captive. Paul describes the false teachings as empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense. While Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), the enemy is the father of lies (John 8:44), who sometimes contradicts the Bible outright and other times twists words to make it seem like the Bible says something that it doesn’t. Believers are often tempted to listen to these false ideas, but if we forsake biblical truths and replace them with lies, we’ve been taken captive. Only Jesus gives us freedom by the gospel. As believers, we are called to carefully consider the big-picture ideas behind what the world teaches and compare them to the gospel. We are constantly bombarded with all kinds of messages about what is right and wrong and how to live a good life. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming trying to discern who to listen to. But once we’ve put our trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, His Holy Spirit is in us, and He helps us sift through every message with the filter of the gospel. When we embrace the truth of God’s Word, He helps us avoid being captured by the empty and deceiving ideas of the world. Jonathon Fuller What false teachings were the Christians in Colossae encountering (Colossians 2:1-23)? Even if we get sucked into believing something false, God doesn’t give up on us. As Christians, we’ve already been rescued by Jesus, and nothing can change our eternal destiny with Him. We can ask God to help us know the truth and rest in knowing that He is faithful to help us. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. Colossians 2:8 (NLT) Read Verses: John 14:6; Colossians 2:1-23

Anytime there’s a meteor shower, comet, or planet sighting, I’ll walk down to the lake across the road at night and check it out. The last time I walked to the lake, a couple family members joined me. Most people know that a flashlight would help a person walk a quarter mile in the dark. My family members are not most people! I was the only one who brought a flashlight. So, I decided walking in front would be the best way to shed light for everyone. But by the time the fourth person in line came, the light wasn’t much help. This person was tripping and yelping every thirty seconds or so. It sounded painful. Psalm 119:105 says, Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path. Notice the psalmist doesn’t say that God’s Word is a lamp to everyone who is behind me! If each person walking to the lake had carried a flashlight, there would have been no tripping or yelping. But it’s easy to say, Carrying a flashlight is a pain. I’ll just follow someone who has a light. Maybe we think we’ll know the way because our mom or dad knows the Bible, or we’ll avoid pitfalls because our pastor knows the Bible. Maybe our favorite theologian knows the Bible and we listen to them, so we’ll be fine. Certainly our branch of church history got it right, so we’ll just follow along. But that’s not the way it goes! Maybe other people’s lights can help us see that there’s a better way (Matthew 5:16), but at a certain point, we need to pick up the Word of God (the light) for ourselves. Jesuswho is the Word and the light of the worldcame so that we could know God intimately, without having to go through sacrifices or religious leaders. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we have been brought near to God. As we pursue relationship with Him, He helps us know Him personally, not secondhand through someone else. When we use God’s Word to light the path in front of our own feet, the Holy Spirit helps us understand the Bible and know God better. While it’s wise to listen to other Christians who know the Bible and ask for help, it’s ultimately our own responsibility to spend time in God’s Word and become familiar with it for ourselves. Jeff Weddle Does someone in your life love studying the Bible? What have you learned from them? Have you ever heard someone teach from the Bible, but you wonder if their interpretation is actually what the Bible says? Who is a trusted Christian in your life you can talk to about this? Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 (WEB) Read Verses: Psalm 119:97-112; Proverbs 4:18-19; Ephesians 5:1-17

Just like when He led the Israelites of old, God is also leading us to a promised land. When Jesus was on earth, He made a promise to all those who would believe in Him, saying, I am going to prepare a place for you (John 14:2). Throughout the whole Bible, God reminds us of the promised land He is preparing for us. Our promised land is more than a land flowing with milk and honey. It’s renewed creation, with no more death, no more sorrow, and no more crying (Revelation 21:4). It’s the perfect, eternal home that God’s children have been longing to see for centuries! Yet, just like the children of Israel, we have all strayed. We have failed to follow God perfectly, continually breaking His good laws. There is good news, though. The same God who led the Israelites forty years through the wilderness is leading us too. He is a God of forgiveness, of second chances, of love, of mercy, of grace. He is the same God who sent His Son to take the punishment for our sins on the cross and raise again from the dead so that we could enter the promised land. In our weakness, God is still faithful! So we keep our eyes on Jesus as He guides us to the promised land. In His strength, we can hold fast and keep going. Then, when that wonderful day comes and Jesus returns to bring His kingdom to fruition here on earth, we’ll be home! What a glorious day that will be! Macy Lee How does God’s faithfulness to the Israelites in the past give you hope for the future? To read more about how Jesus made a way for us to live in the eternal promised land forever with Him, check out our “Know Jesus” page. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. Revelation 21:4 (NLT) Read Verses: John 14:1-4; Hebrews 4:1-10; Revelation 21:4

In the Old Testament, God promised to give His people a land to call home. He made a covenant (a promise) with Abram, promising him that he would have so many descendants that they would become a great multitude. He also told Abram that his descendants would be forced to serve in a foreign land for many years, but after that time, the Lord would bring them out of captivity and into the Promised Landa land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8)which basically meant the land would be a place of abundance. This promise was repeated many times throughout the Old Testament. Even when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God was with them, leading them to the Promised Land. Even when the Israelites complained in the wilderness and rebelled against God, He led them on in love. It took four hundred years in slavery and forty years in the wilderness before the promise was fulfilled. But God never lies. In His good time, His people crossed the Jordan River and entered the land they had looked forward to for countless years. God had remained faithful in their unfaithfulness, and they were finally able to enter the land they had been promised long before that generation was born! But God wasn’t done yet. He also promised that one of Abraham’s descendants would be a new Kinga Delivererwho would save His people from sin and death (2 Samuel 7:11-16). God sent His Son, Jesus, to live a life of perfect obedience to God, die in our place on the cross, and raise from the dead, making a way for us to live with Him forever. Because God faithfully brought the Israelites to their Promised Land, we can trust that Jesus will faithfully save us. Macy Lee How do you see God’s perfect timing at work in leading the Israelites to the Promise Land? What were the Israelites’ reactions as God led them through the wilderness? God always keeps His promises. What does that mean for us today? I promise you what I promised Moses: ââ¬ËWherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you.’ Joshua 1:3 (NLT) Read Verses: Genesis 12:1-3; 15:13-16; Exodus 3:1-17; Joshua 1:1-9

Kindness. How many times have you heard that word? Growing up, I heard it all the time: Be kind to people. But what exactly is kindness? One of the best biblical examples I can think of involves David and a man named Mephibosheth. In the days of David, when a new family became king, all family members of the old king would be killed. Crazy, right? Well, when King Saul and his son Jonathan are killed in battle, David becomes the new king. Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth. David, as the new king, was expected to kill all of Saul and Jonathan’s relatives, including Mephibosheth. But instead of doing that, David asks if any of Saul’s relatives are left who he can show kindness to. David had made an oath to Jonathan, who was his closest friend. When Saul wanted to kill David, Jonathan swore he would help David escape, and David swore he would show unfailing kindnesslike God’s kindnessto Jonathan and his family (1 Samuel 20:12-17). So now David invites Mephibosheth to come to the palace. Not only that, but David also gives Mephibosheth everything that belonged to his grandfather Saul. Imagine being Mephibosheth, who went to the palace probably expecting to die but was instead given back the land of his ancestors. David also told Mephibosheth that he was to eat at the king’s table, an honor usually reserved for the sons of the king. I can’t think of a better example of kindness than David’s kindness to Mephibosheth. In that time, it would have been perfectly legal and considered just for him to kill Mephibosheth, but instead of doing that, or even just letting Mephibosheth live, David treated him as a son. David’s kindness foreshadowed the amazing kindness God has shown His people. When we were God’s enemies, helpless to save ourselves, Jesus showed us the ultimate kindness by dying for us. (Who dies for their enemies?) Not only that, but God welcomes us into His family as His children, even His heirs. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, He not only saves us from the death we deserve, but also welcomes us to eat at His table with Him. Kimberly Brokish What are some ways people have shown you kindness? How has God shown you kindness? Once we’ve put our trust in Jesuswho perfectly embodies kindnessHis Holy Spirit is in us and empowers us to be kind, even to our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44; John 15:4-5; Galatians 5:22-23). How might remembering and receiving God’s kindness to you help you show kindness to others? So the king asked, Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to? 2 Samuel 9:3a (CSB) Read Verses: 2 Samuel 9:1-13; Romans 5:6-11; 8:14-17; Galatians 6:9-10

One night, Jesus did something unexpected. When it was time to eat the traditional Jewish Passover meal, Jesus took off His outer clothing, wrapped a towel around His waist, then filled a pan with water and proceeded to wash His disciples’ feet. Because they wore sandals as they trudged across Israel and Samaria, their feet got dirty and stinky. It was customary that if you went to someone’s house, they offered water to wash the heads and feet of those who came in. Jesus was the guest of honor who had come to Jerusalem as king only days before (Matthew 21:19). However, Jesus taught His disciples that He didn’t come to be served but to be a servant (Matthew 20:28). Jesus, the Son of God who came from heaven to earth, washed His friends’ disgusting feet with His hands and dried them with a towel. He did the job willingly. Then He explained to His disciples that He was giving them an example to follow. Do you think you would wash your siblings’ feet? Would you wash their heads or rinse the dust from their hair? As servants of Jesus, we are called to serve each other with love and humility. Sometimes this means literally washing feet, but it might also look like other tasks that are considered lowly, like washing dishes, sweeping floors, sorting through trash, or cleaning up after someone else makes a mess. When we do these things without grumbling, we echo what Jesus has done for us. He deserves the place of highest honor, yet He humbled Himselfeven to the point of dying in one of the most shameful ways possible. Then He rose back to life, defeating death and sin for good! All because He loves us and wants us to be with Him forever. As Jesus’ forgiven followers, we get to do whatever work God has placed in front of us as though we were doing that task just for Him. Serving God often looks like serving others, and when we serve people, we get to share Jesus’ love. And perhaps, when we show love by being faithful servants, we will also encourage others to want to know the God we serve. Anna M. Gregory To get the full story of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, read John 13:1-17. How might it comfort you to know that Jesus, out of His great love, stepped into your mess and gunk to save you? What might it look like for you to step into someone else’s mess and lovingly serve them? And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. John 13:14 (NLT) Read Verses: John 12:23-28; Galatians 5:13-15; Philippians 2:1-15

When I pray out loud with friends, some of them begin by saying, Hi God. At first, this struck me as odd and maybe even disrespectful. After all, God is the Creator and Supreme Ruler of everything. But I realized it actually makes some sense to talk to God in this casual way because God wants to be in this kind of relationship with us: personal, everyday friendship. And knowing that He is also the amazing, glorious, almighty King of the universe makes that friendship even more incredible! Think about it. When Jesuswho is fully God and fully humanwas living on earth, people hung out with Him. They went for walks and ate snacks and laughed at jokes together. Jesus wasn’t serious all the time. Jesus came to live with us, and this is still the kind of relationship God wants to have with His people. He wants to share everyday things with us. We can talk to Him about anything and everything. Prayers don’t need to be fancy or impressive, because we’re talking to our friend. It’s also pretty cool that we can pray anytime, because God already knows our thoughts. It’s like telepathy but better! He invites us into a lifestyle of sharing with Him, of being open and constantly interacting with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:17). And even though God already knows everything we’re experiencing, and He knows everything we’ll ever say before we say it (Psalm 139:1-4), God still invites us to talk to Him. In fact, He loves it when we talk to Him! Because He loves us. One of the reasons Jesus came was to show us who God is, what He’s like, and what kind of relationship He wants us to have with Him. When Jesus let Himself be killed on a cross, He showed that God loves us so much that He’s willing to die for us. And Jesus’ death was powerful because it paid the price for all of humanity’s wrongdoing. Jesus came back to life and showed Himself to His friends because He wanted them to know Him and be with Him forever. God made a way for us to be in close relationship with Him, no matter what we’ve done. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God has totally forgiven us, and nothing can separate us from Him anymore. He is always so near, so eager for us to reach out to Him. When we talk to God like a friend, I think it makes Him really happy. Hannah Howe How have you heard people start conversations with God? How do you like to talk to God? There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 (NLT) Read Verses: John 1:1-14; John 15:9-21; Acts 17:27; Romans 8:31-39

Some of my Christian friends like to start praying by calling God Father, and they aren’t the first! When Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to pray, He taught them a prayer that many Christians have since memorized (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4). This prayer begins by calling God our Father. Isn’t it amazing that when Jesus came, He revealed the kind of relationship God wants to have with us? Not only is God the Creator and Supreme Ruler of everything, God also desires close relationship with usthat’s why He sent His Son, Jesus. He wants to adopt us as His very own kids. When Jesus prayed, sometimes He called God “Abba” (Mark 14:36), which is an Aramaic word that Jewish people (both children and adults) used for their fathers. We don’t have a word quite like this in English, because “Abba” has connotations of both intimacy and respect. Later in the Bible, Paul says that we who have put our trust in Jesus can also call God “Abba” (Romans 8:14-17). Some people at my church call God Abba, and others call Him Papa or Daddy. Calling God our dad makes sense when we remember how Jesus said that the faith God desires is like the faith of a little child (Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:17). When you think about it, we humans are so much smaller and less powerful and less intelligent than God, but He is so tenderhearted toward us, like a loving parent toward their small children. We depend on God for all of our needs, even more than an infant depends on their parentsevery breath we breathe is a gift from God. The beautiful part of this is we don’t need to be embarrassed about feeling young or small with Him (1 Kings 3:7-9). He already knows us completely, and He wants us to be His. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus, to provide us with forgiveness and adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). As His adopted kids, we can come to God with confidence, knowing that He always wants us to come to Him (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16). Hannah Howe If you could talk to God about anything, knowing that He’s just so happy you are with Him, what would you talk to Him about? So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15 (NLT) Read Verses: Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:5; 3:12