Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – John 1:9

Posted on December 20, 2024

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. – John 1:9 (NLT)

Do you remember being scared of the dark as a little kid? I’ve got to be honest, I still don’t really love the dark. I know there’s not REALLY a monster hiding in my closet, but sometimes those clothes look so weird in the dark, you kind of wonder…

But this isn’t a devotion about monsters. Instead, it’s about light. See when it’s dark and the lights go on, it’s great! Suddenly you can see what you couldn’t before. Things that once seemed weird and scary now come into focus.

That’s what Jesus came to the world to be in our lives. He came to be light. Jesus brings light to scary situations. He shows us what they really are and illuminates them in ways that make them seem less scary.

It’s no wonder that the Bible describes Jesus as light. He’s there to help us when the world seems dark and scary. He gives us joy, hope and all we need. Jesus really is the light of the world!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – 1 Peter 1:8

Posted on December 19, 2024

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, – 1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)

I remember as a kid one Christmas, it felt like all my cousins got more presents than I did. I spent the whole holiday pouting because I felt like I didn’t get my fair share of presents. Now, I’m sure that wasn’t the case and that we all got the same amount of gifts, but from my 6-year-old perspective, I was treated unfairly.

That Christmas day was no fun for me because I chose to be unhappy and sad. I could have been thankful that I got presents, but instead I chose to look at what I didn’t have and as a result became very unhappy.

Jesus wants us to experience joy this Christmas. And while you may not get every present you wanted for Christmas, you can still choose to be happy.

Today’s Truth: Jesus came to bring joy to your life

When we let Jesus into our lives, we are filled with joy. But sometimes, we let that joy be silenced by circumstances and things that are going on around us. So today, if you’ve allowed yourself to become unhappy, choose to focus on joy.

Realize that Jesus loves you, and knowing Him is the best present of all. So regardless of the things going on around you and in your life, make this Christmas a season of joy!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Galatians 4:4-5

Posted on December 18, 2024

Teen Christmas Devotion

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. – Galatians 4:4-5 (NLT)

You are a child of God. It doesn’t matter what has happened to you. It doesn’t matter whether people like you at school or not. To God, you’re important because you’re His child.

God wanted a relationship with you. The Bible is a story of God’s great love for you.

Even when you didn’t deserve it. In those moments where you were far from God, even in those moments that you might have cursed God’s name, God looked at you and choose you. He chose to adopt you into His family.

Christmas is a time where we can think about Jesus and realize how lucky we are to have a God who came down to us. Not because we deserved it in any way. No. Just because He loved us.

So no matter how hard it’s been with your friends and family. No matter how badly you’ve been treated by others, you can know that in the end, God loves you. It’s His love that gives you your worth. People won’t always do the right thing by you, but God will.

So today, challenge yourself to believe God’s love. Challenge yourself to see you how God sees you. Realize that you’ve been adopted in the family of God. God loves you, wants you and thinks you’re His best!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Isaiah 40:31

Posted on December 17, 2024

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Do you ever have a hard time staying encouraged? Especially when it feels like nothing is going right in your life? If you do, you’re not alone. We all face times when it’s just simply hard to keep going.

However, no matter how bad things are at home and how difficult it feels to be happy, you’ve got to encourage yourself by knowing that Jesus came to bring you hope.

Today’s Truth: Jesus Came to Bring You Hope

Our lives are going to have problems. We’re going to have days that don’t go well. That’s part of living here on earth. However, we don’t have to lose hope even when things are tough.

Instead, we can go to Jesus. In the Bible, we are told that our hope should be in the Lord.

We don’t hope in other people. They might let us down. We don’t hope in our situation changing. No, as children of God we hope in God.

The good thing about hoping in God is that God can’t let you down. God’s promises always come to pass. So today, if you’ve given up hope, be encouraged. This isn’t the end. God will come through for you. It might take longer than you want or think it should, but God always comes through for those who hope in Him.

Today’s Truth: Don’t give up on hope. God always comes through for His children.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Luke 2:10

Posted on December 16, 2024

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. – Luke 2:10

It’s easy this Christmas season to get caught up in our own lives. We might be thinking about what gifts we want, or start buying gifts for others. We might enjoy watching Christmas movies on TV or listening to tons of Christmas music. In all the business of the holiday season, it’s easy to forget what this Bible verse tells us.

Today’s Bible verse tells us that the news of Jesus is for all people. It’s not just for those who are nice, who have it all together, or who have lots of money. The good news of the gospel is for all. It’s for the loner at your school. It’s for the bully who mistreats the younger students. The message of Jesus is for all people.

If we know that the gospel is for all, then what are we doing about it? Are we looking for opportunities this Christmas to share with others? Are we looking for ways to bless those who have less than we do? Are we making sure that we’re broadcasting the gospel to anyone who is open to hearing?

Today’s Truth: Jesus is for all people. Don’t be afraid to let others know about Him!

This Christmas season, be looking for opportunities to share Jesus with others. Spread the good news that Jesus came to save all people!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Romans 15:7

Posted on December 12, 2024

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. – Romans 15:7

You’ve probably been labeled. We all have. Perhaps you’ve been labeled an athlete and so you feel you can’t try out for the band. Or maybe your mom told you that you were stupid and so now you don’t try as hard because you’re afraid to fail.

In life, we will pick up labels. People will call us things. However, it’s up to us whether we let those labels stick. We choose whether we let a label hold us back in the future. Labels don’t have to define us, but it’s going to take work to make that a reality in our lives.

We have to choose to believe what Jesus says about us more than what others say. It takes letting who we are in Christ be our label, not what others say about us. Doing that isn’t easy. We have to battle our feelings, fears and our past to see ourselves the way Jesus sees us.

So today, you may have been labeled. You might have let that label hold you back from doing things you know that you could and should do. Don’t live in bondage to your label. Instead, choose to look forward and see your value to Jesus. When you do, you’ll find that your future is unlimited.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Isaiah 9:6

Posted on December 11, 2024

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

I know there are things that I have never taken the time to notice. For example, one day I was talking to someone about a family member and they asked what that person did for a job. And I realized, I had spent time with them, talked with them, but never stopped to ask or even think about what their career was. I honestly had to say I had no idea what my family member did. I realized that I had taken for granted that part of their life.

How many times do we read the Bible in the same way? We see a verse that we’ve seen time and time again, and never stop to take time to think about or ask about what it means.

In today’s verse, I realized I had never stopped to think about what everlasting father meant.

So I researched a little and realized that everlasting father doesn’t mean that Jesus (who the verse is talking about) is our everlasting father. Rather it refers to His character or how He treats us. He treats us not as subject, but rather as children. In His dealings with us, He isn’t a ruler who lays down the law or who demands unreasonable things from His subjects. Instead, He is like a father to us.

Jesus loves us. He goes out of His way to demonstrate His love to us. First, by humbling Himself and coming to earth as a baby. Then by living a sinless life and dying for us. Jesus doesn’t rule over us and give us what we deserve. Instead He loves us. He is the everlasting father that goes out of HIs way to show His compassion to us.

That’s good news. As we think about Him this Christmas season, we can realize that He loves us and treats us not as subjects, but as children. We can as a child would to His father, talk to Him, learn from Him, and be loved by Him. This Christmas, thank Jesus for coming and loving us deeply. Don’t take for granted what He did, but rather spend some time getting to know what He has done for us.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Isaiah 9:6

Posted on December 10, 2024

Do you love Christmas lights? It seems like lights are popping up all over the place these days as Christmas gets closer. Houses and stores are all lit up and it’s so much fun to watch.

In the midst of all the holiday cheer, it can be really easy to forget about the main attraction, Jesus. Jesus is the main thing about Christmas. With all the lights, candy, hot cocoa, and cookies, it’s easy to forget about how good Jesus is, and how much better our lives are with him in it.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

The Bible describes Jesus as the prince of peace. That’s good news. That means in the middle of a crazy world, in the middle of fear, you can live your life at peace.

Jesus came to the earth to bring you peace. It doesn’t matter if it feels like your entire world is falling apart. You can live in peace because you know that God always takes care of His children.

Today’s Truth: “You can live in peace because you know God always takes care of His children”

As a child of God, you can live at peace. Even when things seem crazy and out of control, God always provides and sees His children through. You don’t have to live in fear and anxiety. Jesus came to bring you peace. So focus on peace today. When you start getting worried or anxious, remind yourself that Jesus came to bring you peace!

Today’s Challenge: Focus On Peace

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – 2 Corinthians 8:21

Posted on December 6, 2024

For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. – 2 Cor 8:21 (NIV)

Have you ever had to do the right thing, even when it was hard? I remember a time when I paid for something at a store and I noticed that the cashier had given me too much money back. I was tempted to just say that it was good luck and keep the extra money. However, after thinking about it for a while, I decided to return the money.

Doing the right thing can be hard at times. Sometimes it can make you look weird or feel stupid. Other times it can be just plain hard to do what’s right because it costs you something. Doing the right thing isn’t easy but it’s always worth it.

Today’s Truth: Doing the right thing isn’t easy, but it’s always worth it.

In the long run, being a person of character is worth the effort. When you do things well people begin to notice. They realize that you are a person of character and they want to do good for you and promote you. And even if no one notices you doing the right thing, realize that God does. He sees what you do and He will reward you for your faithfulness.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Philippians 1:6

Posted on December 5, 2024

I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:6 (HCSB)

It’s hard to stay encouraged when you don’t see results. I find this true, especially in my own life. When I’m not doing the things I think I should I get really frustrated. I wish I was farther along and at times feel like a failure when I don’t measure up to my own expectations.

Today’s Bible verse really encourages me. It says that God has started a good work in me. He’s not completed it yet, but He’s started. And the good news is that He hasn’t given up on me. He hasn’t been frustrated with me messing up time and time again to the point where He’s decided I’m not worth the effort. No, instead He’s with me every step of the way.

He’s there helping me learn and grow when I make mistakes. He’s ready to come alongside me and help me out in the areas where I fall short. God hasn’t given up on me yet, so I shouldn’t give up on myself. I may not be perfect, but I’m learning and growing each day. So instead of being upset when I don’t do or say the right thing, instead, I’m choosing to be thankful that God hasn’t given up on me and He’s with me as I learn each and every day.