Daily Devotional

We talked a little yesterday about singleness. It’s easy if you’re single to feel like you’re all alone. You can let your mind wander and begin to feel unhappy all because you’re single. The truth is, the desire for a relationship is normal. God has wired you to want a relationship.

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” – Genesis 2:18 (NLT)

God saw that Adam was alone in the garden and created Eve to be his helper. So God created marriage and He created humans to have relationships. So, if you have a desire to be in a relationship and to be married someday, then that’s a good desire.

The trouble comes when you try to rush things or become unhappy in waiting. If you’re single, you have to learn to be content and happy in your relationship with God. Instead of spending each night crying into your pillow, wishing for a relationship, choose to get to know your heavenly father.

Talk to Him. Ask Him for help. Spending your energy seeking Him, and as you do, one day the right kind of relationship will come into your life. And because you spent time getting to know God, He can show you what that right kind of relationship will look like.

Today’s Truth: The desire to have a relationship is a good thing.

Spending time getting to know God is never wasted. God created you and knows you better than anyone else. So as you get to know Him, He will show you things about yourself. He will help you and then when the time is right, you’ll be ready to enjoy a relationship that is god-directed and focused on the right things.

Pray: God, I ask for your help. Help me to be content in my season of being single. I want to spend this time getting to know you better. I ask you to help fulfill me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions

1. Do you desire a family and marriage someday?
2. Have you ever spent time talking to God about your relationship goals?
3. What are some ways you could spend some time getting to know God better?

When you’re single it can feel like being married is all you think about. You might desire to be married more than anything else. So much, in fact, that you’re willing to compromise anything and everything to simply be in a relationship with someone else.

One of the most important things to realize is that singleness isn’t a curse word. If you’re single it doesn’t mean that your life can’t go on, or that you’re not worth anything. It might simply mean that in the place you’re at right now, and in the season you’re at right now that person that God has for you isn’t there yet with you.

Maybe you’ll meet that person at college. Perhaps you’ll find them once you’re working in your future career. Regardless, your paths haven’t crossed yet. That doesn’t mean they won’t.

Today’s Truth: Singleness is Not a Curse Word

It can be easy to feel less or unimportant because you’re not in that relationship yet. However, being in a relationship is work. Yes, it might look like fun on the outside. Relationships take energy and work. While you’re single, you can really work to find contentment and joy in the Lord.

But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. – 1 Corinthians 7:33-34 (NLT)

In today’s verse, we see that being married divides your interests. Not that marriage is wrong in any way. It’s not, and if you desire it, then keep believing that God will help you find that special person. However, marriage does take work.

Singleness is good. It leaves you more time to focus on the Lord. So don’t despise the time spent single. It’s a great time to focus your energy and attention on Jesus. Let Him become your fulfillment and joy. Then at the right time, in the right place, you’ll find that person that God has for you.

Pray: God, I come to you today. If I’m in a relationship, I’m going to choose to be happy. If I’m single, I’m going to choose to be happy. Help me to see the good things in the season of life I’m in right now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions

1. What are some good things about being single?
2. How can you get to know God better regardless if you’re single or in a relationship?

But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. – Psalm 131:2 (NIV)

How often in our busy world do we have some time for quiet? If we’re bored, we reach for the remote or our phone to end our boredom. However, instead of always reaching for electronics to entertain ourselves, what would things look like if we got quiet?

What if we spend more of our time and energy getting quiet and learning to hear our creator’s voice?

If we’re honest, most of us are so busy with jobs, friends, and electronics that we don’t have any room in our lives for quiet. There’s power in taking some time to calm yourself and be content in God’s presence. It’s there that you’ll find the peace and fulfillment that you crave.

We were created for a relationship with God. So today choose to prioritize quiet. Determine to take some time to spend getting to know Jesus and hearing Him speak to you.

This is my command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

It’s so easy to become afraid. Whether it’s fear of the future, fear of failing your history test, or fear that your crush will reject you, everyone deals with fear. And while fear is something that we all face, if we let it, fear will stop us from doing the things God wants us to do.

The bad thing about fear is that if you give in to it, you’ll find yourself unhappy and living with lots of regrets. So instead of letting fear cripple your life, choose to be strong and courageous.

Today’s Truth: A life of fear is a life of regret. Choose to be strong and courageous!

You can stand against fear when you know that God is with you. You know that you’ll come out on the other side of every difficulty winning because God will not leave you. Today, regardless of what you’re facing, know that God has a plan for you. Don’t allow fear to stop you from doing what God has called you to do.

“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 (HCSB)

This Bible verse is a really familiar one. Most students had to memorize it in Sunday school. In fact, its so familiar that we can become so used to what it says that we don’t get excited about it anymore. However, this verse is powerful.

This verse shows us that God loved us in a big way. God saw us in the position we were in, separated from Him and He just couldn’t stand it. He did an extravagant thing. He gave His best for you and me to be able to know Him.

Its easy at times to look at ourselves and others and see all the flaws. All the stuff that is wrong and reasons why we or someone else is unlovable. However, God doesn’t see us that way. When He sees people He sees how much He loves us and what we can become in Him. So the next time you feel down about yourself or someone else remember how much God loves them and you!

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32

One of the hardest things to do in life is to be kind to other people. How many times has someone cut in front of you in line, talked about you behind your back, or just plain annoyed you for no reason at all? When you’re in these situations, how do you usually respond?

The easy response is to get even, lash out or do something mean right back to the person who did you wrong. However, as a Christian we are called to love others. This verse challenges us to be kind and forgive others regardless of how they treat you.

You can’t change how someone treats you, but you can choose to respond to them with kindness. The end of this verse is also great. It tells us that we can do this because God in Christ forgave us. When you remember what Jesus did for you and how much he loves you, it empowers you to love others. You begin to value other people when you see how much Jesus loves you.

Today’s Truth: You can’t change how someone treats you, but you can choose to respond to them with kindness 

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God – Romans 1:20 (NLT)

When we’re talking about apologetics and standing up and sharing your faith, it can be easy to feel like you need to have the most information or the most proof that God is real. That’s not the truth. It’s good to be armed with proof and information. However, as we learned yesterday, it’s God’s word that will change people’s hearts.

So as you stand up, show evidence, and use God’s word, realize this last truth. In everyone’s heart, they know that God is real. Maybe they’ve gotten too busy and as a result, ignored God. Perhaps they’ve hardened their heart to Him due to circumstances or trouble. However, deep down, in their heart of hearts, they know that God is real.

Today’s verse says that God reveals Himself through creation and that people don’t have an excuse for not knowing God. That helps me when it comes to sharing my faith with others. I begin to see that I don’t have to know all the evidence for God. I don’t have to win every argument. Why? Because deep down, people know that God is real.

Today’s Truth: Deep down people know God is real.

So as you share your faith with others, know that the people you’re talking to know deep down that the message you’re sharing with them is the truth. They know the God of the Bible is real because we all desire a fulfilling relationship with Him.

Today as you go out and share your faith with others, believe that God will use you mightily. Know that God’s word is powerful to change people’s hearts, and don’t forget to listen to the Holy Spirit when you don’t know what to say. He will give you the words to say and help you share your faith boldly with others!

Pray: God I thank you for how real you are. I pray for the people around me that don’t know you. Help me find opportunities to share with them how real you are and how much you love them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. Who do you feel God is leading you to tell about Jesus today?
2. How are you going to tell them about Jesus? If you don’t know, pray and ask God for ideas.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

This week we’re learning about apologetics. And while that might seem boring or lifeless, studying apologetics is powerful. It helps strengthen your own faith in God and also it gives you tools so that you can answer the objections others have about faith in Jesus.

When we share our faith, we can be led to believe that we should leave the Bible out of the defense of our faith to keep things neutral. The truth is, however, that the Bible is the most important part of the defense of our faith. If we don’t use the Bible, we’re laying down our most powerful apologetic weapon.

That’s because the Bible does what we can’t do. We can present evidence and reasons why the Christian worldview makes sense. But we can’t change hearts or attitudes. That’s where God’s word comes in. The Bible is alive, powerful, and active.

So when you speak to someone about your hope in Jesus, be sure to use the Bible also. The Bible is your greatest weapon, so don’t leave it out of your defense. There is power when you begin to speak the word.

Today’s Truth: The Bible is your greatest weapon, so don’t forget to use it to defend your faith.

As you stand up for your faith today, be sure to speak God’s word. Share scripture and know that as you do, God’s word is working in the hearts of those who are listening to you.

Pray: God help me to see opportunities today to share my faith. I know there are people out there who need to hear the hope I have in Jesus. I ask for your boldness to go out and share my faith with them today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some scriptures you could use when sharing your faith with others?
2. How can you keep those scriptures with you so that you’re always ready to share your faith?
3. Who is God leading you to share with today?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

As we talk about apologetics this week, one thing we want to be sure we understand is that we are reasonable as Christians to believe what we do. The Christian worldview makes sense. It doesn’t contradict itself, and it accounts for the world around us and life as we see it today. That means our faith in God isn’t blind. It makes sense and can account for the world around us coming into existence.

Yes, there are aspects of believing that we can’t see. There are things in the Bible that we have to take entirely by faith. However, overall, belief in God isn’t a huge leap in the dark. It makes sense scientifically and logically.

As we study science, we realize how complex our bodies are. We see how intricate plants and living things are. It’s hard to believe that those things happened entirely by chance or by evolution. The chances of life on earth happening by chance are so small it defies probability. In that way, the Christian worldview makes sense of life and the things we see around us.

That means that our faith isn’t blind. No, we can’t see God, but we can see His creation. We see His love in sending His son Jesus to die for us. Those are just a few examples of how faith in God makes logical sense.

Today’s Truth: Faith isn’t Blind – It Makes Sense.

So today, don’t believe the lie that faith in God is blind. It’s not, as you study apologetics you’ll realize that the Bible is amazing in its accuracy. The prophecies in the Bible given about Jesus are accurate. The historical events described in the Bible took place and there is evidence for them in the world around us.

Don’t allow the world to silence you. Stand up. Be bold. Know that your belief in God is reasonable, and it’s right. Go out boldly and share the hope of Jesus with the world around you. See God move mightily through you!

Pray: God I thank you that believing in you makes sense of the world I see around me. I ask you for opportunities to share my belief in you today. I know that with your help I can make a difference in the world around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever sit and thought about how complex creation is? Do you believe that all that complexity could have come into existence by chance and evolutionary processes?
2. Who is someone you can share your faith in Jesus with today?
3. What are some resouces you can begin reading or reasearching to prepare yourself to give answers to the tough questions people have about faith in God?

Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. – Jude 1:3 (NLT)

We’re talking about apologetics this week. Apologetics might seem like a big scary word. It doesn’t have to be too overwhelming. If we break it down, it’s simply giving an answer or a defense for what you believe.

In our world, there are increasingly more and more people that don’t follow the Christian faith. As Christians, our response should be to stand up and give answers for our belief in Jesus. Often there are just small things that keep our friends and family from believing in Jesus. We can give them the answers they need and remove the things that might keep them from following Jesus. That’s why we study apologetics.

You might think that apologetics is apologizing for what you believe or learning to argue really well. It’s not. Instead, it’s sharing your hope in Jesus and giving good answers for the questions others might ask you about your faith in Jesus.

For example, some people feel the Bible is not relevant or it’s outdated. Others may feel like God is distant and not loving, so to respond to them, you should know what you believe and why you believe it. Then you can confidently stand up for what it is you believe and for the hope you have in Jesus.

Today’s Truth: Stand up and give a defense for your hope in Jesus.

You might be the only chance some people have to hear the gospel. So you should study and make sure you know what you believe and why you believe it. God has called you to be bold and stand up and defend your faith. Today choose to begin to study and know both the Bible and why it’s important to your day-to-day life.

Pray: God, I ask for your help in sharing my faith. Give me opportunities today to stand up and boldy share my hope in Jesus. Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you feel equipped to share your faith? Why or why not?
2. How can you begin today to prepare yourself to give a defense for your hope in Jesus?