Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. – Phil 4:8 (NIV)

Have you noticed how easy it is to compare yourself to others? Perhaps you noticed that someone has a better phone than you do. Or maybe another person just always seems to say the right thing at the right time and everyone likes them.

It’s so easy to see what others have, compare it to what you have, and feel like you fall short.

The problem with comparison is that it will always leave you unhappy and unfulfilled.

Today’s Tip: Quit Comparing

So if you’ve been guilty of comparing yourself to others determine this school year to stop. There’s always going to be someone smarter than you. If not at your school then in college. There’s always going to be a better athlete than you. And if you compare your performance and your worth to how you measure up to others you’ll always be disappointed.

This year, decide to quit comparing yourself to others and be happy with who you are.

What are some ways you’ve found helpful to be happy with what you have?

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. – Romans 12:11 (NLT)

It’s so easy to get distracted. From getting engrossed in Instagram, binge-watching Netflix, spending time with friends, or school work it’s so easy to get distracted and become detached from the things of God. Today’s Bible verse is a challenge to that. It tells us to live our lives wholeheartedly for God.

We are to work hard and serve God enthusiastically. Serving God shouldn’t be something we fit in on church day if we have the time or unless something better comes up. Serving God should be the way we live our lives.

And while technology and friends aren’t wrong, when we let them come in place of spending time with God, something is out of place. We should make serving God our priority and have fun doing it. It’s fun to bless someone in need. It’s fun to read the Bible and find an answer for a difficult situation that you’re facing. It’s fun to trust God and see Him come through for you. So purpose today to serve God wholeheartedly and enthusiastically.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

This year has been a really difficult one. Most of us had no idea the effect that COVID would have on our world. And it’s easy to be so upset about how it’s inconvenienced our lives that we forget that others around us are hurting too.

So this year, as you go back to school, be sure to look for opportunities to help others.

Ask God to show you someone you could help or encourage. It might be a simple thing like asking someone to sit at your lunch table so they don’t have to eat alone. Don’t be afraid to go out of your way to help others.

As you look for ways to help others, it will end up bringing you joy. So be sure to look for ways to help others around you this year. It will help make your school year more fun for you too!

The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him – Psalm 37:40 (NIV)

Going back to school can be intimidating. Maybe you’re not that excited because you got the hard math teacher. Perhaps you’re upset because none of your friends are in your class.

Going back to school can be hard because there are a lot of unknowns. You’re not sure how the year will be and what will happen. Often unknowns lead to fear, or being upset about what’s to come.

That’s where believing the best comes in. You can pray and believe God that this year is going to be a good year for you. You can ask God to help you each step of the way.

Ask Him for wisdom to understand the hard subjects. Go to Him for help when you need friends. You’ll be amazed at how much God can help you this year if you’ll simply choose to believe the best.

God’s got good things in store for you this year. Trust Him and ask Him for His help and see how He will help you have a great year.

Is there something that you’re concerned about in the upcoming school year? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to pray for you about it!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Back to school is coming soon. And going back to school can cause all kinds of different emotions. Some are excited to see friends and get back to a more normal routine. Others, dread schoolwork and wished summer could continue forever.

Regardless of how you feel about going back to school, many will be headed there in the next few weeks.

With that in mind, this week, we’re going to look at a few things you can do to help your back to school experience go great.

Today’s back to school tip is don’t give in to fear.

I remember the day I started middle school. I was nervous about my locker combination. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to open it and get to my classes. It was my first time having a locker and it felt so overwhelming!

More than likely, there’s something about going back to school that causes fear. It might not be getting your locker open, but it could be fear that you’ll not keep up, or fear that you’ll not make friends this year or something else.

The thing about fear is that it’s often defeated when you change your focus. If you constantly focus on all the things that might go wrong, you’ll be upset and anxious for school to start.

Instead, focus on all the things that might go right. What if you and your teacher really click? What if you end up making amazing friends this year? What would happen if you focused your thoughts on the good what ‘ifs’ instead of focusing on what might go wrong.

Need some extra help combatting fear?

Here’s a great resource: 5 Devotions to Defeat Fear

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

We all face temptation. The bad news about temptation is that it usually doesn’t happen when we’re ready for it. It usually happens in those moments when we’re tired, or sad or disappointed about something. And while we all face temptation, when we give into it, we often feel really bad. We wish we were better about fighting it or saying no to the things that tempt us.

Some of us deal with lying, stealing or cheating. Others deal with sexual sins like pornography, masturbation or lustful thoughts. Regardless of the way that you’re tempted there is good news when it comes to temptation.

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The good news is that God says that he will show us a way out of temptation. God doesn’t just leave us without help, fighting alone. If we will be open to listen, God will show us the way we can stop temptation in it’s tracks.

He might show us to leave our phone in the kitchen if we’re tempted to look at porn online in our room. It may be a creative way to avoid stealing by shopping with others. Whatever temptation you face, there’s a way out. Just ask God to show you how you can fight it and know that He’s there with you every step of the way.

“Look among the nations, and see;
    wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
    that you would not believe if told. – Habakkuk 1:5 (ESV)

It’s no secret that things are crazy right now. People are concerned about COVID, others are upset about racial tensions in the U.S., still, others are trying to figure out what school will look like next year. With all the chaos, it’s easy to question and wonder where is God.

You can begin to see all the bad things happening in the world and wonder does God care? Where is God in the middle of all this?

Often when things get bad in our lives, we get our focus off of Jesus and onto ourselves. We forget to look at Jesus and realize that He loves us. Jesus has never left His children without help or hope. That means, He’s not about to start now.

So if things feel hopeless to you. If you wonder where God is, realize that perhaps you’ve taken your eyes off of Jesus. Perhaps you’ve allowed the circumstances around you to become more real to you than Jesus.

Today, take your focus off of the bad going on in the world and put it on Jesus. Focus on His love for you. Realize that He loves you and has a great plan for you.

Whenever I am anxious and worried, you comfort me and make me glad. – Psalm 94:19 (GNT)

Our world right now gives us lots of reasons to be anxious and worried. For you, there might be some anxiety over school starting. Perhaps you wonder how well you’ll do this year since last year online was really hard.

Maybe your school hasn’t decided what to do yet, or perhaps your parents have decided to homeschool you. All the unknown can lead you to feeling very anxious.

You might have lots of reasons to be anxious, however, God tells us that He’s here to comfort you and make you glad.

That means that even in the middle of a world that seems in chaos. Even when it feels like nothing is going right, you can be at peace. Why? Because you know Jesus.

He’s the one who will never leave your side. He’s always there ready to help, and He understands anxiety. So today go to Him. Talk to Him about your concerns and the things that trouble you. He’s ready and willing to help you in any way He can.

but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. – Luke 2:10 (NLT)

This week we’re going to talk a little about uncertainty. Right now, things feel uncertain. The future is unknown and scary. To top it off, you might not even know what school is going to look like for you this year. In times like these, when things are uncertain, it’s easy to become fearful.

If we aren’t careful fear will steal our joy in every area of our lives.

The truth is, God doesn’t want fear to steal joy from our lives. Today’s Bible verse shows us that God reassured Mary to not fear. Even though she got some news that caused her uncertainty, the angel told her not to be afraid.

You probably feel a little like Mary. Life this year probably isn’t going how you expected and you keep receiving news that feels bad. However, in the midst of all the uncertainty, we can walk free from fear and live in joy.

Today, choose to look to God. Realize that He loves you and will help you through every uncertain situation.