With everything going on right now from the pandemic to social distancing, to economic struggles, it can be really easy to let your heart get troubled.

You might even just have a hard time loving your family because you’re with them now more than ever before.

The times we’re living in aren’t easy at all. The truth is, however, that even in these times, we still have to choose to guard our hearts.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. – Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

We need to guard our hearts against worry, anxiety and bitterness just to name a few. It’s easy to let your heart be upset and worried and when we do, it can cause us to get off course.

So today, choose to not let anything take you off the course God has for your life. Instead, guard your heart. When bitterness, worry or anxiety come, choose to not let them rule your heart.

Instead, look to Jesus. Lean on His peace and love to help you get through these times.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled – Matthew 5:6

When you’re really hungry or thirsty, you’ll do anything you can to get food or drink. In fact, it’s almost all you can think about. When you’re in need of a drink, you don’t want to chat with a friend for two hours about your history class project. Instead, you want to do whatever you can to quench your thirst.

This is a lot like what today’s Bible verse is challenging us with. It’s telling us that we should be hungry and thirsty for righteousness. It should be something that we’re going after and wanting.

Challenge yourself today to go after righteousness. Don’t become so used to your friends and what’s going on around you that you forget that you should be wanting to get to know God better and to become more like Him. Determine to hunger and thirst after righteousness.

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. – 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Do you like sharing your faith with others? Or does it feel really strange and maybe a little bit scary?

If you’re honest, sharing your faith with someone probably doesn’t feel like the easiest thing to do. You might be scared that others will think you’re weird if you share your faith or maybe that someone will stop liking you if you do.

Regardless of our fears, today’s verse shows us that we should be ready to share our faith with others. We never know when a friend might need encouragement. Or when a neighbor might need prayer. We should always be ready to explain why we believe in Jesus and why there is hope in Jesus.

One of the best ways to do this is to begin thinking about your experience with Jesus. What is one amazing thing that Jesus has done in your life? How has he changed your life and when did you really make that step to believe in Him?

These stories can become part of your explanation of faith. When sharing your faith with others, don’t be concerned about knowing all the right answers from the Bible. Rather, focus on what you know and your own experiences with God. These are things others can’t refute.

Don’t be afraid to share your faith with others. You don’t have to know all the answers, but share what Jesus has done for you. Share the difference that knowing Him has made in your life. You’ll be surprised that people usually respond well if you share your faith with love.

It’s easy with everything going on right now, to want to question God’s love for you. You might wonder why a parent has lost a job, why people are sick, and maybe why your life is so far from normal.

One thing the enemy always tries to do is to get us to question whether God really loves us. When things get tough and times get hard, it’s easy to question God’s love.

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. – Psalm 36:7 (NLT)

Here is the truth. God loves you. He’s always loved you and He will never stop loving you.

The love that God has for you isn’t based on whether you deserve it or not. He just loves you. And that’s so freeing to know. That love empowers you to go out and love others and to serve God with your whole heart.

God really does love you and really cares what you’re going through.

The enemy wants nothing more than to distract you from God’s plan for your life. In times like these, it’s easy to lose focus on God.

Your life isn’t normal. Your schooling isn’t normal. Nothing is exactly right. During times like these, it’s easy to start to be distracted or distanced from God’s plan for your life.

It’s easy to lose focus, and begin to look at your circumstances and trials rather than to look to God.

Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. – Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

So today, challenge yourself to have an undivided heart before God. Determine to not let your circumstances sway you from the things God has for you.

Instead, look to Him. Get close to Him and let Him direct your path and your future. With God, your future is good!

Pray: Dear God, I give you my whole heart. Thank you for helping me, leading me, and guiding me. I purpose to put you first in the things I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. – Psalm 91:11 (NLT)

This week, we’ve been looking at prayer. In today’s devotion, we’re going to look at how to pray for protection.

Right now, we all feel a little scared. The pandemic we’re facing causes so many of us to fear and feel unsettled. We don’t know when we’re going to be safe from it. It can be scary to go out and get things. You might fear for the safety of a loved one who works at a hospital and begin to wonder how to pray for them.

Pray for Protection

The Bible has many verses on protection, so today we’re going to look at one of them and how we can pray it over our lives and the lives of others for protection.

Dear Jesus, I thank you for sending your angels to protect me. I pray protection over myself and my family wherever we go. I thank you that you’re keeping us safe. I trust you, I don’t walk in fear, but I walk knowing that you’re there to help me through this. I thank you for your supernatural protection today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. – 1 Timothy 2:2 (NLT)

This week we’ve been talking about prayer. We’ve seen that God wants to hear from us, that our prayer is powerful, and that a good way to pray is to pray God’s word.

Today we’re going to look at the importance of praying for our leaders and those in authority. Right now, there is so many decisions our leaders have to make. Do they open restaurants and schools back up? Should they encourage us to all continue staying home? These are some of the tough decisions facing our leaders right now.

In the middle of this pandemic, our leaders need prayer more than ever. Our church leaders need wisdom to know how to reach people for Christ. Our school leaders need wisdom on how to keep students safe and keep learning happening. The leaders in government need wisdom to make wise choices concerning our safety.

So today, as we’re looking at prayer, let’s spend some time praying for our leaders and those in authority. Let’s pray they have the wisdom to make good decisions during these difficult times.

Here’s an example of how you could pray for your leaders today.

God, I come to you. I thank you that you hear me when I pray. Right now, I pray for those in leadership. I pray that you give our leaders wisdom. Help them to make good choices concerning our future. Give them creative ideas to know what to do. Help them by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This week as we’re talking about prayer, it’s good to remember that God wants to hear from you. Also, your prayers are powerful and make a big difference.

Next, let’s look a little about how to pray. Prayer can be overwhelming, there’s no doubt about that.

The best thing to remember is to pray God’s word. When we pray we want to make sure that our prayers are based on God’s word.

This is an extreme example, but we wouldn’t pray that God would help our dad steal money from a store and not get caught. Obviously, God teaches in the Bible that stealing is wrong. So we don’t want to pray things that go against what the Bible says.

Today’s Tip: Pray the Bible

So if you’re wanting to pray, find a scripture and turn it into a prayer.

One of my favorite verses to pray over myself is Ephesians 1:18.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, – Eph 1:18 (NIV)

So here’s what I would pray.

Dear Jesus, I love you. I thank you that you have called me to something. I ask you to help show me what that calling is. I thank you that you are opening the eyes of my heart to see it and you more clearly. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A prayer like that is simple, but based on what the Bible says. So if you’re stuck knowing what to pray, find a scripture and turn it into a prayer. It will help you grow in your prayer life!

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. – James 5:16 (NLT)

This week we’re talking about prayer. Prayer can be a hard thing to do. You may not know exactly what to say or how to start. However, having a good prayer life starts by knowing that God wants to hear from you, which we talked about yesterday.

Knowing that is the foundation for successful prayer. You know that God is excited to hear you pray.

The next truth to know is that your prayers are powerful.

You’re not just floating some words up to heaven. Your prayers make a difference. They can change things.

So as you develop in your prayer walk, know that the things you pray for matter and they are powerful.

Today, choose to take some time to pray. The things you pray about are powerful and effective. So even if its just for a few minutes, take some time to sit down and pray today. God can’t wait to hear from you.

Jesus, I love you. I’m so glad you want to hear from me. I believe that my prayers are powerful and change things. I determine to spend time this week developing in my prayer walk. Help show me things in your word to help me grow in you! In Jesus, name, Amen.