Devotions for Teenagers and Youth

What Fortnite Can Teach Us About Living For God

Posted on August 8, 2018

Have you ever played Fortnite? It seems like everyone these days is talking about playing it. Fortnite has millions of users and is growing in popularity. If you’re a teenager that loves Fortnite, have you ever stopped to think about how the game can teach you about living for God?

The More You Play The More Rewards You Unlock

The more Fortnite you play, the more rewards you can unlock in the game. The same is true for Christians. As we seek God, get closer to Him and do the things He says in His word the more rewards we unlock in our lives.

And while the rewards we unlock as Christians aren’t emotes, outfits, or back bling, they do help us in life. Check out a few of the rewards you can unlock as a Christian.

Reward One – Less Heartache

Living for God helps you have less heartache. God has set up some rules in His word on how we should live. These rules are to help you avoid heartache and pain. For example, God gives instructions about lust, not to keep you from having fun, but to keep you from the pain and heartache that unchecked lust can bring.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
– 2 Timothy 2:22 (NLT)

God doesn’t want your life to be destroyed by heartache and the consequences of unchecked lust. So challenge yourself today to live for God and make Godly choices. When you do, you’ll be glad you did.

Reward Two – Fewer Regrets

When you live for God and are seeking His will for your life, you can avoid a lot of regrets. If you’re constantly looking to God and seeking His direction for your life it will help you make good decisions. Seek God’s direction in everything you do. From big decisions to little ones and be willing to follow God’s leading. As you follow the direction God tells you for your life, you will make good decisions.

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:6 (NLT)

God knows everything from beginning to end. Getting God involved in your decision-making process will help you make better decisions and help you live with fewer regrets.

Your Squad Makes You Stronger

When playing Fortnite, your squad can help you. They can be another set of eyes to watch what’s going on, and help you when you need it. Also, playing with other people helps make the game more fun because you’re not alone.

As Christians the same is true. God has put into place a squad called the church. Getting involved in a good local church can help you in lots of different ways. Trusted friends at church can help you see areas in your life you need to improve or work on. They can also help you when you’re struggling and feeling weak.

Finally, as you spend time with the people in your church, you develop awesome relationships which make life more fun. You weren’t created to deal with life’s problems alone, so get involved with a local church and get into a Bible study or a small group.

Experience Makes You Stronger

When you’re playing Fortnite, you want XP. (Experience points). It shows everyone that not only do you play but that you can play well. As a Christian, you should be wanting the same thing. You want to not only live for Christ but to live well.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV).

Life is going to be hard at times. It’s not going to go the way you want it, and there are going to be times where your faith will be tested. However, if you can keep your faith strong in those tough times and not give up, it will make you stronger. When you look back on your life, you want people to say not only did you play, but you played well.

[Tweet “Each challenge you experience can bring you closer to God if you let it – @studentdevos”]

Each challenge you experience in life can bring you closer to God if you’ll let it. So choose to seek God and draw close to Him in every season of your life.

Youth Group Discussion Questions – What Fortnite Can Teach Us About Living For God
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Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – June 21

Posted on June 21, 2018

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; – Psalm 103:11 (NIV)

Today’s Bible verse shows how great God’s love is for us. God loves us so much that He had to use a distance to describe it. He loves us greater than we can fathom. And the awesome thing is all you have to do is receive it.

You might not feel like you deserve it, but it doesn’t matter. God loves you in the middle of your mess-ups, faults and short comings. In spite of what you’ve done, God loved you so much that He sacrificed everything He had just to know you.

So if you’re having a bad day, or just need something to keep a smile on your face, remember that God loves you in a very big way!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Psalm 103:1

Posted on June 15, 2018

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. – Psalm 103:1

Praising the Lord can be hard sometimes. Especially when you just don’t ‘feel it’. So how do you motivate yourself to praise God even when you don’t want to? One of the best ways to motivate yourself to praise God more is to remind yourself of how good He is.

[Tweet “One of the best ways to praise God is to remind yourself of how good He is. – @studentdevos”]

Remind yourself of the times when God has helped you out. Remind yourself of how awesome it is to have your sins forgiven and to live in freedom knowing that He’s not holding your past against you. Remind yourself of how great it is to serve Him. As you begin to remind yourself of all the great things God has done for you, you’ll find that your motivation to praise Him grows.

It can be easy to look at all the things going on wrong around you and have a bad attitude. Decide today to do something different. Challenge yourself today to find some time to praise God, regardless of how you feel.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Romans 13:1

Posted on June 12, 2018

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. – Romans 13:1

Authority figures can be really hard to respect at times. Your dad might drive you crazy, your mom might not understand you. Your teachers might come down on you too hard, or maybe you just feel like those in authority over you just don’t deserve your respect because of something they did.

Respecting authority isn’t easy. In fact, it can be one of the hardest things you do. It takes real character, guts and a lot of attitude adjustments to respect those over you. However, we’re challenged in today’s Bible verse to respect those in authority over us. This verse doesn’t tell us to respect those who get you, or those who really seem worthy of respect. It tells us to simply respect those in positions of authority.

Respect means not ripping them to shreds behind their back. Respect means doing your best to have a good attitude even when you might not understand or agree with a decision. Respect means treating those over you with God’s kind of love, whether you feel they deserve it or not.

Challenge yourself today to begin to speak well of those in authority over you. Begin to love them, even when they feel unloveable. Choose to be a person of character and respect the people in authority over you.

Daily Bible Verse Devotion – Matt 11:28

Posted on May 17, 2018

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Jesus does not want you to carry the weight of the world yourself. He wants to carry it for you. The Christian life is not about you doing the best you can and then God will do the rest. It’s a complete surrender to Jesus where He is in control. He takes the responsibility of carrying your burdens.

The question is, will you give Jesus full control of your life? It’s easy to say yes at a youth camp or retreat where emotions are high. But really think about it. Will you let Jesus be in charge? Whether you’ve been a Christ follower already for years or have only thought about it, Jesus wants to be your all in all.

So today, put up a white flag and confess Him as Lord of your life. Let Him have control of your life. He will take better care of you than you could ever take care of yourself.

Two Things My Bluetooth Speaker Taught Me About My Relationship With God

Posted on May 7, 2018

Bluetooth speakers are awesome. I got one for Christmas a few years ago and I’ve just loved it. I love being able to listen to music on my phone. In fact, I’ve enjoyed it so much I’ve gotten several more since then.

You Choose Your Connection

When I first set up my Bluetooth speaker to connect with my phone I found out that there were lots of choices as to what speaker or device to connect with. I saw that I could connect with other speakers in my house or even a device at my neighbor’s house. The interesting thing is that I had the freedom to choose what I connected with.

The same is really true for us in life too. We choose what we connect with. We choose our friends, the music we listen to, the TV we watch and what we believe. What we connect with influences the direction and the course of our life.

[Tweet “What you’ve connected with influences the direction of your life – @studentdevos”]

You have the freedom to choose your connection. Your music, friends, beliefs and even the TV you watch have a powerful impact on your life. So challenge yourself to be wise in your connection. Choose friends, books, TV, and music that help you draw closer to God.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

Your Connection Matters

For example, if I connected with a Bluetooth device at my neighbor’s house to listen to music, I wouldn’t hear it well. I’d have to really listen hard to try to hear the song I wanted to play. Where I decide to connect my phone determines the quality of the music I hear.

In life, it’s no different. What we connect with matters. If we connect our lives to friends, music, TV and other sources that draw us away from God, the quality of our relationship with God will suffer.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Timothy 2:22 (NLT)

You’ve got to maintain your connection with Jesus every day. A phone playing music on its own is pretty quiet. However, when you hook it up to a speaker, it’s louder and more powerful than when it’s on its own. The same is true in our lives. When you’re connected to Jesus daily through Bible reading and prayer you are the most powerful. You can face a lot of difficult situations and circumstances when you’re connected with Jesus.

Read: How to Have An Awesome Quiet Time

Challenge yourself today to begin connecting with Jesus. If you haven’t yet, begin spending time with Him each day. Ask Him for His wisdom in the decisions you make each day. Seek Him, His plan and know that He wants to connect with you.

You Can Download Youth Group Discussion Questions to use with this devotion.

Youth Group Discussion Questions – Two Things My Bluetooth Speaker Taught Me About My Relationship With God
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Daily Devotion and Bible Verse – April 26

Posted on April 26, 2018

Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. – Daniel 6:3 (NASB)

Sometimes all it takes for you to go to the next level in your position at school or on your job is by adding an attitude of excellence. If you decide to have an excellence attitude, it could change everything. People would perceive your work differently. Your stamina at work or school would increase. Your superiors would be able to entrust you with more.

This is the attitude that Daniel had. Most remember him because of the story of him in the lions den. However, did you ever stop and think where he got that kind of faith in the first place? He was committed to praying throughout the day for years. He had a great relationship with God already in place. When he was asked to compromise his convictions, he would not, even thought it may of easily cost him his life.

God was able to do a major miracle but not without Daniel being strong in faith during the whole time. This could only have happened because of Daniel’s commitment to excellence.

Today make a decision that your going to go that extra mile and have an excellent spirit. When everyone else is compromising on the job or at school, decide that your not going to. Choose to do the right thing regardless of who’s watching or not.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – April 2

Posted on April 2, 2018

Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid? – Psalm 27:1 (NIV)

It’s easy to become fearful. You might watch too much TV and it causes you to get scared of what’s going on in the world and for your safety. Maybe you fear for your future and wonder if you’ll ever meet the right person to marry or find the right career for you.

The great thing about God is that when He’s on your side you have no reason to fear. If you’ll choose to put your hope and trust in God you’ll never be disappointed. It’s not always easy trusting in God when things may not look certain around you, but putting your trust in God is always a good decision.

[Tweet “With God on your side, you’ve got nothing to fear – @studentdevos”]

God can’t let you down and He always comes through. It’s true, with God on your side you’ve got nothing and no one to be afraid of. So determine today to place your worries, your future, and your safety in God’s hands. You have no reason to fear when God is on your side.

What A Google Home Teaches About Who We Are In Christ

Posted on March 26, 2018

My grandpa got a Google Home for his birthday. When he opened it, he had no idea what it was or what it can do. My cousins, aunts, and uncles immediately sprung into action and got it hooked up and ready to use. Then we all took turns showing my grandpa how to say, “hey Google…” and ask questions or give it a command. Now my grandpa loves it. In fact, if you go over to his house, he’ll entertain you by getting you to ask his Google Home questions. We visited him a few weeks ago, and he told us at supper to think of a really hard question. When we were done eating, he had us ask Google Home our questions.

Once my grandpa understood his gift, he could begin enjoying it and sharing it with others. In the same way, when we begin to see who we are in Christ, we can begin truly enjoying our life and living life to the fullest and begin sharing the love of Christ with others.

[Tweet “When we see who we are in Christ, we can truly enjoy life – @studentdevos”]

In Christ – You Can Do It

I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. – Phil 4:13 (Good News)

Life can be tough. Disappointment can be real. But in the midst of all the difficulty that life can bring, knowing that you can do all things through Christ makes all the difference. If you put your faith and trust in Jesus, you can know that through Christ you can make it.

It’s encouraging to know that you’re not stuck out there in life all by yourself. You’ve got a God who has been through it already and is ready to walk with you through whatever difficulty you face. Knowing that in Christ you can do it makes a huge difference in life. It will keep you going when things get tough.

[Tweet “Knowing that in Christ you can do it keeps you going when things get tough – @studentdevos”]

In Christ – You Matter

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

When God thinks about you, he sees a masterpiece. The great thing about a masterpiece is that it’s one of a kind. There is no other work like it and it’s very special to the person who created it. In the same way, to God, you matter. Your life is important and you’ve been created to do something special for God.

It’s easy to begin to compare yourself to what you see online. You can see what your friends are doing, how they look, what they wear and what they do and feel like you don’t measure up. However, the true measure of worth is what God says about you. When you begin to see yourself the way Jesus sees you, you realize that you matter. You’ve been uniquely designed and your life is important.

[Tweet “When you begin to see yourself the way Jesus sees you, you realize you matter – @studentdevos”]

In Christ – You Find Purpose

For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring. – Acts 17:28 (NLT)

It’s easy as a teenager to feel like you don’t have any idea of your purpose. You might not have yet discovered what you want to do for a career. You might not even quite know what it is that you’re really good at doing. Don’t get discouraged. It’s by spending time with Jesus that you find your purpose.

It’s in Jesus that we live. It’s in Jesus we discover what we’re good at doing and what God has created us to do. Find your purpose by getting close to Jesus. Let Him show you what it is that He wants you to do and let following Him be your sense of purpose.

In Christ – You Belong

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. – Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

God adopted you into His family. That means that you belong. Once you accept Jesus you have a family and a sense of belonging. So regardless of your home life, regardless of whether you fit in with friends at school, in Christ, you belong.

Don’t give into the lie of the enemy that says you don’t belong anywhere or that no one cares. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The truth in Jesus is that you belong. It made God happy to bring you into His family and He wants nothing more than a relationship with you. When those feelings or thoughts come that tell you that you don’t belong, choose to believe what God says instead. Choose to believe that in Christ, you belong.

What I Learned From A Google Home

I realized by watching my grandpa that a Google Home is really great, but we’ve got to spend some time learning how to use it. My grandpa didn’t automatically know how to use his Google Home. He had to spend some time learning about it to use it and get it working.

The same is true for us when it comes to our identity in Christ. We’ve got to spend time in the Bible learning about who God says we are in Jesus. We’ve got to let that identity become more real to us than what we see online or what others say about us. When we put in the effort to see ourselves how God sees us, it will change everything.

You Can Download Discussion Questions to use with this devotion.

Youth Group Discussion Questions – What a Google Home Teaches About Who We Are In Christ
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Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – March 22

Posted on March 22, 2018

He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. – 2 Timothy 1:9

Have you spent any time thinking about the fact that you’ve got a calling? There is something that God has created you to do. He’s got a special plan for your life that only you can do. That might seem like a lot of pressure, but it’s really not. Today’s Bible verse shows us that this calling isn’t based on our works. We can rely on God’s help to achieve the things He’s called us to do.

It’s easy to get discouraged in our day to day lives. We might not be the best at math, or not that great at baseball, but none of that matters to God. God isn’t concerned about our abilities in ourselves. When He calls us to do something for Him, He helps us and gives us what we need to do it.

[Tweet “When God calls us to do something for Him, He helps us do it. – @studentdevos”]

So today encourage yourself in the fact that God has called you. He’s got a plan and a purpose for your life that only you can fulfill. So choose to spend time getting close to God and asking Him to reveal the next step of the plan for your life.

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