Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Isaiah 55:12

Posted on September 5, 2022

It can feel overwhelming to think about being led by God. You might wonder, how do I hear from Him? Does hearing from God take being some kind of spiritually mature person?

Hearing God and being led by God doesn’t take 87 hours of fasting and praying. God wants to lead you. His leadership is available for everyone who believes in Him and is willing to listen to what He has to say. However, it can feel a little strange to think about being led by someone you can’t see, and it can feel weird to trust the leading of Him.

So how do we know His leading? A few days ago, we went over some basic steps to being led by Him. You can learn more here.

God wants to lead you, He’s willing to lead you, but most of the time, His leading isn’t going to be in a dream, vision, or Jesus Himself showing up in your room and speaking to you. The majority of the leading is going to be through peace in your spirit.

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. – Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)

What does this look like in real life? Well, let’s just say for example that you’re faced with a decision. Maybe you’re wondering if you should go with your friends on vacation or stay home during Thanksgiving break at school. How do you know what decision is right?

One way you can find out is to pray about each choice. Then get quiet and see which choice you have the most peace about. That is a way that the Holy Spirit leads us is through peace. So if you pray about your options and you have peace about one option over another, know that often God leads you through peace.

Today’s Truth: God often leads you through peace.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Acts 20:35

Posted on September 2, 2022

Acts 20

And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” – Acts 20:35 (NLT)

How often do you take time to think about how you can help others? Do you ask God daily how you can be a blessing to those around you?

Or do you compare what you have to your friends and feel like you don’t have enough, don’t measure up, and are lacking in some way? It’s so easy to compare yourself to those around you and become focused inward. You might feel like you don’t have the best clothes or the best summer vacation story. And if you focus on those things, it will steal your joy.

Today’s Truth: You find true happiness when you begin to help others.

Instead, find happiness in helping others. Ask God to show you a need around you and how you can meet it. Look for ways to show God’s love to others and help others in need. As you begin to live a generous life, you’ll find that you a happier and more fulfilled.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – John 14:27

Posted on September 1, 2022

Do you know what’s great about God? He doesn’t want you troubled by the cares, concerns, and worries of life. That’s an amazing thing to think about. God doesn’t want you concerned about the friends at school that aren’t being nice to you. He doesn’t want you troubled about the unrest in the world around you.

Why? It’s because He promises to take care of those things for us. We don’t have to be concerned about the future. Jesus tells us to not let our hearts be troubled or to be afraid in John 14:27.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27 (NIV)

Doing what this verse says isn’t easy. We are wired to want to worry. It’s easy to want to take the troubles of the world around you and let them cause you to be upset. However, that isn’t God’s best for you.

God wants you to rest in Him, and to walk in His peace. So regardless of what is going on around you, you can be at peace knowing that God will take care of you and watch after you.

Today’s Truth: Walk at Peace Knowing God Will Take Care of You.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – 1 Timothy 6:18

Posted on August 31, 2022

Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others – 1 Timothy 6:18 (NLT)

There was a time in my life when I always expected people to give me things. I wished that someone would give me some money so I could buy better clothes. I became angry with my parents because I felt they didn’t give me enough money to go out to eat or watch a movie. Many times, I was frustrated because I felt that no one was giving me what I thought I needed.

At one point, I remember reading my Bible and thinking about giving. I was challenged to stop living my life waiting for others to do good things for me and I began to purposefully give to others. For example, if I was going out to eat, I’d try to buy a friend’s meal. One time I felt led to give money to a friend at school, and I gave them some money.

Once I started the lifestyle of giving, it was amazing the change in my outlook. Instead of being frustrated, I began to experience real joy as I helped give to those around me. Using your money to do good can really help you get more joy out of life.

Today’s Truth: The more you give, the more joy you experience

Begin today to live a life of generosity. Ask God to show you how you can use what little you have to help someone around you. It might be something as simple as giving a friend a coupon you found on the ground instead of using it yourself. Whatever it is, be open to doing what God tells you and you’ll experience the joy that generosity brings.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Psalm 119:105

Posted on August 30, 2022

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. – Psalm 119:105

How many times in life do you just wish that you knew the ‘right’ thing to do? You might be faced with a decision on where to go to school, who to date, or which sport to play this year. All of these decisions have consequences and you wish that someone would just tell you what to do.

When it comes to making decisions, it’s often easy to ignore what this Bible verse tells us. It says the Bible is a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path. This verse tells us that when we don’t know what the right choice is, we should rely on God’s word for help. God’s word can be the answer to your questions. It can be the light to show you which path to take. The key is to spend time in God’s word and get to know what God says. God’s word will bring light and help you make the right decision.

Today’s Truth: If you spend time reading the Bible you find that the decision you need to make is much clearer.

If we spend time reading the Bible and getting to know Jesus, we find that often the decision we are to make seems much clearer. So the next time you’re faced with a tough decision, do what this Bible verse says. Spend some time in God’s word and let it guide you into making good decisions.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Posted on August 29, 2022

Teen Devotion and Bible Verse on Who You Are In Christ

What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

We all like new stuff, it’s just human nature. Whether it’s getting those new shoes you’ve been wanting or trying the food at a new restaurant, there’s just something exciting about things that are new.

Have you ever thought about the fact that when you become a Christian, you’ve become new? Your hair doesn’t change color, and you don’t get some crazy new personality, but the old life you had before Christ is gone. Now when God sees you, he sees you new, perfect, and free from sin.

Knowing this changes the way you see yourself. You might look in the mirror and see someone who has messed up and is imperfect. The truth is, God doesn’t look at your failures. He looks at you through Jesus. In Jesus, He sees someone who is perfect. Today, choose to see yourself as He does. Choose to look past your shortcomings and see the person that God sees. A person that is full of potential and made new in Jesus.

Today’s Truth: When God sees you, He sees you perfect and free from sin!

Take a few moments today to thank God for making you new!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Romans 5:5

Posted on August 26, 2022

We’ve been talking a lot this week about hearing from God. Often, it’s easy to make hearing from God harder than it needs to be. It can be easy to overthink it or begin to doubt that you really did hear from God.

Here’s the truth: God wants to speak to you. His leading often is quiet and comes in the form of a small prompting or thought. The key is to begin to listen to it and go with the peace that you feel in your heart. The more you begin to listen and act on those promptings, the more God will lead and guide you.

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. – Romans 5:5 (NLT)

So realize that hearing from God isn’t hard. God wants to lead you and show you things. Begin to listen and then act on the peace or prompting that you feel in your spirit when you ask God what to do about something. God is a good God and He is always ready and open to speak to you.

Today’s Truth: Hearing From God Isn’t Hard

Hearing from God

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Jeremiah 29:13

Posted on August 25, 2022

If you’ve ever learned to play an instrument, you know that it takes a lot of effort to get good at it. You have to take lessons, practice, and practice some more. After some time, you begin to get good and comfortable with playing your instrument.

When it comes to hearing from God, the same is true. It takes some time, effort, and practice to be good and comfortable at hearing from Him.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13

God tells us that if we seek Him, we will find Him. If we want to hear from Him, we can. So determine to put some effort into doing the things we mentioned earlier in the week. Decide to filter out the things that distract you from hearing from God. Expect to hear from God. Then put what you hear when you’re quiet into practice.

If you’re quiet with God, and get the idea to write a note to a friend to encourage them, do it. Dont be afraid to put the things you hear when youre quiet with God into practice. The more you do, the more you’ll get comfortable hearing from Him.

Today’s Truth: Hearing From God Takes Practice.

Hearing from God

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Romans 10:17

Posted on August 24, 2022

This week we’re talking about how to hear from God. God wants to speak to you, show you about Himself, and help you each day. But getting started hearing from God can feel weird, unknown, and overwhelming. That’s why this week we will be sharing some tips on how to go about it.

You might wonder how I know whether I’m hearing from God or not. The best way to know is to make sure you’re spending time reading your Bible.

God will never lead or guide you in a different direction than what is written in the Bible. For example, the Bible tells children to obey their parents in Ephesians. So if you feel like God is speaking to you to do something that would hurt your mom, you can probably assume that isn’t God speaking to you.

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. – Romans 10:17 (NLT)

The more you read the Bible, the more you get to know the heart and character of God. That helps you know His voice in the long run because you know that He will never lead or guide you in a different way than what you see in the Bible.

Today’s Truth: Read Your Bible to Know God’s Voice

Read Bible

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Romans 8:14

Posted on August 23, 2022

This week, we’ve been exploring some tips and ideas on how we can learn to hear from God. Today let’s focus on the fact that God wants to lead us as children of God.

Isn’t the idea of that comforting? Knowing that God does indeed want to lead us. He wants to guide us, He wants to show us things to come and help us. As His children, we can expect to hear from Him.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. – Romans 8:14 (NIV)

That means that hearing from God isn’t something that’s difficult or weird. It’s something that we should expect to have to happen as children of God. So if you haven’t, take some time to get quiet. Filter out distractions and things that might keep you from spending time with God, and get into your Bible. Learn His voice and expect it to lead you in big or even small things each day.

Today’s Truth: As Children of God, we can expect to hear God speak.