We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. – Romans 6:6 (NLT)

Jesus came to bring us freedom. That’s good news. Sin no longer has power in our lives.

Sin doesn’t have to hold us back. Our shame, mistakes, and shortcomings are no longer things that keep us from God. We can live in total freedom in every area of our lives.

It’s up to us then to live in that freedom every day. When thoughts come to us that tell us we’re not important or that we’re worthless, we’ve got to realize those thoughts aren’t the truth. God’s word is truth. And the truth found in God’s word is that you’re free from sin in every area.

Sin no longer has to hold you back. So walk in the freedom Jesus has provided for you. Determine to let the truth in God’s word be more real to you than any other thought, feeling, or idea that you might have. When you have those thoughts make them line up with what God’s word says. God’s word is truth, and when you believe it, it will cause you to have freedom in every area of your life.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. – Romans 12:1 (NLT)

When you’re thinking about your future, your purpose, your identity, it can often seem overwhelming. There can be times when you’re concerned about choosing the right college or the right job. Yes, those things are very important, and you should go to God with those things in prayer. However, one of the most important things you can do as you begin searching for purpose and identity is simply to spend time with God.

As you spend time with God, through prayer, reading your Bible, and talking to Him, you begin to get to know His heart. As you do this, making the right choices and the right decisions become easier. Why? Because through time with Him, His desires become your desires. Then when you go to make a choice or a decision you’re ready because you’ve already spent time getting to know and understand the thoughts of the one who loves you and gave Himself for you.

Today’s Truth: I find my purpose through knowing God.

Today, instead of worrying about the decisions you’ll have to make in the future, focus more on getting to know God. Determine to spend time worshipping Him. Develop a close walk with Him and sacrifice your desires for God’s. As you do, God will show you what you need to know when you need to know it.

Getting to know God is easy, rewarding, and fulfilling. So do it. Get to know your creator. Spend time in His presence and realize it’s there He will reveal your purpose and identity.

Pray: God, I love you. Today I choose to put aside my desires, wants, and opinions and to focus on you. I choose to make knowing you the priority in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do you ever struggle with questioning your purpose and your identity? For many, the teenage years can be a difficult time. It’s not unusual for teens to question who they are, why they’re here, and wrestle with purpose and meaning.

There’s nothing wrong with good questions like these. Especially if you go to God’s word to find the answers. Always keep searching for the answers that you need.

Let’s take a look at what God shows us about when He created man and woman.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

In the midst of all your questions, don’t forget this important truth: you’re made in the image of God. So in your questions, know this, you’re important to God. Because He made you, He knows you. He sees your purpose and potential. So don’t give up, don’t stop asking Him for guidance and direction when it comes to your identity.

God has all wisdom and in His word are the answers you need to every question you ask. Get into your Bible. Study it and search it out to find the answers you need. Also, find a trusted mentor that is more experienced in their faith than you. Ask them for their wisdom and insights about the questions you have.

God wants to help you find your purpose and your identity. Keep seeking Him, and as you get to know Him more, you’ll begin to discover your true identity, in Him.

Today’s Truth: You are made in the image of God.

Pray: God, I thank you that I’m made in your image. Today I choose to get to know you more. As I spend time with you, you’ll show me the purpose that you created me for. Thank you for your goodness and your love, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. – Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

Its easy to read this verse and think, so what? Who cares if Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever? So why is it a big deal that Jesus remains the same throughout time?

Here’s why: It means that Jesus doesn’t love you one day and then hate you the next. It means that He doesn’t get angry with you simply because He doesn’t have anything better to do. It means He is consistent. His love for you is consistent.

Many people in our lives are fickle. You may have friends who one day turn on you because you wore the wrong clothes or said the wrong thing. That’s not at all how Jesus is. He loves you, and that love is the same everyday.

Today’s Truth: Jesus’ Love and Opinion of you will never change.

Take some time today to think about how great it is that Jesus is the same. That His love and opinion of you doesn’t change.

Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. – Genesis 6:9

It can be easy to look at Noah and be envious. You can wish that God would use you to do something really amazing like how he used Noah.

Even though Noah was used by God in a big way, I bet to Noah it didn’t feel big at the moment. It probably felt like a lot of work. Taking care of tons of animals day after day would be really hard. Then he was stuck in a boat with what probably felt like unending rain. Follow that up with dealing with elephant poop. Noah had to put in a lot of work to be used by God.

I bet there were times when Noah wished that God had picked someone else to build the ark and take care of all those animals. Yet Noah still obeyed God. His close relationship with God kept him going when things were tough and took a lot of work.

We can do the same thing that Noah did. We might not have to build a huge boat to save the world, but God will ask us to do things for Him in our lifetime. And if we don’t give up and stay encouraged, we can accomplish big things for God. So decide today to draw close to God and let your relationship with God be the thing that keeps you going when things are tough.

“The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

Many times in life, we hear people blame things on God. If something bad happens many people believe that God is teaching them a lesson or teaching them patience. However, that’s not what the Bible says in this verse.

This verse shows us that Jesus doesn’t want us to just have life, He wants us to live an abundant life. Jesus wants us to come out on top in any situation that we face. So when you’re at school, you can expect to do well. When you’re at work, you can expect promotion. You can expect good things in every situation that you face.

Start today by expecting good things to happen to you. You can be confident in the fact that now that you’re a child of the king. You walk in favor and blessing everywhere you go.

Pray: God, I thank you that I’m a child of the king. Thank you that I walk in your favor everywhere I go today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions

1. What do you think about the idea that Jesus wants to give us an abundant life?
2. Do you expect that good things in every situation you face?