Browsing Tag

attitude

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Phil 3:14

Posted on July 5, 2021

I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. – Phil 3:14 (ERV)

I ran long distances for my track team at school. One of the hardest things to do in a track meet was to keep running when I started getting tired. Many times, I just wanted to fall to the side of the track and stop. However, I learned though that when I started getting tired, I needed to hang in there and just keep running. There was a reward for finishing for my team if I would just not quit.

This is true in life too. Many times things get hard and we are wired to want to quit. However, when we quit we often miss out. There is power in finishing the things we start. It’s easy to start something, but sometimes it’s finishing that shows character.

God has called you to something. Today, determine to work hard to finish what God has called you to do. Don’t be a person that starts only, but keep working hard, and see what God has called you to do to the finish.

So choose to be a person of character and finish well in the things you start.

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Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – January 22

Posted on January 22, 2018

“Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: When someone falls, he gets back up. When someone turns away from me, he returns – Jeremiah 8:4 (GW)

Falling is never easy. Sometimes, it hurts. Today’s Bible verse challenges us that when we fall, fail, or mess-up, that we should get back up.

Getting back up can be a really hard thing to do. You might have to overcome some fear of failing in an area. You might have to overcome some pride and ask for forgiveness. Regardless of what it is you need to do to get up after a fall, it’s in the getting back up that you are able to move forward.

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Getting back up takes guts. You’ve got to put aside any fears, hurts, and negative emotions to get back up. It takes guts to face a friend that you’ve hurt and tell them sorry. It takes guts to stand up in front of your class and give a speech when you messed the last one up really bad. Getting back up takes guts, but it’s always worth it in the end.

So if you’ve experienced failure recently in any area, be encouraged. You’re not alone. Begin the process of getting back up and turning to God for help. God is always ready and able to help you whenever you need it!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Psalms 103:2

Posted on September 14, 2017

Today’s Bible Verse and Devotion is Psalm 103:2

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. – Psalm 103:2 (NLT)

When hard times come, its sometimes really easy to want to give up. You might blame God or just give up.

In the midst of hard times, its important that we remember what this verse says. It tells us to praise the Lord and to not forget the good things God does for us.

Its easy when things aren’t going the way you want to give up, blame God and start throwing ourselves a pity party. If we do this, however, we’re missing out on something really important. God tells us to not forget the good things He’s done. When we remember God, when we remember the things He has done for us in the past, we begin to realize that God will help us out this time too.

So instead of getting discouraged when tough times come, choose to look to God and remember the times God has brought you out of bad situations. And realize, He will do that again for you!

3 Practical Ways to Deal With Stress

Posted on July 24, 2017

Stress isn’t just something that adults deal with. As a teenager, you face lots of stressful situations every day. You might be stressed out because of something going on at school or home. Perhaps you’re in a stressful relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend. No matter what the source of your stress is, this devotion is focused on helping you overcome stress in healthy ways.

1 – Don’t Deal With Stress Alone

The best thing to do about stress is realize one simple truth: You weren’t built to deal with stress alone. You aren’t expected to deal with hard situations on your own. God wants to help you deal with the stressful situations that you face.

O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. – Jer. 10:23

This scripture describes it so perfectly. We aren’t built to do things on our own and in our own strength. We need God’s help to live our day-to-day lives. We need to trust that God has our back in every situation and circumstance that we face. When we get stressed out, we should go to God and ask for his help. He’s just waiting for us to ask for His help.

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2 – Look for the Cause of Your Stress

Look for the cause of your stress. Stress can come for a lot of reasons. For example, maybe you’ve committed yourself to too many things. You can’t realistically do soccer, volleyball, cheer, choir, band, yearbook and lead youth group Bible study. If you’re stressed out because you’ve overcommitted, then look for ways to get out of an activity or two. Even though being involved in a lot of things is fun, if it’s causing you too much stress, it isn’t worth it.

Perhaps you’re stressed out because of a bad relationship. If so, pray for wisdom to know how to deal with the person or situation.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. – James 1:5 (NLT)

Do some searching to see if you can find out what is causing you to be stressed. Then determine if there’s a way to handle the situation differently to help you be less stressed.

3 – Ask Advice From Other People

If you’re really stressed out about a situation or another person, it can be helpful to ask advice from someone else. Find a person who you feel you can trust and ask them their thoughts about your situation.

Many times, a wise friend, youth pastor or mentor can help put your situation into perspective. People that have gone through similar stressful situations can help give you advice and the encouragement you need to make it through stressful situations.

A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others. – Proverbs 12:15 (TLB)

Remember that no matter what it is that is stressing you out, you can know that God wants to help you. It might be through the advice of a trusted friend, or through a God inspired idea. All you need to do is ask Him and he will be happy to help you out.

Pray: God, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I thank you that I don’t have to live my life in my own strength. I thank you that I can go to you when I get stressed out about things and you’re there to help me. I ask for your help today. Thanks. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you’re a youth leader and you liked this devotion about stress, feel free to download a PDF of discussion questions based on this devotion.

Youth Group Discussion Questions – 3 Practical Ways to Deal With Stress
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How To Deal – Tips For Dealing With Tough Times

Posted on August 29, 2016

Tough times are hard on us all. Whether a tough time comes from the passing of a loved one, a low grade on your history final, not making the softball team, or some other source, tough times can really weigh on you. Many times, it’s hard to know how to deal with tough times. You might feel like you don’t know how to respond, or want to blame God for the tough time you’re facing.

Where do tough times come from?

Let’s take a look at where tough times come from. Many people try to blame God for tough times. If a person you love dies, often people will say, God took them, or that God needed another angel in heaven. When you’re going through a difficult situation you might have someone tell you that God is using that situation to teach you a lesson. Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about difficult situations.

No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. – James 1:13 (HCSB)

This verse shows us that God isn’t sending a trial or a tough time to you to test you. God isn’t to blame for the difficulty you’re facing. He isn’t testing you or trying to teach you a lesson. God is good.

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. – James 1:17 (NLT)

This verse shows us that God sends us good things. He’s not out there ready to strike down a loved one with cancer. He’s only got good gifts and things to give to you. So when tough times come, realize that God isn’t the source of your trial.

Your outlook is key in tough times

Your attitude and outlook makes a huge difference when you’re faced with a tough time. You can choose how you will respond to difficulties in your life. Your response makes a huge impact on how you handle difficulty. You can choose to be defeated or upbeat about the difficulties that come your way.

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. – Romans 8:37

Paul is an awesome example of this. He faced lots of crazy stuff in his life. He was shipwrecked, beaten, left for dead, and put in prison. Despite all the hard things that happened in his life, he kept a good attitude. He chose to put his trust in God and keep a positive attitude in the midst of tough times.

Paul’s example should challenge us when we face tough times. Regardless of what is going on around us, we can take comfort in the fact that God never leaves us and isn’t the source of tough times. We can go to God in tough times and let Him be our shelter and our refuge.

Choose to look to God for His strength in difficulty. Remember that with God on your side you can’t be defeated. Keep a good attitude and know that God will help you through the difficulty you’re facing!

If you’re a youth leader and you liked this lesson, you can download a youth group lesson outline and powerpoint based on this devotion to share with your youth group in our online resource center.

Youth Group Lesson – Tips for Dealing With Tough Times
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What to Do When Life Doesn’t Turn Out Like You Planned

Posted on October 5, 2015

It happens at some point in all of our lives. Something unexpected happens. It’s nothing you planned on. Things are no longer the same, and what once felt solid is no more. Life has thrown us a curve ball. It might be the divorce of our parents. It could be something at school. Whatever it is, sometimes its hard to know what to do.

So what do you do when life throws you something unexpected? What do you do when it feels like your family is falling a part around you? Where do you turn when it feels like there is nothing left for you to do? Here’s a few things I learned when going through a really hard time in life a few years ago.

1. Don’t let your relationship with God fall between the cracks. It can be really easy to want to let this happen. You might not understand why this is happening to you. It can be easy in times like these to let go of your relationship with God. You might want to blame God, or just not feel close to him in though times. The thing to remember is that God is not the source of the bad things that happen to you. Don’t let a rough time in life steal your relationship with God.
Your relationship with God is what will get you through the tough times. It can be your foundation when it feels like the world is falling apart around you. Choose to stay close to God and rely on Him in tough times.

2. Don’t Take It Out On Others. It can be easy when you feel upset to want to take it out on other people. Maybe you are hurt and angry and want to yell at everyone who talks to you. However, taking it out on other people is never the answer. You will ultimately drive people who love you and care about you away if you begin to take it out on them. These people can be your support when times are tough.

3. Learn from it. As much as life’s tough times stink, you can use tough times to learn. You may be able to help out someone in the future who is going through what you are facing. You can be an encouragement to others who are going through tough times by learning from those tough times.
Tough times also show you a lot about yourself. You may find that you don’t have the character you thought you did because you came unglued in a tough time. You may learn that you have some areas in your life that you need to work on. Tough times are a good indicator of character.
4. Look up. When life doesn’t go the way you wanted, know that you can look up. Jesus is your answer to life’s problems. He understands what you’re going through completely. He can be your anchor in the midst of life’s storms.

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. – Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)

When life doesn’t go the way you wanted it to, its never easy. The good thing to remember is that you’re not alone. You’ve got Jesus on your side. Don’t forget to lean on him in tough times and in good times!

Running on Empty – Learning to Lean on God’s Help

Posted on September 14, 2015

Have you ever ran out of gas when driving? You were driving down the road just fine, and then all of the sudden, your car doesn’t want to go anymore. It sputters, slows down, and finally rolls to a stop. You realize, you’re not going any farther. You’ve run out of gas.

Its easy in life to feel like you’re out of gas. There are so many things asking for our attention. We have jobs, church, school, homework, maybe even babysitting your little brother and at times it just seems overwhelming. Sometimes it feels like you can’t go on. Its sort of like you just ran out of gas in life.

The Bible speaks to this in Matthew 11:28-30 in the Message Translation:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Jesus said that when we’re tired, worn out that we can come to Him. We can learn to not take the stresses, cares, and worries of life on us, but rather learn to lean on Jesus. He’s the one that can show us ways to de-stress our lives. Lots of times all we need is a little God perspective on the situation.

So when you’re stressed out and feeling like you’re running on empty, remember you’re not alone. You’ve got Jesus ready to help you out all you have to do is ask Him for it.

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Pray: Jesus, I thank you that you’re here to help me in every stressful situation that I face. I choose to look to you for help when I’m running on empty. I believe that you’re showing me the steps to take or changes I may need to make to de-stress my life. I ask for your help with all I’m facing this week, and know that with your help I can make it. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Similar Devotions For Teens

What Crayons Teach Us About Attitude

Posted on July 8, 2015

Can you think back to when you were a little kid and loved coloring with crayons? How many hours did you spend doodling and filling the pages of your coloring book with your masterpieces. As a kid, coloring is a pretty fun way to spend your time.

Coloring is pretty great because it can teach you some things about attitude. When you color with crayons, you select the color you want to use and begin to color. That’s a lot like how attitude works. You can choose your attitude and how you react to situations. You can choose to always be upset and to dislike life, or you can choose to be happy.

Lots of times, we wait for everything to be perfect in our lives to be happy. We think that when we have more free time we will be happy. Or when we move out of our parent’s homes then we will be happy. If you wait for everything to be perfect in your life to have a good attitude, you will be waiting a long time.

Instead of waiting for things in your life to get better to be happy, why don’t you choose to be happy now? Just like you’d pick a color of crayon to color with, you can pick your attitude toward the things that happen to you every day.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. – Phil 4:11 (NIV)

Paul shows us here that we can be content in any set of circumstances. Whether you got the grade you wanted on your final, or didn’t make the basketball team, you can choose to be content. It might not come right away, and it might take some work, but you can learn to be content.

So the next time you’re coloring with a box of crayons, let it be a reminder to you that you have the power to choose your attitude. You can choose to be content, regardless of what is happening around you.

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Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – July 4

Posted on July 4, 2015

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. – Phil 4:12

Lots of times in life we think that if we had more free time we’d be happy. Or if we just had a different job, or lived in a different place we would be happy. We always put off being happy and content until later. We put off happiness thinking that when all the stuff around us changes we will be happy.

What if we did something different? What if instead of waiting until everything in our life was perfect and the way we want it, we chose to be happy now? What if we did what this Bible verse says Paul did? Paul chose to be content whether he was hungry or full. Whether he was living in plenty or want. Paul didn’t base his happiness on his circumstances.

So challenge yourself today to not let all the things that might not be right in your life keep you from being happy. If you wait until things are perfect in your life to be happy, you’ll be waiting a long time. Choose to be happy regardless of what’s going on around you!

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5 Ways to Lose Friends

Posted on June 22, 2015

Getting along with people isn’t easy. As a teenager, you face lots of situations where your people skills are challenged. We’ve got a list of things in this devotion that are sure ways to lose friends.

Mean Words – This is a big one. Its easy to let mean words slip out…especially in those heated moments while fighting with your brother or your mom. However, the Bible encourages us to think of others and to think before we speak.
James 1:9 – “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” – NLT
Begin to think about what you say and also think about the consequences of what you say. Your words can cut deeper than you realize, so decide speak words that build others up.
Lack of discipline – developing discipline is hard. Its way easier to do just what feels good and not set any boundaries in your life, but discipline is important.
A good way to grow in discipline is to find habits that you admire in others and learn from them. Decide to grow in discipline daily. Another good thing to do is to think about how you conduct yourself. The things you do now and how you treat others will effect what you’re doing five years from now.
Disloyalty – No one likes someone that is two faced. If you’re acting one way around some people and the bad mouthing them behind their backs, you’re not being loyal. Choose to be loyal to your friends, family and authority figures. Don’t talk about people behind their back and choose to be loyal no matter what.
Lack of tact – You can probably think of that person you know that just seems to have no filter on what they do and say. They don’t seem to know when to say things and when to hold back.
Tact is important, so when you’re not sure why a person is acting a certain way, put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if you had the same experiences that they had?
Also realize that you need to have a relationship with someone to speak into their life. Don’t just start pointing out all their character flaws. Use tact when dealing with awkward situations.
Lack of confidence – Many teenagers deal with low self-esteem. The thing to remember is that most of life isn’t all about you. You aren’t expected to be able to do everything well or have all the right things to say.
Lacking confidence can really kill your friendships, it can cause people to not want to be around you or avoid you. Choose to believe what God says about you.
Psalm 139:14 – “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complext! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it!” (NLT)

These are just five ways that you can lose friends. If you’re guilty of one of them, ask God for His help in overcoming in that area. He can give you great ideas to help you kick the habit. Remember, God’s there to help you live your life each day, so go to Him to get the help you need to win in these areas.

Pray: God I thank you for your word. I ask you for your help in becoming better at dealing with other people. I know with your help I can become great at dealing with others. I ask for your wisdom and creative ideas for improving my people skills.

Listen: We Can Change the World – by Hawk Nelson

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