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Daily Devotional

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Ephesians 1:6

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. – Ephesians 1:6

Have you ever struggled with not feeling like you’re accepted? Maybe you feel like you don’t always fit in at school, or you don’t like how you look.

If you look for them, there are probably tons of reasons why you might feel like you’re not accepted.

Today’s Bible verse helps us. It tells us that God accepted us. And it shows us that God indeed loves us enough to accept us into his family and call us His children.

Our job is simple: Accept Jesus as our savior.

So when those thoughts come that tell you there’s something wrong with you. Your response should be to tell them no. Those thoughts are not the truth. The truth is, you’re accepted by God. Instead, choose to think about that and be happy because you’re accepted!

If you struggle with feeling accepted, check out this devotion.

Today’s Truth: You’ve been accepted by God

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Phil 3:14

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.

Today’s Truth: It’s how you finish that shows true character.

Today’s Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Ephesians 4:28

The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.
Ephesians 4:28 (Holman)

As a student, you might not have a job. Even if you don’t, there is still something that you can do to earn some income.

Maybe you could babysit. Perhaps you could use a lawnmower and mow lawns, or grab a shovel and shovel driveways when it snows. Whatever it is, there’s something you can do to earn a little money.

Then instead of using all that money to buy some new shoes or go to the newest move, think what you could do with part of that money to be a blessing and help to someone else?

There might be someone at school that doesn’t have enough money for decent clothes, you could help get them some. There might be a homeless shelter near you, you could give to that. Or you might begin to give money to a cause at your church. This list can go on and on.

Today you can grow into the true joy of having money. This comes from learning to resist being a moocher and becoming a giver! Pray today that God would help get you a job or an idea of how to make money so that you’ll continually have some to give when a worthy need arises around you.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – John 3:2

One night he went to Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you.” – John 3:2 (CEV)

Have you ever noticed how the people the closest to you are often the ones you take for granted? Its easy to forget the things your mom does to help you out, or the way your best friend always listens to you. Sometimes, when you’re close to someone, you don’t take time to think about the things that make that person special. The same is true with Jesus. Its easy to get busy, and overlook all the great things that Jesus does for us. This Bible verse shows us one thing that Jesus does for us, and that is teach us.

Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus is our teacher? This verse shows us that He was sent by God to teach us.

What does a teacher do? They show us things, instruct us, and make sure that we’re learning. That’s a lot like what Jesus does. He showed us the father God in the Bible. He helps us learn who we really are in Him.

So as you go about your day, don’t forget about the fact that Jesus was sent to us by God to teach us and help us grow!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotional – Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  – Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

Many people use the words mercy and grace interchangeably. However, these two words are different. God’s mercy is His forgiveness and kindness to us. However, when the Bible speaks of God’s grace especially in the New Testament, it’s referring to His ability to do what you cannot do.

To really live the Christian life we need both. We need God’s mercy because, without His complete forgiveness, we’d be unable to have any kind of true relationship with Him. However, without God’s grace (His ability working in us and through us) we are not really able to live like Jesus.

To receive this grace (the ability of God) we need to come to Him. Not just once, but whenever we need His empowerment. This often is when we are being tempted. This is the opposite action we’d normally take. Usually, when we are being tempted, we want to sneak off away from God and then come back later.

This verse is saying that we can come to God boldly at any time and we will receive His mercy and grace. Today, don’t be afraid of getting close to God even in times you are being tempted. Run to Him and receive His mercy and His grace.

Daily Devotion and Bible Verse – 1 Corinthians 6:20

…for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NLT)

Today’s Bible verse is really encouraging. First, it shows us our value to God. It says God bought us for a high price. If you’ve ever been out shopping, you know that you don’t pay a high price for something that is junk. If you’re going to pay a lot of money for something it is because its something you really want or something that is very valuable. The reason that God paid a high price for you is that you are someone that God really wanted to know and are very valuable to Him.

Today’s Truth: When you begin to believe the value God places on you, it will change how you live

When you begin to realize and believe in the value that God places on you, it then will change how you live. That’s what the second part of this Bible verse talks about. Because God loves you so much and thinks you’re so valuable, then you are encouraged to live up to that value that He places on you. You are to honor God with your body.

Challenge yourself to do what this verse talks about today. Live your life in a way that honors God. God loved you enough to pay a high value for you, so respond to that love and honor Him with your body.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Hebrews 4:16

Hebrews 4:16

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” – Heb 4:16

I like the idea of coming boldly to God’s throne of grace. In my mind, I picture coming fearlessly. I do this because, in God’s eyes, I am complete and righteous in Him. So I can come to God without worry, without regret, and without feeling like I’m inadequate. I can now come to God fearlessly because of what Jesus did on the cross.

How great is it to know that we can come to God fearlessly? We don’t have to be held back by our sins, shortcomings, and failures. Rather, we can believe in what Jesus did and experience the help that God provides.

Today’s Truth: God is there and ready to help you out with anything you need.

The next time you’re feeling that you need help realize you can go to God. He’s there and ready to help you out with anything you need.  Take comfort in the fact that we’ve got grace to help us in our time of need!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – 2 Corinthians 5:19

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. – 2 Cor 5:19 (NIV)

Most people keep track of all the times people had done wrong by them. They recall the rumor someone started about them, then the time that they felt like they were mistreated by the math teacher, and they pile up thing after thing that other people have done to them and keep track of each hurt and offense

While we as humans often remember each offense against us, aren’t you glad God doesn’t do that? God is not counting our sins against us. That’s the good news of the gospel. And the gospel isn’t just for you, it’s for the world.

Today, thank God for reconciling you through Jesus and forgiving you of all your sins. Look for opportunities today to share this good news with someone that doesn’t know it.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – John 4:14

John 4:14 teen devotionBut those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.
– John 4:14 (NLT)

The Bible says that when you become a Christian, you are made into a new creature. On the inside, your spirit is made completely new. Now that you are made new in your spirit the Holy Spirit is able live and refresh you. This new relationship with God that takes place in your spirit is like a river. It’s always there and always flowing. Sometimes you might not feel it as much or at all but that doesn’t change the fact that He’s still there.

Today’s Truth: If you’re a Christian, your spirit is completely new and forgiven

At times when you do not feel the Holy Spirit in you, you can read your Bible, pray and sing. Praise and worship is a great way to get your focus on God and back on this river of life that is constantly flowing in your spirit. If you are a Christian, realize that in your spirit you are completely new and forgiven. Today you have a river of God flowing in you that is eternal. It is always there to refresh you and encourage you in your walk with God.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Hebrews 10:23

We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful. – Hebrews 10:23 (GW)

I remember one time I was completing a ropes course to train for a missions trip. The final obstacles was to climb up a huge climbing wall. About halfway up the wall and I began thinking to myself this was a lot harder than I had imagined.  Honestly, I wanted to give up. My body was so tired, and it was so hot. However, in that moment, I hung on to the side of that wall with all my might. I wasn’t going to let go or give up.

That’s a lot like what we are told to do in this verse. We’re told to hang on to our faith. Whether its faith in Jesus, or believing for a promise that’s found in God’s word. We are encouraged to hold on to those things, and not let go even when things get tough.

The reason we can hold on so tightly is that we know that God is faithful.  The dictionary online defined faithful like this: deserving trust : keeping your promises or doing what you are supposed to do. That’s why we can hold on to our faith in God. He is a good God who deserves our trust and who keeps His promises.

Today’s Truth: We can trust in God because He keeps His promises to us.