Browsing Tag

hungry for God

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Matthew 5:6

Posted on October 2, 2024

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled – Matthew 5:6

Can you think of a time when you were really hungry? What did hunger make you act like?

Usually, hunger drives you to do something about it. It could make you run to the fridge and get food, or go to the store to buy something to eat. If you’re hungry, you do something about it.

Today’s Bible verse talks about hungering and thirsting for righteousness. A hunger for righteousness should cause you to do something. If you’re hungry for righteousness, you’ll act differently and speak differently. It will change how you live and the decisions that you make.

A hunger for righteousness is something that others can see.

As a Christian, you should be developing a hunger for the things of God. You should be wanting to spend time in the Bible and in prayer. If you don’t, you may need to reevaluate what is important in your life.

Just like hunger for food makes you act, hunger for God should make you act. You should be desiring to get to know God better. Time spent getting to know God is never wasted.

Today’s Truth: Time spent getting to know God is never wasted.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Psalm 34:8

Posted on July 22, 2022

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! – Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)

What is your favorite food? Have you ever given any thought to how that food become your favorite? Most of us simply tried new food, realized it was amazing, and now it’s our favorite.

The same is true with getting to know God. To really get to know Him, you’ve got to try Him. Obviously, you can’t try God like you would try the food, but you can get to know Him. You can pray, read your Bible, listen to teaching on YouTube, or a Podcast, and find out for yourself that He’s good.

The closer you get to God the more you realize that you can trust Him. God isn’t up one day and down the next. He doesn’t have days when He likes you and days when He doesn’t. God is always the same. He’s faithful, and as you get to know Him, you begin to trust Him more.

Today’s Truth: As you get to know God, you begin to realize how good He is!

Choose to make getting to know God more a priority. Decide to put the effort into finding out that He is good!

Psalm 34

What Dodgeball Can Teach You About Reading the Bible

Posted on August 8, 2019

 

What Dodgeball Can Teach You About Reading the Bible

As a teenager, there is nothing more fun than taking a dodgeball and hurling it with all your might toward a player on the opposing team. Follow that up with the awesome feeling you get when that dodgeball produces that satisfying smack as it hits your target’s body. Playing dodgeball can be a lot of fun, but did you know that you can learn a lot about reading your Bible by playing dodgeball?

There’s A Goal

In Dodgeball, you have a goal. You have to hit as many of the other team’s players with a ball before they hit you and you’re out. We should approach reading the Bible that same way, with a focus and a goal. Reading the Bible shouldn’t be a boring aimless task, but it should have a purpose.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. – Phil 3:14 (NIV)

For example, you could read the Bible with the idea in mind that you want to know what God says about your future and the plans He has for your life. You could find verses in the Bible on that topic. Having a goal and a focus like this when reading the Bible helps it from becoming dull and boring.

The Game Changes You

Another thing that can be learned from dodgeball games is that the game changes you. When you start the game, you smell good and your clothes are nice and clean. Usually, by the end of the game, the players are sweaty, and they definitely don’t smell good.

In the same way, that is how we should be after reading the Bible. There is great power available to you in the Bible. It has the power to change your life. The words in the Bible can encourage you when you’re having a bad day. The Bible can also challenge you to be more than you ever imagined you could be. Reading the Bible will change you because the Bible has the power to change your life!

Heb. 4:12 “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective];” (AMP)

The Bible has power in it to change your life! Get into the habit of reading the Bible with a purpose and getting to know God through His word. If you do, it will change your life!

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Pray: God, I thank you for your word. I thank you that it is alive and full of power. I thank you that I can get to know you through your word. I purpose to make reading the Bible a priority in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

3 Questions to Challenge Your Faith

Posted on September 12, 2016

 

3 Questions to Challenge Your Faith - Devotion for Teens, Youth and Teenagers

We are all at different places in our walk with Jesus. Some of us have known Jesus for years. Others began their faith journey recently. Regardless of where you are on your faith journey, here are three questions that will help challenge your faith.

Who is Jesus?

This is an important question to ask yourself. Who is Jesus to you? Is he just some good teacher? Is he just your ticket to heaven? Do you really believe He rose from the dead? Do you try to get to know something about Him each day? Each of us must answer the question who is Jesus to us. We might say he’s our Lord, but is He really influencing the decisions we make and the things we do each day?

Jesus asked this question to His followers in Matthew 16:15. Peter piped up and said something amazing.

Then Jesus said to his followers, “And who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” – Matthew 16:15 (ERV)

Peter had answered this question for himself. He knew who Jesus was to him. So, ask yourself the same question. Who is Jesus to you?

[Tweet “Is Jesus influencing the decisions you make and the things you do today? – @studentdevos”]

Who am I?

How you view Jesus determines to a big degree how you view yourself. If you haven’t trusted Jesus as your savior, then you’re going to feel like you’ve got to do something to earn heaven. If you haven’t ever spent time learning how Jesus feels about you and how much He loves you, then you’re not going to have His perspective on who you are.

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to find out what Jesus says about you. You do that by reading the Bible. Knowing how Jesus feels about you is powerful. It is what will keep you going when you feel like no one loves you. You can see that you have great value to God by reading the Bible.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous–how well I know it. – Psalm 139:14 (NLT)

What am I going to do?

Once you’ve determined who Jesus is and who you are, then you’ve got some work to do. What are you going to do about it? Are you going to keep the life change you’ve experienced in Jesus a secret? Or are you going to share it with others?

Are you going to let the way you live your life change as a result of knowing who Jesus is and who you are? Is knowing who you are in Jesus going to affect your day to day choices? As you realize that God loves you in a huge way, it helps you love others. It helps you be nice to the guy in math class that is always making fun of you. It helps you treat the girl on the bus better that is always calling you names.

Determine to live out of your relationship with Jesus. Let Jesus influence the things you say, the things you think about and the things you do.

God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body. – 1 Cor 6:20 (ERV)

No matter where you are in life, it’s good to stop and examine these three questions. If you’ve been a Christian for awhile, it’s good to remind yourself who Jesus is. If you’re a new Christian, its really good to think about these things to solidify your faith in God. No matter where you’re at in your walk with God, challenge yourself to think about these three questions and let the answers challenge you today to live for Jesus in what you think, say and do.

Why Should I Read The Bible?

Posted on November 23, 2015

Teen Devotion why should I read the Bible

Have you ever needed to take some medicine for when you were sick? Maybe you had a nasty cold and you ran to the doctor to get a prescription for some medicine to help you get better faster. Let’s say you went to the pharmacy, got the medicine and brought it home. You set the medicine on your counter and left it there. A few days later, you ended up calling the doctor. You couldn’t understand why you weren’t getting any better. Your doctor would probably ask you if you were taking your medicine as often or as much as he/she had prescribed. Since the medicine is still sitting on the countertop, you’d have to say ‘no’ that you weren’t taking it like the doctor had prescribed.

The only way for medicine to work for you is to get it in you. If it just sits on your counter all week, its not doing you any good. Its when its in you that its real power goes into effect.

The same is true when it comes to reading the Bible. The Bible does no good in your life unless you get it into you. You’ve got to spend time reading it, thinking about it and doing what it says for it to have power and make change in your life.

[Tweet “When you get the Bible into your heart, it has the power to change your life. – @studentdevos”]

Here’s a few things to think about:

  • You should spend enough time reading, thinking about and doing the Bible until it becomes a part of who you are.
  • The goal of reading the Bible is to grow. You shouldn’t be in the same place you were a year ago.
  • God can be more real to you now than He was last year.
  • To really get the most out of reading the Bible, it may take tuning some other distractions out of your life.

The Bible is more than just an ordinary book. It has the power to change you. As you read it, it will become more alive to you and you’ll want to know God more. Choose to make the Bible important in your everyday life.

Student Devos Recommends This Book

Living By The Book by Howard and William Hendricks.
This book has some awesome suggestions on ways to make reading the Bible more fun. It also makes reading the Bible seem way less overwhelming!

 

If you’re a youth leader and want a youth group lesson on reading your Bible, check out the resource below. It comes with all you need to have a great youth group night!

Are You Hungry For God?

Posted on August 19, 2015

 

are you hungry for god teen devotion youth devotion bible lessonHave you ever been so hungry that your stomach was growling uncontrollably? I know I have. In fact, one day during U.S. History, my stomach was growling so loud that it disrupted class. My stomach was so loud that the teacher had to bring me food just so the class could focus on the lesson that day.

I’m sure you’ve had situations where you’ve been hungry. What did you do when you were hungry? Did you just sit around hoping to get food? Or did your hunger cause you to act?

In most cases, hunger produces action. For example, if you’re hungry, you’ll go find yourself a snack, or ask someone for food. Hunger produces action. In the same way, we should be hungry for the things of God. As Christians, we shouldn’t be satisfied with just going to church, just living our lives, but not allowing the power of God to change us. We should be so hungry for God that it causes us to act. Our hunger for God should empower us to go out and change our world.

[Tweet “As Christians we should be allowing the power of God to change us. – @studentdevos”]

So my question is…are you hungry? Are you desiring the things of God? Are you wanting more than just average Christianity? Or are you caught up in your own life, your own problems and concerns?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled – Matthew 5:6

Don’t let your Christianity be ordinary. Decide today to start getting hungry for the things of God. As you get more excited about God you’ll change your world!

A Different Look At Sin

Posted on June 29, 2015

Youth Devotion Teen Devotion on SinWe’ve all done it. We’ve all messed up. We told a lie, cheated on a math test, were mean to your brother, or any number of other things. At some point or another in life, we all sin. We chose to follow something other than what the Bible says.

When we sin, what we’re saying is that Jesus isn’t our Lord in that area. We might love Jesus, but if we don’t obey Him, we’re essentially saying He’s not our Lord in that area. For example, if we steal, we say that Jesus isn’t our Lord in the area of stealing in our lives.

Any time we choose to do something else over what God says in the Bible we are sinning. It might be something big, or it might be something small, but its sin nonetheless.

As Christians, we’re encouraged to live lives that are committed to God and what His word says. We should be wanting to do what’s right.

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
 – 2 Chronicles 16:9

As a Christian, we should want to do things that are in line with God’s word. We should be committed and sold out to Jesus. We should put aside what we want in order to follow Him. If we are to be followers of Jesus, we should be following Him in every area of our lives, not just the ones that are convenient.

So chose to get sold out for Jesus. Let His words become a part of who you are rather than just picking and choosing the ones that you like. Choose to follow after Him in every area of your life.

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Are You Dating Blindfolded?

Posted on February 23, 2015

Teen Dating DevotionHave you ever been blindfolded? Maybe you were blindfolded while playing a game at youth group, or a friend’s birthday party as a kid. Being blindfolded is hard because you can hear everyone, but you can’t see what’s going on. This can lead you to trip over a chair or run into a friend simply because you can’t see where you’re going.

Have you ever thought about the fact that many people approach dating blindfolded?  Many people are into dating just for the fun. They might take the time to get to know the person they’re dating. They just assume since the person they’re dating is good looking and gives them goosebumps, the relationship is meant to be. Before they know it, they’ve jumped wholeheartedly into a relationship with someone they hardly know. Dating blindfolded like this can bring disastrous results.

Here’s a few things you should find out before jumping into a relationship with someone.

 

  • Do they love God? This should be a deal-breaker for you. If the person you’re dating doesn’t love God and challenge you to get closer to God, run away. You are heading towards relationship disaster.
  • Do they value what you do? Find out if your values are compatible. If you like spending time with family, and your date doesn’t, you’re heading towards relationship disaster.
  • What’s their drama level? Are they in crisis mode in their life? And you like things more low key? Then be warned, you’re heading towards relationship disaster.
  • What do others think? Do your parents like this person? Your best friends? The people that know you the best can often warn you about relationship blind spots. Don’t forget to pay attention to those who know you best.
  • Have you given the relationship to God? Have you asked God if this is the right relationship for you? If you don’t get God involved in your relationships, you are certainly headed towards relationship disaster.

 

Its easy to get wrapped up with all the emotions and excitement that come with a relationship. Many times all these emotions can lead you to forget about God. However, a relationship should reflect your walk with Jesus.

A relationship should not pull you away from Jesus. If you start dating someone and realize that you’re coming to church less and less, you need to realize that you’re dating blindfolded. Your relationship has become all about you and God has taken a back seat in your life. Your relationships should be pushing you towards God, not away from him. If the relationship you’re in is pulling you away from God, its time to seriously re-evaluate the relationship for any areas where you might be dating blindfolded.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. – Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

 

 

 

Check out Sex Has a Price Tag: Discussions About Sexuality, Spirituality and Self Respect This is an engaging read with lots of real life examples and fun stats!

 

 

 

Related Youth Resources

3 Reasons Why Your Relationship With God Matters

Posted on January 26, 2015

So life, its crazy sometimes. Its busy, its messy, its not always easy. As a teenager, there’s tons of things screaming for your attention. From your homework, to your friendships, to your job, its hard to keep it all straight and most importantly, its hard to find time for God. So with all the things that are screaming for your attention, why should you take some time out from those things to spend with God? Does it really matter that you spend time in the Bible or praying?

Here are three reasons you should cut through the busyness of life and get to know God.

  1. God went out of His way to know you.
    This is huge. God had no need to know you. Heaven is awesome and perfect. He didn’t need to know you, but He wanted to. He wanted to in such a bad way that He gave His son Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin, so we could know Him. If God gave all He had so He could know you, then we should put a priority on spending some time each week getting to know Him better.
    “Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (ERV)
    Learn More
  2.  God wants you to have an awesome life.
    God didn’t want a relationship with you to stop your fun. Many people believe that if you live for God it means you can’t have fun. That you have to turn in all your fun if you really follow after God and live a boring, rule filled life. That is simply not the case. Living for God will bring a new level of awesome to your life.
    “A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good. ” – John 10:10 (ERV)
    Learn more
  3. God is always ready for you.
    God is not like many people in your life. He is never to busy to hear from you. He doesn’t think your problems and challenges are too small for Him to take time for. God won’t put you off, or not accept you. God loves it when you come to Him. He wants to know you and for you to spend time getting to know Him.
    “The Father gives me my people. Every one of them will come to me. I will always accept them. ” – John 6:37
    Learn more

We’re not denying that you’re busy as a teenager. You are. There is tons of pressure for you to do well at school, sports and you still take need to take time for your friends and family. However, its important in all the busyness that happens every week to carve out some time to focus on your relationship with God.

Your relationship with God is the most important relationship in your life. Without that relationship all other relationships are meaningless. Choose to put a priority on knowing God and making that relationship matter.

Get Started Knowing God

What Lame Christmas Presents Can Teach Us About Jesus

Posted on December 22, 2014

Christmas Youth Group Lesson and DevotionI’m sure we’ve all experienced it, that moment when you’ve been given a bad Christmas gift. It could be the horrible sweater your aunt got you with the huge fuzzy cat face on it. Or perhaps it was the time your grandma gave you socks and underwear instead of the headphones you asked for.

There is always that awkward moment when you’re trying to think of something nice to say. You know you need to thank the person that gave you the gift, but how do you do it? How do you thank someone for a horrible sweater without laughing or seeming disappointed. How do you tell grandma thanks for giving you socks and underwear instead of what you really wanted?

This devo offers no good advice on how to fake excitement when you get a less than amazing gift. However, what this devo does offer you is some insight into the best gift ever given, Jesus.

This Christmas season, no matter how bad your aunt messes up your Christmas gift wish list, there are a few things you can be excited for. The main thing to be excited about is Jesus. See God wasn’t like Grandma who gave you what you didn’t want and didn’t need. He gave us the main thing we were lacking, salvation.

God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.  – John 3:17 (ERV)

God could have judged the world. He could have been a rotten gift giver. He could have told us all the things we have done wrong. He could have reminded us of all the ways we didn’t measure up. However, He didn’t do that. Instead he decided to save us from our sins.
So this Christmas, if your aunt gives you a horrible sweater, or your grandma gives you some stupid socks, remember that God gave you an awesome gift. He saved us from our sins. So, if you’ve never made the decision to accept Jesus into your heart and become a child of God you can. Its easy, just follow this prayer. If you have accepted Jesus, then remember to share Him and His love with others this Holiday season. That way, regardless of the gifts you get, you can enjoy knowing that you’ve been made right with God.

Yes, “everyone who trusts in the Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:13 (ERV)

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