Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

  Difficult Times

“Rueben further said to them, ‘Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him’ – that he might rescue him out of their hands to restore him to his father….and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.” Gen 37: 22, 24

Sometimes, there are times in our lives when things seem to be going well and out of nowhere we end up in a pit. Living as a part of this world, we cannot escape the difficult times. We must learn to deal with them. I am sure we can all think back or even think currently about a pit we have been or are in. It is not always just a single pit we might be in. We might be in several different pits at once. It could be our relationship with parents, finances, or friends. During these times, we must learn how to have the proper attitude in order to get out of them.

Joseph did nothing to prompt his brothers into throwing him into the pit, other than his attitude of pride. Joseph received many gifts from his father but became proud and began boasting about them. As this took place, his gifts began to get stripped. Realize this, it was not Joseph’s dad who took the gifts away, but it was through Joseph’s own actions that the gifts were stripped. However, if you look ahead to the end of the story, once Joseph realized the lesson God was trying to teach him, he received something more important than any of the gifts his earthly father gave him. He received the throne.

As you go through the difficult times, the pits in life, you are sure to hear some of the lies Satan tells you. He will often throw out that you are evidently not good enough or else you would not be in this pit. He will also start creating false evidence to support the lies. Recognize this as part of his scheme! God would never tell you that you are not good enough and that it is too late. It is never too late. Sometimes our prayer is too much complaining rather than crying out to God in humility. We need to be asking God to do a work in our heart. When Joseph did this, his situation began to change. He was sold to some slaves. It may not seem that our way of getting out of the pit is the best but it’s better than death as in Joseph’s case. When we humble ourselves and cry out to God, He will deliver us out of every pit. He will promote us beyond the pit and will exalt us so that we might walk in the destiny He has planned.

[Soldier4Christ]

  What is the Plan Lord?

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

If you are like many other Christians, you might oftentimes wonder where are you headed, or maybe you even ask the question, "where am I going?" from time to time.  You may even have come right out and asked, "what's the plan for me Lord?"  It seems that we always have to know what's going on in our life and maybe even trying to 'make things happen' rather than letting the Lord take care of everything in our life.

In the verse from Jeremiah we learn who really knows where our lives are going; the Lord.  So why do we even try to control the events and circumstances for oyr lives.  I believe that it is our worldly nature that drives our need to be in control that causes us to exhibit that behavior.  The bottom line is this: whom do you trust?  Do you trust the Lord, who knew everything even before time began, or your own 'instincts' and limited knowledge compared to God's. 

Trusting God seems to be one of the very difficult areas that most Christians struggle with.  I know that for a long time trust was an issue in my own life until God placed me into a circumstance where I had no choice but to place everything into his capable hands.  Rick Warren discusses the issue of trust in his book "The Purpose Driven Life."  Rick expresses in a very understandable way what surrendering our life to God looks like.  It's giving everything up to the Lord, not 95 percent, or 99 percent, but 100 percent of our lives.

Remember, when we accepted Christ as our savior, we gave our life to him.  Because we took that step, we have an obligation to keep the commitment.we made to it.  I you are having difficulty trusting God, read Jeremiah every day when you rise from your bed.  Start your day with a promise that the Lord has made to each and every one of His children.  Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and He will make it come to pass.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Peer Pressure

We all face peer pressure sometime in our life, whether as a teen or even an adult.  But it is very important to keep God in the picture when it happens to keep us in control.  You go through peer pressure when other kids ask you to do drugs or smoke pot or even cigarettes.  The main thing is to keep in prayer and keep strong in God because in the Bible, (Zech. 4:6) it says "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord." That's how He will help you through this time of struggle.  Especially in a young Christian's life, it is useless to try to fight peer pressure by yourself. No matter how hard you try, you will always fail when peer pressure happens, without Jesus Christ in your life to strengthen you.

For the best of us, it may not be just drugs or drinking or sex, but it can be pressure to get you to join gangs or go to the wrong places. That's where it is important to remember your Christian friends.  They are there to help and pray with you through such difficult times.  Christian friends will always be by your side because they know what you are going through.  Even your Christian friends on-line, like us at TDDM, we will always be here for you to talk or pray with you whenever you need us.  We are only an email or IM away.

There may even be pressure at home. You might not think of it as a peer pressure but in a sense, it is the same thing.  When it comes to parents, you know they are always asking you to do stuff and at times it weighs heavy on you.  This feels like pressure of a different kind.  I understand you are busy with other stuff but listen to your parents closely because they love you and are trying to help you.  They are there ready to talk about any problems you have. Remember, they have been there also, so they know.

And one more thing from Prov 3:5,6 and 2 Tim 1:7:
"Just trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight" and "For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, of love and of a sound mind." He gave us the confidence to tell those kids no to peer pressure.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Iraq Is Not The Only War Going On

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11

Life is spiritual.  The main fight for our life is spiritual too.  God fights to save our soul in the spiritual world and sin fights to take it.  Our decisions play major roles as to whoʼs winning.  When we turn from sinful desires, God is free to claim more of us.  When we turn toward them, sin claims more of us.  The idea is to do everything we can to not only free ourselves from sin but to live a more full life for God. 

There is a spiritual war raging inside our lives every day.  Good and evil are continually mixing it up.  We are given a large amount of control when it comes to the holiness of our lives.  Only God can make us holy but it takes us being available for that to happen.  We arenʼt available for God to make us holy when we are looking at porn on the internet or when we are talking about people behind their back or when we are hating ourselves or other people or when we are having pre and extra marital sex.  We are unavailable when we gossip about others and when we are listening to music that doesnʼt glorify God or when we are watching movies or TV shows that we wouldnʼt watch with the preacher of our church.

We can make ourselves available when we take a good inventory of our lives and try to turn from all the things that I just mentioned.  We donʼt just turn away from these things, but we do our best to actively move closer to God.  Feelings follow actions.  The more we do what is right, the more we will feel like it.  As we are doing what is right we are making ourselves more available for God to pour His blessings in to us.  We make ourselves more available to grow in Him.

Iʼm not trying to be preachy here or trying to condemn you.  Iʼm simply telling you what the bible says it takes to be holy and to give God your soul.  God hates sin for a good reason.  It destroys life.  Sin has been destroying creation since it stepped on to the scene and will continue to tear things up until the end of all things.  Sin in our life is a like a plague and can lead us away and completely separate us from God.  Our soul doesnʼt simply belong to Jesus because of a one-time decision just like it doesnʼt belong to the devil because of a one-time indiscretion.  Once we choose to be with Jesus, we must take that cross each day.  We must make that choice new each day. 

The point of this devo is not to scare you but to remind you of how deadly and serious the spiritual war can be in our lives.  Itʼs something we need to be reminded of over and over again.  The spiritual war is real and it is being waged in us and all around us.  We are on the battlefield whether we choose to see it or not.  Whose side are you on?

[Soldier4Christ]

  Love One Another

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 14:34-35

If you were on trial for loving others would there be enough evidence to convict you?  Could you use brushing up on your love towards others.....I know I do, especially when I do not feel good or if I didn’t get enough sleep or if someone has hurt me.  These are especially hard times to love others, but these are especially important times to ask God for help to love others. 

He understands our weaknesses and He wants to help us, all we have to do is ask.  We are not excused to be unkind when we are having a bad day or someone is mean to us.  If we choose to obey God, He will supply the strength we need.

“My Grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:9

If we love others even when we don’t “feel” like it, then we won’t have anything to regret.  I mean when was the last time you said you regret being nice to someone verses the last time you said you regret not being nice to someone.

I would much rather live in victory than regret.

So I challenge you, let others see the love of Christ in you.  And remember, those that are hardest to love.......need it the most.

[Soldier4Christ]

  God Use Me

God told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you. Genesis 12:1

The Lord told Abram who later on get his name change to Abraham to go to a land I will show you and to basically leave everything you know behind. Abraham was going to be use by God to do the will of the father and he had to leave everything. Can you imagine if God tell you to pack your bags now and lead and go to a city I will show you? What would you do or what would you think? God wanted to use Abraham in a mighty way. Little did Abraham know that being  use by God sometimes mean you got to go through some things. I cant imagine what Abraham was thinking and going through at this time.

Some of us have said yes to God to use you and we said lord I am available to you. When we have said yes to God, we have given him access to our space and to our lives. We have given him permission to do whatever he want to do with our lives because in the end your life will be for his glory. What if God decide to take you through the storm, the rain, the hurt, and the pain? What if he decide to take you through the mud, the dirt? Didnt we say God use me? I believe it is important that we really think about what we say to God and what we sing to God. Sometimes we dont understand what we are singing and speaking. Life and death is in your tongue the bible say. God use me. God use me for your glory. Sometimes being used of God can mean you have to experience some things. Things that we don't want to deal with. Go through some things we don't want to go through. I believe in the end we will understand why we experience some things. You will realize it is all for the glory of the king.

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Orange Barrel

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.  Psalms 23:3

Do you remember the first time you got behind the wheel of a car?  I can see it in perfect clarity.  We were waiting to pick up a pizza shortly before I got my permit and my parents told me to practice my driving in the deserted parking lot.  In that moment I felt like there was so much power in my grasp.  I didn’t realize just how much though.

After having my permit approximately six months, I was driving home from church through construction.  I took my eyes off the road for what seemed like a millisecond, and suddenly I ran into an orange barrel. The incident made a setback in my driving career to say the least.

While the story is hilarious now, at the time it was a real wake up call to me.  I hold so much power in my hands while driving.  Each of my decisions while behind the wheel has the power to change my life forever: I could get into an accident and become paralyzed; I could hurt someone else. 

How much more power to you hold while behind the steering wheel of life?  Each decision you make could have the power to either hurt your salvation or bring someone else to the knowledge of Christ.  The best thing to do on the journey of life is to turn your wheel over to God.  He has your ultimate road map stored permanently in His head.  He will guide you on paths of righteousness to bring honor for him. 

Turn your wheel over to God today.  See what He will do in your life.  With God at the wheel, there will be no orange barrels to hinder your path.  He will watch out for you no matter what.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Sometimes I Hate My Job

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men... Ephesians 6:7

I'm a server at a local restaurant. Its an okay job i supposed, just like any other job, good points and some bad points. But I can honestly say that sometimes i hate my job with such a passion, i feel like just quitting. You have to serve all kinds of people, on a daily basis. Old people, teenagers, nice people, and people who are not so nice. More than often you get the people who are not as nice as others.

I walk up to certain tables, and greet them (always with a smile) most of the time people wil just ignore my greeting and tell me what they want to drink without even looking up from their menu. When i come back to take their orders, i usually get talked to with disrespect and sarcasm. I get treated like I'm a servant, and that I'm beneath people sometimes. And in the end, when it comes down to pay, the tip is barely even worth writing down. IT AGGRAVATES me people! I just don't understand how one person can treat other complete strangers with disrespect and lack of caring.

One thing that I need to keep in mind on a daily basis, and that is to remember that when i work , i need to work for the Lord. When Jesus found his disciples, He humbled himself to wash their feet. Think about that, the Savior of the world washing the feet of average men. When we choose to follow Christ, we are called to serve others. Serving in every way. The Bible tells us that everything we do we should to as if doing it for the Lord. Something i need to keep in mind. To treat everyone i wait on at my job, as if i was serving the Lord Himself. IF i do that, then my job and everything else in life wouldn't be so horrible. Serving the Lord means serving others.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Prayer is the Remedy

”Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much,” (James 5:16).

Let’s look at the final two phrases of James 5:16, one by one. "Pray for one another that you may be healed." How many of you are ill right now? Maybe you have the flu, or a cold, or some of you maybe suffering with something worse, such as cancer or tumors. And just maybe, those of you who are sick just mope around the house all day, "I'm sick." If that's you I challenge you to stop that right now! Many of you who are sick probably know someone who is ill as well or has something else going on in his or her life. Did you know you could get well just by praying for others? 

I believe this has a sowing/reaping principle. Galatians 6:7, tells us what this principle is, "You will always reap (harvest, get back) what you sow (to scatter or draw out). Pray for others, or scatter the seed, that you may be healed (or harvest that which you given). I testify unto you that this works!  When I don't feel well, yes I take some time to rest, but then I get up and pray for people, and I receive that which I have sown! "The effectual fervent (active zeal, powerful) prayer of a righteous man avails much (exercises much force abundantly). 

I encourage you to stay hooked up in prayer. There is power in prayer! The other night I was asked to pray for a girl with a rash by e-mail, so I decided to see if she was on-line. She was, and so I asked her if I could pray for her by Instant Message. She gave me the permission to do so, and she was healed. As I finish this teaching, I encourage you to stay in prayer that you  may be effective in this powerful weapon against the enemy, in Jesus' name.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Inconvenient

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp.  Exodus 33:7

Have you ever gone to McDonalds?  How about Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, or Arby’s?  I am guessing that you have been to at least one of them.  The most common reason for going to fast food places are their convenience.  You drive up, order your food, and are on your way with a bag of food that is usually unhealthy.  Personally, I love fast food, but just because it’s fast doesn’t mean that it’s the best thing for you to eat.

This concept can be applied to other areas of life as well.  It’s convenient to not study, not pay attention, not exercise, and not step out of your comfort zone.  When you stick with convenience, you get bad grades, aren’t in shape, and you have fewer friends. 
God understands the concept of convenience.  He knows that when you go out of your way to do something, you will get a greater reward.  When Moses set up the Tent of Meeting a good distance from the camp, it wasn’t convenient for him.  He had to work to get to a place to meet God, and when he reached his destination he spent wonderful time in prayer.  The Bible goes on to say that Moses talked with God face to face, like a friend talks to a friend.

When you go out of your way to talk to God or to do something for Him, wonderful things will happen in your life.  Take a chance today and go out of your way to do something for God, then, watch and see the blessings that will unfold.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Light in Darkness

You are the light of the world - like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all to see.  Matthew 5:14-15

Have you ever driven through the mountains in the middle of the night? There are usually a few houses that are barely visible, hidden among the trees and bushes, high atop the hill. I remember when I was little, my parents and I went on vacation to Florida from Indiana. We drove all the way there and back, and a lot of the driving was done at night. I woke up one night while we were driving back home through Tennessee and looked up to the top of a mountain to see one little light glowing. But, in the midst of darkness - no streetlights, no other buildings - this one little house, besides the moon and the stars, was the only thing that lit up the night sky. And wow, was it beautiful and amazing. In fact, I think it was one of the things that made me fall in love with Tennessee.

When I read this verse, I thought of that mountain and that one little light. It seemed so small and insignificant. I'll bet most of the people around there didn't even notice it. But, it shone so brightly that it attracted one little girl's attention in the middle of the night. And from the back seat of the car, she watched until it was out of sight.

Somehow, that light seemed so special then. And now I realize how inspiring it is. We are to be as that city on the mountain - as small, seemingly insignificant, and unnoticeable as it is, it attracts the attention of those who need it and shows a testimony of who God is. More people than you realize see your faith and are intrigued, inspired, and encouraged. But, more importantly, God sees it and is glorified. Be a light to your city, community, and school. You might be amazed at those who are touched by it.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Be Near To Me

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.  Psalm 73:28

Some of you may have heard the song that is currently playing on many Christian radio stations by the group Selah, Be Thou Near to Me.  The song reflects the wisdom found in Psalm 73, a Psalm written by Asaph.  Asaph was the Son of Berachiah, and one of the three leaders of music in David's organization of the tabernacle service.  I am not certain as to why Asaph wrote this particular Psalm, however, in it he is proclaiming his allegiance and thanksgiving to the Lord.

It may have been that Asaph was going through a period of temptation of some sort to commit a sin that would keep him apart from God.  By sinning we place ourselves far from God's presence.  When that occurs, God's blessings will stop.  He will not even listen to our prayers until we have confessed that sin.  If we go on in sin, that sin will increase our condemnation, keeping us from being close to the Lord, as well as His protection and blessings for us.

The song by Selah is a reminder for Christians to call upon the Lord when we find ourselves in a place of temptation, strife or perhaps even having committed a sin that placed our relationship with God in jeopardy.  In order for us to remain close to God and be of any use to Him in this world, we must remain in a state of purity from sin.  Why is that?  Because sin is disobedience to the Lord's instructions and He will not use someone who is disobedient to do His work here on earth.

May we remember to continually draw near, and keep close, to God, by our faith and in prayer, and find it a good practice to keep on a daily basis.  Those who have an upright heart will put their trust in God, and they will have a desire to thank Him for his goodness and blessings. We will also be in a state of righteousness, whereby God can use us for His good will and purposes here on earth.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Let Your Light Shine

You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Once I cleaned out my closet and  hung a light in there so I could have a secret hide out.  I thought it was a cool idea. But the thrill was short lived because it was pretty boring in there all alone with my light.   So  I decided to get my light out of there and put it back before my mother found out but when I went to turn the light off, it wasn’t secured and it fell. Quickly,  I caught it between my wrists.  The bulb was very hot and I burned myself really bad. 

That’s when I thought of that song I learned when I was little.
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
this little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine, everywhere I go.” 

I’m sure you know the song too.

Then the verse goes, “Hide it under a bush...OH No!  I’m gonna let it shine”.........I thought, “Hide it in my closet, OH  NO, it did burn me so.”

And before that moment, I had thought it was  just a children’s Sunday School song and never really thought about what it really meant.  It comes from scripture.  Luke 8:16 says, “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.”

How about you?  Are you an undercover Christian keeping a low profile?  Don’t hide out, Let your light shine so that others may see Christ in you and want what you have.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Prayer and Praise

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. Acts 16:25-26

Most of us know the story of Paul and Silas. For those of you who don’t know. Paul and Silas was going to a place of prayer and they were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and Silas and started shouting these men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved. This went on for many days. Finally Paul got frustrated and troubled and he went and cast the spirit out of her by saying In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her. Because of the spirit leaving this slave girl, this meant that the owners could no longer make money. To make a long story short, Paul and Silas was thrown into jail. The jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. They were put in the inner cell and fasten their feet in stocks.

Paul and Silas began praying and singing hymns to God and suddenly there was a violent earthquake that shook the foundation of the prison and the prison doors open. I want you to see something. The power of prayer and praise can cause an earthquake. The power of your praise can cause things to shake and move out of place. When an earthquake occurs, what happens, things begin to move. Move out of place and shift. Your prayer and praise can cause things to shift and change in your life. The bible say that God inhabit the praises of his people. Your prayer and praise can cause the atmosphere to change. Just imagine for a moment that we as children of God meet on Sundays or whatever days your church services meet and we really begin to pray and sing praises to God, so many things can happen. Sick bodies can be healed. The blind can see. The deaf ears can hear. When we really praise God so many things can happen. Your situation can change. The thing that you are worry about or praying about can change just keep praying and singing praises unto God. There is no telling what God can do when we really praise God. The bible also say that let everything that have breath praise the lord. I encourage you to pray and sing praises unto God in spite of your situation or circumstances your dealing with now and watch what God will do.

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Promises of God

“So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to
me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing for
which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

I heard a preacher say something so interesting one time that it stuck with
me and I want to share it with you. What we consider to be promise of God,
He considers a prophecy. What does that mean and how does it work? Whatever
God says has to come to pass; as it is written that God is not a man that He
should lie. Whether He speaks a prediction type of prophecy or he speaks
just a simple word, it can only come to pass.

Has the Lord ever made a promise to you? If you’re His child, chances are
that yes He has promised made a promise to you! That’s point A, and point B
being of course, getting a hold of that promise. It can be a long road from
Point A to B; just remember Israel from their flight from Egypt to the
Promise Land! However, we have the benefits of the instructions of the Word!
First of all we should write down the promise. Secondly, we need to wait on
the Lord for Him to bring that promise to pass.

As time progresses on you can surely bet that the devil will come to you and
tell you that God is liar and will not fulfill His promises. We must always
remember that the promise is for an appointed time. God already has perfect
timing, and knows the exact day when it will come to pass, we are commanded
to wait on it because God is not a liar! God’s word will always come to pass
when He want it to.

So, check it out, I want you to think about what God has spoken to you. It
sure has been a while since He spoke about it, hasn’t it? It will come to
pass, I promise you! How do I know?  Because the Bible tells us so!