Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

  No Condemnation

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1

To condemn means to pass an adverse judgment on; disapprove of strongly; to declare to be guilty of wrongdoing, it is the opposite of justification and of forgiveness. 

Romans 8:1 tells us that those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned.  We as Christians are not servants to the penalties of our sins, but that the guilt and penalty have been removed at the cross.  Therefore those who are in Christ Jesus,  do not live under the constant threat of punishment by God.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could no do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin; He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:2-6

To be spiritually minded we have to have an attitude absent from defeat.  Yes, we should try to keep the law but we have to remember that our flesh is weak and we are unable to keep the law; therefore the law does not have the power to justify, the law could not be our sin offering.  That is why God sent His son Jesus Christ.  Though He was sinless, He took on our sins.  God provided our atonement by offering the person of Jesus Christ.  He became our sin offering.  What the law could not do, the Lord could.

“That the righteous requirement of the law  might be fulfilled in us” from verse 4.  Means that we do not fulfill the law by walking in the Spirit instead of the flesh, but God himself fulfills the law In us when we walk after the Spirit of God. 

The devil wants us to have an attitude of defeat.  He wants us to forget that we are saved by grace through faith, and not of works.  Don’t listen to him.  Stop condemning yourself if you make mistakes, and you will make mistakes.  You are no surprise to God.  That is why He sent His Son. He already knew we couldn’t keep the law.  That is why we all need Christ.

Be determined this Christmas to be free from a defeated attitude.  Because when you condemn yourself then you are walking after the flesh, you are not in faith, your mind is on yourself. It separates you from fellowship with the Lord.   But when you put your trust in God, you are walking after the Spirit and there is life. We have been freed from what we were held by, so act like it and it will be joy and peace to you. 

[Soldier4Christ]

  Promises, Covenants, and Dunkaroos

Above all..do not swear not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "yes" be yes, and your "no" be no, or you will be condemned. James 5:12

When I was in school , lunch was the highlight of the day. I believe I was in the 3rd grade and I sat next to my best friend everyday at lunch. As you all know snacks make the lunch, a sandwich can’t stand by himself, he needs his backup dancers aka snacks. My friend always had the best snacks. One lunch she introduced me to the amazing wonder , "Dunkaroo’s", for those of you who have no idea what a dunkaroo is I shall enlighten you. This amazing snack consisted of small cookies and a side of frosting, your choice of chocolate or vanilla. On the wrapper of the package was an awesome kangaroo dressed in green shoes and a backwards hat. Such a delightful snack! Anyways back to my story, after having my eyes open to the 8th wonder of the world, my friend promised me that she’d bring me in a pack the next day. I couldn’t wait!! I watched the clock all day waiting for the lunch bell, and it rang!! I went over to my friends desk and sat down next to her, she open ed her lunch box and only one pack of dunkaroo’s were inside. She said she was sorry she forgot to bring me a pack. I still cry about that to this day.

What that seemingly pointless story is supposed to get across is that broken promises affect the people around us. When we make a promise to someone that we will do something, we assure them that we will do what we say. That they can count on us to get the job done. The Bible tells us that we will be condemned if we break our word. Breaking a promise is almost the same thing as lying to someone. It could be as small as "I promise I’ll bring in dunkaroos at lunch", or something as big as , " I promise that I will be faithfully yours till death do us part." When you get married you are making a promise to someone. Your promising them that you will be loyal, you will love them, you will protect them, basically your promising to give that other person your life. Marriage is the type of promise that you just cant one day decide that its not what you want. Back in the Bible days you were stoned for breaking such a promise. Personally I think we should still install that rule. When you make a promise, big or small, your not only making a promise to another person, your making it in front of God. When you break promises it makes others not trust you, makes you look like a lair, and makes others loose all respect for you. God makes us tons of promises in the Bible, how would it be if God decided to not fulfill any of His promises? We wouldn’t trust or respect God. But God has kept of promise He has made to us. Promises are not to be taken lightly. Big or small. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Spanish

However, he has given each one of us a special gift (of grace) according to the generosity of Christ.  Ephesians 4:7

Foreign language in school is just that to me, foreign.  It is so hard once you have known one language your whole life to begin speaking another.  It’s confusing and makes no sense. 

When you come to God, everything seems like a foreign language.  How is it that He can accept someone as dirty on the inside as me?  It’s all so confusing.  That’s where grace comes into the picture.  When it steps in, God is able to look past our mistakes and take us into His arms and freely love us.

I still cannot understand the miracle of grace even though it has been extended to me time after time.  Just as I sit in Spanish and have trouble understanding concepts, I receive God’s grace day by day and still am in awe of it.  Grace does not come naturally to our human nature, but it’s so essential to our lives. 

Try to embrace grace today and extend it to others as God has done for all of us.

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Wide Gate or the Narrow Gate

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it    Matthew 7:12-14

At first reading them, these verses may seem to be a bit confusing for us to fully understand and appreciate.  What is all this talk about narrow gates and roads and wide gates and roads?   Are these verses important to us?   If they are, what is the meaning of them, why did Jesus talk about them and how are we to respond?  Take my word for it, these verses mean a whole lot more than you might think at first glance.

There is another verse from the book of Mark that will give us a bit more insight.   "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  Mark 10:25  This same verses may be found in both Luke and Matthew as well.  In this verse, Jesus was explaining to a rich young man who wanted to go to heaven when he died, what he could do to ensure he would.  This verse was Jesus' answer to him.  The rich young man was not able to give up his riches.

In the same manner, we all have been given a choice to either accept the terms of salvation or to turn a blind eye to them.  Look at it this way: the wide road and gate is the world and all of it's temptations, evil pleasures and short term satisfactions that one day will be meaningless for those who choose  to follow that road and enter that wide gate.  It's the easy road, however, as the verse says, it leads to certain destruction.

On the other hand, there is the narrow road, the one that uses the Bible as it's guidance for us.  And then there is the narrow road and gate.  Why are they narrow?  Because they are harder to walk down and not many can find the gate and are going to go through it.  It's requirements are much tighter than the wide gate.  Not everyone is going to be able to accept those requirements and as a result, will end up missing it altogether.  I strongly recommend that each of you seriously consider the consequences of choosing which road and gate you are seeking at this point in your life.  There is still time to move over to the right road, the narrow one, before judgment comes.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Do You Trust God Totally?

Trust in the lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Most of us know this familiar memory verses. The part of the verse I want to focus on is the first part where it says Trust in the lord with all thine heart. Do we trust God totally? I want you to be honest with yourself. There are certain areas in our lives where we are weak and there are areas where we struggle in. Do we really allow God to help us in that area or do we block him from doing the work that is needed to be done? Do we allow God to have complete control of our lives or are there certain things he can control and other things he just have to stay away or mind his business. God wants to direct our path so he has to do some necessary work in us. He will have to go in the areas of our lives where we are weak so he can make us strong. He has to come in and do a complete work in us for there is greater work we have to do. Trusting God totally mean you let go of your power and allow God to come in and do all he has to do because we know in the end he will get the glory out of our lives. The questions I have for you are where is your faith? We often have faith for some things but in other areas we don’t. Do you really trust God totally? One thing we must understand that our lives is in his hand so whatever he does in our lives it is for our good. Always remember that. In spite of what you might be going through or have experience. Always know that all things work together for the good of them that love the lord. The lord is on your side. Just trust him totally.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Bah Humbug!

By: Melissa Green
mailing@tddm.org

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Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13

I watched “A Christmas Carol” the other day. It is based on the book by Charles Dickens.  I watch it every year around Christmas time.  It is an old movie and yet, it never gets old.
 
In the movie Ebenezer Scrooge is a negative, frustrated old man.  Who has wasted his life pinching pennies and hoarding them and not caring about anyone. He is a very selfish man. Whenever someone wishes him a Merry Christmas, his notorious reply is, “Bah humbug!”  He hates Christmas too.

But then Scrooge had some unexpected guests one Christmas Eve.  First it was the ghost of his deceased partner, Jacob Farley.  Then he was visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and lastly the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. 

He was given the opportunity to see his whole life.  What it was, what it is, and what it was yet to be. And he did not like what he saw.   He was given Revelation.  Revelation so real, so painful, that it cut to the depths of his hardened heart and made him want to change.  He woke up that Christmas morning a changed man, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and giving gifts and money and treating everyone right, especially his family.  Grace was brought to him by revelation and he had to go through some things to be humbled.  He got to see how he was hurting others and himself.  And he took that revelation to make a positive difference in the lives of others while he still could.

Are you or someone you care about going through some things trying to rob you of your Christmas joy? Are you robbing someone of their Christmas joy?   Are you treating others the way God wants you to treat them, even if they aren’t treating you right?  If you were to get the opportunity to view your whole life, would you like what you saw? It may get worse before it gets better.  “Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13

Fix your hope on life with Christ. He  gives us revelation by the Holy Spirit.  To take what we receive and live it.  What is God telling you to do or say?  We are separate from the worlds way of doing things.  We need to respond according to His word, doing and thinking whatever He tells us.  Stop listening to the “Scrooges” in your life and better yet, don’t be a “Scrooge”. 

Instead of saying “Bah humbug”, say, “Peace on Earth”.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Don’t whine, just shine.  Be a living hope to a dying world.

**Because life without Christ is a hopeless end....Life with Christ is an endless hope!

Now if you haven’t already...watch “A Christmas Carol” or read the book.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Snow

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  Isa 1:18

Have you ever looked outside after the first snow of the year?  Everything is covered in pure white and everywhere you look seems so fresh.  After the large snow where I lived last week, I simply wanted to look at how beautiful it was outside.

Did you know that when you decide to serve God, He makes it snow in your life?  Not that He makes your life cold and frozen, but He makes it pure.  The Bibles even goes so far as to say that He washes us white as snow.

With all of the coming snow of the winter season, remember that the pureness of the fresh snow is how God views you.  He loves you very much and wants you to know He views you as pure.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Once We Were Enemies


"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel." (Colossians 1:21-23a) NIV

As I read this verse, it struck me.  Hidden and mixed in the words, it was there.  How many times had I read it, and missed it? I was once alienated.  Though I grew up in a Christian home, there was a time I was alienated from God.  I sometimes feel that I still am. 

Do you see how it says enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior?  Because of how we have acted, we are enemies with God!  Think about that.  Do you have an enemy?  Is there someone with which just pushes all those wrong buttons?  Now think, we are enemies...with God.  A rather heavy thought.

I could stop there.  I could leave you down in the depths, and angry at God.  It would be very easy.  You know what though?  The story does not stop there!  What grace! What amazing and wonderful grace; and the story is not yet finished!

"But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation"

What a promise!  Do you not feel blessed?  Do you not feel amazed, and a little confused at such grace? I could also stop there.  Oh how often we do stop there. We become caught up in the good feelings, the grace, the love.  We tend to enjoy it too much.  But, good feelings fall away.

"If you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel."

We must continue in our faith!  We must hold fast, and hard to the truths in the bible. We must discipline ourselves to get to know our God better; constantly reminding ourselves that we are saved by his grace.  Have you forgotten how high you have been lifted?  Has the joy of the Lord run dry?  Oh sibling, never believe that it has. Our God is a good and gracious God.  Run to him today!  Throw your arms around him, and relish his goodness. He waits for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  The Substance in the Middle

For where two or three come together in My name, there I am with them."


Everyone is in a relationship of some sort. Friend, family, boyfriend, girlfriend, married, etc. No relationship is perfect (I’m sure your nodding your head, thinking, "ain’t that the truth’‘). As humans nothing can be perfect. I don’t see that as sad, but I see that as beautifully amazing. God has never asked us to be perfect, He just asks us to love Him. Pretty sweet deal. God has given us other people in our lives so we can live together and make each other insane. More often than not someone in the relationship slips up. They say or do something that hurts your feelings or upsets you to a point where you don’t want to talk to the person. Sometimes, depending on the depth of the mistake, relationships are altered forever. IF this has ever happened to you look back and see where the problem began. Can you pin point it yet? Not really? Well I think I can help you out. God needs to be the center of EVERY relationship. If God isn’t in the relationships you have, they will definitely be rocky and most likely fall apart. Since God has created us, and has created us to need others around us, we need to make Him the center of not only our own lives but in our relationships as well.

We are to encourage each other. Marriages usually have major problems because they do not put God in the center. When God is not in the center of relationships, we tend to think of ourselves, become needy and selfish in the way to treat others. Relationships are all about being selfless and making sure your thinking of the other persons feelings above your own. God can only help you with this task. We are very self-centered beings, and that will always be the downfall in relationships. The Bible says that when two or more are gathered in the Lords name, He is there in their presence. Not that God isn’t with us all the time, but there is something so strong when people come together and give praise to the Lord. A good way to look at is our relationships are like peanut butter sandwiches. Each person is a piece of bread, pretty dry and tasteless, can’t stick together on their own because there is nothing to hold it together. So if you have two pieces of dry bread a relationship won’t last. God is the peanut butter when you make Him the center, the two pieces of bread stick together and last. So if you have some rocky relationships, try making God the center, you will quickly see how much a wonderful difference it will make.

[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]

  Never Ashamed

     Are you scared to tell you friends why you can't spend the night on Saturdays?  Are you to embarrassed to bow your head and bless you food before eating lunch in the school cafeteria?  Do you hide your Bible and any other evidence of you being a Christian when your friends come over?

     If so, why are you so ashamed of the one who gave his life so that you could have eternal life?

     "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."               -Mark 8:38

     "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven.  But Whosoever shall deny me before men, I will also deny before my Father which is in heaven."                -Matthew 10:32-33
     The Bible warns you against people ashamed of Jesus.  When you are sitting at the Judgment seat do you want to hear Jesus say "Apart from me for I did not know you" because you were to ashamed to share him with your friends or do you want to hear him say "Well done my good and faithful servant"?  I would want to hear him say "Well done my good and faithful servant."  I would not want to have him deny me before his Father because I was to scared of what my friends might say, because I was to ashamed to testify his name.

     "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."                    -Matthew 5:10-12
     Don't worry about what others think of you or by feeling rejected by people.  This world and all that is in it will pass away and all you will have left is the treasures you have stored up in heaven.  So instead of trying to impress people on this earth work to store up treasures in heaven that will not pass away.

     "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you."          -1 John 3:13
     The world is not going to like you.  You are not of this world but when you are born again you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Christians should be different and act different from the people of the world who are lost and do not know where they are going.  In being different people are not going to like you.  You are preaching a message they don't want to hear because they don't want to give up their sinful lifestyle, but from hearing your witness they will know they have to.  Do not give up though, endurance is the key.  Remember Philippians 4:13, "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you."

     Instead of being ashamed of the gospel you should boldly stand up for what you believe in.  Don't worry about what others are going to say about you, but give yourself to the work of the Lord and build up your treasures in Heaven, where they cannot be taken from you.  Don't be afraid to tell anyone about Jesus, you wouldn't want their blood to be on your hands.  When you die and are on you way to heaven your wouldn't want your friends passing you, going to other way and asking you why you never told them.  To me that would be so horrible.  I try my best to tell everyone about Jesus and there is no way that I would be ashamed of him. 

Here is a list of five things you can do at your school to show you are a Christian, I heard them at a youth conference:
     1. Wear Christian shirts
     2. Carry your Bible, on top of your books (don't hide it)
     3. Read your Bible
     4. Pray over your food before you eat lunch
     5. Pray for you school, go to pray meetings or Bible studies

[Soldier4Christ]

  The True Blessing

Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.  Romans 4:7-8

What do you think of when the word blessed is used, particularly in your own life?  I would dare say that when it comes to blessings, we first think of ourselves.  That is because of the basic human nature that is deeply entrenched within each one of us.  I imagine if you are like me, when you hear friends talking about being blessed, it generally involves material objects; cars, money, a nice home, clothes, etc, etc.  I also hear people talk about the blessings of having good health, good friends and wonderful children.

These are all areas that can truly be blessings for us, even having a good deal of financial wealth and other material possessions.  However, these blessings are only good as long as they are used as God intended for them to be used.  Otherwise, they can become a curse, or even the means to our undoing spiritually.  So while we definitely need to be careful about the manner in which we use the blessings we receive, such as helping others through those blessings, we also ought to think of the spiritual blessings that are far more important.

As Paul instructs Christians in Romans 4:7-8, there is a blessing that far outweighs the material kind.  That blessing has to to do with our sin(s).  He tells the Christians in Rome that they are truly being blessed to have their sins forgiven and that they will never be used against them again by God.  I wonder what their reaction was to this?  After all, they didn't have the sorts of luxuries that we have today, at least in the United States, to make any comparisons with.

His words must not have been taken very seriously, for as history shows us, the Roman Church went on to carry out the Crusades, persecuting Christians in countries at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean sea.  Nero even lit up his patio at night with Christians, making them human torches dipped in tar.  So, while those verses may not have had a big impact on the people of those early days of the church, I believe that we have much more opportunity today to take them more seriously and respond in a manner that will glorify God. 

When an individual decides to give up their old life of sin and selfishness, the angels sing and God rejoices in Heaven.  The blessings of redemption, justification and eternal life, provided through the faith that we place in our savior Lord Jesus becomes the biggest blessing in life that anyone could receive.  So, when you think of blessing someone, don't stop with the necessities of life.  Instead, remember the really important life that they need more than any other; life in Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Don't Lose Hope

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Elizabeth and Zechariah were believing God for a child and they haven’t receive it the time that they wanted. They were getting old in age and one day the lord sent an angel to let Zechariah know that he would have a son. Just imagine for a moment you have been praying and praying and praying to God for years for a child. Your wife is barren. You are seeking the face of God and no results.  Let’s be real. Some of us would have given up hope. We would have said forget it or question God why haven’t you answer my prayer? Little did Zechariah know that the son he was having will prepare the way for Jesus. Elizabeth would have John the Baptist. In Luke 1 verse 14 say he will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth, verse 15 for he will be great in the sight of the lord. As you go down further in the text you will find the many things John the Baptist will do. Don’t you think Zechariah and Elizabeth are happy now? Happy that they have waited for so long for this birth to happen and when it does, the effect it will have on people. It just shows that God doesn’t work on our time. His timing is always the right time. We want God to do things when we want him but God is God and he is in charge and he knows what best. Another lesson we can learn is Luke 1 verse 37 For nothing is impossible with God. The things you are believing God for is not impossible with God. The things you have in your mind or the ideas you have in your mind are not impossible with God. Don’t lose hope. Hold on to your hope. Hold on to your faith. You just have to wait. Some of us have been waiting for years. Wait a little while longer. It will be worth the wait. Always know that God will do what is best for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Delivered From the Hand of Our Enemies

To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear. Luke 1:74

Do you have enemies?  Is someone mistreating you?  Is there someone you are afraid of? Or someone or something trying to hold  you back from reaching your potential in serving the Lord?  Now, I am not talking about people not liking you because you are unkind.  But I am talking about people coming against you because you are a Christian.

Jesus said, “ If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love it’s own.  Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, “A servant is no greater than his master.  If they persecute Me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you for my name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent me.”  John 15: 18-21

“But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, “They hated me without a cause.”  John 15:25

When this happens what does the Bible say we should do?  Jesus said in John 16:1 concerning this.  “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.” Jesus has told us of these things before hand to prepare us and to encourage us so we would not stumble..or fall into sin ourselves and try to take matters into our own hands, or another way to “stumble” is to stop believing that God is with you, or doubt that God himself will be your vindicator. 

“ That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.”
Luke 1:71-75

God promises to deliver us from our enemies so we can serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness, helping us not to stumble. 

Stop being afraid. Don’t get angry.   The enemy will not win!  God is with you. 
Fear is.....
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

[Soldier4Christ]

  Jealousy

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23

Have you ever been jealous?  Maybe you see the person you are crushing on talking to someone else in the hallway at school or maybe you hear your best friend talking about the awesome presents she got for Christmas.  Whatever the case may be, jealousy is never a good feeling.

Did you know that right before the fruit of the spirit in Galatians there is a section called the works of the flesh?  This passage of scripture names a multitude of sins, including envying, another word for jealousy.  This is clumped with some of the worse sins in the Bible.  However, after this passage comes the hope of the fruit of the spirit.

When you are feeling overcome with jealousy, don’t forget to ask God for help.  Maybe you could ask Him to replace your feelings with one of the fruits of the spirit.  Remember, your crush could be asking for homework, and don’t forget to rejoice with your friend.  Assume noble intent in the actions of your friends and include God in your day to day troubles.