Devotions for Teens

[Soldier4Christ]

  Where Is Jesus

By: Matt Crawford


"And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed those that had need of healing." (Luke 9:11 KJV)

In this new testament scripture, Jesus took his disciples away to a private place in the desert to be with them. When the people found out where He was, they flocked there, and Jesus received them and taught them and healed them.
   
Many people like us who read and write these devotionals, have Jesus. We are in that private desert place with Him, learning from Him, enjoying fellowship with Him and security in His presence. But do the people we love know where to find Him? What about people we meet along the way in life, co-workers, friends, even enemies?
   
People in this life need a savior, and most don't know where He is. Some don't even know they need Him. But what this scripture says to me, is that when we tell them of Jesus, and tell them where to find Him, those who want Him will go there to that place, and Jesus will not only receive them, but teach them and heal them!
   
We often worry about what we are to say to people to get them to convert. What this scripture says to me is if we ourselves know where He is, and are with Him, all we have to do is tell others about Him, and where to find Him (the bible and prayer!) Those who want will go there, some immediately, some years from now. And when they do go, Christ Himself will welcome them, speak the kingdom to them, and heal them! It is by the leading and teaching of God himself that they will understand and be saved. All we must do is answer questions when asked, love them, tell them where to find Him, and pray that they go and see for themselves.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Wake Me Up

By: Steven Self


Romans 1:18-20 (The Message)
But God's angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing
and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the
basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By
taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have
always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power,
for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good
excuse.

The world is hungry and thirsty for God.  People yearn for fulfillment of
the empty hole inside them.  What most people don’t realize is that the hole
within them is God-shaped and they end up running away from the very thing
they are looking for.  Check out the following verses explaining a
non-Christian’s search for the Lord.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core, where I’ve become so numb without a soul
My spirit sleeping somewhere cold until you find it there and lead it back
home.

Now I know what I’m without, you can’t just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real, bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch, without your love darling
Only you are the life among the dead

All this time I can’t believe I couldn’t see
Kept in the dark, but you were there in front of me
I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul
Don’t let me die here
There must be something more

Do you know what’s amazing about this song?  It’s secular.  It’s meant to be
a dark-sounding song.  But it describes the desire in our lives that God
wants to fill for us.  Don’t know what this song is?  You’ll recognize the
chorus.

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside
(save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can’t wake up)
before I come undone
(save me)
Save me from the nothing I’ve become
(bring me to life)
I’ve been living a lie, there’s nothing inside
(bring me to life)

This is a dark song, but only because the singer hasn’t ask the right person
to wake her up.  As a Christian, you know how brightly God can shine on us
and wake us up from the nothing we were becoming.  We are created to know
that there is a higher being and we know instinctively that without
acknowledging and worshipping God, we are truly living a lie.  It’s
interesting to note that this song is sung by a group called “Evanescence”,
checking out the dictionary it means, “disappearing after only a short
time.”

Not only does God create us to know He exists, He makes it very plain and
apparent in nature.  Life as we know it right now is evanescence, it does
disappear after only a short time, then we move on to eternity.  We have our
choice, Jesus and eternal life, or eternal damnation.  There is no in
between, there is no other choice.  If you don’t choose Jesus, you are still
making a choice.  Choose wisely and wake up.  God will save you from the
nothing you’ve become.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Handling Opposition

By: Beth Hays


When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a band of men whose hearts God had touched became his constant companions. But there were some wicked men who complained, "How can this man save us?" And they despised him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them (1 Samuel 10:26-27) NLT

Saul was a pretty cool guy (we're talking about the one in the Old testament here...not the one who became Paul). He definitely made some mistakes. But, for the most part he tried to follow God. Some people noticed that he was on the right track and followed him. Some people even became his close friends. But there were others who weren't quite as nice.

Have you encountered people that treated you like that? Do you feel like you're all by yourself in a very cold world? Have you had people oppose you, tell lies about you, start rumors to destroy you? Then, you know how Saul felt. This godly man had a slew of people who despised him. In my words: they hated him with a passion.

He didn't let that stop him though. What did he do when people came against him? He ignored them! He walked away and let them say their wicked things. Do you think maybe you could help follow in his footsteps? When people come against you with anger, malice, and even violence, can you ignore their wickedness and be content with the ones who will be faithful to you? Think there's no one that fits that description. Try God. "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5) NIV says your Brother. Even when the wicked hurt you, turn and look to God...He will never let you go.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Crazy for God Right Now

By: Steven Self


1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but
to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

H-town's own Beyonce Knowles has a song on the radio right now called "Crazy
in Love".  In this song, she talks about how she's so in love with this guy
that she looks crazy to other people.  She says she doesn't care how she
looks because of the love she has for this person.  Do you see where I'm
about to head with this?

The person who truly loves God, does things that make them look stupid to
the un-saved world.  We act differently when we have a true faith in God.
Once we see how much Jesus means to us, we can't help but act this way.
Does God's love have you acting crazy right now?  Do you do things that
un-saved people can't understand?  Or are you fitting in with everyone else
in the un-saved world?

When we hear the word of God and truly get the understanding of what God has
done for us by sending His own Son to die for us, it produces a response of
faith.  This faith drives us to love and to do things for God that seem
goofy to the world.  Not that were trying to earn salvation, it's just that
we're so motivated to give back to God that we can't help ourselves.

Many teens have only inherited a religion from their parents, a few teens
have begun to own their own faith and grow in God.  Where are you?  Here's
how to tell.  If you go to church, but God doesn't make a difference in the
rest of your life, then you have just inherited a religion from your
parents.  If you have begun to own your own faith, you begin not to fit in
with your old friends anymore.  You begin to seek God's guidance on how to
handle problems in your life.  You begin to care about God's feelings when
it comes to you doing things your not supposed to do.  If you don't own your
own faith yet, then earnestly pray to God to show you what to do in order to
have your own faith.  He'll respond.  He wants you to be a part of His
kingdom.  Come on, what are you waiting for?  There is an eternal difference
in inherited religion and owned faith.  Only one leads to heaven.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Not Your Forte

By: Adam R. Rinehart


Deuteronomy 10:20 “Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him
and take your oaths in his name.”

When is the last time that you really whole heartedly served the Lord?
Maybe your youth pastor or pastor has asked you to do something that you
may have not really liked to do, and you may have said, “Well, that is
not my forte?” Maybe you said that you did not have time, or that you did
not really feel like it.

As a pastor of a church, the more and more that I pastor churches here in
America, the more and more that I am beginning to see that people like to
be comfortable. Only do things that they think that they can do and be
comfortable with that.

Sometimes we as pastors delegate things for certain people to do because
we want to stretch their faith. We want to see God use the real talents
that are hidden inside of them. So, the next time that the God uses your
pastor to really stretch your faith, think about this. It was not Jesus’
forte to hang upon a cross, but He did it.

I would encourage you to fear the Lord, work hard, and see the
gifts that God has given you come alive and see the true meaning of
serving the Lord with utmost fear and watch His kingdom grow! May God’s
Grace Abound In You.

[Soldier4Christ]

  California Stops

By: Tony B. Rhoda


"Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus." (Revelation 14:12) NASB

To stop or not to stop, that is the question. Whether it be more noble of me to do justice to the law and abide by the rules, or merely slow down to save time in my busy lifestyle. Hmmm, what to do. I look at my watch and fly on by.

Moments later I found myself staring at the flashing lights in the rear view mirror. The Florida law has some rule about after 12 points on your driving record in one year your in trouble. So naturally after I was pushing 16 points and working on a new world record, the letter came to me in the mail. It was time to pay for the crime and do the time.

Now does running a stop sign make me a horrible person, no. Is it a sin, yes. We should obey the laws of the land. I'm sure nobody has ever ran a stop sign before or ever gone slightly above the speed limit. But listen, in a worldly since stop signs are put there for our protection. They are put there for a reason and we should follow them. Or face the consequences.

Cities aren't the only ones that put up signs in our lives. God puts up spiritual stop signs in our life too. There are times when He wants us to stop sinning. There are times when He wants us to slow down. Do you listen, or do you just pause and keep going? One day God will put the flashing lights behind you, And if you don't stop, He will make you stop. Don't let it come to that point. Get close to God so you can hear Him and see the signs ahead of you. On the highway of life make sure your on the road that leads to Him. There will be many obstacles in the way but just follow His directions and He'll get you there safely.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Unimaginable Power

By: Beth Hays


So the sun and moon stood still until the Israelites had defeated their enemies.
Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. The LORD fought for Israel that day. Never before or since has there been a day like that one, when the LORD answered such a request from a human being. (Joshua 10:13-14) NLT

I ask God for things all the time. Just this morning I asked Him to help me find my car keys because I perpetually lose them. And, as usual, he answered and soon after we were reunited. (I definitely think I need some type of page for them!) I ask God for slightly bigger things too. A few weeks ago I asked Him to slow the rain down long enough for me to get in the house. After several days of constant flooding, the rain completely stopped for the duration of my walk and then proceeded to carry on pouring.

Sometimes I ask for pretty serious things. A couple years ago I had a friend who was struggling with thoughts of suicide. I prayed repeatedly for someone to come into her life who could help more than I could and, thankfully, she found a school counselor who took the time to really look and ask some needed questions. She is now the happiest I have ever seen her. Then come the life and death matters. My grandpa was stricken with cirrhosis of the liver. I prayed until I was out of tears and had many join me in my request. When he returned to the doctor not too long after, his liver was completely whole. And my grandfather made the best decision of his life—to stop drinking.

But, never in all of my requests have I ever asked God to stop time for me! (At least never with a single iota of seriousness.) I would never think of such a request! I don’t know if I have always underestimated God, or if I was simply clueless, but when I read this passage I was totally blown away. All Joshua had to do was ask God to stop time with an earnest heart and pure motives, and the Lord complied. Take a glance at how HUGE our God is. Then realize that he wants to use that power to make your life more of a witness to Him—whether through finding your car keys of stopping the world just for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Remember The Spikes

By: Adam R. Rinehart


Luke 22:33 “When they came to the place called The Skull, there they
crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the
left.” (NASB)


It never fails. It is always something that happens every time that I go
to town. It happened again this morning. I am going to have to learn to
just plan on it. The train came through as I was trying to get to the
store. Humph! As sure as the sun rises in the west, it never fails in
my town, the train comes through every time that I want to get somewhere.
Sometimes, I wait only a few minutes while at other times, I have to wait
what seems like an eternity. Maybe, you have the same problem in the town
where you live.

Sometimes it is an annoyance, but as the train went through this morning,
I began to think about all of the pressure that must be on the tracks
while the train is coming through and what they use to build them. The
massive ties, the weight of the steel, and the length of the spikes.

As I was sitting there this morning, thinking about those things, I began
to think about our Lord on the cross. The weight of the lumber and
especially, the piercing of the spike. If you think about it, in order
for a spike to be able to hold up a man on a tree so that while he
struggled he would not fall off, had to be something you would not hang a
picture on a wall with. Friends, the spikes that held Jesus on the cross
that dreaded day were spikes that were sharp enough to pierce the skin,
big enough to hold Him up on the cross, yet slender enough to fit through
the bones of his feet and hands. What grueling pain that would have to be!
What a cruel death!

But, that was not the end. Jesus chose the spikes for you and for me.
He chose those spikes so that you and I could have remission for our sins.
When we think of all that Jesus did for us this celebration of Easter,
let us not only take to heart what Jesus did, but we ought to have it live
and burn in our souls the rest of the days of our lives. Burn so much that
we want to tell others about it. That is my challenge to you today, seek
the cross and the resurrection, burn them in your hearts, and never forget
them as long as you live. Remember the spikes.

[Soldier4Christ]

  You Matter

By: Steven Self


Matthew 5:5 (The Message)
"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less.
That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't
be bought.

Our teenage years are filled with frustration, pain, anguish and growth.
And that's the easy part.  To say the least, its not an easy time of our
lives.  But our teenage years are the years we find out who we are.  They
are very important to us and teach us a lot, if we're even able to make it
through these severely trying times.  Some sadly don't.

The world paints a picture to us of what success is.  They say success is to
be rich, good-looking, skinny, in shape, to have the coolest of clothes, to
have seen the newest movies, to have the newest things and to be popular.
When we don't reach these expectations, we feel like losers.  We feel like
were not successful and don't measure up like the rest of the world (like
they measure up either). 

This scripture verse tells us not to worry about what we have or don't have,
or the way we look or don't.  It gives us permission to be happy with
ourselves because of who we are.  God made us each very uniquely.  He made
us so special that no one else in the world is just like us.  Other people
may have similar traits or interests, but no one else is just like us.  God
made us each to be individuals. 

You may not measure up to what the world says is success.  But dear child of
God, you do measure up to what God calls success.  God made you to be who
you are, dig in to that and find out where your niche is.  Don't try to
fight against it by trying to reach the world's version of success.  Just
like the ZOEgirl song "plain" says.  "You are a jewel, you're a treasure,
you are one of a kind and you shine just as bright as the stars in the sky.
You're a rare kind of wonder created just right, so keep your head up over
the pain, there's nothing about you that's plain."  Once you realize how
special you are to God and the big plans He has for you, you'll realize how
important you really are.   

[Soldier4Christ]

  Rooted in Love

By: Beth Hays
TDDMBeth@aol.com

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And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  (Ephesians 3:17) NLT

I was riding through Pennsylvania this past weekend for a youth activity. If you've never been to PA, there are many "mountains" I call them mountains because we went through the Appalachians. But, to me, they resemble big hills far more than mountains. Though it makes a much better story if we call them mountains, so we shall. Regardless, I saw a sight that I had either never seen or never paid attention to before. On one of these hills were many trees (There is an abundance of trees in PA) and as I looked closely I found that although they were planted on a hill, they grew straight up.

I was puzzled by this and asked a few people what they thought. All commented that it was how gravity worked and that they grew straight because that is the way they were made regardless of where they were. I thought about this for a while and realized how powerfully it paralleled our lives. We have some crazily slanted ground under our feet, don't we? The world we live in is twisted and steep. But, if we are rooted in love, if our roots grow down deep into the love of God, we will grow straight and tall regardless of the ground beneath us. Just as gravity controls the manner in which the tree grows, so God controls who we will become in Him.

Does your life feel like it's twisted? Are you surrounded by sharp attitudes and crushing disappointment? Walking on a rocky past? I have great news for you! Root yourself in the amazing love of God and you will grow into a healthy man or woman of God. I pray that "your roots go down deep" now and always.

[Soldier4Christ]

  Rebellious

By: Joyce K. Rhoda


Scripture: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." Hebrews 13:17(KJV)

We've all felt a little rebellious now and then. The urge to push the envelope, do something you know you shouldn't...just because. A child going through the 'terrible twos' is a good example of a rebellious spirit. Is it any wonder that most kids learn the word 'no' shortly after 'mama' and 'dada'?

Just as parents have to watch over and discipline their children to keep them safe and teach them right from wrong; God provided us with his word to guide us and He watches over us too.

Not everyone has Christian parents who raise them according to Gods' teachings. If your parents aren't Christians, you can turn to the youth director or pastor of your church for spirtitual guidance. God has given them the wisdom to show you how to follow God's word and help you when you are tempted to rebel.

Temptation to sin is real and is constantly attacking us. Whenever you feel the urge to give in and rebel, remember that you won't get any satisfaction from sinning, just guilt. To reap the benefits of love, peace, joy and happiness turn your life over to God and obey Him at all costs. The rewards are well worth it.

Prayer: Dear Father, please help me when I'm tempted to rebel against authority of those around me. Help me to hold tight to your Word and live for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

  No Brainer

By: Adam R. Rinehart


Romans 8: 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels
nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Take a test with me. True or false.
True or False Water is wet.
True or False The President of the United States is George W. Bush.
True or False The sun is hot.
True or False A rock is hard.
True or False Cotton is soft.
I would imagine that you answered most all of those questions true, and
said, “Hey Adam, those are no brainer questions!” Well, let me try the
test again, this time with some different questions.
True or False The Devil can never separate you from the love of God.
True or False Jesus will never stop loving you.
True or False Even if you eat too many pancakes for breakfast, the love
of God will never stop.
True or False Even if you sin, God will still continue to love you.
Again, you are probably saying, “Adam those are nobrainer questions, what
is up with that?” I implore you to see that when it comes to the love of
God, it is no brainer. We can never be separated from His love no matter
what we do. God will always love us, and we can never forget that. Bottom
line! May God’s Grace Abound In You.

[Soldier4Christ]

  You Are My Child

By: Matt Crawford


"But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of GOD, even to them which believe on His name." (John 1:12, KJV)
   
     Have you forgotten that on the day you believed, you became my child, and I Myself became your father? Have you sinned, and because of guilt ran and hidden from me? Because of that one sin, and your retreat from me, were you led into other sins, until you found yourself overwhelmed and in a defeated spirit? Do you long desperately to get back to that place where you felt safe and secure in My love, but somehow feel you have to work your way back in?
     My child, do you forget that I am so desperately in love with you that I myself suffered for you? Do you not know that my heart burns to pull you in and build a hedge around you, to shield you from your enemy and be your comforter? Or do you think I am indifferent like a man would be?
     My whole heart, my whole plan, even the entire universe thrives off of my desire for you. Right now while you are distanced from me, I am longing in my soul to take you in, to blanket you in safety and love, to forgive you and cleanse your sins. Your forgiveness is already paid for and settled. Stop hiding from me. I will take you in as you are, my beloved Child, and I will teach you of myself. 
     I know that your heart is sincere and longs for me. I am here with you, simply repent and fall on me. I am your shield and your rock, and I will never leave you. I am commanding you to draw near to me. I am calling you to a deeper intimacy with me, in which I will give you peace, and refresh your soul. You are my beloved child, and my heart yearns for you as yours does for me. I am your father, and your friend. Trust in me, I will never let you down. I love you.
   -God

[Soldier4Christ]

  Caught by Dad

By: Beth Hays


In fact, we felt sure that we were going to die. But this made us stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting God, who raises the dead to life. (2 Corinthians 1:9) CEV

I was spending last week in Chicago with my dad. I learned, through two different occasions, the truth in this verse. The first was when I was talking to someone from the same conference my dad was attending. She told me of when she was a child. Her father would coax her, a child afraid of heights, to climb up on the roof to repair it. She said it was horrifying. Yet, she was also quick to assure me that every time she would fall off her father would always catch her. Not once did she fall to the ground...but instead to the safety of her dad's arms.

Then, I went up the Hancock observatory. I was 92 stories in the air looking straight down. I was so afraid that my knees shook when God whispered an amazing truth to me. He reminded me that even if I were to plummet to the ground, he would catch me. I wouldn't land simply on ground, but in His hand. He promises to never leave us. Falling doesn't count as an exception. (Nothing else does either!)

Heights were the challenge in both occasions. But no matter what we knew we would be caught. We both feared for our lives. But, through our fear we both found more faith in our Father (whether earthly or Heavenly). I want to assure you that even when you face a situation in which you could die...God will work through it. He will use it to strengthen your faith and trust in Him. Take some time to think about that and let it sink in. The God who adores you will never let you go!

[Soldier4Christ]

  Inside out

By: Jeff Lappano


“But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man see, for man looks at the outward appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB)

Being 22 years old, I'm out on the prowl looking for my future wife. Being a Believer means that what I look for in my future wife is different from the nonbeliever. The above verse is something that I have never looked at as a verse concerning finding the right one, until the Lord opened my eyes to what He was saying

Over the past month, I've talked with two girls who gave me a list of things that they look for in a guy, of which I didn't fit some, if not most of their list. The prophet was told to appoint a king. In those days, kings went to battle, so of course the prophet knew that he needed to find a “buff” dude. As he met the first son of Jesse, he thought he was the one most likely because he was physically capable of being the king.

However, God rejected all of the sons of Jesse, except David because of one simple thing. That simple thing was what was on the inside of David. Scripture tells us that David was a man after God's own heart. He purposed in his heart to follow the law of God.

As believers, we need to hear the word of the Lord through the prophet. In 2003, the mentality of those looking for their mate is what they look like on the outside. As the Lord challenged me today, so I challenge you. Remember as a child of God you are led of the spirit. Finally, as you look for the right one, look on the inside of the one who could be your mate, and then on the outside. Lets have the inside out mentality in Jesus name.