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CHAPTER 1
Day 1
THE RACE
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
1 Corinthians 9:24–25 NIV
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Have you ever trained for something — a race or performance or big game or competition? When it gets close to the event, your thoughts and actions are consumed with preparing for it. You train as hard as you can so that you can do as well as you can, right? You should have the same diligence and self-discipline about your walk with God.
It's the start of a new year. It's kind of like a starting line in a race. You have the whole year ahead of you, full of opportunity. Maybe you've made some resolutions about how you want to live this year. It's very important that your resolutions include taking your walk with God more seriously. Commit to spending time in the Bible, praying, and memorizing scripture. Run the spiritual race this year like you want to win. Train yourself to be a better follower of God.
If you've ever won a prize, you know how good it feels to get that award. In life you are training to receive a crown in heaven that will never rust, never get lost, and never break. Keep your eyes focused on Christ and on the prize of an eternity in heaven with Him.
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Lord, help me train well this year to follow You more closely.
Day 2
LIGHT
You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
Psalm 18:28 NIV
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Do you ever feel like the future seems very dark? Or maybe something is happening in your life right now that makes you feel like you are lost in darkness. It's the start of a new year, and you have no idea what this year will hold. Imagine being out in the woods in the dark — isn't it so comforting to have a flashlight to turn on so that you can follow the path out of the dark? Similarly, when you put your trust in God, He will light your path and show you the way that you should go.
If you're confused about what you should be doing in some area of your life, ask God for advice and help. Ask Him to light the path in front of you so that you know the next step that you should take. Ask to be shown His will for your life.
A flashlight beam only lights up the area several feet in front of you. In the same way, God won't reveal to you your entire future. But He will show you the next step you should take. He will light up the path that is right in front of you. So seek Him and take the next step in faith, confident that you are never alone in the darkness. You have a Light by your side that is more magnificent and brighter than any other light in the universe.
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Lord, thank You that You light up the uncertain darkness around me. Thank You that I am never alone in the dark.
Day 3
ETERNAL ROCK
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:4 NIV
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Have you ever seen a mountain up close? Maybe you live near mountains or have visited an area that has them. They are so huge and impressive that they seem completely indestructible. It's easy to feel very small when standing at the base of a mountain.
When Isaiah, who wrote this verse, says that God is your Rock, he isn't talking about a piece of gravel or a stone you can throw. He is saying that God is like one of those mountains. It is crazy to think that the mountains that you see today have been around from the beginning of the world. But God is even older than the mountains, and He will last infinitely longer than they will. You could never push down a mountain by leaning on it. In the same way, when you are feeling weak or afraid, you can lean on God, and He will hold you up. He is stronger and even more indestructible than the biggest mountain.
Trust in God. He will always be there for you. He is stronger than anything and anyone on this earth, so He can give you strength and help you through anything you are struggling with. He is bigger than any problems you are having. Next time you are feeling weak or afraid, turn to your strong and eternal Rock.
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Lord, You are my Rock. You will never be destroyed. You are far stronger than anything on earth.
You will always be there for me when I call on You.
Day 4
WHEN I AM AFRAID
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise — in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 56:3–4 NIV
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There are a lot of things in this world that can cause us fear. Maybe you have fear about the future or the health of yourself or your family. Maybe you feel afraid when you're alone or have to do something outside of your comfort zone. Or maybe you're fearful when you hear the news about the things that are happening in the rest of the world.
Whenever you feel afraid, put your trust in God. Think about this — God created the world. He is the One who is in charge of what happens in your life and in the lives of everyone on this earth. He is all-powerful and all-knowing. And on top of all that, He loves you and will be right there with you through everything in your life. Even when there is no one else around, He is there with you. He will never leave you or forget about you. And He will always listen when you pray to Him. Can you think of anyone better to trust?
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Thank You, Lord, that You are the perfect One to trust. When I trust in You, I truly have nothing to fear because I know that You love me, You are in control of my life, and You will never leave me.
Day 5
WORK HARD
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23–24 NIV
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Whatever you do, you are supposed to work at it with all your heart. This means that you shouldn't do a bad job just so you can get it done. You shouldn't complain while working, but rather do the work assigned to you with a cheerful heart. But it's not always easy to have a good attitude and good work ethic, right? Imagine if Jesus was the One who assigned you a paper in school. Or imagine if He was the One telling you to do your chores or clean up after yourself. Would your attitude about the work change? You would want to do your very best to please Him, wouldn't you?
In all of life, it is the Lord whom you are serving. Even the small things that you do, like homework or cleaning the bathroom, can glorify God. So try to do everything with a willing attitude the first time you're asked. Bring glory to God by working in such a way that He is pleased. He cares about what you do. He watches over and delights in you. He notices when you do the small things well. So work wholeheartedly for Him.
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Lord, forgive me when I have a bad attitude about the things I'm supposed to do. Help me remember that You are watching and that You are the One that I am working for.
Day 6
GOD'S WORD
"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
Joshua 1:8 NIV
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In this verse, God commands Joshua to make God's Word an essential part of his life. This command is also for you. God wants you to read the Bible, meditate on it, memorize it, and make it a daily part of your routine to spend time in it. You should know the Bible better than any other book because it's through the Bible that you get to know God better and learn how to live in a way that pleases Him.
God also gives a promise in this verse. If you do spend time in God's Word, He promises that you will be prosperous and successful. This doesn't mean that spending time in God's Word is your ticket to being rich and famous. But you will be blessed and rewarded in ways that you may never have imagined. By reading and knowing the Bible, you will have a close relationship with God — you will know Him just like you know one of your best friends. Can you think of anything more successful than knowing the Creator of the universe as a close friend? So make the commitment now to spend time getting to know Him through His Word.
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Lord, thank You that You have given me the Bible as a way to get to know You better. Help me be consistent and diligent in reading it.
Day 7
REFUGE & STRENGTH
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
Psalm 46:1–2 NIV
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Imagine what it would look like for the mountains to fall into the ocean. That's a pretty scary image. But even if something as frightening as that were to happen, this verse tells you that you have no reason to fear. Even if the whole earth would change, you have no reason to fear. Why? Because God is your refuge and your strength.
A refuge is somewhere that you can run and take shelter to escape from something that is trying to harm you. God is your refuge, so run to Him when you're scared, worried, or lonely. He will comfort and protect you and give you the strength you need to continue. He already knows how you're feeling, so there is no reason to hide from Him. You can trust Him fully with any secrets or fears that you have. Talk to Him and let Him be your refuge and strength.
This verse says that God is "an ever-present help in trouble." What does that mean? It means that He is always right there for you. You don't have to wait for Him to finish talking to someone else. You don't have to worry that He doesn't hear you because He's busy. He is always listening and always there to help as soon as you call on Him.
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Lord, thank You that You are my refuge and strength that I can run to at any time.
Day 8
THE SAME
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NIV
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Why does it matter that Jesus has not and will not change? Think about your life — has any circumstance changed recently in your life? Maybe a friend or family member has changed and become someone different than you thought they were. Maybe you've noticed that you have changed. Chances are that something has changed in your life. Change can be scary. It can make the future seem very uncertain and dark. In this life, anything and anyone can change, except God.
God is the only one who has always been and will always be the same. He loves you today, and He will love you through every day in your future. That will not change. He is the most powerful person in the universe. That will not change. He is in sovereign control of what happens in your life and the lives of those around you. That will not change. He has a plan and a purpose for you. That will not change.
In a world that is very uncertain and changeable, isn't it comforting to know that God will always be the same? You can trust Him fully because you can be absolutely certain that He will never go away and will never leave you or stop loving you.
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Lord, thank You that You will never change. Some changes have been very hard in my life, but I know that I can trust You — that You will be the same and will always be there for me through any changes that happen in my life in the future.
Day 9
GREATER THAN, LESS THAN
"He must become greater; I must become less."
John 3:30 NIV
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Do you have this same attitude that John the Baptist had? John was very aware of how great Jesus was and how small he was. He wanted nothing more than for Christ to be exalted more and more. Meanwhile, he wanted to become less. John was not concerned about his own glory or fame, he only wanted Jesus to be known and glorified.
We live in a world where people are obsessed with themselves. It seems that everyone wants to make sure that they are noticed and praised. Social media sites where people constantly post pictures and comments about themselves especially promote this. You may notice that you are being influenced by the world's self-centered attitude as well.
As a child of God, you are not called to promote and glorify yourself. Your life should be lived in such a way that you reflect and proclaim God's glory, not your own. Do the people around you think that God is great because of the way you live your life? Does your life revolve around God and others, or does it revolve around you? It's not easy to learn to honor God and others more than yourself. But we were created to reflect God's glory and lovingly serve others. When you live this way, you will find that you have so much more joy and peace because you are living for something greater than yourself.
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Lord, I pray that You would become greater in my life and that I would become less.
Day 10
NO UNWHOLESOME WORD
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
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What is unwholesome talk? It's not just a swear word or rude talk, it's any talk that is not uplifting. The author of this verse is telling you that you shouldn't gossip, shouldn't speak badly of someone else, or complain about a circumstance that you don't like. The words that come out of your mouth should be ones that build others up and promote grace. You may be thinking that this verse gives an impossible command — everyone gossips and complains and says rude things under their breath. Think about how much you will stand out as a good example of someone who follows God if you don't engage in these activities.
Not only will you stand out as a child of God, but you will have a happier, more fulfilling life. Your thoughts would be so much freer if you rid yourself of all the negative comments that come up every day in your heart and mind. The people around you will flourish as well when you begin to encourage rather than tear down, give grace rather than condemn. Pray that God would help you follow the command in this verse and then watch as He transforms your thoughts and life.
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Lord, forgive me for all the unwholesome words that I have thought and spoken. Cleanse my heart and mind now, and help me only speak words that will benefit those who hear.
Day 11
FOR YOU
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 118:6 NIV
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What is your view of God? Do you think that He is for you? Maybe at times when things aren't going well, you think that He's against you. Or maybe you think He just doesn't really know you or care about you.
As this verse says, God is with you. He is for you. He is on your side. He desires the very best for you. He is working every day to make you more like Himself. He created you in His image and loves you in a way that you cannot possibly understand. He sent His only Son to die for the sins that you should have died for.
Really think about the fact that God is for you. If you don't already believe this, then it will radically change your life to start believing it now. Since He is for you, that means everything in your life is for your good and His glory. God will use even the worst circumstance in your life to draw you closer to Him. When you're going through a hard time, be encouraged that one day you will be able to look back and see how God used this circumstance for good.
Remember as you go through your day today that the all-powerful God who created the universe is on your side. You truly do not have anything to fear.
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Lord, help me believe that You are with me and for me. Thank You that You love me deeply and that You are always working for my good and Your glory.
Day 12
GOOD THOUGHTS
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 NIV
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This is a challenging verse. Do you only think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy? Or are your thoughts filled with gossip, inappropriate language, rude words, and worthless things? With cell phones, computers, TV shows, and social media right at your fingertips all the time, you are most likely flooded with images and words that do not match the descriptions in this verse.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "3-Minute Devotions for Teen Girls"
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