A Daily Word for Girls E-Book

BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 349

Beschreibung

How can a young person keep their life pure? By living according to your word. Psalm 119:9 NIRV   Living for God can be hard. You hear so many different messages about what is right and wrong, and that can be very confusing. God's Word is full of truth and light and life, and it can lead you into making good decisions every day. Spending time with God helps you to be a girl who is full of love, kindness, and joy. Each devotion in this book begins with one word for the day. Think about this word as you read the connected Bible verse, devotion, and question. Focus on the word as you go about your day and see if it changes the way you think about things. Let Jesus bring light and peace to your heart as you listen to his wisdom. When other people see his light shining in you, they will want it too!  

Leseprobe

BroadStreet Kids

Savage, Minnesota, USA

BroadStreet Kids is an imprint of BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC.

Broadstreetpublishing.com

A Daily Word for Girls

© 2023 by BroadStreet Publishing®

9781424565917 (faux)

9781424565924 (e-book)

Devotional entries composed by Rachel Flores.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Scripture quotations marked nirv are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIrV” and “New International Reader’s Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Scripture quotations marked icb are taken from the International Children’s Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked nlt are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked niv are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Scripture quotations marked ncv are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked tpt are taken from The Passion Translation® of the Holy Bible. Copyright © 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission of BroadStreet Publishing®. All rights reserved.

Typesetting and design by Garborg Design Works | garborgdesign.com

Editorial services by Carole Holdahl and by Michelle Winger | literallyprecise.com

Printed in China.

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How can a young person keep their life pure? By living according to your word.

PSALM 119:9 NIRV

Contents

January

January 1: Purpose

January 2: Decision

January 3: Respected

January 4: Brave

January 5: Stay

January 6: Appropriate

January 7: Faith

January 8: Character

January 9: Excited

January 10: Authority

January 11: Empathy

January 12: Empowered

January 13: Sure

January 14: Dependable

January 15: Content

January 16: Generous

January 17: Grace

January 18: Pride

January 19: Legacy

January 20: Leader

January 21: Thoughtful

January 22: Healthy

January 23: Pleasant

January 24: Motivated

January 25: Mindful

January 26: Moral

January 27: Positive

January 28: Mature

January 29: Patient

January 30: Meaningful

January 31: Mentor

February

February 1: Honest

February 2: Incredible

February 3: Rejoice

February 4: Answers

February 5: Real

February 6: Lively

February 7: Endure

February 8: Steady

February 9: Improve

February 10: Focus

February 11: Reward

February 12: Stable

February 13: Significant

February 14: Love

February 15: Reliable

February 16: Serious

February 17: Civil

February 18: Brilliant

February 19: Trustworthy

February 20: Unafraid

February 21: Steadfast

February 22: Enough

February 23: Unique

February 24: Charity

February 25: Helpful

February 26: Eager

February 27: Self-control

February 28: Considerate

March

March 1: Polite

March 2: Potential

March 3: Pure

March 4: Responsive

March 5: Quiet

March 6: Heir

March 7: Humble

March 8: Drift

March 9: Knowledge

March 10: Inspiration

March 11: Needed

March 12: Worthless

March 13: Permanent

March 14: Mercy

March 15: Attentive

March 16: Beauty

March 17: Celebrate

March 18: Logic

March 19: Same

March 20: Diligent

March 21: Delight

March 22: Renewed

March 23: Daring

March 24: Recognized

March 25: Brightness

March 26: Glory

March 27: Deliverance

March 28: Awesome

March 29: Authentic

March 30: Capable

March 31: Extra

April

April 1: Aware

April 2: Follow

April 3: Adoption

April 4: Abundant

April 5: Pleasing

April 6: Completion

April 7: Right

April 8: Effective

April 9: Acceptable

April 10: Convinced

April 11: Rational

April 12: Rich

April 13: Important

April 14: Servant

April 15: Saved

April 16: Satisfied

April 17: Redemption

April 18: Choices

April 19: Trust

April 20: Unshakable

April 21: Good

April 22: Unashamed

April 23: Teachable

April 24: Prayerful

April 25: Harmony

April 26: Promises

April 27: Holy

April 28: Bound

April 29: Honor

April 30: Represent

May

May 1: Friendly

May 2: Adore

May 3: Appreciate

May 4: Bold

May 5: Community

May 6: Shine

May 7: Refreshing

May 8: Able

May 9: Rest

May 10: Glad

May 11: Consistent

May 12: Decent

May 13: Energy

May 14: Determined

May 15: Equipped

May 16: Fearless

May 17: Gift

May 18: Hope

May 19: Identity

May 20: Kindness

May 21: Created

May 22: Life

May 23: Influence

May 24: Clean

May 25: Lovable

May 26: Growing

May 27: Alert

May 28: Peace

May 29: Share

May 30: Perfect

May 31: Nourishing

June

June 1: Eternity

June 2: Qualified

June 3: Ready

June 4: Example

June 5: Constant

June 6: Treasures

June 7: Only

June 8: Give

June 9: Changed

June 10: Sympathy

June 11: Suffer

June 12: Power

June 13: Sacrifice

June 14: Listen

June 15: Dance

June 16: Amazing

June 17: Watchful

June 18: Known

June 19: Persistent

June 20: Prize

June 21: Offering

June 22: Wise

June 23: Repent

June 24: Relevant

June 25: Friendship

June 26: Glorious

June 27: Obedient

June 28: Dependent

June 29: Judge

June 30: Inheritance

July

July 1: Justified

July 2: Faithful

July 3: Result

July 4: Freedom

July 5: Grit

July 6: Happy

July 7: Sing

July 8: Develop

July 9: Work

July 10: Teach

July 11: Ponder

July 12: True

July 13: Learn

July 14: Support

July 15: Royalty

July 16: Valuable

July 17: Welcome

July 18: Secret

July 19: Present

July 20: Fullness

July 21: Passion

July 22: Unity

July 23: Valued

July 24: Strong

July 25: Creative

July 26: Courteous

July 27: Loved

July 28: Careful

July 29: Compelling

July 30: Discerning

July 31: Cooperate

August

August 1: Enlightened

August 2: Flexible

August 3: Favor

August 4: Blessed

August 5: Riches

August 6: Receive

August 7: Loyal

August 8: All

August 9: Gain

August 10: Radiant

August 11: Complex

August 12: Restored

August 13: Smart

August 14: Restraint

August 15: Still

August 16: More

August 17: Vigilant

August 18: Talented

August 19: Understanding

August 20: Efficient

August 21: Accepted

August 22: Adapt

August 23: Action

August 24: Comfort

August 25: Discipline

August 26: Cover

August 27: Excellent

August 28: Responsible

August 29: Exceptional

August 30: Guidance

August 31: Serenity

September

September 1: Citizen

September 2: Relax

September 3: Success

September 4: Reasonable

September 5: Try

September 6: Virtue

September 7: Worth

September 8: Stunning

September 9: Reputation

September 10: Remember

September 11: Resilient

September 12: Sincere

September 13: Divine

September 14: Driven

September 15: Ethical

September 16: Conscientious

September 17: Surrounded

September 18: Certain

September 19: Cherished

September 20: Accountability

September 21: Ask

September 22: Respect

September 23: Alive

September 24: Filled

September 25: Acknowledged

September 26: Confirmed

September 27: Witness

September 28: Encourage

September 29: Active

September 30: Cheerful

October

October 1: Sharpen

October 2: Forgiveness

October 3: Tolerant

October 4: Innocent

October 5: Insightful

October 6: Approval

October 7: Justice

October 8: Hardworking

October 9: Engaging

October 10: Comprehensive

October 11: Approachable

October 12: Committed

October 13: Enthusiastic

October 14: Admire

October 15: Concern

October 16: Made

October 17: Praise

October 18: Refined

October 19: Contribute

October 20: Speak

October 21: Vital

October 22: Invited

October 23: Family

October 24: Affirmed

October 25: Gratitude

October 26: Conduct

October 27: Advice

October 28: Devotion

October 29: Unfailing

October 30: Firm

October 31: Integrity

November

November 1: Joy

November 2: Found

November 3: Pardoned

November 4: Prepared

November 5: Relief

November 6: Fair

November 7: Sensible

November 8: Shelter

November 9: Tender

November 10: Treasured

November 11: Resist

November 12: Priority

November 13: Provide

November 14: Safe

November 15: Awake

November 16: Confident

November 17: Ambitious

November 18: Unworried

November 19: Esteem

November 20: Willpower

November 21: Righteous

November 22: Journey

November 23: Fortress

November 24: Thankful

November 25: Reconcile

November 26: Credit

November 27: Helped

November 28: Victorious

November 29: Truthful

November 30: Unselfish

December

December 1: Wait

December 2: New

December 3: Favorite

December 4: Courage

December 5: Meek

December 6: Perseverance

December 7: Healing

December 8: Protection

December 9: Compassion

December 10: Dedicated

December 11: Assurance

December 12: Winning

December 13: Vulnerable

December 14: Unwavering

December 15: Connected

December 16: Benefit

December 17: Belief

December 18: Grant

December 19: Compare

December 20: Recall

December 21: Chosen

December 22: Goal

December 23: Calm

December 24: Simple

December 25: Wonderful

December 26: Breathtaking

December 27: Inside

December 28: Exalted

December 29: Fascinating

December 30: Model

December 31: Belong

Introduction

Living for God can be hard. You probably hear many different messages about what is right and wrong, and that can be very confusing. God’s Word is full of truth and life, and it can teach you how to make good decisions every day.

Spending time with God helps you to be a girl who is full of love, kindness, and joy. Each devotion in this book begins with one word for the day. Think about this word as you read the connected Bible verse, devotion, and question. Remember the word as you go about your day and see if it changes the way you think about things.

Let Jesus bring light and peace to your heart as you listen to his wisdom. When other people see his light shining in you, they will want it too!

JANUARY

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

PSALM 46:1 NLT

JANUARY 1

Purpose

In Christ we were chosen to be God’s people. God had already chosen us to be his people, because that is what he wanted. And God is the One who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants. We are the first people who hoped in Christ. And we were chosen so that we would bring praise to God’s glory.

EPHESIANS 1:11-12 ICB

Why does it feel so good to be picked? It’s amazing to be the first one off the line when they are picking sports teams, or to make the cut for the school drama, or to be called on when you confidently raise your hand in class. Did you know God chose you even before the world was created? He wanted you in his family and went to great lengths to make that happen.

You are accepted, wanted, chosen, and loved by the God of the universe. That truth will never change; you can never be cut from the team. What a beautiful promise! Remind yourself every day that this is who are; don’t ever forget it.

How do you feel knowing you are accepted as God’s child?

JANUARY 2

Decision

“If you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

JOSHUA 24:15 NLT

Yolanda sat and listened to her Sunday school teacher intently. Her teacher was talking about each of us choosing to follow Jesus. She explained that following Jesus meant that we turn away from our sin, ask for forgiveness, and instead choose to live our lives according to God’s Word. Yolanda felt puzzled. She had never considered that this was a decision she had to make for herself. Her mom and dad loved Jesus. They had always brought her to church, and everyone she knew seemed to love God too. Wasn’t it enough that her whole family loved Jesus?

Shyly, she approached her teacher with her questions. Ms. Jane kindly explained that it doesn’t matter if your mom and dad believe in Jesus. Each person must choose for themselves who they want to follow. Yolanda knew the answer to the question—she wanted to follow Jesus!

Have you chosen to follow Jesus?

JANUARY 3

Respected

An overseer must be so good that people cannot rightly criticize him. He must have only one wife. He must have self-control and be wise. He must be respected by other people and must be ready to help people by accepting them into his home. He must be a good teacher. He must not drink too much wine, and he must not be a man who likes to fight. He must be gentle and peaceful. He must not love money.

1 TIMOTHY 3:2-3 ICB

Serena sat in church with her parents. She didn’t feel like going to Sunday school that morning. The pastor was talking about leadership, and she thought it was boring. Wasn’t leadership basically just telling people what to do? As the pastor talked more about it, Serena realized that maybe it was more complicated than that.

Leadership is a serious job. There are many areas in life where you can be a leader, but the Bible specifically talks about what it means to be a leader in the church. God takes church leadership very seriously because he loves his children so much. He wants the people who teach them to be kind, qualified, and self-controlled. The best leaders are already respected by others because of how they live.

What leaders do you look up to?

JANUARY 4

Brave

“Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!”

PSALM 27:14 TPT

Janelle set down her book and stared off into space. What a story! She had just finished a biography about a famous female missionary. The missionary she had just read about had gone on a dangerous ship, all alone, to people she had never met, and she faced many hard things. Janelle couldn’t ever imagine such a thing. She was afraid to cross the street without her sister! She wondered if she would ever be brave.

Just then, her sister came into the kitchen. When she saw what Janelle was reading, she asked her how she liked it. Janelle told her how she felt, and her sister gave her some wise advice. “Sometimes being brave doesn’t mean you feel ready. It means you do it even if you feel scared. You pray, you ask God to give you courage, you remember that he will never leave you, and then you do it no matter what your feelings are.”

When do you feel most brave?

JANUARY 5

Stay

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can produce fruit alone. It must remain in the vine. It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone. You must remain in me.”

JOHN 15:4 ICB

Has the Bible ever seemed impossible to you? From the Ten Commandments to the different lists in the New Testament, there are so many instructions on what to do. Being kind, loving, and patient, can sometimes feel overwhelming. How’s a girl supposed to do them all?

Thankfully, we don’t have to do it on our own. Just like fruit grows on a tree, these characteristics will grow in your life if you do one thing—remain in Jesus. Take the time to get to know him, listen to his Word, and let the Holy Spirit change your life. Without the power of the Spirit, we can’t grow good fruit. If we stay close to Jesus, however, suddenly it won’t be as hard to be loving or patient. The Holy Spirit will empower us to do those things!

How can you stay close to Jesus?

JANUARY 6

Appropriate

Everyone enjoys giving great advice. But how delightful it is to say the right thing at the right time!

PROVERBS 15:23 TPT

Do you know someone who talks all the time? Maybe it’s hard to have a conversation with them because you feel like you can’t get a word in! Perhaps that person is you! Just because we think something, doesn’t mean it needs to be said. It isn’t always appropriate. It is good discipline to learn when to speak and when to remain silent. Listening to others is a skill we want to learn. When we practice listening to others, it shows we care and value what they have to say. When we say whatever pops into our minds, we lack self-control, and sometimes our words can be hurtful.

Today, try to think about what you are saying before you say it. Try to practice truly listening to others and showing them the love of Jesus by letting his Holy Spirit guide the things you say.

What would practicing self-control look like for you today?

JANUARY 7

Faith

Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.

HEBREWS 11:1 ICB

There are many things in this life that we don’t understand. Consider how complicated cellphones are. How can you pick up a cellphone, put in a number, and talk to someone on the other side of the country? There are so many questions to ask about the world, and we will never be able to comprehend it all.

We often display faith by using things we don’t understand. In fact, even something as simple as sitting in a chair shows faith; you trust that the chair won’t break under you. Faith in Jesus is like this. We can’t see him, but we have faith that he will do the things he promised and that we can put our hope in him.

Do you believe Jesus is real and will do what he has promised?

JANUARY 8

Character

I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps.

REVELATION 14:2 NIRV

Have you ever seen a sight so beautiful you wanted to capture it in a photo or with words, yet you couldn’t? The picture could not adequately capture the beauty, and no words could describe it properly. Maybe it was the colors of a sunset or the vastness of the ocean. Whatever it was, you really had to experience it yourself in order to understand.

John, the writer of the book of Revelation, had a vision of heaven and many things that would happen at the end of time, and boy, did he have a hard time describing them! He saw Jesus in all his glory and heard his voice—the character of Jesus all in one place was so powerful and amazing, John could hardly find the words to describe him. We will see for ourselves one day!

What character quality do you love most about God?

JANUARY 9

Excited

I’m asking the LORD for only one thing. Here is what I want. I want to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life. I want to look at the beauty of the LORD. I want to worship him in his temple.

PSALM 27:4 NIRV

Dia leapt up and down with joy. Finally, after marking off the days on her calendar, the day had come. It was theme park day! Everyone who had gotten good grades would go on a special field trip to the local theme park. Dia had never been before, and she worked so hard this year to make the proper grades. She dreamed of cotton candy, fast rides, the waterpark, and best of all, her close friend was going too. It was going to be the perfect day!

The excitement that Dia felt about going to the theme park pales in comparison to the longing David felt to worship God in his temple. Does this sound weird to you, being so excited to go to church? David knew that time spent with God was the sweetest, best reward ever.

How can you create a longing in your heart to be with God?

JANUARY 10

Authority

You will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in heaven. God made Christ more important than all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings. Christ is more important than anything in this world or in the next world.

EPHESIANS 1:19-21 ICB

Do you like superhero movies? In every popular superhero film, there is always a bad guy wanting to have the most power in the world. Through a lot of battles, the superheroes usually win. These are great fiction stories, but what if I told you there is a real battle between good and evil?

Since the beginning of time, there has been a battle between those who follow God and those who want to be God. Satan wants to keep as many people away from knowing God as possible. The battle has already been told in the Bible, and God wins because he has the ultimate authority! If you side with Jesus, you are on the winning side. Jesus is the greatest superhero of them all, saving the whole world from the worst bad guys.

Whose authority do you submit to?

JANUARY 11

Empathy

Be joyful with those who are joyful. Be sad with those who are sad.

ROMANS 12:15 NIRV

The two girls sat on the stairs, not saying a word. Bekah had shared with Tamira about how her grandpa had gotten sick and passed away. Tamira didn’t know what to say, but she knew that being with her friend was the best thing she could do. She gently put her arm around Bekah. Whenever Bekah wanted to talk, Tamira listened. When her aunt had died, her mom said the most important thing other people did was come and sit with her.

Jesus did this in the Bible. When others were sad, he comforted them. Tamira knew that simply being with her friend would be showing her the love of Jesus. Just like the two friends experienced, the Bible asks us to be happy with those who are happy, and to be sad with those who are sad. This is called showing empathy, and it is a way we can show the love of Jesus.

How can you help a friend through a hard time?

JANUARY 12

Empowered

“Thomas, now that you’ve seen me, you believe. But there are those who have never seen me with their eyes but have believed in me with their hearts, and they will be blessed even more!”

JOHN 20:29 TPT

Thomas had his doubts. He had followed Jesus for three years. He studied under him, served him, and lived with him. Jesus had taught many things, some of which Thomas understood and some he didn’t. He had expected Jesus to take over the Roman Empire right then, freeing the Jews from those who hurt them. Instead, Thomas had watched Jesus get arrested, stand trial, and die. How was any of this part of the plan? His friends claimed Jesus had risen from the dead. It was too unbelievable.

Thomas wanted to see with his own eyes. Jesus kindly granted his request and let him feel the wounds in his hand and sides. It was only then that Thomas believed. Do you ever have doubts about who Jesus is? That’s ok! Bring those to him in prayer. When we believe without seeing, we are blessed and empowered to continue in our faith.

What can you do to strengthen your faith today?

JANUARY 13

Sure

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even if they die. And whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

JOHN 11:25-26 NIRV

Mary and Martha were very sad. Their brother, Lazarus, had gotten very sick. Nothing had made him better. They knew their friend Jesus healed many people, and even though he was far away, they sent a message asking him to come. They were sure he could heal Lazarus and make it all better! But their brother got worse and worse. When Jesus finally came, they had buried Lazarus because he had died days before.

What Mary and Martha had to learn was that Jesus was God, and he was more powerful than death itself. They had never seen a dead person come to life, but Jesus told them to believe in him. He is the conquering King, the one who made a way for us to be with the Father forever. Spoiler alert: Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and they all rejoiced together.

What are you believing Jesus for today?

JANUARY 14

Dependable

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

PROVERBS 17:17 NLT

How would you define a friend? Is it someone who likes the same books and movies as you do? Is it someone who lives nearby, or is the same age as you? Those are all good, but that is not really what makes a friend.

The Bible gives us many explanations of what makes a good friend. Friends always love each other and help one another. They are dependable. Jesus used his life on earth to love and help others. He fed them, healed them, and taught them the ways of God. It makes him happy when we do what he did by loving and helping others. No matter how unimportant you may think you are, you can make a big difference by loving people like a dependable friend would.

How can you be a dependable friend?

JANUARY 15

Content

I know how to live when I am poor. And I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens.

PHILIPPIANS 4:12 ICB

“Please! Just one more!” Jill looked at her dad with pleading eyes. They were walking past the toy aisle at the store. Jill had been collecting tiny dolls with rainbow hair for months. Even though she had bought one the last time they were there, she had seen another one that she didn’t own. Her dad was ignoring her begging. Jill huffed. Her dad turned and said, “Jill, I wish you could be thankful and content for all that you already have.” The look on his face told her the conversation was over. She followed him sadly, more upset about how she had acted than the fact that she couldn’t have the doll.

To be content means to be satisfied. Paul wrote that no matter whether he was rich or poor, he was satisfied and happy because he had Christ. Just like Jill, we need to learn that we don’t need more toys or things to make us happy. True happiness is only found in a relationship with Jesus.

How can you practice being content with what you have?

JANUARY 16

Generous

Anyone who is kind to poor people lends to the LORD. God will reward them for what they have done.

PROVERBS 19:17 NIRV

Kristina gazed around her room at all the new things she had gotten for Christmas. She ran her fingers across her new ski jacket. She had been blessed with many wonderful things. She couldn’t help her mind from wandering back to the service on Sunday. A speaker had gotten up and talked about the homeless shelter just ten miles from where Kristina lived. There were people there who didn’t have warm coats, and kids who didn’t get extravagant gifts like she did.

She felt the tug of the Holy Spirit to give. She decided to do some extra chores that week and chose not to buy any snacks at school. She was going to take her other winter coat and boots over to the shelter later with the money she had saved. Kristina was acting generously toward others. Just because you are a kid, it doesn’t mean you can’t help.

How could you be generous toward the poor this week?

JANUARY 17

Grace

God continues to give us more grace. That’s why Scripture says, “God opposes those who are proud. But he gives grace to those who are humble.”

JAMES 4:6 NIRV

Have you ever run out of a good thing? Those last few licks of an ice cream cone taste so good! The end of a good movie leaves you wanting more of the story. The last basketball game of the year gives both the team and the fans a feeling of completion. There is even the old saying that all good things must come to an end. Do you know something that’s really good that never comes to an end?

The grace of God is one good thing that never, ever ends! Amazingly, the verse here says that God continues to give more. That means if grace were ice cream, he would keep scooping it up and you would never get a belly ache. If grace were a movie, the story would go on and on with a fresh round of popcorn. If grace were basketball season, you would play it all year around and not miss out on the satisfaction of a well-played season! God never runs out of grace, and he will never stop giving it to those who ask.

What do you find amazing about God’s grace?

JANUARY 18

Pride

“Don’t continue bragging. Don’t speak proud words. The Lord is a God who knows everything. He judges what people do.”

1 SAMUEL 2:3 ICB

Leah pulled down the screen with her finger once more to refresh it. Watching those hearts appear and the number of comments add up felt so good. She read through all the compliments on the gymnastics photo she posted on social media, relishing in each one. Two weeks later, Leah was still talking about the gold medal she got at State. She was still posting about how good it felt. The likes and comments slowed down, and her friends started avoiding her. Gently, Leah’s coach pulled her aside to let her know the team was tired of hearing her brag. Leah felt crushed.

Then next night at the youth group, Pastor Bryan spoke about pridefulness. He said that when we find our worth in the things we do, we aren’t finding our true worth in God. One of the symptoms of this is the need to brag and have others say nice things about you. Leah felt convicted and prayed right then that God would help her find her worth in him alone.

What do you find it hard not to brag about?

JANUARY 19

Legacy

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.

PSALM 78:4 NLT

Imani looked around and smiled, enjoying the warm feeling in her heart. Her whole family had gathered for her great-grandmother’s ninetieth birthday. Her parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were eating, visiting, and laughing. After Grandpa Sam told another one of his classic jokes, everyone quieted down, and Aunt Jasmine began to sing. She was singing Grandmother Lois’s favorite hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” One by one, the members of her family joined in, lifting their voices to God.

Imani listened for a while, feeling so grateful that her family loved Jesus. They shared Scriptures over meals, prayed for one another, and some even attended the same church. One of her best memories was of her grandma and aunts praying over her when she was very sick. Imani felt grateful for the legacy of her family that taught her about the one true God.

What have you learned about God from someone older than you?

JANUARY 20

Leader

Choose some capable men from among the people. Choose men who respect God and who can be trusted. They will not change their decisions for money. Make these men officers over groups of 1,000, 100, 50 and 10 people.

EXODUS 18:21 ICB

The Israelites had just been set free from slavery, and now they had a long journey ahead of them. They needed leaders to help get them through the journey. If someone didn’t like the decision the leader made, they would try to pay the leader to influence them to change their minds. This is certainly not a good way to handle leadership!

In some ways, you are a leader as well. Maybe you lead a group at school, or you’re the oldest of your siblings, or your friends are always looking to you to decide what to do. You can lead just one person or many. No matter how many you lead, what matters is how you lead. If you want to be a leader full of integrity, you can turn to God’s Word for help.

How can you be a good leader?

JANUARY 21

Thoughtful

We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself.

ROMANS 15:1-3 NLT

“All you think about is yourself!” Raina’s sister yelled at her, storming out the door. Though she didn’t enjoy being yelled at, Raina knew her sister was right. She felt that her sister needed too much attention, and Raina just wanted to be alone. Her sister made her tasks slower and harder. What’s wrong with thinking about myself? she thought as she sat on her bed.

Beside her on the table sat the Bible that she had been given by Ms. Rodan. She had read recently that Christ didn’t live to please himself. Ms. Rodan was always helping Raina understand the verses, giving her a ride to church, sharing snacks, and babysitting the girls while their mom worked. Ms. Rodan was not selfish; she was thoughtful. Raina stood up and went to find her sister. She needed to ask for forgiveness. Her heart felt lighter as she walked out of the room.

What thoughtful thing could you do for someone today?

JANUARY 22

Healthy

Training the body has some value. But being Godly has value in every way. It promises help for the life you are now living and the life to come.

1 TIMOTHY 4:8 NIRV

Have you ever watched an adult work out? Maybe you think it’s silly that they have specific times to run, lift weights, or do stretches. When you’re a kid, running and jumping is second nature! As we become adults, however, our bodies change. Adults who want to keep their bodies healthy have to make time for exercise.

Humans are made up of three parts. We have a body, soul, and spirit. Running and stretching is great exercise for your physical body, but the other two parts need attention too. Reading your Bible and praying is vital for a healthy soul. When you obey God’s Word and spend time working on your relationship with him, you exercise your spiritual muscles. These different workouts will keep your whole self healthy.

What healthy thing can you do this week?

JANUARY 23

Pleasant

The LORD is all I need. He takes care of me. My share in life has been pleasant; my part has been beautiful.

PSALM 16:5-6 NCV

Life is pleasant when we know people care. You might be reminded of the soup your mom makes when you are sick, or the cool cloth she places on your forehead, or the soft touch of her hand when she checks for a fever. Maybe you think of your dad when he takes you out to eat, watches you play sports, or leaves a note in your lunchbox.

Whatever comes to your mind, it’s feels good to be cared for. We need each other. Even more than our need for one another is our need for God. He has promised to take care of us in every way. He makes our lives pleasant and beautiful. If you don’t know how you feel cared for, ask God to show you today!

How do you feel cared for?

JANUARY 24

Motivated

Everything a person does might seem pure to them. But the LORD knows why they do what they do.

PROVERBS 16:2 NIRV

Stephanie had it all figured out. If she became good friends with Helena, the good kid in class, then the teachers would start to think she was a good kid too. She had a hard time with her classes, and she often got into trouble. What she really needed to do was change her image. Helena was kind of cool, and she seemed to like Stephanie. What if she found out the real reason Stephanie wanted to be friends?

It might be hard for others to figure out Stephanie’s motives for friendship, but it is not hard for God. He knows our hearts, and the deep, real reasons we do the things we do. He knows when we are being dishonest, or using someone, or lying. God wants us to have pure hearts. Pray today that he will help you to have motives that are true and honoring to him.

What does having pure motives look like to you?

JANUARY 25

Mindful

Why is man important to you? Why do you take care of human beings?

PSALM 8:4 ICB

It was time for the end of year fair, and Jamie was so proud. She had worked incredibly hard building a robot of her own design. She programmed it and built it from scratch. Now was the time for her to show all her hard work, and her own creation! As the robot whizzed into action, Jamie beamed.

Have you ever created something you were so proud of? Like Jamie, you probably worked very hard and cared deeply about what happened to whatever you made. These feelings are small compared to how God feels about us. He fashioned and formed us and breathed his own breath into us. He cares very much what happens to us! He is mindful of us.

How mindful is God of you?

JANUARY 26

Moral

People shouted at him and made fun of him. But he didn’t do the same thing back to them. When he suffered, he didn’t say he would make them suffer. Instead, he trusted in the God who judges fairly.

1 PETER 2:23 NIRV

Have you ever read the part of the Bible that tells about the week of Jesus’s death? He was treated horribly. He was beaten several times, spit on, yelled at, cursed, stripped of his clothes, deprived of sleep, and betrayed by his closest friends. Yet even in the middle of these horribly hard things, he didn’t fight back. He didn’t throw a punch or spit back. He trusted that God would take care of him and bring fairness in the end. That’s hard!

Showing kindness to those who are not kind to you is difficult. But this is the way of Jesus. His morals were perfect and pure. The next time you face the temptation to be mean, ask God to give you the strength to respond how he would. Ask him to give you strong morals so you do the right thing in the face of wrong things.

What do you think good morals are?

JANUARY 27

Positive

A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up.

PROVERBS 17:22 NIRV

Have you ever heard the saying, “Laughter is good for the bones?” It’s true! Laughter and joy are as good for you as vitamins are! Many people have been given the gift of joy. They love to tell good jokes, laugh until their bellies hurt, and have a smile that lights up the room. Did you know that these things are a gift from God?

God loves laughter and joy. He’s given these blessings for both ourselves and for those around us. Many people in the world have forgotten this. You can be a bright light in others’ lives with your positive attitude. Think today about someone who might need a good laugh.

How can you spread the gift of joy today?

JANUARY 28

Mature

We will speak the truth with love. We will grow up in every way to be like Christ, who is the head. The whole body depends on Christ. And all the parts of the body are joined and held together. Each part of the body does its own work. And this makes the whole body grow and be strong with love.

EPHESIANS 4:15-16 ICB

How does your hand know to turn the page, your eyes to read the words, or your stomach to digest the breakfast you ate? All these commands come from the command center of your brain! Your brain is telling your body to do things, and often you aren’t even aware that it is doing so. What if, one day, your mouth refused to open when your hand tried to put food in it? That would be a disaster!

In the Bible, Christians are compared to parts of the body, and Jesus is the head. He tells us how to live, what to do, and how to grow into mature human beings. When one part of the body chooses to disobey, it affects everyone!

How can you become more mature?

JANUARY 29

Patient

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

HEBREWS 10:36 NLT

3...2...1... Ashley jumped up and grabbed the microwave door before its last beep. She was so excited for the new cakes-in-a-cup her mom had found at the store. Just two minutes in the microwave and you have your very own small cake! As she grabbed her spoon, her grandma walked into the kitchen. “You know back in my day, we had to wait a long time for the cake to bake. You kids today are pretty lucky to get everything so quickly.”