The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LORRAINE PETERSON was born in Red Wing, Minnesota, grew up on a farm

near Ellsworth, Wisconsin, and now resides in El Paso, Texas. She lived for some

years in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. She received her B.A. (in history) from North Park

College in Chicago and has taken summer courses from the University of Minnesota

and the University of Mexico in Mexico City.

Lorraine has taught high school and junior high. She has been an advisor to

nondenominational Christian clubs in Minneapolis public schools, has taught teenage

Bible studies, and continues to work with young people. She has written several

bestselling devotional books for teens:

If God Loves Me, Why Can't I Get My Locker Open?

Falling Off Cloud Nine and Other High Places

Why Isn’t God Giving Cash Prizes?

Real Characters in the Making

Dying of Embarrassment & Living to Tell About It

Anybody Can Be Cool, But Awesome Takes Practice If

the Devil Made You Do It, You Blew It!

Radical Advice From the Ultimate Wise Guy If You

Really Trust Me, Why Can't I Stay Out Later?

How to Get a Life … No Strings Attached!

Please Give Me Another Chance, Lord I’m Trying to Get Toothpaste Back

Into the Tube

Lord, I Haven’t Talked to You Since the Last Crisis, But …

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

PREFACE

If this book convinces even one reader to establish the habit of daily devotions,

and to devote a lifetime to making friends with God, I will consider it the most

important book I've ever written.

Why do I believe this is so urgent? Just take a look around.

Today, every one of us faces a post-Christian society in which biblical principles

are hated and challenged every inch of the way. The breakup of the family has hurt

many – especially young people. On top of that, our high-pressure culture produces a

kind of super-stress that few people can deal with successfully. Besides all this, there

seems to be an extreme scarcity of totally-sold-out-to-Jesus role models for us to

pattern our lives after. Why? It seems that so many believers are caught up in

materialism, status, and pleasure that there’s not much time left to really get to know

God. Tragically, this type of existence is often passed off as the normal Christian life,

and so young people – and older people alike – get the idea that Christianity is merely

a subculture instead of a willingness to obey God no matter how much it costs.

Then we wonder why friendless kids turn away from churches and join gangs

just because they need to belong. Others seek spiritual experiences in Eastern or New

Age meditation and philosophies. More lose themselves in video games, occultic

rituals, or on their phones, computers, or devices. And many teenagers who have

scriptural training and know how to avoid all these snares never really make their lives

count for Christ. The majority is only playing a type of “defensive ball game” – they

want to be Christian enough to escape hell, but they don’t see any personal advantage

in winning others to the Lord.

I feel strongly that one of the keys to changing this situation is for the Christian

young person to develop a strong devotional life. Making friends with God is, after

all, the only way to live life in a different dimension. As 2 Peter 1: 3 – 4 says:

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through

our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that

through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption

in the world caused by evil desires.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Everything we need is available to us – but the resources we have in Christ

aren’t being tapped. Amid all the things that are recommended to help today’s young

people, we tend to forget that a daily appointment with the One who is called

“Wonderful Counselor” is available to everyone. And it doesn’t cost a cent. Instead of

the frantic pursuit of pleasure or chemical escape, there is always the chance for inner

renewal by spending time with the one Person who understands every need completely

and is equipped with the power to do something about each situation. Those moments

spent alone with God will reorganize priorities to the point that life ceases to be

hopelessly hectic. Letting God's Word and prayer melt harmful things like bitterness

and tension will release love and infuse hope that gives a new outlook on life.

I feel that if the structure for quiet time alone with God is not firmly in place,

we have no anchor for the storms that are sure to come. If we don’t know how to

receive from God in a meaningful way, there is no place to turn when parents, peers,

or church groups fail to meet our needs. Only getting inspiration, correction, doctrine,

and security directly from studying the Scriptures and spending quality time with God

can produce purpose, conviction, and stability in our lives. I'm convinced that no one

can have a rock-solid relationship with Christ without setting aside a special time to

meet with Him each day and effectively using that time.

Therefore, the “generation at risk,” the kids whose lives are filled with

confusion and emptiness, must be presented with what I consider the most workable

solution to the cumulating chaos – seeking God with a sincere heart, personally

studying and absorbing His Word, and taking time to sit in His presence, talking life

over with Him and listening to His answers.

This book encourages young people to make the time to be alone with God. It

provides some teaching on the just-between-you-and-God aspects of prayer and gives

a lot of different suggestions about what to do on a “date with God.” (I don’t discuss

the topic of intercession for others because I will deal with that in another volume.)

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’d like to thank my friends and family for their help and support as I've written

this book. My roommate, Maria Teresa Rodriquez, helped me pray for this book, and

put up with my usually messy office that doubles as our TV room. My sister, Lynn,

and my brother-in-law, Earl, along with my nieces and nephews Beth, Brett, Kaari and

Kirk – as usual – gave me constructive comments and encouragement. Without the

help of my talented and understanding editor, David Hazard, this book may have never

come off the press. My long-time friend, Jewell

Erickson, sent me just the book I needed to continue writing when I’d reached a dead

end. Then Aida, a friend from church, gave me a book on tape that helped me finish

the chapter I’d planned. I always marvel at God's faithfulness and timing. Obviously,

He deserves all the credit for getting this project finished.

Several books especially influenced this one: Ordering Your Private World, by

Gordon MacDonald; Enjoying the Closeness of God, by Roger C. Palms; How to

Listen to God, by Charles Stanley; Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, by Dr. and Mrs.

Howard Taylor; Listening to God, by Joyce Huggett; The Prayer Factor, by Sammy

Tippit; and Seven Guides to Effective Prayer, by Colin Whittaker.

Lorraine Peterson

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

About the Author

Preface

Acknowledgments

CONTENTS

SECTION ONE: It’s About Your Attitude – Maybe You’ve Grown Up, But

Your Prayers Haven’t!

NAME

CHAPTER

PAGE

1

MAKING FRIENDS WITH GOD

8

2

I JUST NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY

16

3

BEFORE THE ROOF CAVES IN

30

4

ARE YOUR ACTIONS MAKING YOU A STRANGER

45

TO THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU MOST?

5

THE TROUBLED TEEN SURVIVAL KIT

60

6

PRAY WITH YOUR LIFE

75

SECTION TWO: Just Between God and Me; Part of Prayer

NAME

CHAPTER

PAGE

7

IS “THANK YOU” PART OF YOUR VOCABULARY?

94

8

WHEN 911 PRAYERS JUST WON'T DO THE JOB

111

9

PIZZA WITH BILL, IRREGULAR VERBS, AND SPRING

138

BREAK

10

BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT I WANT TO HEAR

161

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

11

GOD, IF I WERE RUNNING YOUR UNIVERSE

186

12

OUT OF FOCUS

208

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

ONE

“IT’S ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE –

MAYBE YOU’VE GROWN UP, BUT

YOUR PRAYERS HAVEN’T”

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

CHAPTER 1

“MAKING FRIENDS WITH GOD”



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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT – I CAN HANG OUT WITH GOD

ANYTIME

The Ballantyne family had moved again. But that was nothing new. Robbie’s

father was in the Air Force and he'd lived all over the country. Although he hated

having to be the new kid again, what he heard about the high school he'd be attending

pleased him.

Lakeview High was famous for its winning football teams, had a fine coaching

staff, and was a small school – so maybe Robbie would have a chance. Clumsy,

lacking in self-confidence, and only an average athlete, Robbie, nevertheless,

cherished a dream: He wanted to be a football hero. Going into the ninth grade in a

setting like Lakeview – and with the security that his family was scheduled to stay put

for four years – was more than Robbie had hoped for.

Things were definitely taking a turn for the better. When the Ballantynes moved

into their new house, Robbie’s mother discovered that their next-door neighbors were

also Christians. She invited them over for dinner, and afterward Robbie got a chance

to get acquainted with Scott. Scott was captain of Lakeview’s football team, which

nearly blew

Robbie’s mind. He eagerly devoured all the training tips and physical fitness

advice that Scott offered.

Scott was also president of the church youth group and was planning to lead a

Bible study for ninth grade boys who attended Lakeview High. When asked if he’d

like to join, Robbie enthusiastically accepted. Imagine starting in a new school as a

friend of the captain of the football team! He could hardly wait.

The first day of classes was fabulous. Robbie walked to school with Scott, who

gave him a quick tour of the school, plus some inside information about how to get

along with certain teachers. Six guys showed up at the first Bible study – three others

from Scott and Robbie’s church, and two non-Christians. Scott inspired them all to be

faithful and to do some recruiting. Robbie offered to make up invitations on his

computer and to help in any other way he could.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Within weeks, though, the dream-come-true began to sour. Robbie noticed that

Scott was becoming too busy with the popular senior clique to notice him – unless

there was work to be done. It was, “Robbie, could you call all the guys to tell them we

won't meet for Bible study this week?” Or, “The youth pastor gave us leaders this

lesson for all the guys in the Bible study group. Please make copies for everyone.” Or,

“Jim needs a ride home. See that he gets one.” Or, “Collect all the money and order

the pizza for Monday night. Pay for mine and I'll repay you when I get some cash.”

Even when Robbie complimented Scott on how well he’d played in Friday night’s

game, Scott sure didn’t show any interest in a real conversation.

One day, Robbie met Scott in the hall and his new “friend” didn’t even say hi.

Robbie wondered if the fact that Scott was with a popular guy named Pete had

anything to do with it.

Then Scott started dating Marnie, and things got worse. One day, he had the

nerve to ask Robbie to run home at lunch hour and get the math paper he'd forgotten!

Robbie knew that Scott’s only excuse for not going himself was that he planned to eat

lunch with Marnie. And though Robbie resented being treated like an errand boy, he

did it.

A week later, Robbie saw his name listed as head of the cleanup committee for

the big youth group fall festival. Scott hadn’t even asked him. He really felt used.

That evening Robbie sat down at his computer, wondering why he was claiming

that Scott was his best friend. He made a nice-looking printout that read:

















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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life



A REAL FRIEND IS:

1. Someone who listens, as well as talks.

2. Someone who gives, as well as receives.

3. Someone who puts himself in the place of the other person.

4. Someone who is faithful even when that demands sacrifice.

5. Someone who is willing to do a favor, as well as ask for one.

6. Someone who enjoys making the other person happy.

7. Someone who appreciates the good qualities of another – and at times

mentions that fact.

In a way, he was thinking out loud. And it made him realize; Scott wasn’t really

his friend. That made him sad.

He desperately wanted Scott’s friendship, and he'd done everything he knew to

make it happen. But friendship has to go two ways, and Robbie could do nothing to

force Scott to reciprocate.

Do you think God might feel the way Robbie does when He thinks about His

relationship with you? Are you a person who only prays when you need something?

Do you treat God like a candy machine or like a friend you care about? Do you spend

more time drying your hair than you do talking with God?

Taking time out to think things over can help you look at some of the things that

characterize true friendship and check whether those traits describe your relationship

with God.

A close relationship involves things like; considering your friend’s feelings

first; being faithful; verbalizing appreciation; sacrificing your own desires sometimes

to meet the needs of your friend; and making things right if you have done wrong.

Does your relationship with God have any of these dimensions? Do you know how to

enjoy His presence and listen to Him? Do you want to do His will and obey Him? Are

you faithful – defending Him, even in front of your non-Christian friends? Do you

spend a lot of time thanking and praising Him? When you sin against Him, do you

confess it immediately? Do you square things with people whom you’ve wronged, so

that there is no uneasiness between you and God?

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

This book is written to help you learn these things so that your communication

with God becomes more than a series of demands, needs, and occasional cries for help.

God does want us to make requests of Him, but that’s not all there is to prayer. Maybe

you’ve been missing out on some of the most fantastic aspects of prayer!

True, it’s sometimes difficult to know how to spend time with a God you cannot

see – so I'll be offering a variety of suggestions and patterns for communicating with

God. Because each person has a different personality and background, some ideas will

work for you and some may not. For example, some people can really pour out their

hearts while reading a written prayer, and others consider that much too formal and

stuffy. Some people can get into praying Scripture verses more easily than others.

There are those for whom writing a letter to God is true prayer, while certain

individuals get headaches at the thought of trying to pen another composition. I’d ask

you, however, to seriously attempt to put each idea into practice, because at some time

in the future you may want to use it. This may help you to keep from falling into a rut

in your prayer life.

Have you and your best friend ever had a talk that began like this; “Every time

we get together we just go to McDonalds. We need a change. Let’s do something

different”? This can easily happen with you and God. Besides, circumstances change,

and that can dictate a change in your prayer priorities. For instance, maybe ingratitude

is your biggest problem at the moment, and the major emphasis you need in prayer

right now is praise and thanksgiving. Later, a specific problem in relationships with

Christians could make you want to shift to praying through the book of Ephesians. Or

when your life gets so tense that concentration is difficult, reading a prayer on a

specific topic can be most helpful or when you're overly busy or upset, it may be that

you need to learn to be still long enough to enjoy God's presence. No method can

rekindle that God-has-first-place-in-my-life love or remove that communication block

caused by unconfessed sin. But new types of prayer can become the means of new

blessings.

I invite you to join me in the exciting adventure of making friends with God.

He’s always there – loving you, wanting to help, waiting for you to make Him the

most important Person in your life. It’s true that any other friendship you have could

one day prove to be heartbreaking, but Jesus will never change. He will never fail you,

never stop loving you.

Making friends with God is well worth your time and effort.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

OH! I DIDN’T REALIZE YOU DON’T KNOW EACH

OTHER!

Maybe you’ve tried to pray. And maybe the experience feels kind of like

attempting to talk on the phone to a person who’s already hung up on you. You're just

not making a connection. If you’ve genuinely accepted Jesus as your Savior, it’s

possible that unconfessed sin is the problem. Or maybe you live in your emotions,

instead of living by faith. But it could be that you're trying to talk to someone you’ve

never met!

It is necessary to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test

yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail

the test?” (2 Corinthians 13: 5).

Does Christ really live in you? What is the test Paul is talking about? Praying

“Lord Jesus, come into my heart” isn’t a magic formula. Those words need to be

accompanied by a daily turning from sin and by surrendering your whole life to God.

If you merely consider Jesus as an “extra boost” to help you work your way to

heaven, He is not truly living in you. If your thought life is pure garbage and you don’t

even feel guilty, Jesus is not being allowed to reside within you. Jesus is Lord of the

universe, and you can't invite Him to be a prisoner in your inner being – He has to be

boss! Either Jesus is Lord of all or He isn’t Lord at all.

Do you pass the test? Is Jesus living in you, directing your priorities, choosing

your friends, managing your money, enjoying your leisure time, and guiding you in

what to say? Or is there an emptiness inside, making God seem like an inhabitant of

outer space with whom you communicate only in case of emergency?

If Jesus doesn’t really live in you, ask yourself some questions: Are you willing

to be a private in the army of General Jesus? Are you ready to obey His

commandments? (He’ll give you the power.) Can you admit that all your good deeds

have mixed motives and are so hopelessly self-serving that you're really a pretty

terrible sinner? Do you hate your sin enough to really want to change? Are you willing

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

to be considered weird for Jesus – and to follow Him, even if it means losing some

friends?

If you can answer yes to every question, you're ready to make a revolutionary

commitment to Jesus. As you honestly admit that you were wrong to break God's rules,

the blood of Jesus, poured out on the cross, takes away all your sins. By opening the

door of your heart, you allow the Spirit of Jesus supernaturally to come live within

you.

Your part is praying in faith, with a life totally surrendered to Jesus. He’ll invade

your being and completely fulfill His promise; “Whoever believes in me, as the

Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7: 38).

The following is a guideline prayer for you to communicate your desire to Jesus, who

poured out His own blood on a cross so your sins can be canceled:

Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God who rose from the dead

and who will come again in power and great glory. I know that I'm a sinner and

I've done a lot of things I shouldn’t have done. I now hate those things and want

to stop doing them. Thank you that You died on the cross, and that Your blood

can erase my sin. Please forgive me and give me a clean heart.

I open my life to You, asking You to come in and run my life. I want to

obey You. I want You to be Number One in my life. What Your Bible calls sin

I'll avoid; and I will obey Your commandments. I trust You for the power to do

this. I ask You to take control of my life and make me the person You want me

to be. Thank you for coming into my life as You promised. In Jesus’ Name.

Amen. (Let it be so!)

Surrendering to Jesus is an exciting new start. Jesus has become your best

Friend, your infallible Guide, your constant Comforter, the Giver of love, joy, and

peace, and the Right Way to go.

The worthiest goal you could ever set for yourself is to get to know Him better

and better.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

CHAPTER 2

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

“I JUST NEED TO TALK TO

SOMEBODY”

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

CLOSING THE COMMUNICATION GAP

Rochelle had always loved Christmas. Decorating the tree. Shopping, with all

its wonderful surprises. The evening she always helped her mom decorate sugar

cookies in the shapes of bells and stars. Caroling with the youth group. And the special

time together as a family. Rochelle knew she was a little too taken with presents,

turkey dinner, and hoping for new-fallen snow on December 24, but she did remember

that divine Baby who came to die for her sins. She thanked God for sending the Savior

into a troubled and mixed-up world.

This year started like every other Christmas as a special spirit of joy and

anticipation filled the air. Her little sister, Amanda, excitedly told everyone that she

was too old for dolls and wanted a chemistry set. Her mom was happily involved in

preparing her Sunday school class for their part in the Christmas program, and her dad

didn’t mind putting in long hours at the drugstore because the extra Christmas sales

would pay for their family vacation at the beach.

When Rochelle’s brother, Dave, called from college to ask if his roommate

could spend Christmas with the family, their dad had assured him that friends were

always welcome in their home. No one gave the visitor a second thought – until they

picked them up at the airport. As Dave and Jeremy neared the gate, it was easy to see

that the clean-cut kid who had left home for college in September had changed a great

deal. Dave was unshaven. His sloppy and exotic clothing made him stand out from the

crowd. His friend, Jeremy, had long scraggly hair, an earring, and gaudy jewelry.

Although there were hugs and greetings, everyone was obviously uncomfortable.

Dave seemed more interested in Jeremy than in his own family, whom he hadn’t seen

for four months. Rochelle’s mom tried to ease the tension by announcing there would

be stuffed pork chops, mashed potatoes, and lemon pie for dinner – all of Dave’s

favorites. But Dave seemed unimpressed.

Rochelle helped to get all the food on the table, and then everyone was called

to the dining room. The Yuletide centerpiece and lit candles did nothing to replace the

gloom. After the blessing, everyone ate in awkward silence.

Finally, Dave spoke up. “There’s something I need to tell you. I've discovered

that I'm gay. I know this may be hard for you to understand, but I was born that way

and all I can do is live out my destiny. Jeremy and I love each other, and I'm asking

you to accept me as I am.”

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Desperately trying to control the anger in his voice, Rochelle’s father asked

bitterly, “Son, how could you ever do this to me?” Then he got up from the table and

grabbed his jacket from the coat closet. He slammed out the door, started the car, and

drove away.

Rochelle’s mom began to cry – then broke into sobbing. Amanda’s confusion

also turned into tears. Rochelle, not knowing what to do, tried to put an arm around

both her mother and sister. Dave and Jeremy could only retreat to Dave’s room.

When Rochelle’s mom and sister quieted down, the three of them just sat there.

Stunned. Unmoving. In a while her dad returned and told Amanda that she was

spending the night at a cousin’s house and that she needed to pack her suitcase quickly.

“Rochelle,” he said kindly, “your mom and I are going out for coffee so we can

talk. We’ll be back before ten o'clock.”

Within a few minutes they were gone. Dave emerged and informed Rochelle

that he and Jeremy were going for a walk in the moonlight.

So, she was left home alone. It had taken only four hours for Rochelle’s whole

world to cave in.

Sure, she felt bad that Christmas had been ruined – but there were worse things

to face. She’d always been close to Dave and had admired him as her older brother.

He’d been taught the Bible just as she had, and he knew that the Scriptures state that

a homosexual lifestyle is sinful. Dave had dated her best friend, Kathy, for a year and

a half, and he’d always seemed interested in girls. What could have changed his mind?

What had happened to him?

And how could her parents be so concerned about their own problems that they

had completely forgotten about her? Where could she turn? What could she do?

Rochelle felt she couldn’t call Kathy, because Kathy still liked Dave and this

would break her heart. Sara was a caring person – but she like to gossip and couldn’t

be trusted with a situation like this.

Her Bible study leader had said, “Just call me any time if you have a problem.”

That time was now.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Rochelle called – only to find out from one of her roommates that she had

already left to spend the holidays with family.

Although Rochelle felt self-conscious, in desperation she dialed her youth

pastor – only to get a recorded message. And then it hit her that her parents may want

to keep this a secret. They were always so concerned about the family image.

Maybe she’d never be able to talk to anyone.

She felt totally alone.

As she walked into the living room, the picture of Jesus above the fireplace

mantel caught her eye. She stopped short. It was just as if Jesus were putting words

into her mind; You can talk to me. I won't tell anyone. I'll understand. And most of all,

I have all power – so I can really help you. I love you so much, I died for you.

Why didn’t she think of talking to Jesus first?

YOU Have an Appointment With the Creator of the

Universe …

… learn to pray in difficult situations.

You can talk over any problem with God. You don’t need any fancy words or

set formulas. As you pray, include any Bible verses you remember that relate to the

topic; that bring your mind back to God's point of view on the matter. But if you don’t

know much about the Bible, just pour out your heart to the God who loves you. He’ll

listen. He’ll understand. In His right time, He’ll answer.

Sometimes situations in your life can feel so overwhelming that you don’t even

know how to begin praying. Check out these suggested prayer-starters. They may be

just what you need to get you going and keep your heart-needs in their right place –

which is in God's hands, not yours!

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Praying When the Guy or Girl You Like Rejects You

“DAY 1”

Dear God, You know I've liked _________ for a long time now, and ________

doesn’t feel the same way about me. That really hurts. Sometimes it makes me feel

like asking, “What’s wrong with me?”

Then I need to remember Your words; “I have loved you with an everlasting

love; I have drawn you with loving kindness. I will build you up again…” (Jeremiah

31: 3-4). When others let me down, You're there to encourage me. Even if no one else

loves me, You do. Thank you that when I question who I am and my value as a person,

You're there to tell me: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you

were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1: 5). You loved me so much You sent Jesus to

die for me, so I know I'm worth a whole lot.

If I compare myself with kids that get more dates than a fig tree I feel inferior.

Then I wish I were so good-looking that just my presence would make a statement. It

would be nice to be popular.

Then I need to focus on Your standards; “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not

consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look

at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at

the heart’” (1 Samuel 16: 7). “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman

who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31: 30). Lord, keep reminding me of

Your standard of inner attractiveness. I want to be free from worrying about every zit,

having to be super-thin, striving for a body that would make it in Hollywood, and

having to wear just what everyone else decides is the “in thing”. That’s slavery and I

don’t want it. Thank you for the design You used in creating me. I know that the person

You’ve picked out for me to marry will love me just the way I am.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Lord, even though the thing I want most right now is for __________ to like me,

I know You have a plan for my whole life, one that’s better than any I could come up

with on my own. You said; “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

(Jeremiah 29: 11). God, right now, I give up my will in order to find Yours. If You

want me to go out with ________, change his / her heart. If this isn’t part of your plan

for my life I accept that, and I ask You to heal my emotions. Thank you that You're a

surgeon, capable of such a delicate operation. You're the One who “heals the

brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147: 3).

I will let Your love fill the void left in my heart because _________ won't

reciprocate my feelings. Thank you for the promise; “And my God will meet all your

needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4: 19). That means

I can receive from You all the love, all the acceptance, and all the companionship that

I need – even if ________ chooses to pay no attention to me whatever. I just want to

tell You, Jesus, that I love You very much and that You're all I need.

Praying When Your Parents Have Too Many of Their Own

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Problems to Care About You

“DAY 2”

Dear God, I’d like to have parents who loved me enough to take time to listen, who

loved me enough to check where I am without treating me like a baby, and who

weren’t too busy to take an interest in things that are important to me. But I know I

can't change either my dad or my mom. They have so many of their own issues that

they're incapable of reaching out to me as I want them to. They really don’t understand

how much I need them to be there for me.

But, God, You can fill in whenever they blow it. I can say, with the guy who wrote

the Psalms: “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me”

(Psalm 27: 10). You are the Father to the fatherless, the Dad who will never let me

down.

It’s so hard when my best isn’t good enough. I don’t know what my mom / dad really

expects. I can't be like ___________ and I'm not good at ____________. It hurts me

so much when he / she says, “__________________________.”

I thank You that You always act the way a father is supposed to act. “As a father has

compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for

he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103: 13-14).

When I feel distressed because I can't measure up to the standards my parents have set

for me, I'll escape into Your arms, knowing that You love me without any conditions.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ

died for us” (Romans 5: 8). In fact, You would have sent Jesus to die for me even if I

had never accepted Him as my Savior – and that proves Your love isn’t based on my

performance. Thanks for loving me just the way I am.

Lord, help me to forgive my parents. I know the Bible says: “Be kind and

compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”

(Ephesians 4: 32). That includes parents. I know You never give any orders without

providing the power supply necessary for the task. I understand that I forgive with my

will – not with my emotions. I forgive my mom for ________ and _________, and I

forgive my dad for ____________ and _____________.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

My emotions may still go wild, but that’s okay. Sooner or later they will catch up

with my will. Each time my parents are unfair, each time they hurt me, and every time

they fail me, I will plug into Your love-your-enemies love and receive the power to

forgive them.

Lord, give me some good ideas on how to serve them and meet their needs. Show me

something special I can do for my mom today, to make her day more pleasant. How

can I demonstrate to my father that I love him? Thank you, God, for my parents. I

know You had a special reason for giving them to me, and I'm grateful.

Praying When You Have That Stop-the-World-I-Want-To

Get-Off Feeling

“DAY 3”

Lord, today I really feel depressed. Nothing seems to be going right and I don't really

think I'm very important to anybody. Because of __________ and ____________ this

week has been terrible. The thought that the world would be better off without me and

I might just as well end it all has crossed my mind. However, I recognize that idea as

being from the devil. Jesus, I remember that You said, “The thief” (and that’s the

devil) “comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life

and have it to the full” (John 10: 10). I can see that the enemy is trying to implement

his killer strategy by getting me to take my own life, and I won't buy it.

Your Word also points out; “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil

prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing

firm in the faith” (1 Peter 5: 8-9). The worst thing I can do is just accept all these crazy

thoughts as being my own.

Instead, I'll take my stand on James 4: 7; “Submit yourselves, then, to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This means that instead of focusing my

eyes on the present problems, I'll turn my mind toward the One who lives in me and

“is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4: 4).

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

God, instead of looking at my circumstances that right now are a real bummer, I

choose to look at the long-term picture and believe what You say about me. You

created me with a purpose and You tell me the same thing You told Jeremiah; “Before

I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah

1: 5). And then You give me the great promise that You “will fulfill your purpose for

me” (Psalm 138: 8 personalized). I think You wrote Hebrews 10:

35-36 especially for me because You knew someday I’d feel this way; “So do not

throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that

when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Lord, I want to stick with You and keep the faith, but I have to get through this day.

Like David, I'll ask myself a question; “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so

disturbed within me?” (Psalm 42: 5).

God, the reason I'm so discouraged is because ___________ and ____________. Plus,

school is so boring, things at home are tense, and ______________. But, Lord, I do

have to admit that no one ever died of boredom and You're such a powerful God You

can change each of these things. My problem is that I'm looking at today only and not

viewing my whole life in perspective. I remember that some time ago _________

seemed like such a terrible problem, and now I hardly think of it. Right now, I can't

forget that You can either make me so strong I can withstand the pressure or You can

remove the situation. I'll trust You.

Lord, I guess I'm on my way out to face Goliath. I admit that I like Your miracles –

but only after they're over! I really don’t enjoy the situations that lead up to them. For

the present, God, help me to concentrate on believing that You said, “Those who hope

in me will not be disappointed” (Isaiah 49: 23). Lord, I do put my trust in You and

believe what Your Word says; “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to

show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for

him!” (Isaiah 30: 18, italics mine). Actually, Lord, You put it in even stronger terms;

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:

7) – a command that’s hard for me to obey! Instead of doing anything drastic, help me

to do the hardest thing in the world for me – to wait until You deal with the impossible

circumstances.

Thank you that there is hope. Like David, I'm telling myself: “Find rest, O my

soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him” (Psalm 62: 5).

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

How to Pray When You Feel Like the Only Non-Pagan Under

Age Thirty

“DAY 4”

Lord, to be perfectly honest, I'm tired of being good! Almost everybody else

cheats on tests. I get so much static about being a virgin – actually you'd think it was

a crime or something. I could dress as nice as the other kids – if only I did a little

shoplifting. I can never say I've seen the ultimate sex-and-violence movie. I know I

shouldn’t fill my mind with such garbage, but I'm tired of being out of it. My life is

pretty boring and I wonder what it would be like to get high, or to win a lot of money

gambling, or to __________.

But then I remember something inspiring; “By faith Moses, when he had grown

up, refused to be known as the son of pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated

along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a short time.

He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasure of

Egypt because he was looking ahead to his reward” (Hebrews 11: 2426). And he got

his prize – not only in heaven but on earth. How exciting it must have been to

experience God's miracles – the plagues, the Red Sea opening, manna from heaven,

and water from a rock! How exhilarating to be so close to God and so at home in His

presence – to see His glory and receive the Ten Commandments. But,

Lord, I know that Moses could have thrown it all away for one “secret affair” with an

Egyptian princess, a fascination with wealth or power, or running around with royal

renegades. Right now, I need to concentrate on his example, and hang in there!

Whenever I start feeling like I can't swim against the current any longer, I need

to realize that it’s because I've stopped depending on You for my joy, my

companionship, my fun, my friends, my love for life – everything. I've sloughed off

on spending time with You, so I've absorbed a media mentality instead of Your hatred

for sin. I've let so many trivial distractions blur my awe for Your command; “Be holy,

because I am holy” (1 Peter 1: 16). It’s been a while since I've sensed Your presence

so keenly that I just wanted to stay with You and nothing else really mattered. I know

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

that the solution to my lackluster living is getting alone with You, expecting to receive

Your answers.

I forget that Philippians 4: 19 is really true; “And my God will meet all your needs

according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Instead of muddling through, I can

ask You for what I need. Lord, put some new spark in my life. Show me how to

practice 1 Peter 3: 13 -14; “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But

even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear;

do not be frightened.” I claim Isaiah 64: 5; “You come to the help of those who gladly

do right, who remember your ways.” Make me so enthusiastic about doing what is

right that I set the pace, instead of falling in line with the rest. Use me to make doing

good so contagious that other kids become curious and even jealous! Put me in contact

with some other young people all pumped up to serve You. Lord, I ask You for

_________ and _________.

Give me a new hunger for Your Word. I take Psalm 119: 1-3 literally; “Blessed are

they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed

are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing

wrong; they walk in his ways.” I want to be that kind of person. I would like to

memorize enough Bible verses so I can say with David, “I have hidden your word in

my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119: 11). I want to be able to repeat

Psalm 119: 15-16 and mean it: “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways,

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Psalm 119: 9). I realize that

if I swallow the secular humanism I get all day at school, and choose to listen to media-

sized morality, then I won't have much incentive for righteous living. Your word poses

a question and then answers it: “How can a (young) person keep his way pure? By

living according to your word” (Psalm 119: 9).

If my mind isn’t continually cleansed by my applying Your words, I'll lose strength

and just float downstream with everyone else. I guess I better stop complaining and

open my Bible! Thanks for listening.

Praying When You're Not Sure What to Believe.

“DAY 5”

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Dear God, if I'm totally honest, I have to admit to You that I have doubts about

the Bible and what I've been taught as a Christian. I keep hearing that “safe sex” is

okay if I'm old enough to handle it and if I really love the other person. I hear that

abortion is only the removal of some unwanted tissue, that practicing homosexuality

is perfectly fine, that lying is okay in certain circumstances, that evolution accounts

for life on this planet, and that no one believes the “fairytale” about Adam and Eve

and the snake. I feel kind of weird for having different opinions than everyone else

about almost everything. After hearing the same thing over and over, I start to think

it’s true. I'm confused. Please help me.

One thing that really gives me hope is the way You treated Thomas when he said,

“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and

put my hand into his side, I will not believe it” (John 20: 25). You didn’t bawl him out

or tell him he was terrible. You said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out

your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20: 27). Thank

you that You welcome honest doubters.

When Thomas saw the evidence, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”

Right now, Lord, I remember a speaker who said this; “Most doubts aren’t intellectual

– they’re moral. The girl who is sleeping with her boyfriend starts having doubts about

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

the Bible being the Word of God because she enjoys what she’s doing and doesn’t

want to believe it’s sin. If we believe we got here by chance, we’re responsible to no

one – but if a loving and all-powerful God created us, we’re accountable to Him. A

person who has aspirations of being his or her own god can't possibly accept being

fashioned by a God who has His own plan for us. Those who believe that the opinion

of the majority sets the standard of right and wrong consider man, not God, the

ultimate authority!” So, I guess it’s important to find the source of my doubts. That’s

kind of scary. I guess I better check my own life first.

Lord, do I question Your Word because there’s a sin I don’t want to give up? I

admit _______ and __________ are things I’d rather not consider wrong, even though

the Bible says they are. God, if I'm going to be honest, I must consider the possibilities

of my own ungodly desires playing a part in my doubts. ( STOP and LISTEN, so God

can speak to you. Write out your personal prayer to Him:) ______________________.

Lord, I feel like the father of the tormented boy who cried, “I do believe; help

me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9: 24). God, show me the way out of the doubts I

have. I give You any habit, addiction, desire, or thought pattern that would keep me

from believing what You have to say. I think ____________ may be interfering with

my faith. (IF YOU’RE NOT READY TO PRAY THIS, DON’T.) I surrender that part

of my life to You.

However, __________ and ___________ still bother me. Lord, I pray that

You'll show me who I can talk to in order to get my honest questions answered. Is

there a book I should read? If so, lead me to it.

God, in some ways, I may be making this a little too complicated. Hebrews 11:

6 gets to the heart of the matter; “And without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards

those who earnestly seek him” I do believe You're there. I choose to put my faith in

the fact that You'll reward those who choose to follow You. And I can't really go after

You without searching the Scriptures. That gets back to “faith comes from hearing the

message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10: 17). I

have to admit that I get a lot more input from the other side than I do from Your Book.

When I read it from the Bible, You seem perfectly capable of creating the world – it’s

only in __________ class that I have doubts. Your Ten Commandments read from

Exodus 20 seem perfectly reasonable – it’s only when _________ happens that I

wonder.

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I'm probably hanging out too much with some of the wrong people. I can't really

say with David, “As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in

whom is all my delight” (Psalm 16: 3).

More Christian friends would really help. Lord, I'm willing to give up my

friendship with _________ and ____________. (DON’T FILL IN THE BLANKS IF

YOU DON’T MEAN IT!) God, please bring the right people into my life.

God, I guess I shouldn’t expect that being Your follower will be easy. I'm

willing to engage in whatever spiritual warfare is necessary to be able to say at the end

of my life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”

(2 Timothy 4: 7).

CHAPTER 3

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

“BEFORE THE ROOF CAVES IN”

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

DISCOVER THE PORTABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM

Although the countless lights he was staring at indicated the presence of plenty

of people, Jeff felt totally alone. The spectacular view of New York City by night

framed by the picture window his parents loved so much only made his world more

darker and depressing. He just couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness and despair.

He’d give anything just to move back to their small town in Georgia.

It just didn’t seem fair. Why couldn’t his father see that the happiness of his

family was more important than a big promotion and a huge salary increase?

Was he really the guy who had led his team to victory in Bible Quiz

competition? Was he the same kid who had taught the most successful Bible study

group sponsored by the student ministry on his campus? Could he really be the junior

who had led more kids to Christ than anyone else in Everyday Evangelism – who had

been elected president of his church youth group, and who fearlessly stood for

Christian values in his classes?

But that was the former Jeff Thompson. The Jeff of today felt more like a

mission field, not a missionary. There was no Bible Club, no Christians to hang around

with – not even someone who appeared to be less pagan than the rest. He was the

weird kid with the southern accent who was constantly out of step. He hadn’t even

tried to witness to anyone – probably because he wasn’t quite sure he had any faith to

share. Because of his father’s workload, they’d only visited a couple churches, both

of which seemed cold and impersonal. The roof was caving in, and Jeff couldn’t find

any strength to prop it up.

He really couldn’t put his finger on the problem. He hadn’t decided to become

an atheist, to do drugs, or to run away from home. He didn’t even think he was mad at

God – confused and a little bitter maybe, but much too empty to express any strong

emotions, he was still going through the motions of being “good,” but no matter what

he did, none of the old enthusiasm returned. God seemed so far away that Jeff wasn’t

even sure they were on speaking terms. What had gone wrong…?

You may not be able to identify with Jeff and his early success. Perhaps you're

a struggling-to-keep-your-head-above-water Christian. Maybe you’ve thought that if

you could do the things Jeff did, you'd never have any more doubts or feel like

throwing in the towel. You might be relieved to learn that the supports that keep the

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more visible aspects of your Christian life in place can be erected by anyone – not just

the talented and personable “Jeffs” of this world. Keep reading….

Jeff, like so many Christians young and old, had neglected a very important part

of his spiritual life – time alone with God, reading His Word, meditating on Scripture,

listening for His instructions, and praying. His Christianity was based entirely on

external events – attending a good church, witnessing, Bible study for the purpose of

gathering information or presenting a lesson to others, and working with organized

Christians. These things are very good and form part of a well-balanced Christian life,

but they will all cave in unless they can be supported by a strong framework

underneath – a personal communication with God. Once Jeff didn’t have his church,

his youth group, and his school Bible Club, he was lost. He didn’t know how to

approach God as an individual.

The super-structure of “serving God,” “Being active in church,” or “maintaining

a good testimony” must be held up by the pillars of personal intimacy with God.

George Muller was a man who, for sixty-two years, prayed-in all the funds he

needed to support thousands of orphans without ever once asking any individual for

money. He describes his private time with God as an exciting adventure. He never

knew how God would supply his needs but he trusted Him completely. Prayer was his

source of peace and relaxation. When his only daughter was gravely ill, he could

totally rest in God. His life was a continuous and enjoyable conversation with his Best

Friend! But if he had never learned to pray, no one today would have ever heard of

George Muller.

There are many very ordinary people who know how to pray, how to practice

the presence of God, and how to live in His peace. Because of that, whatever else they

do in life – whether it is teaching a Bible study, working in an office, baking a cake,

cheering a discouraged person, or taking a test, it is done with a love and excellence

that shows that they have been with Jesus.

If someone like Jeff could really be convinced that time alone with God each

day is a top priority, the fight he’d have on his hands might go something like this …

As he stared out into the night, Jeff remembered the words of his youth pastor

back in Georgia; “If you don’t have a daily quiet time in which you really meet God,

you'll probably be able to win a few short races – but you'll have to drop out of the

marathon. The spiritual resources to keep going when things get really tough come

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

from reading your Bible and praying each day.” At the time, Jeff had paid little

attention, because he thought he’d discovered a shortcut to spiritual success. Wow,

thought Jeff, this must be exactly the situation Pastor Phil was talking about. I might

as well give it a try.

He set his alarm to ring fifteen minutes early, then fell asleep.

But because he’d stayed up late, he automatically turned the alarm off and

plopped his head back down onto the pillow. The next thing he knew his mom was

informing him that he’d overslept. That evening he decided to try again. He thought

he’d finish his homework early and then snatch fifteen minutes in his room, but he just

couldn’t tear himself away from the basketball game on TV. Later, he tried to pray

before going to bed, but immediately zonked out.

Finally, four days later, he succeeded in getting up when his alarm rang and

went to the bathroom to splash cold water on his face so he’d stay awake. He hadn’t

really studied enough of his Spanish test, however, and kept interrupting Genesis 1

and 2 in order to peek at the vocabulary words he should have memorized. Of course,

everybody sleeps in on Saturday, and Jeff did too. When he awoke, he was starved.

After three bowls of cereal, he thought he’d return to his room to read the Bible. But

when his sister wanted to play tennis, he felt embarrassed telling her he wanted to have

devotions first.

Deciding that reading the whole Bible through was a little too ambitious, he

began the New Testament. When he got bogged down with the genealogy of Matthew

1, he convinced himself that since he wasn’t getting anything out of it he might as well

read the comics – and he did. A couple of days later, he opted for praying rather than

Bible reading. He prayed about everything he could think of, and then checked his

watch. He’d prayed for three minutes and forty-nine seconds!

Jeff couldn’t believe how hard it was to establish a quiet time – to say nothing

about honestly effectively communicating with God. Did all those super-Christians

start out like this? Was it worth trying to hang in there? He certainly hadn’t noticed

any dramatic change in his life.

The next day, he got a terrible sore throat and was in bed for two days. He never

even thought of reading his Bible. The third day, he felt a lot better and opened his

Bible to Matthew 4. As he read, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word

that comes from the mouth of God,” he saw something new. He needed God's words

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to live by just as much as he needed meat and potatoes and vegetables. He could only

receive spiritual nourishment if he kept on reading his Bible. In the physical realm we

don’t always remember what we eat but it keeps us healthy. Maybe reading the Bible

is like that, Jeff reasoned. Maybe the chapter I read a week ago and don’t remember

now is still giving me spiritual energy. This idea gave him the incentive to persevere

…

This won't be the end of Jeff’s struggles. If he keeps at it for a year, he’ll

probably have the habit of daily devotions pretty well established. However, the devil

will work just as hard to break the habit as he did to prevent it in the first place. A

daily quiet time will never be easy – but it will always be worth every bit of struggle

it takes!

DON’T JUST SIT THERE – DO SOMETHING!

Start tomorrow by scheduling ten minutes into your day for Bible reading and

prayer.

1. Establish a time.

a. Begin with a ten-minute time slot (maybe even five or seven minutes), and

once you’ve firmly established this habit, gradually increase the time spent.

Biting off too big a chunk will be programming yourself for failure.

b. Stick with the same time every day, so you'll form a habit.

c. Give God the best ten minutes of your day. Early in the morning is usually

the quietest time and the freest of interruptions. However, a night person

might be more successful placing an appointment with God just before going

to bed. If both your parents work and you come home to an empty house,

you may want to schedule your quiet time when you get home from school.

2. Choose a quiet place where you can be alone.

a. If you don’t have your own room, you may have to use some creativity – the

basement, the park, the hallway of your apartment building, and even the

bathroom are possibilities.

b. Buy some earplugs if you need to!

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

3. Develop an attitude of perseverance. Don’t become discouraged even if:

a. You miss several days in a row.

b. You lose your Bible.

c. Some days you find it nearly impossible to pray.

d. You have trouble concentrating and feel you don’t get much out of your

reading.

e. Somebody in your family thinks reading the Bible is weird and delights in

persecuting you.

f. You find some passages hard to understand.

g. You're a “noise addict,” who goes nuts without a TV or radio on in the

background and have to kick the media habit cold turkey in order to establish

a quiet time. (It is possible to listen to quiet praise music during your

devotions.)

4. Establish a system of accountability.

a. Decide to report to someone each week, telling him / her whether or not you

spent time with God every day. This person could be a friend and you could

become mutually accountable to each other. Or you could ask a parent,

pastor, or youth worker to check up on you each week.

b. Keep some kind of chart for yourself. The easiest is to use a calendar,

checking off the day after having your quiet time.

Just in case you wondered, almost everybody starts out like Jeff did. The devil

will fight you every inch of the way if you decide to saturate your life with Scripture

and really learn to pray. That’s because you're about to discover more and more secrets

to victorious Christian living. At age eighty-five, you still won't be bored because

you'll continue to learn new things about our wonderful God.

And this exciting adventure will begin only when you start by giving God just

ten minutes a day!

YOU Have an Appointment With The Creator of

the Universe. …

… to learn to pray the Bible.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Make an “Appointment With God” calendar like the one that follows. On

Sunday, choose the time you'll meet God each day and then check whether or not you

kept the appointment. If something unexpected changes your schedule and you spend

your ten minutes with God at another time, congratulations. You should count it as an

appointment you kept.

Praying the Scriptures is one very effective way of using ten minutes with God.

This was the system used by George Muller, whose life and ministry have affected

millions. He began his devotions by reading a passage of scripture, and as a certain

Bible verse reminded him to pray for something, he stopped reading and lifted up the

petition to God and then continued reading until another verse prompted him to pray

for something else.

“Praying Through the Book of James” is meant to teach you Scripture praying,

so you can use it in your quiet time. After going through the first couple of chapters,

reading the verses indicated and then praying the written prayer, read chapters three,

four, and five on your own, praying the things God brings to your mind before using

the format found in this book. Then go on to pray through some other epistles of the

New Testament.

Appointment Calendar

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Talk to God: Talk to God: Talk to God: Talk to God: Talk to God: Talk to God: Talk to God:

from: _______ from: _______ from: _______ from: _______ from: _______ from: _______ from: _______

to: _________ to: _________ to: _________ to: _________ to: _________ to: _________ to: _________

Check off appointment you kept

Praying Through James, Chapter One

“DAY 1”

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Read Verse 1

Lord, James considered himself Your humble servant, but I sometimes act as if I were

Your boss! Forgive me for my arrogance. Give me the heart of a servant, a willingness

to always follow Your directions. Sometimes what You ask of me isn’t what I enjoy

doing. __________ and __________ are things I know would please You but I find

them difficult. Help me to be the kind of servant who instantly obeys without counting

the cost.

Read Verses 2-4

I must confess that I haven’t faced my present trial, which is ___________, with joy.

Lord, I ask You to replace my bad attitudes with godly ones. Thank you that this

problem will teach me patience and perseverance if I keep my eyes fixed on You

through it all. Read Verses 5-8

__________ is a big dilemma for me right now. In faith, I ask You for wisdom

and I wait to receive it. I'll do my part by studying all Your Word has to say on the

topic, asking the advice of a mature Christian, and praying each day for wisdom.

Thank you that I can stop worrying about it and trust You to supply the wisdom I need.

Read Verses 9-11

Keep me from being so materialistic. Give me Your sense of values. I rejoice that I'm

a child of the King, with a mansion reserved in heaven. The Creator of the universe

takes special care of me. And I have access to the power that raised Jesus Christ from

the dead. Forgive me for being so taken up with trivial toys and trinkets. I realize that

my new ________, the _________ I like so much, and everything else I can

accumulate on earth will one day be worthless. I and the poorest person on earth are

equal before You. I've been so anxious to buy ___________ that I've nearly forgotten

to put You first. I'm sorry and I want to change.

Read Verses 12-15

Thank you, God, that You give prizes to those who take Your tests and pass.

________ is a big temptation right now. I realize that I can never use the excuse,

“It’s God's fault for letting me get into this situation.” It isn’t. If I didn’t have wrong

desires I wouldn’t even be tempted. Lord, I surrender my bad motives to You, and ask

You for victory.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Read Verses 16-18

Thank you for __________, ___________, and ___________, that are good

gifts You’ve given me. Thank you that You're a never-changing God, whom I can

count on to continue giving me what is good. Thank you that I heard Your Word, so

that I could be saved.

Read Verses 19-21

Lord, forgive me for having such a short fuse and getting angry at _________. Help

me to be slower to speak my mind. Lord, I want Your Word to be planted and to grow

in me so that it brings forth fruit in my actions.

Read Verses 22-25

Lord, so often I just hear Your Word and never put it into practice. Then it really does

me no good. A truth of James, chapter one, that I know You want me to put into

practice, is ____________. Lord, I will do it. (DON’T PRAY THIS UNLESS YOU

MEAN IT!)

Read Verses 26-27

Lord, help me to be more careful about the words that come out of my lips!

Keep me from being so busy with the things that concern me that I don’t have time to

help people less fortunate than I. Right now, You're convicting me to spend time

helping ______________. Draw me closer and closer to You so I don’t get caught in

the muck of the world.

Praying Through James, Chapter Two

“DAY 2”

Read Verses 1-12

Lord, the biggest divisions used to be between the rich and the poor – but at my school

it’s between the cool and the uncool! I have to admit I don’t want to commit social

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

suicide by being a friend to ___________. And at our youth group, things aren’t much

different. We don’t welcome __________ into our clique. And if I hang around with

him / her, the other kids will probably ignore me. I've been as guilty as the rest of

giving _________ the cold shoulder.

The words “If you show favoritism, you sin” make me a terrible sinner. I confess

my wrongdoing to You and ask Your help in one of the hardest things

You’ve ever asked of me – giving up my popularity to spend time with _________.

(DON’T FILL IN THE BLANK IF YOU DON’T MEAN IT.)

I know that when I really obey You, I always experience freedom, because my

conscience becomes clear. Give me Your power, because I sure can't handle this one

on my own. Yet, I know that if I can't show compassion to __________, I can't expect

to receive Your mercy.

Read Verses 14-26

I realize that all I say about loving You and having faith in You mean nothing

unless I walk my talk. What I am speaks so loudly that no one really hears my

words. I declare that I love Jesus more than anyone, but I spend all my time thinking

about _____________. I say my first priority is serving You, but if I'm perfectly

honest, I’d rather not go to Bible study if ___________ is on TV. I express concern

for the poor people of the third world, but instead of giving my money in the offering

to help them, I use it to buy ___________, which I really don’t need anyway.

Lord, keep me from being a hypocrite – saying that I believe You'll take care

of me, but being a practicing atheist who carries the world on my shoulders by

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

worrying every step of the way. I’d like to obey You like Abraham did – even if You

ask me to do something hard.

God, I know I can't work for my salvation – it’s all by faith. But if my faith is

real, it will show up in my actions.

Praying Through James, Chapter Three

“DAY 3”

Read Verses 1-12

Lord, I guess I've never thought about how powerful my tongue really is! It can

start a false story that will hurt and possibly destroy the reputations of many people. It

can lash out in anger and criticism, inflicting deep emotional wounds. It can tell a lie,

which can cause untold trouble. It can make fun of the kid who is already

contemplating suicide. My tongue and I plead guilty to ___________.

But my tongue can also give my mother an honest compliment, which will make

her day. It can express love and caring, which will lift the spirits of a lonely or

discouraged person. It can explain the truth of the gospel and lead another person to

saving faith. It can praise and thank God. It can express faith and confidence in God,

encouraging and motivating those around me.

Lord, I give You my tongue. I find it easier to sin with words than with actions.

Going from praising You to criticizing Your other children all in one breath can

happen before I know it. I must constantly depend on Your power, or I'll never make

it.

Read Verses 13-18

Lord, I need Your wisdom. It’ll cause me to do the right thing with a humble

spirit. Keep me from being envious of ___________ and from the selfishness that

often makes me want to ____________.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Lord, when I think I'm right and want to push others around, I don’t have Your

wisdom. When I decide the end justifies the means and I can step on a few toes to get

the job done, I don’t have Your wisdom. When I play favorites and am not completely

honest with everyone, I don’t have Your wisdom.

Give me the wisdom that imitates You in every situation.

Praying Through James, Chapter Four.

“DAY 4”

Read Verses 1-3

Forgive me, Lord, for striving and sometimes quarreling with others to try to

get what I want. I realize that You're the One who will give me everything if I only

bring my petitions before You. But when I ask You for things, I'll remember that You

know more than I do, and that Your will is more important than mine.

Read Verses 4-5

I also realize that what’s on TV, what I usually hear around school, and the

conversations at work are usually opposite to Your ideals and standards. Help me to

put so much of Your Word in my mind and stay so close to You that I don’t swallow

the lies dished out by our society or try to fit in with the world.

Read Verses 6-12

Lord, pride is raising its ugly head again and making me think ____________.

In humility I will give myself to You. Thank you that I can resist the devil with his

temptation to ___________, and I know that he has no choice but to beat it.

Lord, I come near to You, confessing my sin of _________. I ask You to forgive

me for being wishy-washy about ____________. Instead of trying to be the big cheese,

I'll humble myself before You and let You lift me up.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Lord, You're both Father and Judge over me and all my brothers and sisters in

Christ. Forgive me for being critical of ________ and passing judgment on ________.

From now on, I determine to let You be the Judge.

Read Verses 13-16

I have a lot of big plans for the future, and I sometimes forget that unless You

give me the next breath, I can't do any of the things I'm dreaming about. Help me to

add, “If it’s God's will” to all schemes for tomorrow.

Keep me from bragging about ____________. Help me remember that if I do

something worthwhile it’s because You gave the strength and the ability to accomplish

it. When I realize that sin includes the good I've left undone as well as committing

wrong, I don’t have anything to boast about.

Praying Through James, Chapter Five

“DAY 5”

Read Verses 1-6

Lord, don’t let me ever be guilty of making money by taking advantage of

someone else. Keep me from ever exaggerating in a sales pitch, trying to sell

something without being honest about its defects, or paying someone less than

standard wages. I know it’s not Your will that I live in luxury and self-indulgence,

while some of Your other children are in great need. Lord, show me how to use my

money and my resources. How much do You want me to give in the offering this

Sunday?

Read Verses 7-12

Lord, it would be exciting if You came back just this minute, so I wouldn’t have

to face ________ and ____________. But You’ve asked me to live here on earth and

to be patient with other people, patient in suffering, and patient in keeping Your Word

– even when nobody else does. But, Lord, I find myself grumbling against

__________. Please forgive me. I'll trust You to work all things together for good.

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Read Verses 13-18

Lord, teach me to share every part of my life with You. In times of joy my prayer

will be filled with prayers of praise. In sickness and trouble my prayers of petition will

be shared with others. And, Lord, I know that You will hear and answer. If I've fallen

into sin, my prayer will be an honest admission of guilt. I will also admit my faults to

others so they can pray for me. Right now, my prayer to You is ______________.

Thank you for the power of prayer. I want to follow You completely so I can be that

righteous person who fulfills the conditions of effective prayer. If Elijah could turn the

rain faucets of heaven off and on by his prayers, I certainly can pray for

_____________.

Read Verses 19-20

Lord, I want to be instrumental in bringing those who get spiritually off track

back to You. Give me Your wisdom, so I can present Your truth to others.

CHAPTER 4

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

“¿ARE YOUR ACTIONS MAKING

YOU A STRANGER TO THE ONE

WHO LOVES YOU MOST?”

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

WHEN GOD SEEMS FAR AWAY – MAYBE YOU'RE THE ONE

WHO MOVED!

Nathan had fine Christian parents. They loved him, spent time with him and his

sister, and provided them with everything they needed. As a kid he considered his

family the best and obeyed rules without question. He enjoyed a close relationship

with his parents. But as he entered his teen years and realized how strict and old-

fashioned his parents appeared to his friends, he began to long for the freedom to try

new things. Because he’d always attended Northwest Christian Academy and all social

activities centered around church and school, he felt he knew nothing about the “real

world.”

An unusually talented athlete, Nathan begged for an opportunity to participate

in the summer team sports program sponsored by the park board. Warning him about

hanging around with the wrong crowd, his parents permitted him to sign up for the

baseball team. They required that he give them a schedule of all practices and made

him promise to be home a half hour after each game was over.

By far the best pitcher on the team, Nathan became popular immediately.

Although these guys swore and talked about things that shocked Nathan, they were

nice enough. He couldn’t believe how much liberty their parents gave them. The team

always went out together after each game. Nathan politely declined a couple of times,

but then the team got on his case.

“What’s with you, Nathan?” questioned Eric. “Don’t you like us or something?”

“Maybe you think you're too good for us,” suggested Tim.

“It’s not that,” Nathan protested. “It’s just that …” But he really didn’t know

how to finish the sentence. Right at that moment his parents were an embarrassment

to him. “Is it that your girlfriend is jealous and makes you check in every ten minutes?

Alex suggested.

“Come on,” Tyler kidded him. “Why not meet us at McDonald’s tomorrow

night at 10:30? Afterwards, we want you to come out to the park for a drink with us.”

Nathan felt every eye was on him. And in that moment an idea occurred to him.

After reporting in with his parents, he could take the screen off his bedroom window

and slip out. Since his parents watched the evening news religiously, he could easily

drive out the back alley without being noticed.

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Friday night, he pitched a two-hitter, got on base three times, and pulled off a

homerun with a man on second, leading the team to victory over their arch rivals.

Amid the celebrating Nathan heard, “We’re taking you to McDonalds. All you can eat

– on us.”

“Thanks!” Nathan laughed. “I'll have to stop off at home first. Then I'll meet

you there.”

Nathan walked into the house and told his parents all about the game. When

they turned on the news, he innocently went into his room and closed the door. His

conscience was shouting at him as he quietly sneaked out the window, slipped into the

car, and drove away. Free at last. Or at least that’s what he thought at the time.

Nathan enjoyed being the center of attention at their victory party. He hadn’t

planned to go to the park, but he didn’t want to appear weird so he tagged along. And

he didn’t really drink the can of beer thrust into his hands. He just took a couple of

sips.

After a couple of weeks Nathan had perfected his out-the-window escape

technique. He did have to tell some lies in order to make his getaway – especially after

the times when his family came to see him play. He also had to start drinking in order

to be one of the guys.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Although he felt very guilty, there was a strange attraction drawing him toward

his new friends and a new lifestyle. There was something comfortable about fitting in

and going along with the crowd. And the more he got by with, the bolder he became

in his deceit. He left one Saturday night “for youth group,” but sneaked out with the

guys instead. One time when he was facing a big test he hadn’t taken time to study

for, his new friends taught him how to hide a cheat-sheet. Nathan was nervous – but

when he realized that his teachers assumed a Christian would never cheat, he basically

got away with murder.

But something was happening to Nathan inside. He felt like a stranger at home,

at school, and at church. Although his conscience was becoming hard, it was awkward

to be around his parents. He didn’t confide in them as he used to. Secretly finding fault

with everything they did, he preferred going to his room and closing the door. Not

wanting his folks to catch on, he outwardly obeyed their every request, but his heart

just wasn’t in it anymore. When his mother ended her usual bits of advice with,

“Nathan, I know you'll do the right thing,” he felt like telling her the whole story,

asking for forgiveness, and starting all over again. But he didn’t.

He had always been the kid who hung around after school, making his teachers

into his friends. Now he left the minute the bell rang and was sure they were all out to

get him. One day Miss Simpson looked at him kindly and said,

“Nathan, I can tell something’s bothering you. Would you care to share it?” Nathan

almost started to cry, but he quickly gained control of his I-know-what-I’m-doing and-

I-don’t-need-any-advice-from-anyone attitude and walked out of the room.

Nathan’s experience can teach us something about establishing a meaningful

relationship with God. As the great missionary teacher Andrew Murray once said,

“Obedience is the greatest factor in being a friend of God.” We can't do our own thing,

treat His commandments casually, refuse to let the light of His holiness penetrate

certain areas of our lives and still expect to enjoy His fellowship. Any time you attempt

to explain away a scriptural command or rationalize behavior that deep down inside

you know is wrong, you'll find that trying to spend time with God is a drag.

You worship Him not only on your knees but by doing your homework well, by

accepting the blame when the mistake was your fault, by comforting the little girl who

lost her dog, or by returning the excess change to the department store clerk. A life

that says, “I love You, Lord” is more important than words.

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

Jesus didn’t say, “If you love me, buy a Christian bumper sticker.” He didn’t

advise, “Demonstrate your affection for me by participating in the following church

activities…” He simply states: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My

Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John

14: 23). A deep intimate relationship with God is totally dependent on our willingness

to obey Him in everything.

When you're in the middle of a fight with God about respecting your parents’

wishes, dating a non-Christian, or being nice to Bryan with the big mouth, you can't

sense the sweetness of His fellowship. When you're alone with God, the job you left

undone, your unwillingness to forgive your friend, or the way you argued with your

mother will come back to haunt you. You really have no choice but to make things

right with others so there’s nothing between you and God.

I remember sitting down one morning to pray before I went to work. I closed

my eyes and the “vision” before me was a sink full of dirty dishes – the ones I’d

promised my roommates I’d wash. As I walked to the kitchen I realized that soap suds

and a Scotch-Brite scouring pad were to be my prelude to prayer! Unless your “quiet

time” is just a ritual, you'll find it can be interrupted by remembering all kinds of little

disobediences and less-than-loving attitudes.

The closeness of God's friendship is so wonderful that any necessary

adjustments in your lifestyle are well worth the effort. Usually it’s not our inability to

concentrate or lack of a good system of Bible study that makes it impossible for us to

realize God's presence – it’s the kind of lives we live. Isaiah 59: 1-2 will always hold

true: “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face

from you, so that he will not hear.” If you want to really get to know God so much that

you're willing to pay the price of obedience, you'll surely find

Him. You'll discover that the power of the Holy Spirit makes obeying possible. “The

just shall live by faith,” the faith that God can give them victory over sin. Don’t permit

your sinful actions to make you a stranger to Jesus – the One who loves you the most.

YOU Have an Appointment With the Creator of the

Universe…

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… to get your life in praying order.

A meaningful devotional life and a close friendship with God can never coexist

with disobedience to His revealed will.

In the following Scripture passages, you can discover God's standard for you in

certain areas of life. Ask God to change your actions, attitudes, and future plans to fit

into the mold He has for your life. Every day, ask Him for the power to live differently

and by faith release Him to live His life through you.

Relationships With the Opposite Sex

“DAY 1”

It is God's will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual

immorality. (1 Thessalonians 4: 3)

The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the

body… Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then

take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know

that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The

two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him

in spirit.

Flee sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but

he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a

temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are

not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body. (1

Corinthians 6: 13-20).

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual

immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these,

the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things. (Colossians 3: 5-8)

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But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any

kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor

should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but

rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure; No immoral, impure or greedy person

– such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

(Ephesians 5: 3-5)

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and

wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2

Corinthians 6: 14)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ But I tell you that

anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his

heart.” (Matthew 5: 27-28)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the

knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

(2 Corinthians 10: 5)

Steps to Take

1. Sit in stillness and let God speak to you.

2. Pray; Lord, I ask Your forgiveness for ________. Give me Your power to change

__________. Give me Your plan to prevent sinning like this again. With Your

strength I intend to live in chastity. God, I give my future plans to You. Lord, fill

my thoughts with You. I receive Your power to reject the unclean thoughts the

devil keeps throwing at me.

3. Meditate on the greatness of God, who gives His commands for your good and can

keep you from falling.

Respect for Authority

“DAY 2”

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the

unrighteous for the Day of Judgment, while continuing their punishment. This is

especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise

authority. (2 Peter 2: 9-10, italics mine).

If a man curses his father or mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch

darkness. (Proverbs 20: 20)

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the

Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20: 12)

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when

she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.

May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice! (Proverbs

23: 22-25)

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as

men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a

burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13: 17)

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no

authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been

established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling

against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on

themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do

wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right

and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do

wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an

agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to

submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of

conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who

give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him; If you owe taxes,

pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect, if honor, then honor.

(Romans 13: 1-7)

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse

wherever he pleases. (Proverbs 21: 1)

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this; He will make

your righteousness shine like the dawn, and the justice of your cause like the noonday

sun. (Psalm 37: 5-6)

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is

written; “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12: 19)

Steps to Take

1. Silently permit God to speak to you.

2. Pray; Lord, I never realized that respect for authority was such a big deal with

You. I confess ________ and _________ as sin and ask for Your forgiveness.

Please yank out that deep-down rebellion by the roots. I know it will hurt, but I've

got to get rid of it. I receive Your grace to respect authority – not only outwardly

but inwardly. ____________ and ____________ are things I must change. When

authority is unfair, I rely on Your power and justice to bail me out.

3. Focus your thinking on God, who is so awesome that He has used Pharaoh, Cyrus

(the Persian king who allowed the Jews to return to their land after their captivity

in Babylon), and even Pilate, to work out His purposes. Unless you receive an order

that directly contradicts God's Word, obey authority and let God stick up for your

rights.

Honesty

“DAY 3”

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He

whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from

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The Purpose and Power of Prayer in a Teen’s Life

his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts

no slur on his fellow man … who keeps his oath even when it hurts. (Psalm 15:

1-4)

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts. (Psalm 51: 6)

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

(Proverbs 21: 3)

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by

their duplicity. (Proverbs 11: 3)

He whose walk is upright fears the Lord, but he whose ways are devious

despises him. (Proverbs 14: 2)

All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

(Proverbs 16: 2)

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. (Romans 12: 17)

(The apostle Paul speaking) We want to avoid any criticism of the way we

administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the

eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. (2 Corinthians 8: 20-21)

You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live

long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. For the Lord your God detests …

anyone who deals dishonestly … (Deuteronomy 25: 15-16)

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish.

(Proverbs 19: 9)

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.

(Colossians 3: 9)

Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his

neighbor … He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing

something with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in

need. (Ephesians 4: 25, 28)

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Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you

know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is

slave or free. (Ephesians 6: 7-8)

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to

work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect

of outsiders. (1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12)

Steps to Take

1. As you read and reread these passages, sit in silence as you wait for God to speak

to you.

2. Pray; Lord, show me Yourself, and give me a deep appreciation of Your awesome

holiness. I know that as Your child I am to be holy just like You. I realize that

________ and ___________ are wrong, and I determine to change. I want to be

transparently honest so that my testimony won't be tarnished. I will continually ask

You to evaluate my motives. Spend time worshipping the Lord “in the splendor of

his holiness” (Psalm 29: 2)

Processing Pride

“DAY 4”

Young men (and women), in the same way be submissive to those who are

older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God

opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore,

under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5: 5-6)

The Lord detests the proud of heart. Be sure of this; They will not go

unpunished. (Proverbs 16: 5)

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Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16: 18)

Before a downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. (Proverbs

18: 12)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

(Proverbs 11: 2)

A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor. (Proverbs

29: 23)

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

(Proverbs 13: 10)

Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not

be conceited. (Romans 12: 16)

…as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said,

“Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power

and for the glory of my majesty?” the words were still on his lips when a voice came

from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal

authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live

with the wild animals.” (Daniel 4: 29-32)

Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of

Jerusalem; therefore, the Lord’s wrath did not come upon them during the days of

Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 32: 26)

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4: 10)

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“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself

will be exalted.” (Matthew 23: 12)

For this is what the high and lofty One says – he who lives forever, whose name

is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in

spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah

57: 15)

He has showed you, O man (woman), what is good. And what does the Lord

require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

(Micah 6: 8)

Steps to Take

1. In stillness let God speak to your heart.

2. Pray; Dear God, I often forget that You know it all and I act as if I do! Please forgive

me for being so arrogant. I need to learn to listen to others and to You. A

Nebuchadnezzar-like humbling experience is something I’d rather live without,

so, I want to take steps to avoid it. I want to humble myself before You. Help me

to always heed the warnings You give me about pride.

3. Consider the wisdom and power of God. Compare that with your mistakes and

your weaknesses. Then humble yourself before Him.

Stamping Out Selfishness

“DAY 5”

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin

might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. (Romans 6: 6)

We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6: 2)

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In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

(Romans 6: 11)

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave

himself for me. (Galatians 2: 20)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and

live for righteousness. (1 Peter 2: 24)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider

others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests,

but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2: 3-4)

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above

yourselves. (Romans 12: 10)

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross

daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses

his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9: 23-24)

“So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this

sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7: 12)

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right

cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic,

let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him

two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who

wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5: 39-42)

Steps to Take

1. As you sit silently before Him meditating on these verses, let God speak to you.

2. Pray: Lord, I know that I'm rather spoiled and enjoy getting my own way. Thank

you, Jesus, that through Your death on the cross You won the victory over sin. That

means because You live in me and I am in You, my selfishness is a conquered

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enemy – if only I depend on Your power and treat it as such. Of course, I can let it

out of its cage if I choose, but in Your strength, I can put others above myself.

Lord, receiving Your resources, I determine to remain unselfish even when

__________ and ___________, I will renounce my selfishness to live

wholeheartedly for You and for others.

3. Reflect on the selfless life Jesus lived. Decide how you can follow His example.

CHAPTER 5

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“THE TROUBLED TEEN SURVIVAL

KIT”

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RADICAL RAT-RACING

Elizabeth struggled to make it through another lackluster day. It was the same

unrelenting routine: classes, making French Fries at McDonalds, math homework,

washing a load of clothes so she’d have something to wear the next day, watching her

favorite TV show – and trying to figure out how she could get some nice guy to like

her. Surveying the mess that “Hurricane Elizabeth” had perpetrated on her room, she

wondered when she’d ever be able to clean it up and mentally rehearsed what she’d

answer when her mother got on her case. On Saturday, it would be no better; she

worked in the morning, had play practice in the afternoon, and had to find time to

come up with a way to organize her committee to decorate for the youth group party

in the evening. Her mom had decreed that attendance was required at

Sunday’s family reunion, and Monday the outline for her term paper was due. She felt

doomed to finish the week exhausted and started the next one the same way.

It was much too late when she finally turned off the light and crawled into bed.

Instead of falling asleep immediately, she spent some time worrying about how she

would get everything done. When her alarm rang, she just didn’t feel ready to face

another day – but then it seemed as if everyone else ran the rat race just like she did.

Her mom held down a fulltime job, kept an immaculate house, and had

overcommitted herself at church. The price seemed to be constant fatigue, tension

headaches, and insomnia. Her father put in long hours at the office. He was the boss

and everything in the growing business depended on him. When he got home he

preferred the newspaper and the television to his family. He was just too tired to talk

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to anybody, much less take an interest in Elizabeth’s activities. Her sister was a

straight-A student but had to drop out of college for a semester because she couldn’t

take the pressure. But, Elizabeth reasoned, it was better to be a rich girl than a bum.

Like so many people, Elizabeth blamed the fast pace of modern life for the

hectic weirdness of her existence. Sometimes she felt that, as a Christian, she should

be able to experience more peace. Yet she had no evidence that the lives of the other

families at church were any different. She attended a Christian school and her English

teacher required that they make several book reports on biographies of great

Christians. She found the reading fascinating. She also began to question her theory

that it was the modern world that made life so stressful. Hudson Taylor had traveled

to China on a ship that was nearly dashed to pieces by a terrible storm, and he arrived

– in the middle of a war – only to find that there was no one to meet him and that the

money promised for his support had not arrived. This sounded a lot hairier than school

assignments and working at McDonalds.

Maria Taylor, Hudson’s wife, had to cope with threats of exotic diseases and

attacks from fanatical mobs, which forced her to send her children to England for a

time. Besides being a wife and mother who moved frequently, she helped watch over

some of the women missionaries, evangelized, and taught Bible classes. The lives of

her mother and sister were soft by comparison.

Elizabeth also read of David Livingstone, who literally walked across most of

Africa, not knowing if a lion, a hyena, or a cannibal might choose him for supper.

Usually, he had no one to talk to, no chance for recreation, and no word from his

family. No medical care would be available if he got sick, and he had no place to call

home. Somehow driving in rush-hour traffic, facing dateless Saturday nights, or

having to microwave leftovers and eat alone hardly belonged in the same category.

Mary Slessor was another person who intrigued Elizabeth. She had left Scotland

as a single missionary to one of the darkest parts of the world at that time;

Africa. The heathenism, disease, and danger were too much for some, who broke

under the strain – but not for Mary. Elizabeth wondered if she could have lasted two

weeks in a similar situation.

She wouldn’t have traded places with Martin Luther either. While some

threatened his life, his loyal followers forced on him a role of leadership and church

organization that was incredibly demanding. In forming a new church, he did

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everything from writing new songs, to improving the translation of the Bible, to trying

to bring quarreling factions of society together.

As Elizabeth read about more “spiritual giants,” she began to realize that each

one lived life with an inner tranquility that integrated their daily activities. None of

them rushed frantically from one thing to another, operating in constant frustration or

zooming into frequent despair. And it wasn’t because they enjoyed smooth sailing,

encountered favorable circumstances, or were unusually rich and talented. They all

started out as very ordinary people: George Muller, who prayed in all the money

needed to support thousands of orphans, began as a college partier and playboy. David

Brainerd, the great missionary to the North American Indians, was an orphan. Corrie

ten Boom, who worked to save Jews during World War II, was a single woman who

worked in her father's watch shop and taught a little Sunday School class for retarded

children. Most of them lived through hardships Elizabeth couldn’t even identify with.

It slowly dawned on her that each of them possessed the same secret; They knew

how to enjoy the Lord’s presence, and they spent peaceful time with God each day.

Elizabeth had always thought of prayer only as “something every Christian

should be engaged in so the world can be changed,” “storming the gates of heaven in

order to receive things from God,” and “spiritual warfare against the hosts of

darkness.” Now Elizabeth began to see that there were two distinct aspects to prayer;

(1) The restful part of it, thanking and praising God and enjoying His presence, and

(2) The work side of prayer, or intercession, which included asking God for the things

we need and praying for individuals, families, churches, governments, and nations.

Although Elizabeth’s newfound heroes were also good at intercession, she wanted to

learn more about their sweet intimacy with God.

About Hudson Taylor she read; “In England he had learned the value of

spending the first hour of the day in prayer and communication with God. This became

the resolute pattern of his life in China.” (1) If he was staying in a Chinese inn and

sharing a room with many people, he’d wake up in the middle of the night, light a

candle to read a portion of Scripture, spend time in prayer. Mary Slessor had learned

to let the peace of God invade her heart in every situation. She wrote; “I am not very

particular about my bed these days, but as I lay on a few dirty sticks laid across and

covered with a litter of dirty corn shells, with plenty of rats and insects, three women

and an infant three days old alongside, and over a dozen sheep and goats and cows

outside, you don’t wonder that I slept little. But I had such a comfortable quiet night

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in my own heart.” (2) Martin Luther was a man who knew how to converse with God.

Beginning each day with three hours of private prayer, Martin Luther was an expert at

communicating with God. (3) When Corrie ten Boom came to the Lord, it was evident

that she had something special going with Him. Each morning, George Muller walked

for an hour or two as he prayed.

(1)

Colin Whittaker, Seven Guides to Effective Prayer (Minneapolis;

Bethany House Publishers, 1987), p. 68.

(2)

Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World (Nashville; Oliver

Nelson, 1985), p. 24.

(3)

Mike Fearon, Martin Luther (Minneapolis; Bethany House Publishers,

1986), p. 156.

A SECRET FOR STRESSED-OUT STUDENTS

Even people with no Christian roots realize that we need solitude, time to fix

our minds on something different than your daily routine, and rest with a spiritual

emphasis. That necessity can only be truly filled by contact with God himself. The

counterfeits are, at best, superficial and some can be downright dangerous. Activities

range from spending time in nature, or participating in various cultural experiences, to

Eastern meditation, and taking drugs to “expand the mind.”

A friend of mine, Jewell Erickson, did a lot of research on stress control and she

arrived at the following conclusion;

Stress has been defined as the “wear and tear of life.” It comes both from

outside and inside ourselves – “conflicts without and fears within” (2

Corinthians 7: 5). Discussing things with another person is a time-honored

therapy. Talking to God is like talking to your best friend, but because He is not

a mere mortal He will never misunderstand you. He is always available, and He

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is able to move heaven and earth to help you. Pouring our joys and sorrows out

to Him can bring great release of mind and spirit.”

Drawing near to God in wordless prayer and then listening for His perspective

will bring the peace we need to calm the troubled waters of our lives.

The fantastic thing about following the Lord’s design of giving Him our time is

that the only gift we can present to God is also the component that brings purpose,

peace, and emotional stability. Inward calm enables us to spend our lives for other

people without burning out. We need quiet time each day when we can meet with God

to praise and worship and receive from Him. Used only as an escape, it can degenerate

into a mysticism that can become rather weird. Correctly applied, it makes God's

children capable of living in a crazy world with the goal of helping mixed-up people.

Ignoring our inner life with God produces apathetic comfort-zone addicts or frazzled

fretting do-gooders.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism declares; “The chief end of man is to love

God and to enjoy Him forever.” John 17: 3 records the words of Jesus as He walked

with His Father; “Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God,

and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Knowing God begins with salvation – but all

of us, like Abraham, are called to become friends of God. Expressing our love to God,

basking in His presence, praising and thanking Him – and just enjoying time with

Him! These things should be as natural to a Christian as breathing. As we spend this

intimate time with God, we sense joy, fulfillment, and relaxation because we were

created especially for this. Recreation has its place in a healthy lifestyle, but attending

a football game, going to the beach, or playing a video game won't accomplish the

same thing in your life as quality time with God when your spirit really touches His.

You can come home from vacation all worn out, but you'll emerge from God's

presence refreshed and renewed.

How does a person learn to meet God in a real way? It’s not easy. Like building

any solid relationship, it will take time and effort. People conditioned by our activity-

centered society will think it strange that you “give up” a TV show, pizza with your

friends, or sleeping-in so you can spend time with God. But you'll never be able to

love God by obeying Him if you don’t sit still and listen to His voice. You'll not be

able to deal effectively with chaos and tension without permitting God to restructure

your daily priorities.

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Learning to meet God each day will be one of the biggest challenges of your

life and it will be the most worthwhile!

YOU Have an Appointment With the Creator of the

Universe…

… to learn how some of His characteristics can rub off

on you!

If You Need It, God's Got It

No technique will ever form a relationship, but some of these strategies can help

you to learn how to spend time with God.

Love that Lasts Forever

“DAY 1”

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But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; While we were still sinners,

Christ died for us. (Romans 5: 8)

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those

who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm

103: 13-14)

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying; “I have loved you with an

everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness”. (Jeremiah 31: 3)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the

present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in

all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our

Lord. (Romans 8: 37-39)

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him… There is no

fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4: 16, 18)

Steps to Take

1. Tell God out loud how much you love Him, explaining in detail why He means so

much to you. Receive the love of One who died for you and keeps on loving you

whether or not you deserve it. Enjoy the compassion and understanding that’s part

of a true Father’s love. Realize that God's love is forever – no matter what you’ve

said or done or plan for the future. Grasp the fact that nothing – your being rejected

by other people, a terrible home life, a friend who proved to be a traitor, or the

results of your sin or that of others – absolutely nothing can separate you from

God's love. Give your fears to God and let Him replace them with His love.

2. Reread the verses and jot down the thoughts God gives you. ______________.

Joy That Doesn’t Depend on Your Popularity Rating

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“DAY 2”

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your

presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16: 11)

“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed

my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may

be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15: 10-11)

(Jesus, praying to his Father): “I am coming to you now, but I say these things

while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within

them.” (John 17: 13)

… the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8: 10)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice! (Philippians 4: 4)

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge

in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give

them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your

light we see light. (Psalm 36: 7-9)

Steps to Take

1. Ask God to wrap you up in His presence. Experience the closeness of Jesus that

can melt away the tears, the anxiety, the frustration, and the boredom that robs you

of contentment. If you remain before God in expectation long enough, the eye of

calm will appear even within life’s most horrible hurricane. Realize that flowing

with the commandments of Jesus – obeying them and not resisting them – is the

secret to joy. If some disobedience is robbing you of peace with God, now is the

time to make things right.

2. Receive the full measure of the joy of Christ. Joy comes from Him and has nothing

to do with some frantic search for happiness. Just look to Jesus. When your eyes

are completely fixed on Him, joy will spring up from within. Permit God-given,

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deep-down contentment to provide you with stamina and enthusiasm even when

the going gets tough.

3. Find security in that secret place with God, where there are unending spiritual

delights. Revel in the quiet ecstasy of knowing you are loved and cared for by the

Maker of the universe. He is your never-ending source of joy.

4. Read the verses again noting the thoughts God brings to your mind.

_____________.

5. Take the time to feast on His abundance and drink from His river of delights. Let

Jesus be your joy. If you do, a bad grade, a spat with a friend, or a fender-bender

accident can't ruin your day. You can just go back to Jesus for a new supply of joy.

Peace That Overcomes Pressure, Panic, and Pessimism

“DAY 3”

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5: 1).

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and

peace. (Romans 8: 6)

(Jesus’ words) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to

you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” (John

14: 27)

You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in

you. (Isaiah 26: 3)

Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

(Psalm 119: 165)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that

you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15: 13)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which

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transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4: 6-7)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you

were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3: 15)

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every

way. (2 Thessalonians 3: 16)

Steps to Take

1. Thank God for His wonderful salvation, and for the indwelling Holy Spirit who

can guide your thoughts and actions in accordance with His will – which always

results in peace with Him. Ask God for the gift of his peace in the troubled areas

of your life. Fix your gaze on God and the way He views your problems from His

all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere-present perspective.

2. Pray about the difficult situations in your life with authority and thanksgiving,

receiving the coolness and the beauty of God's peace. Make it a point to reject all

the disturbing thoughts the devil throws at you in order to let the peace of Christ

rule in your heart.

3. Reread the verses, writing down the thoughts God gives you. ____________.

Patience, Perseverance, Endurance – Whatever You Cal It

“DAY 4”

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance

must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

(James 1: 2-4)

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Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that

suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And

hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by

the Holy Spirit, whom he had given us. (Romans 5: 3-5)

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to

goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control,

perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness;

and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing

measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your

knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1: 5-8)

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to

make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who

through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Hebrews 6: 11-12)

So, do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to

persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has

promised. (Hebrews 10: 35-36)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us

throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run

with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author

and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,

faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (1 Timothy 6: 11)

Steps to Take

1. Thank God for His purpose in suffering. Check in with God and revise the attitudes

you have toward the trials you're presently facing.

2. Ask God to show you your part in making the patience-producing process more

effective in your life. Submit your I-feel-like-quitting feelings to God, allowing

Him to replace them with His patience and perseverance.

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3. As you prayerfully read through the passages again write down the things God

impresses on your heart. ______________.

Contagious Kindness – Spreading the Epidemic

“DAY 5”

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The

Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (Psalm 145: 8-9)

When (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them … because they were

… like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9: 36)

(Jesus speaking) “I have compassion for these people; they have already been

with me three days and have nothing to eat.” (Mark 8: 2)

Add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge,

self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to

godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1: 5-7)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ

God forgave you. (Ephesians 4: 32)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

(1 Corinthians 13: 4)

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves

with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other

and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. (Colossians 3: 12-

13)

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as

brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with

insult, but with blessing. (1 Peter 3: 8-9)

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to

those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6: 10)

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I want to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be

careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and

profitable for everyone. (Titus 3: 8)

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity

on him, how can the love of God be in him. (1 John 3: 17)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider

others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2: 3)

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above

yourselves … Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans

12: 10, 13)

Steps to Take

1. Get a new look at the God of all compassion and just take in His kindness and His

mercy. Meditate on the fact that true Christian kindness comes from the heart of

God and is not something you drum up because it’s expected of you. Ask God to

show you how true kindness is connected to faith, knowledge, perseverance, and

godliness. Receive from God the kindness He wishes to show to others through

you.

2. Permit Him to remove any getting-rid-of-a-guilty-conscience-do-goodism that

may reside in you. Receive His forgiveness for all sin and His motives for all your

actions. Let God give you His blueprint for showing specific kindnesses to others

this week.

3. Reread the verses, jotting down the thoughts God gives you. _____________.

4. Using a concordance, find the word goodness. Then look up each verse listed and,

following the pattern used for the first five fruits of the Spirit, meditate upon it and

receive what God has for you. Do the same for the other fruits of the Spirit –

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

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CHAPTER 6

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“PRAY WITH YOUR LIFE”

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SPIRITUAL MIRACLE-GROW

Amy got off the school bus and walked up the short driveway to their

farmhouse. Defeated and discouraged, she failed to appreciate the crisp, clear fall air,

the oak leaves set aglow by the sunshine, or the golden yellow of the chrysanthemums

her mother had planted inside a big tractor tire. Their collie, Rusty, barked his

welcome, and Amy laid down her books to pet him a little. But she was still

condemning herself for what she’d done that day.

Once inside, she plopped into the big chair and sat there motionless. She was

glad her mom wasn’t home to ask her what was wrong. She probably would have

answered – everything. Reliving her day, Amy put a D- on her Christian report card;

When breakfast wasn’t ready on time, she’d snapped at her mother. While she waited,

she bawled out her little brother for borrowing her volleyball. During first hour, she’d

joined in with everyone making fun of Mrs. Sikorski behind her back. At the lunch

table, Ellen had confided, “I’d commit suicide, but I'm afraid to die.” Amy’s palms

became sweaty and her voice faltered as she sputtered, “You don’t have to be, Jesus

can …” Just then Julie jointed them, and Amy chickened out of witnessing for Christ.

Then, on the bus, Joe announced that he had a dirty joke to tell if no one objected.

Amy hadn’t had the courage to say anything and she felt guilty.

Amy usually had her daily devotions when she came home from school each

day. Because her mother worked and her brother always went to Grandma’s house it

was a good time to be alone. She began by telling God how sorry she was for letting

Him down. Then she absentmindedly flipped her Bible open to Matthew 10. “Anyone

who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves

son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his

cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” The words hit her with unusual force. She

knew that in the “Amy Anders Revised Standard Version” it would read; “Anyone

who loves popularity more than me is not worthy of me.” She realized that just telling

God she felt bad about her sins wasn’t enough; She had to surrender her desire to be

admired by others to God and be willing to suffer persecution, or shame, or teasing for

the name of Jesus. She simply prayed, “Okay

Lord, I give in. I'm willing to be considered weird for You. Amen.”

Because she had only a half-hour’s worth of homework and all evening to do it,

she picked up the biography of Hudson Taylor her mother was reading. Scanning the

chapter title, she saw, “Days of Darkness.” It fit her mood, and she began reading. To

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her surprise, she discovered that this great missionary to China had also felt the same

feeling of failure that plagued her now.

The next chapter, entitled “The Exchanged Life,” made her curious. There she

found an amazing passage; “The Lord Jesus received is holiness begun; the Lord Jesus

cherished is holiness advancing, the Lord Jesus counted on as never absent would be

holiness complete.” (1) The chapter went on to explain how Hudson Taylor’s spiritual

eyes were opened and how his constant striving was replaced by total rest in Jesus at

all times. His life changed so drastically that everyone noticed.

(1) Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, p. 155.

Amy really wanted that kind of life – but it seemed too simple. What about all

the “growing in grace” she’d always heard about? She turned to the verse she’d

memorized; “But grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus

Christ” (2 Peter 3: 18). She had always assumed that growing in grace was her

responsibility. Slowly it dawned on her; If you plant something in the right soil, it

grows automatically. Like any farm girl, Amy could appreciate the miracle of growth.

The grace and knowledge of Jesus is the soil in which we can grow as

Christians, and it is super soil. Her pastor’s definition of grace was “favor, kindness,

friendship, and God's forgiving mercy.” By spending time in the Word and in prayer

she could improve the soil, but God would take care of the growth.

Just as the roots of a plant receive nutrients from the soil, we are to receive all

the good things God has to offer us. As a plant is totally dependent on the ground for

growth, so we can only rest in Jesus and trust Him to produce in us the qualities of a

true Christian. Jesus described it as a branch abiding in a vine.

Wow, thought Amy, it’s all Jesus from beginning to end – not my endless

introspection, worry, and striving. The words of a recent sermon came back to her,

“Knowing Jesus comes from spending time meditating on His words and sensing His

presence. The closer you grow to another person, the more you learn about him or her.

Really get to know the one who died for you. Jesus is all you need.” These words now

had real meaning. She was beginning to understand that an all-powerful Jesus had

tones of love, joy, peace, meekness, courage, kindness, and ability to sympathize with

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Mrs. Sikorski – if Amy was open to receive and had no un-surrendered desires to clog

the channel.

Amy just whispered, “Lord, give me the miracle of Jesus, living the Christian

life through me.”

When we really count on the resurrected all-powerful Jesus as never absent and

always ready to help us, our lives change. No longer are there some compartments for

God and others for self because God permeates our entire being. There’s a new

freedom in doing what God asks of us. Your life turns into one constant conversation

with God. Giving to Him and receiving from Him becomes as natural as breathing.

I really think that the command of 1 Thessalonians 5: 17 – “pray continually”

– means that you pray with your life. You can constantly submit to God by saying,

“Your will be done,” even when you don't particularly feel like obeying your parents

or going to church on Sunday night. Moment by moment you acknowledge His

powerful presence to overcome the temptation, to still the storm that keeps our

emotions in turmoil, or to give you power to obey God even when the cost is very

great.

O. Hallesby once said, “True praying is to ask the risen Christ to come in.” (2)

When you really believe that Jesus is right there with you to handle the situation, things

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change. Faith that God will supernaturally supply, even when things look hopeless,

means you never “need” anything sinful.

(2) Douglas F. Kelly, Ph.D., Why Pray? (Brentwood, Tennessee: Wolgemuth & Hyatt Publishers,

Inc., 1989), p. 40.

Four times the Bible explains, “The righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1: 17;

Habakkuk 2: 4; Galatians 3: 11; and Hebrews 10: 38). It’s important to realize that

either you go it on your own, or in faith you reach out for God's power to overcome.

There is a beautiful joy in discovering that a life of victory over sin is possible – that

sin isn’t a necessity with which you must coexist. But righteousness is only received

– first of all by having a saving faith, and then by the daily faith that invites Jesus into

every detail of life.

This quality of spiritual life is described in different ways and given different

names – full surrender, victorious Christian living, spiritual breathing, sanctification,

and realizing your death and resurrection with Jesus. These are just some of the

expressions used. Each of them includes these three elements:

1. Accept the biblical definition of God and the scriptural standard of right and wrong

instead of personal feelings and rationalization.

2. Constantly affirm either in a verbalized form or with an unspoken attitude, the

prayer; “Your will be done.” The Bible commands; “…count yourselves dead to

sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6: 11).

3. Realize that in your own strength you can't obey God, but that by faith you can

receive His power to do the right thing. If you’ve surrendered every desire to

Him and count on the power and wisdom of the risen Christ in each situation, there

is no reason to lie to save face or to compromise your testimony to make a good

impression.

Living in the victory of continual prayer by an attitude of faith – knowing that

Jesus will always come through – is to experience Romans 8: 2; “Because through

Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”

Sure it’s “natural” to sin – but the Christian has the option of rising into the

supernatural where, by faith, we rely on the power of Christ. Living this abundant life

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makes us sort of like airplanes, which overcome the law of gravity by the higher law

of aerodynamics. But just because we learn to fly doesn't mean we’ll never encounter

another problem.

There are several things that could ground any pilot. A sudden panic attack

could make him decide that flying was impossible. Attempting to fly a plane with a

defective design would prove futile. Turning off the automatic controls and warning

systems to use his “superior instincts” to maneuver through the fog, any pilot, no

matter how experienced, could manage to crash. Without an adequate fuel supply, a

forced landing will be necessary.

The supernatural power system to overcome temptation is available to every

Christian. However, many never use it! Some don’t even realize it’s there. Some lose

it completely because of a sin they refuse to give up. Others, although they do revert

back to trusting themselves at times, basically put the-just-shall-live-by-faith principle

into practice. No one has perfect faith so that they never falter and stumble into sinful

behavior. But the Christian who has learned to trust God for supernatural power, and

who immediately confesses any sin so he or she can fly again, has discovered the

abundant life that Jesus offers.

Decide by faith to plug into the Jesus power system, to receive all the gifts of

the Spirit that God has for you and, once and for all, to give the control of your life

over to God. Learn how to overcome the obstacles Satan will put in your way. If you

do fall, confess and forsake your sin, learn from your mistake, and again come to Jesus

to receive His power.

The devil will try to tell you that victory over some particular sin is impossible.

Once you listen to his twenty-six reasons why you must accept defeat and believe

them, you're finished. Another favorite trick of his is getting you to ignore or

rationalize Scriptures. For example, if you always read comforting Bible passages and

never even look at the Ten Commandments, lying might not seem so bad. If you listen

to Lucifer’s line, then “love one another” can be twisted to cover up the clear command

to “avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4: 3).

When you refuse to pray “Your will be done,” and have a spiritual temper

tantrum in order to get your own way, you open the door to Satan. He’ll offer several

stimulating and sinful alternatives to the will of God. Your pride and arrogance can

cause you to launch out in your own strength – and fail. Unless you humbly depend

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on God you'll never be an overcomer. Because “the One who is in you is greater than

the one who is in the world,” you can evade the devil’s entanglements and stake your

claim in more-than-conqueror country!

The principles of victory and peace aren’t just some recipe from a self-

improvement cookbook. They require prayer time in the presence of God – soaking

up His Word to the point that obeying it becomes almost automatic, cultivating an

intimacy with Him that inspires complete confidence, walking so closely with the Lord

that you learn to depend totally on His power.

You're young and you have a chance to choose between being a crawling

caterpillar Christian or a butterfly believer. Trying to live the Christian life in your

own strength keeps you grounded. So many Christians begin by living in the Spirit,

only to end up slugging it out with purely human resources. It’s not meant to be that

way. “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is

by faith from first to last, just as it is written; ‘The righteous will live by faith’”

(Romans 1: 17, italics mine). Make your life a constant prayer, which by faith brings

the risen Christ in to deal with every situation you encounter.

YOU Have an Appointment With the Creator of the

Universe…

… to learn how to pray about life’s specifics.

Learning to Pray in Temptation

“DAY 1”

Dear God, the temptation to ________ is so strong. I invite You to share this

trial with me. You’ve said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews

13: 5). I believe You. Thank you, Jesus, that You're with me even when I'm

considering experimenting with drugs, even when I want to disobey my parents, even

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when I can't help but notice the pornographic décor of my neighbor’s locker, or even

when ______________.

Thank you that I don’t have to fall into the devil’s trap, no matter what, because

I claim Your promise; “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,

because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:

4). I acknowledge that You are all-powerful and will give me the victory over

________ if I surrender my every desire to You. Thank you that no matter what, You

love me – that nothing needs to shock me or shake my faith. When I ask, with the

apostle Paul, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship

or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword”

(Romans 8: 35) – or peer pressure, or my failure, or the hectic pace of life, or

____________? I can answer with him – “No, in all these things I am more than a

conqueror through Him who loved me” (Romans 8: 37, personalized).

Lord, I know I can confidently obey You because You always have my best

interests in mind. I know that Your rules were made not to keep me from having fun,

but to protect me from harm. You have promised, “If you obey my commands, you

will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in

his love” (John 15: 10). I know that Your love is unconditional and unchanging, and

it’s only my disobedience that puts clouds between me and the sunlight of Your love.

I rely on Your power to overcome the temptation to ________ so that nothing will

come between You and me.

Thank you, Lord, for the promises and information about temptation given in

Your Word. When I'm tempted, I know I shouldn’t blame it on You, because James

1: 13 says, “For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” My evil

desire is the problem. The wrong desire behind the temptation to __________ is

___________. Lord, forgive me. I submit this desire to You.

When Satan tries to convince me that my case is special, that no one has been

under such pressure before, and that sinning is my only option, I can claim Your

words; “No temptation has seized me except what is common to humans. And God is

faithful; he will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. But when I am tempted,

he will also provide a way out so that I can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10: 13,

personalized). Lord, show me Your way out of this temptation.

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Based on Romans 6: 13, I will not offer the parts of my body to sin, as

instruments of wickedness, but rather, I'll give the parts of my body to You as tools

for doing Your will. My tongue is dedicated to building up, not to tearing down. My

hands, instead of being lazy, will do all they can to help others. I dedicate my brain to

thinking only thoughts that are pleasing to God. My sexuality is first to be protected

and then to be enjoyed in accordance with Your holy plan. My eyes will look at things

You approve of, and my ears will hear only that which glorifies You.

(DON’T PRAY THIS UNLESS YOU MEAN IT.)

I choose to believe, with the apostle Paul, who said; “But thanks be to God that,

though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching

to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves

to righteousness” (Romans 6: 17-18). I choose now to draw on your unlimited power

to give me victory over __________, and to become a slave to righteousness.

Learning to Pray When Someone Hurts You

“DAY 2”

Dear Lord, __________ said / did ___________, and it hurt me so much. Thank

you that You understand how I feel, and You can heal broken hearts and repair

damaged emotions.

I realize that if I keep thinking about this incident and allow bitterness to grow,

I'll have a big problem on my hands. Instead, I'm determined to forgive ________,

even if right now I don't think he / she deserves it. I receive from You the strength to

obey Your command: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each

other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4: 32). Although You're perfect,

You forgave all of my sin. As Your child, I should be like You and forgive

___________, realizing that I often do wrong myself. I will to forgive, even though

my emotions are putting up a terrible fuss and I feel like I can't forgive. I know You

never give commands without supplying the strength to obey.

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Lord, You even said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless

those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6: 27-28). Give me love

for _________. Take away all my resentment and bitterness. I pray that You will bless

_________, and I promise not to go around bad-mouthing ____________.

Every time the pain returns and the memory video replays in my mind, I

determine to reaffirm my decision to receive God's resources of love and forgiveness.

I won't go back on my word. Although my emotions may rage for a while, I know that

sooner or later they will catch up with my will.

But, Lord, I still hurt. I thank You that You can do something about my damaged

self-image and my shattered emotions. Thank you that You are the God who “heals

the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147: 3). Lord, right now my

heart aches, and I ask You to heal it.

God, if there is some truth in what ________ said, and there is something I need

to change in my life, show me what I need to do about it. If a mistake I made prompted

this action, I ask You for forgiveness and the ability to change. As You direct me, I'm

willing to make an apology for my part in this problem.

If these words / actions were greatly exaggerated or completely unwarranted, I

refuse to let others define who I am, and I turn to You for a correct evaluation of

myself. You loved me enough to send Jesus to die just for me. When others can do

nothing but criticize, I can hear Your words of comfort; “I have loved you with an

everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness, I will build you up again and

you will be rebuilt” (Jeremiah 31: 3-4).

When I don’t measure up to the impossible standards others have set for me, I

can meditate on who You are and how that affects me: “The Lord is compassionate

and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far

has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103: 8, 10-14).

Knowing that You always love and accept me unconditionally, and that You are

willing to forgive me soothes my hurting heart. All of this makes me want to love and

praise You even more!

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Learning to Pray When You Feel Like a Failure

“DAY 3”

Lord, how could I have done anything so dumb? Sometimes I feel as if I can't

do anything right. But then, my mistakes confirm my theology. I know that I'm not a

god or in the process of becoming one. I'm thankful that You don’t expect me to be

super-human, to have perfect judgment, or to have the wisdom of a Monday morning

quarterback! Thank you that You said, “As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103: 13-14). Thank you for accepting me and

loving me in spite of my many problems and failures.

IF YOUR FAILURE WAS FALLING INTO SIN

I know that __________ was a sin against You. I realize that “he who conceals

his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses them and renounces them finds

mercy” (Proverbs 28: 13). Thank you that “if I confess my sin, he is faithful and just

and will forgive me my sin and purify me from all unrighteousness” (a John 1: 9,

personalized). I confess ____________ as wrongdoing and make no excuses for my

actions. I ask You for Your cleansing. I receive Your forgiveness and choose to believe

You when You say, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own

sake, and remembers your sins no more” (Isaiah 43: 25). I also pray, with David,

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51: 12).

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IF YOUR FAILURE INVOLVES HURTING OTHER PEOPLE

Lord, I know (your action) _________ hurt another (person) ____________.

You teach me that, “if you are offering your gift at the altar (really participating in

worship) and there remember that your brother (or sister) has something against you,

leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to (the person);

them come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5: 23-24). I will go to __________ and ask

forgiveness for what I did. (WARNING! DON’T PRAY THIS UNLESS YOU

MEAN IT. BE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR PROMISE TO GOD.)

Lord, I often feel ugly, clumsy, and socially inferior. Somehow other kids

manage to dress nicer, to be more popular, and to get better grades. I sometimes

wonder, “What’s wrong with me?” but when I get these thoughts, I know I'm really

falling into the I'm-gonna-turn-into-Wonder-Woman-or-Superman-or-bust worldly

thinking. I realize that You explained in Your Word that we’re all parts of the body of

Christ – with different gifts and different functions, and that all we have or are is due

to Your grace, so that bragging or comparing ourselves with others is ridiculous. Lord,

help me to keep my eyes on Your truth and to remember that jealousy is sin. It’s also

an indication that I'm not satisfied with the way You made me and the place in Your

kingdom You assigned to me.

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Lord, I sometimes think of myself as a pretty lousy Christian. Today I don’t feel

at all “spiritual” or “on fire” for Jesus. I do recall that the devil loves to accuse

Christians just to make them miserable. I know that one major difference between the

devil’s accusations and the Holy Spirit’s conviction is that the Holy Spirit always

pinpoints specific sin, while Satan comes down on us with a general sense of failure.

Since right now I don’t know of any unconfessed sin in my life, I'll reject all these

feelings of guilt that can't be pinned down and claim Romans 8: 1-2: “Therefore, there

is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ

Jesus the law of the Spirit of life sets me free from the law of sin and death.” Thank

you that Your purpose is to forgive me – not to condemn me.

I will be more concerned with what You think of me than with the things others

have to say about me. You loved me so much You sent Jesus to die for me. You love

me so much you're preparing a special place in heaven just for me. You love me so

much I can say with David, “The Lord was my support. He brought me out into a

spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me … It is God who arms me

with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he

enables me to stand on the heights” (Psalm 18: 18-19, 32-33). “The Lord will fulfill

his purpose for me” (Psalm 138: 8).

Thank you that You're responsible for making me a success, and that takes all

the pressure off me. My part is simply trusting and obeying You. Lord, I submit every

area of my life to You and determine not to worry about whether or not I measure up

to the unrealistic standards and goals I have set for myself and others have imposed

upon me. Instead of putting an F on my own report card, I'll let You grade me.

Learning to Pray About Your Friends and Social Life

“DAY 4”

Dear God, Your Word affirms, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good

character” (1 Corinthians 15: 33). But it’s hard for me to find the right kind of friends.

You know how it is at school. I often have to choose between eating lunch with kids

who are a bad influence on me or sitting alone; between making fun of everything and

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everyone or sticking out like a sore thumb; between laughing at the dirty jokes in the

locker room or becoming the subject of the next one. Thank you that You understand

and that You're there to reassure me when I feel so totally out of it.

And I'll remember Your Words and apply them to my life; “Happy is the kid

who doesn’t walk down the hall listening to the advice of non-Christians or stand by

the lockers of students planning to sin or sit at McDonalds with those who do nothing

but ridicule and mock others” (Psalm 1: 1, paraphrased). If I obey, I know I'll be “like

a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf

does not wither. Then whatever I do will prosper” (Psalm 1: 3, personalized).

Reminding myself of Your Word, I can realize that paying the high price of

staying away from mostly pagan peers will be worth it in the end. Give me the strength

to avoid bad company today.

Lord, You command me, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see

your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5: 16). You're not asking

me never to associate with non-Christians, instead You're instructing me to be a

testimony to them. You’ve told me, “But in your heart set apart Christ as Lord. Always

be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the

hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3: 15, personalized).

I realize that the secret of being an influence instead of being influenced is to

immediately identify myself as a Christian so that everyone around me expects me to

live up to my convictions. Help me to always be willing to be different, and to let

others know where I stand from day one. Keep me from the tremendous temptation to

just fit in and flow with the group. Help me to always be able to see when the non-

Christians around me stop listening to me and begin influencing my thinking. At that

point, Lord, give me the courage to make myself scarce – even if it means being a

loner for a while.

Lord, it’s hard to stand alone. You’ve said, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he

will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37: 4). I do want to fulfill the condition

of this promise by making You Number One in my life – more important to me than

popularity, than dates, than being accepted by the other kids. As I obey You at every

turn, I ask You for Christian friends at school, in my neighborhood, and at church.

Even some kids at church are very rebellious (though they fool a lot of adults) and

hanging around with them would give me new temptations. Lord, give me friends who

will lead me closer to God, not further away.

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God, You know there aren’t many Christian guys / girls to date. In spite of the

fact that I realize it’s wrong to date a nonbeliever, it’s often very tempting. It’s logical

that if I'm not supposed to “walk in the counsel of the wicked” or “be yoked together

with unbelievers,” I can't date a non-Christian. I don’t have to tell You that. Dating

means listening to a lot of advice and forming a yoke, or tie of sorts, which would

obligate me to that person in terms of giving him / her my time, my loyalty, and my

affection. Lord, for this reason, I want to date a person who loves You as much as I

do.

Lord, I trust You to bring me the right Christian to date. You’ve promised, “I

bestow favor and honor. No good thing do I withhold from you if your walk is

blameless” (Psalm 84: 11, personalized). If I'm living my life completely for You, I

can be sure that the reason for being dateless is that right now You have something

better for me or there is something I can learn that will enrich my life. I can trust You

to bring the right person into my life – at just the right time. Lord, I determine to “seek

first his kingdom and his righteousness, knowing that Christian friends, fun times,

social events, and dates will be given me as well” (Matthew 6: 33, paraphrased).

Learning to Pray About Daily Details

“DAY 5”

Lord, I don't have any big problem to discuss with You today. But when I read

Proverbs 30: 17 – “The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother,

will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures” – it scares

me! Listening to the kids at school, I just assumed that rebelling against my parents

was normal. Forgive me for making fun of their old-fashioned ways and trying to get

out of the work assigned me. I've never even thought of applying

Philippians 2: 4 – “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to

the interests of others” – to my parents! I rarely consider their needs, only my own.

Your Word says: “Honor your father and mother … that it may go well with

you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Ephesians 6: 2-3). Help me to

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become more concerned about honoring them and obeying them than about standing

up for my “rights.” Only with Your help can I become less selfish. Only as You guide

me can I turn into a better son / daughter. What changes do You have in mind for me?

Give me a new idea for demonstrating the love I have for them.

You say: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is

not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no

record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-5). By Your definition, I really don’t love my

brother / sister! Oh, God, forgive me for the bad attitudes I have toward my brother /

sister. It always bugs me when he / she _________ (irritating or sinful behavior

displayed). I haven’t forgiven him / her for _________. I tell him / her I'm sick and

tired of hearing “I'm sorry” over and over for the same offense, but I have an awfully

long way to go to reach seventy times seven. Your command – “Do not let any

unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building

others up according to their needs” (Ephesians 4: 29) – is one I've never really applied

to my brother / sister. I don’t know when I last gave him / her an honest compliment.

Lord, I'm sorry and I'm willing to apologize to _______. (DON’T PRAY THAT

UNLESS YOU MEAN IT!) Teach me how to be a better brother / sister and give me

a good idea for showing love to __________ today.

Then there’s my bad attitude toward work around the house. You say, “And

whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3: 17). Show me how to

(your responsibilities around home) ________, _________, and _____________, in

order to please You, and to do it with an attitude of thankfulness.

I've never thought of praying about keeping my room in order, but come to think

of it, it’s often a source of conflict between my mom and me. Instead of complaining

to You that I wasn’t born neat and organized, I know I need to confess my laziness as

sin and submit to Your training, a course taught by Your appointed teachers, my

parents. I'm willing to go through the pain necessary to become a disciplined person.

(DON’T PRAY THAT UNLESS YOU MEAN IT!)

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My attitude toward school needs a complete overhaul. Although nobody likes

_________ as a teacher, You’ve commanded me to love everybody – even my

enemies. Lord, I will to receive Your compassion and understanding for _______,

even if he / she is an unfair instructor. Instead of making fun of him / her, I will start

praying for him / her. (DON’T MAKE A PROMISE YOU DON’T INTENT TO

KEEP.) Paying attention during boring classes isn’t easy either. Help me to remember

that I'm going to school to glorify You and to learn all I can so You can better use me

in the future. Your standard is: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your

might” (Ecclesiastes 9: 10). I certainly don’t apply that to doing homework. Put Your

values in me.

Lord, I'll no longer be satisfied with just getting through the day. Applying Your

principles and praying about each detail of my life, I want each day to be a good and

godly day.

*Note: These sample prayers and those in Chapter Two are designed to show you how to use

relevant Scripture in order to pray about any situation. A concordance or a topical Bible (like

Thompson’s) will help you find the verses.

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TWO

“JUST BETWEEN GOD AND ME:

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PARTS OF PRAYER”

CHAPTER 7

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“IS “THANK YOU” PART OF YOUR

VOCABULARY?”

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PUTTING THE THANKS INTO THANKSGIVING

Crystal sat in chemistry class, not even trying to keep her mind on molecular

structures. Neutron and protons just couldn't draw her mind away from the perplexing

personal problems that plagued her. Nothing could erase the past weeks’ events from

her mental video – and her haunting questions would not go away.

How could her father just announce that he had accepted a new position in

Colorado where he was going to move in with his secretary? Why couldn’t her dad

realize how much this divorce was hurting everyone? And why couldn’t her mother

think of anyone but herself? As for her own personal life – why had Rick decided to

break up with her and start dating Darla? Where was God in all this? Why did other

kids seem so happy, while she was hardly able to cope? What would happen to her?

Although her parents argued a lot and her father had stopped going to church,

Crystal had never dreamed that the problem was so serious. One Saturday morning at

the breakfast table, her dad had dropped the bombshell; He was leaving in the

afternoon. He assured Crystal and her older brother, Jack, that he loved them very

much and hoped that they’d understand – but he was so much in love with Tanya that

he just had to “follow his heart.”

At that, Jack’s anger had exploded. Now he could never even mention his father

without resentment in his voice. Her mother had burst into sobs and hadn’t stopped

crying since. Crystal had always been “Daddy’s girl.” She had adored her father. Now

the parent she had admired so much had let her down. The father who had always

made sure that she dated “decent” guys and had told her never to lower her moral

standards was now living with his flirting, mini-skirted secretary, even before his

divorce was final!

Confusion, hurt, the feeling that maybe she could have prevented the problem

mingled with rejection and depression.

Crystal had accepted Jesus as her Savior and thought she loved Him a whole lot

– but now she was filled with fear and doubt. She couldn't concentrate enough to read

her Bible. When she wasn’t telling God the whole story for the 157th time, her payers

became pointed complaints. She even wondered if the Bible were true. What if

everything she’d been taught all her life was wrong? Nothing was going right; Her

grades were terrible, life was a drag, and she’d forgotten how to smile.

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There seemed to be no one who really cared. At first, Rick had been

understanding. Crystal really loved him and thought that with his help she could make

it. But he had become disgusted with her. “You're no fun anymore,” he accused. “It’s

better that we break up.” With that Rick had turned and walked out of her life, just like

her father. At least her father and Tanya were in Colorado – Crystal had to watch Rick

and Darla every day in the lunch line and pass them in the hall on the way to English

class every day. The pain was so bad that her chest ached.

As chemistry class ended, Crystal realized that tomorrow would be

Thanksgiving and she had nothing to be thankful for. Her mother had bought a turkey,

and her grandma was flying in from Cleveland. But how could they celebrate without

her father? Thinking of Christmas was even worse. Her father had already sent her

tickets to come to Colorado during vacation. He promised skiing in the mountains,

meals in fancy restaurants, and a tour of Denver. But traveling all that way alone just

to watch her father lavish his attention on the secretary Crystal had never liked anyway

seemed more like torture than holiday happiness.

Somehow, she got through the school day and walked home. Entering the big

empty house just reinforced her desperation and loneliness. In a minute the doorbell

rang. It was Kaari, a single woman from her church whom she hardly knew. In Kaari’s

hands was a gorgeous bouquet of chrysanthemums.

“I brought you flowers,” she began, “because I know what it’s like to face the

first holiday after your parents separate. My parents divorced when I was in high

school, and I still remember how awful it was. Our church is big and I'm not the kind

of person who is up on all the news. If I’d known before, I’d have visited you long

ago.”

Tears welled up in Crystal’s eyes. “Thank you,” she said. “I'm having such a

hard time I just don’t know what to do.”

Kaari set the flowers on the table and put her arms around Crystal. “I

understand,” she offered. “I've been there. Your emotions won't help you to make

sense out of anything now. But you can trust God to work out even the ugly things

caused by the sins of others to His glory and your good. “When my parents broke up,”

Kaari continued, “I was devastated for months.

I doubted my salvation and I thought God was unfair. But slowly I began to see that

God's love was still there, and that He still had a meaningful plan for my life. I learned

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to depend solely on Him because there was no one else. I came to understand that my

reason for living was Jesus and that no one could do anything terrible enough to

interfere with the flow of love, joy, and peace that came from him. God has also used

my suffering to enable me to empathize with others and to help them.”

Crystal had admired Kaari for a long time. She was cheerful and kindhearted.

The fact that she was unusually beautiful, musically talented, and had worked her way

into a top job while still in her twenties – without losing her humble touch – all of it

impressed Crystal. She had assumed that Kaari had no problems whatsoever.

“Both of my parents have remarried,” Kaari went on. “And because of problems

in each marriage, I've lost my home. Neither Mom nor Dad has invited me for the

holidays. But I've volunteered to serve the Thanksgiving meal at the rescue mission,

and I invited a couple people to come to my place afterward.”

As they talked about a lot of other things, Crystal realized how much Kaari

cared for her. “Crystal,” Kaari offered as she was leaving, “I want to be your friend. I

want to help you through this difficult time. Here’s my phone number. You can call

me anytime – day or night.”

After Kaari left, Crystal picked up the family cat and sat down on the sofa to

have a little talk with God.

“Lord,” she confided, “I do have something to be thankful for. Thank you for

Kaari.” That genuine prayer of thanks felt so good she added, “And thanks that

Grandma will be here, that we’re in a country where we can enjoy the luxury of a big

turkey dinner – and that Calico always purrs when I pet her.”

YOU Have an Appointment With the Creator of

the Universe ….

… to learn how to tell Him thank you.

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Are You One of God's Spoiled Brats?

“DAY 1”

A radio speaker affirmed that he had made a vow to thank God every day for

sending Jesus to die on the cross and to save him from hell. “To my knowledge,” he

continued, “I've never broken that promise.” How often do you say thank you for your

salvation?

“Christ left heaven to be born in a manager – to experience hunger, pain, and

rejection so you and I could receive eternal life. He shed his blood for you. Although

He was God and could have called 10,000 angels to rescue Him, He voluntarily

endured the beating, the verbal abuse, the crown of thorns, the nails, and an

excruciatingly painful death just for you. You're saved by grace through faith alone –

you don’t have to do anything because Jesus did it all.” You’ve probably heard these

awesome things so often that the miracle of Calvary and the incredible gift of full

forgiveness for sin no longer impresses you.

But the heart of Jesus that was pierced for you deserves to hear your expression

of gratitude. The nail-scarred hands wait for your offerings of thanksgiving.

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The hardness and casualness that take salvation for granted and forget to thank

God for His grace are very dangerous. The writer of Hebrews asks a penetrating

question. “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” The Greek word

translated ignore has the following meanings: to make light of, neglect, and not regard.

Forgetting to constantly thank God for saving us makes us guilty of taking such a great

salvation for granted.

Are you one of God's spoiled brats whose thoughts are so filled with pepperoni

pizza, impressing members of the opposite sex, buying the right clothes, having fun,

and being popular at school that there’s no space left for appreciating what Jesus did

for you on the cross? Maybe you should make it a point to thank God every day for

freedom from guilt, a purpose for living, and the hope of heaven, remembering that

none of these things would be yours if Jesus hadn’t died for you!

Steps to Take

1. Process Impressive Information:

Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance

of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of

darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have

redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1: 12-14)

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which

the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6: 14)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the

new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us (made us His friends) to

himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5: 17-18)

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations

what he has done. (Psalm 105: 1)

2. Consider Radical Response

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Dear God, forgive me for sometimes thinking of my salvation as no big deal.

Help me to consider what it would be like to be “without hope and without God in

the world.” Thank you for sending Jesus to suffer and to shed His blood so that my

sins could be forgiven. Thank you for letting me hear the gospel and for saving me.

Help me to never forget to express my gratitude.

3. Listen Before Proceeding

Wait before God in silence, receiving His changes in your attitude.

4. Prepare for Action Application

Read Matthew 26: 20-75 and Matthew 27: 1-50, stopping to say thank you

for each thing Jesus went through to gain salvation for you.

Maybe God Likes to Get Thank-you Notes Too!

“DAY 2”

For weeks, Neil’s family had prayed for his mom’s health. When the doctor

discovered that she was taking the wrong medication and corrected the error, she

improved dramatically. Neil, who was then a junior in high school, made a statement

I'll never forget; “We prayed and prayed that God would heal my mother – and now

I'm determined that we’ll spend equal time thanking Him.”

How much time do you spend expressing your gratitude to God when He

answers one of your petitions? Do you remember to say thank you? Or do you have a

never-ending list of requests while you routinely acknowledge all that God has given

you with a childish, “Lord, thank you for everything”?

It’s easy to think that the mighty God who created the universe doesn’t need to

hear you say “thank you”, but that’s not true. God commands us to thank Him, and the

Old Testament prescribed sacrifices of thanksgiving. It troubled Jesus that nine of the

ten lepers He healed didn’t even bother to return to express their appreciation. Don’t

you think that the God who sent His Son to die for you – who loves you

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unconditionally, and who “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” – is

saddened by your ingratitude?

Not only should you say thank you, but your thanks, like your petitions, should

be specific; “Lord, thank you for helping me get an A in history; thank you for giving

me the Christian friend I prayed for; and thank you that I made the basketball team.”

You really shouldn’t ask God for anything without also thanking Him, “Do not

be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with

thanksgiving, present you're requests to God” (Philippians 4: 6). How about deciding

to invest the same amount of time thanking God for His answers to prayer as you spent

asking?

Steps to Take

1. Process Impressive Information

I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and

power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known

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to us the dream of the king.” (Daniel 2: 23) –Daniel did not forget to thank God for

answered prayer!

Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his

God, just as he had done before. (Daniel 6: 10) – Part of the secret of the powerful

praying of Daniel was that he thanked God daily!

At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites (those who served God

in the temple) … were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication

with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres (small

stringed instruments). (Nehemiah 12: 27) – It is important to express your gratitude

to God for each accomplishment in your life.

Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give

thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. (Psalm 106: 47)

…he will continue to deliver us as you help us by your prayers. Then many will

give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers

of many. (2 Corinthians 1: 10-11) – Prayer and thanksgiving go together.

2. Consider Radical Response

Dear God; Thank you for always listening to me. Thank you for answering me

when I prayed for _______ and ____________. Forgive me for ingratitude and

help me always to say “thank you” when You answer my prayers.

3. Listen Before Proceeding

Be still before God so that the lesson from His Word that He wants to teach you

today can sink in.

4. Prepare for Action Application

Write God a thank-you note expressing appreciation for answers to prayer and

for things you’ve received from Him without even asking for them.

Is Thanksgiving the Missing Ingredient in Your Prayers?

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“DAY 3”

If you break your ankle the day before you plan to leave on a summer missionary

outreach trip, should you thank God for the broken ankle and all the good that will

come from it? Or should you thank your all-powerful God that He is in control of each

circumstance and ask Him to heal your ankle so you can go?

It seems to me that your prayer should be subject to discerning God's will in the

specific situation. But one thing I know – you should be thankful. “Always giving

thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

(Ephesians 5: 20) gives us no loopholes for complaining or for tempter-tantrum

prayers that demand our own way or refuse to wait for God's timing. Scripture directs

us to have grateful hearts.

A fish out of water, a junior-high boy at a formal dinner for retired ladies, or a

grandmother dressed like a teenager are somehow very out of place – and therefore

miserable. So is an ungrateful person. In contrast, when you thank God you're doing

what you were made to do and you feel good. The person whose heart is always filled

with gratitude is happy and well-adjusted. We’re not made to second-guess God, and

lack of thankful confidence in His ways can lead to ulcers, frustration, sleeplessness,

tension headaches, and many other undesirable byproducts. Nothing steals our joy like

refusing to be thankful.

Is the missing ingredient in your prayer thanksgiving? Have you been praying

for a boyfriend or girlfriend without thanking God for the friends you have right now?

Do you plead with God to change your parents without expressing gratitude for all

their good points? When you ask God to use you, is there more resentment for the

talents you lack than thanksgiving for the abilities God has entrusted to you?

Learning to say thank you is a first step in learning to pray because it

acknowledges dependence on a sovereign God who knows what He is doing. There

will be times when you don’t understand what is happening and when you don’t even

know how to pray, but even then, you can always obey the clear command, “Always

giving thanks to God the Father for everything.”

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Steps to Take

1. Process Impressive Information

For although they knew God they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks

to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

(Romans 1: 21)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you

were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms,

hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you

do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks

to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3: 15-17)

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

(1 Thessalonians 5: 18)

2. Consider Radical Response

Dear God; I realize that I was made to thank you and can see how ingratitude

makes me into a crabby person. I've been complaining about ___________ and

____________ and _____________. Instead, I want to thank you for ___________

and ___________. Thank you that You're smart enough to give me what’s best.

Help me to express my gratitude to You even when I don’t understand.

3. Listen Before Proceeding

In a moment of silence let God speak to you.

4. Prepare for Action Application

Try a five-minute thanksgiving prayer. Time yourself. Pray out loud if possible

– and thank God for everything you can think of. If you find yourself lacking for

things, start over again. This may be harder than you think – maybe you need

practice in thanking God and should do it every day!

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Have You Thanked God for the Person You Just Can't

Stand?

“DAY 4”

Have you ever thanked God for the leaders of your country, the teacher who

makes your life miserable, or the kid whose snide remarks erode your self-confidence?

If you haven’t, you're disobeying a scriptural command; “I urge, then, first of all, that

requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:

1, italics mine). We are to thank God for all the people in our lives.

Studying what the Bible has to say about thanksgiving, I was surprised to find

that the apostle Paul was constantly giving thanks to God for the people he ministered

to. He even begins his letter to the Corinthians with “I always thank God for you” –

and those dudes were really messed up. Friction, immorality, lawsuits, disorder, and

pride within the church were only some of the problems. I would have probably started

Corinthians with “I'm totally disgusted with you all.”

Paul tells the Thessalonians: “But we ought always to thank God for you” – and

that included at least a few freeloaders who refused to work for a living. When Paul

began his defense before Felix, acknowledging his reforms “with profound gratitude,”

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I believe he could say this because he had thanked God for Felix in his prayers. Part

of the secret to Paul’s unusually successful ministry was the greatness of his gratitude.

Some very positive things occur when we start thanking God for people.

Gratitude delivers us from the victim’s syndrome and enables us to see God's greater

purpose in allowing difficult people to affect our lives. It’s possible to thank God for

the atheist mayor and at the same time see that he was placed in power to wake up

Christians enough to organize for the next election. You can give God thanks for the

insensitive gym teacher and the crabby boss who helped you come to terms with the

fact that you must please God, not people. Expressing gratitude for people also forces

you to find the good in them. And as you start to thank God for everyone, you begin

to change your attitudes.

Thanking God for a person before you pray that God will change him or her is

a good strategy. Thank Him for your parents, your teachers, your principals, your

church leaders, your boss, and even for the police – it will help you to respect authority.

If you forget to be thankful, your prayers can disintegrate into gripe sessions in which

you share with God all the latest gossip. If you're truly grateful for those around you,

the day will come when you can honestly say to another, “I thank God for you!”

Steps to Take

1. Process Impressive Information

I thank my God every time I remember you. (Philippians 1: 3)

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of

God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it

actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe. (1

Thessalonians 2: 13)

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers. (Philemon 4)

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because your faith is

being reported all over the world. (Romans 1: 8)

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2. Consider Radical Response

Dear God; Thank you for the people You’ve placed in my life – thank you for

my parents, my relatives, my friends, my pastor, and my church. Thank you for my

classmates and my teachers. And thank you for those who are giving me difficulty

right now; _______, _______, ________, and _________. Help me to see Your

purpose in bringing each of them into my life. (But don’t forget that it is your

responsibility not to choose non-Christians as your best friends.)

3. Listen Before Proceeding

Wait in silence for any thoughts God might want to give you.

4. Prepare for Action Application

Make a list of the authorities in your life and the difficult people you must deal

with. Spend time every day this week thanking God for these people. After your

time of thanksgiving, you may pray that God will change them!

Practicing Thanksgiving

“DAY 5”

Have you ever sunk the winning basket, answered the question that stumped

everyone else, fixed the sound system so the show could go on, won a contest, baked

the cake that everybody raved about, or worn the coolest t-shirt? If you have, just

remembering the event gives you satisfaction and renewed self-confidence. Reliving

past victories can be a valuable tool in helping us face today’s challenges.

Gratefully recalling all the wonderful things God has done for you – what I call

“thanksgiving thinking” – can really build your faith. As you remember how God

came through in the past, you will more easily be able to commit your problems to

Him in prayer.

Several psalms follow the God-was-faithful-in-the-past-trust-Him-for-the

future format. I used to laugh when I read Psalm 136. I thought that making such a big

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deal about thanking God for making the sun, drowning Pharaoh in the Red Sea, and

putting an end to Og, King of Bashan, was just a little weird. I don’t anymore. I should

thank God that the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution, that my great-

grandfather was a dedicated Christian, and that my parents always sent me to Bible

camp. It makes me realize that God engineered every detail to place me here for a very

specific purpose.

Remembering how God used an atheist to pave the way for me to teach a Bible

and archeology course in public high school, how He caused my friend to say,

Lorraine, why don’t you write a book?” – the exact words I’d prayed that someone

would tell me if I was to really try such a thing; and answered our intercession for

fellow faculty members by allowing me to help lead a teacher who had once been a

Communist to Christ encouraged me to ask God for other things. Try thanking God

for all that He has done in your life.

Not only should you thank God for granting your requests, you ought to form

the habit of thanking Him for the sunlight, for new shoes, for your biology book (it

would be a treasure in some countries!), for your mother’s smile, for the fact that you

don’t have a cold, and for the chance to play volleyball with your friends. The

formation of “thanksgiving thinking” requires training. While walking home from

school, cleaning your room, or waiting for the last bell to ring, decide to turn your

thoughts toward the things God has done for you and thank Him once again. Practicing

thanksgiving will yield big dividends.

Steps to Take.

1. Process Impressive Information

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him

and praise his name. (Psalm 100: 4)

Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

(Psalm 107: 22)

“But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.” (Jonah 2: 9)

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Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what

he has done. (1 Chronicles 16: 8)

We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell

of your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 75: 1)

2. Consider Radical Response

Dear God; I want to make thankfulness a habit. I've never thanked You for

_________, __________, and _________ but I'm thanking You now. And I forgot

– I also want to thank You for ___________, ___________, and ____________.

3. Listen Before Proceeding

In silence let God remind you of other reasons to give Him thanks.

4. Prepare for Action Application Make a long list of things you’ve never thanked

God for and spend time thanking God. (It might help you to pretend that you had

lived in a poverty-stricken village in India and were suddenly transported to your

present surroundings. Through those eyes you see a lot to be grateful for.)

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CHAPTER 8

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“WHEN 911 PRAYERS JUST

WON’T DO THE JOB”

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MORE THAN CRISIS CHRISTIANITY

Instead of experiencing the anticipation and excitement that a new school year

usually brought, Josh found that his first day as a senior at Park High filled him with

fear. It suddenly hit him that within nine short months the security of his

preprogrammed existence was about to end. He would have to face the tough decisions

that were to affect the rest of his life. Where should he go to college? What should he

spend at least a big part of the rest of his life doing?

His problem was that there were too many options. An honor roll student who

had lettered in both basketball and baseball, he had been told by his counselor that

he’d be in line for several scholarships. His coach thought he had a chance to play

professional baseball. His mom, a missionary’s daughter, hoped he would attend the

Bible college that she and his grandfather had graduated from – regardless of other

offers. Josh was totally confused. He enjoyed science a lot and at times pictured

himself as the doctor who not only attended to the physical needs of his patents but

pointed them to faith in God. Of course, he imagined himself pitching for the

Minnesota Twins, but at other times he wanted to be a missionary to South America

like his grandfather.

He was panicked enough about the future to check out some books from the

church library on listening to God and finding God's will. He read something that

convicted him; “Guidance does not come from an empty mind; it comes to a heart full

of the love of Jesus Christ. If day by day I will turn to my Bible and honestly and

earnestly seek to find God's will, He has guaranteed to show it to me; His Word is a

light to my path and a lamp unto my feet. This process will take discipline! It will take

time. It will mean that you are going to turn to the Bible every day. Nothing in your

day – any day – must be allowed to crowd out that quiet time spent on your knees with

your Bible and prayer.” (1)

(1) Alan Redpath, Getting to Know the Will of God (Chicago; InterVarsity Christian Fellowship,

1954), p. 15.

Josh knew he should be having daily devotions, but he just never got around to

it. Because he was a serious student and accustomed to rigid athletic training, he never

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expected that setting aside ten minutes each morning to read his Bible and pray would

be so hard. But he decided to plug away at it.

The first thing that really convicted him had little to do with going to college.

As he read “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and

with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12: 30), he realized that his

girlfriend, Winona, was preventing him from doing that. Although she attended his

church and professed to be a Christian, her commitment was very shallow. Never even

considering the element of God's will in the situation, she was strongly urging him to

attend the local state college where she would be studying. Her values were

materialistic and selfish, and more often than not, he just went along with her.

But she was incredibly charming, unusually beautiful, and full of fun. Wherever

she went she attracted admirers, and he was the envy of all the guys when he brought

her to school events. Besides, she was really in love with him, and he thought he loved

her.

A couple things he read really jolted him out of his complacency. “The whole

issue on the question of guidance is this; if you want to know God's will for your life,

are you prepared to pay the price of knowing it? ” (2) That price is absolute surrender

to God on every issue. There is no shortcut. “Don’t expect God to reveal His will for

you next week until you practice it for today.” (3)

(2) Ibid., p. 8.

(3) Ibid., pp. 17-18.

He knew he’d have to give up Winona if he were to find God's will for his life.

For weeks he struggled. Would he really surrender his life to Jesus to do whatever He

wanted? Right now, it meant breaking up with Winona, but later on it might mean

changing his comfortable lifestyle to become a missionary or forfeiting the popularity

he loved so much to take a politically incorrect stand based on the values he believed

in.

Finally, one night when a special speaker gave a sermon on the high cost and

great rewards of totally following Jesus, Josh knew he had to go forward to make that

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commitment to 100 percent Christianity. As he drove Winona home, he explained to

her that God was asking him to break off their relationship. She didn’t understand and

began sobbing uncontrollably. When that didn’t work, she angrily accused him of

having ulterior motives, slammed the car door, and ran up the sidewalk to her front

door. His heart ached and he longed to calm her down and put his arm around her

shoulder just once more. Only the words of the sermon that played again and again in

his mind kept him from running after her. “When obeying God is the hardest thing

you’ve ever done in your life never take back the decision.” That time was now and

he had to remain firm.

Trying to make Josh jealous, Winona immediately started dating Jim. It was

hard to see them together, but he knew he couldn’t waver. One evening his mom

confided, “I've been praying for three months that you’d break up with Winona.

She’s beautiful, but she would have kept you from God's best.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Josh replied. “I know you're right.” Although his emotions put

up a terrible fuss, his mind told him he could never follow God completely if he chose

to marry a woman like Winona.

But Josh wasn’t getting any closer to making a decision about college. The Bible

said nothing about higher education, and he couldn’t even find principles he thought

applied to his situation. He tried the things he found in one of the books. He made lists

of pros and cons for all his alternatives, but the lists were of equal length. He asked

the advice of his pastor, his youth leader, his father, his mother, and his grandmother.

All of them told him the same thing. “None of these options is bad and each could be

used for God's glory. You have to follow the guidance the Holy Spirit is giving you.”

He reread the booklet on decision-making. It stated that if Scripture, the inner

confirmation of the Holy Spirit, and circumstances (less important and not always

reliable) coincided, a Christian could determine that God was leading him in a certain

direction.

Obviously, the key in his situation was learning to recognize that inner voice of

the Spirit. One book maintained that the kind of prayer twentieth-century Christians

knew nothing about was listening prayer. “A conversation,” wrote the author, “has

two parts; talking and listening. We’re always so busy detailing all our problems that

we never stop to consider what God is telling us. Hearing God requires both time and

silence – the two scarcest commodities in modern culture.”

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Then he read a book that recommended setting aside whole 30-minute time slots

just to listen to God. The writer maintained that it was like having a date with God to

get to know Him on a much more personal and intimate basis – clearing away the

mental clutter and getting out of the rat race long enough to really hear His voice. He

found some steps for doing just that:

1. Slowly read a passage of Scripture, pausing to reflect on each thought.

2. Sit in complete silence, entrusting each worry and fear to God. Sense His

protection, His care, and His loving arms around you.

3. Realize that you're in the presence of a holy God. Yet He who is all-powerful, all-

knowing, and everywhere-present is also the One who loves you unconditionally.

4. Surrender each selfish desire, each stubborn rebellion, and each bad attitude to the

Lord. Renounce any thought or action that is contrary to His will.

5. Open yourself to let God show you if there’s something in your life that makes it

impossible for you to hear His voice. Sin has to be dealt with before you can have

clear communication with God. “Your iniquities have separated you from your

God; your sins have hidden his face from you” (Isaiah 59: 2).

6. If God shows you that something is wrong in your life, confess it as sin and ask

His forgiveness. (Remember that the Lord forgives sin – not excuses.) Hate that

evil action or thought and do everything possible to never get involved in a rerun.

Really receive God's complete forgiveness. God says He “remembers your sins no

more” (Isaiah 43: 25). You'd do well to imitate His attitude!

7. Concentrate on God and His attributes – love, justice, kindness, holiness, power,

etc.

8. Listen for that still small voice of the Holy Spirit within. Be willing to obey what

God tells you to do.

9. Praise Him and thank Him. (4)

(4) Most of the basic ideas in this outline are borrowed from Joyce Huggett, Listening to God

(London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1986), pp. 54 – 73.

This really sounded different to Josh, because he only knew how to pray “give-

me prayers”, but he really wanted to give it a try. When his sister and parents left for

the weekend, he went into the family room to spend that silent time with God. He felt

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awkward at first, but after a while he sensed the wonderful warmth of God's presence

– and a couple of changes the Lord wanted to make in his attitudes.

However, he sure didn’t know any more about where to go to college.

Later, a statement he read assured him that he was on the right track; “The whole

question of guidance is not our relationship to the particular problem, but our

relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ,” (5) Josh did want to get to know the Lord so

well that he would be able to hear His voice. He found other half-hour time slots to

spend before the Lord in silence. They were times of special closeness to God.

Alan Redpath, Getting to Know God (Chicago; InterVarsity Christian

Fellowship, 1954), p. 6.

One night at the supper table, his mother said something that at first startled

him, “I got a phone call from my friend Bernice in California,” she began. “She doesn’t

know what to do with Christi. She likes to lock herself in her room for hours and says

she’s listening to God. She now claims that she has received revelation that the world

will end on March 17. She wants to quit school because she figures it’s a waste of

time.”

Josh hadn’t told anyone about his quiet times with God – but now wondered if

he was off on some dangerous tangent. He hadn’t yet finished the book on listening to

God, and he doubted it would be in his church library if it contained dangerous

teaching. The next chapter did a lot to clear things up for him. Because of passages

such as Jude 3, which speaks of “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints,”

it was obvious that God was not about to reveal any new doctrine to anybody. The

author put it like this; “Listening to God is not about the newness, but about “nowness”.

It is receiving the applied word in whatever form God chooses to make it known.” (6)

A further explanation stated that every thought came from one of three sources; God,

your own mind, or the evil one – Satan himself.

By applying certain tests, one can discover whether or not the idea really came

from God:

1. Is it completely in line with Scripture?

2. Is my attitude humble and Christ-like?

3. Does it prompt me to live in a way that honors God and obeys him?

4. Do two other mature Christians also feel that it is God who is leading me to take

this course of action?

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5. Do my spiritual leaders approve of my action? (If a group has become totally

dysfunctional and non-biblical, this would not apply.)

6. In cases in which the Spirit of God prompts you to do little things like call a friend

at a certain moment, break off a certain friendship, or sign up for a different English

class, you can't and shouldn’t continually consult other Christians. Trust God to

confirm that He was really speaking, by the circumstance itself; Your friend will

say, “I really needed a phone call tonight”’ the kid you stopped hanging around

with will get into some trouble; or you'll find out that the class you transferred out

of is very poorly taught. (7)

(7) These points are taken from Joyce Huggett’s book, Listening to God, and an article by Leonard

Le Sourd, “What Is God Saying to You?”

If Christi were using these tests, Josh thought , she would immediately realize

that her prediction and anticipated action were not from God.

Josh then discovered a little book called The Practice of the Presence of God,

written by Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth-century monk who worked as a cook.

He believed “our only business: is to “love and delight ourselves in God.” He

disciplined himself to keep his mind on Jesus even when his silence was disturbed by

the clatter of pots and pans and by the bickering of the other kitchen staff. Josh had

never even thought of developing thought patterns that would teach him to turn his

mind consciously toward God when it was not needed to solve a trig problem, figure

out how to pitch to the lead-off batter with bases loaded, or get his car to start on a

cold winter morning. He thought that if he could concentrate enough to make free

throws even when the crowd was going bananas, he could learn to think about God

during his day. He decided that bringing God's presence constantly to his

consciousness was worth the mental fight. He knew he’d have to begin small, and not

try to compete with Brother Lawrence. He decided to write out some Bible verses

about the character of God on three-x-five cards and stick them in his pocket.

During the five minutes before the bell rang each period, he’d slip a card into his book

and meditate on it. When he walked to and from school, he’d sing praise songs and

turn his mind toward God.

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During the first week of using his new strategy, his mind was harder to control

than their German Shepard dog – who felt that his freedom should not be restrained

by any leash. He was glad to read that even those who were experts at concentrating

on God were plagued by stray thoughts. Even though his mind jumped from

contemplating the greatness of God to surfing on a California beach, and from

thanking his Maker to wondering of the physics test would be multiple-choice this

time, and even to things less innocent, he also found that consciously making an effort

to think about God at the end of each period made his school day a lot easier.

Josh continued his three-pronged approach. He read his Bible and prayed every

morning. He tried for a half an hour of silence before God each week and determined

to refocus his mind on God (using the Bible verse cards whenever possible) at the end

of each class hour and walking to and from school.

When spring came, he received attractive offers from three universities and a

chance to sign for a major league farm club. Instead of the previous fear, he had peace.

He developed a sense of conviction that the option he felt drawn to was God's leading

in his life. He subjected that guidance from the inner voice of the Holy Spirit to the

opinions of his parents and trusted Christian friends. After spending a half an hour in

stillness before God with the specific prayer – “Lord show me if I'm wrong,” he still

felt the same peace. One morning he read Isaiah 30: 21; “Whether you turn to the right

or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in

it.’” That verse seemed like his final confirmation. God had not used anyone to give

him solid Christian advice against the plans he was about to make. He didn’t sense

any stoplights along the way. God had been faithful to reveal His will.

Josh realized he’d have a lot more decisions to make in his life – in fact,

Diana, the new pastor’s daughter, promised to be one of them. Not only would he have

to maintain his ways of keeping in touch with God, he’d need to expand and refine

them.

Finding God's will for your life can't happen through emergency praying. It

happens as you open lines of communication with God through daily contact in prayer.

YOU Have an Appointment With the Creator of the

Universe…

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… to learn strategies for getting to know God better.

Filling the Pitcher

“DAY 1”

Andrew Murray once said, “Selfishness is the death of prayer.” And so it is. But

no one would argue that a young mother of four who insists on taking care of her own

health is on an ego trip. After all, if she gets sick, her children will suffer. A teacher

who takes a year off for further study is not accused of neglecting the students. The

missionary doctor who is so busy attending patients that he can take no time to consult

his medical books in difficult cases is not a model humanitarian.

Selflessness in prayer doesn’t mean only praying for the needs of others. If you don’t

receive spiritual life from God each day, you'll have nothing to give.

On the other hand, prayer can degenerate into a pity-party, a lust for emotional

thrills, a self-centered exercise, or a daily list of wants handed to “the Great Santa

Claus in the Sky.” Because of the big emphasis today on service and praying for others

– very important elements in the life of the spiritually healthy person! – burnout is a

widespread problem. We need to maintain a balance – receiving from God in order to

give out effectively to others. And to achieve this balance, we need to concentrate on

establishing or strengthening our devotional lives.

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The fact is that you must constantly return to God for refills of love-your enemy

love, encouragement to persevere when the going gets tough, and power to resist the

torrents of temptation that come your way. Without the still small voice of God's

guidance, you'll make unwise decisions that will complicate your life and rob you of

God's best. Unless you're thoroughly acquainted with biblical principles, you'll never

be able to give godly advice. The stress and anxiety of life will do you in if you don’t

learn how to retreat into God's presence where all is peace and love and genuine joy.

Actually, taking the time to “sit at the feet of Jesus,” basking in His love,

reflecting on His words, and waiting for Him to impress ideas on your spirit is the

most unselfish thing you can do, for it will greatly increase the quality of service you

can render to others. But it is also of utmost importance for you personally. When you

bow before the all-powerful God, who loves you unconditionally, to get His

perspective, mountains become little hills, and “I can't” changes to “I can do

everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4: 13).

Even if you spend all Saturday catching up on sleep and doing what you most

enjoy, there is a part of you that still hasn’t been refreshed. Your spirit needs to touch

God's Spirit. Your mind needs to be renewed. The world’s ideas of constant

competition, necessity to be noticed, and accumulating more stuff, must be replaced

with God's goal for your life – humbly obeying Him and serving Him while enjoying

the sweetness of His presence. This has to be a daily affair because we so easily slip

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into making shopping an obsession, having to prove ourselves to someone, or just

following the crowd. We so often forget that our citizenship is in heaven – unless we

make frequent phone calls to the city where the streets are paved with gold.

Not only does quiet time with God build us up to refresh others, our Lord

himself desires fellowship with us. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone

hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me”

(Revelation 3: 20).

We can't earn our salvation, and our spending time with Him isn’t for the

purpose of chalking up brownie points. But one of the few things we can do to thank

God for all He’s done for us is to give Him our love. And as we love and adore Him,

we fulfill a deep need within us to give and receive love. Romance stories don’t end

with, “He told us to give and receive love. Romance stories don’t end with, “He told

her once that he loved her and never mentioned the matter again.” Love must be

expressed over and over. Your entering a daily love relationship with Jesus – the only

One who'll never disappoint you or take advantage of your affection, the One who'll

never leave you or forsake you, and the One who’s preparing a place for you in heaven

– is the best investment of time and energy you'll ever make. And if you constantly

refill your pitcher, the “empty glasses” you meet can receive from you the love and

joy and encouragement of Jesus.

Steps to Take

1. After each thought presented in Joshua 1: 5-9, pause to listen to God. Then write

down the way in which God is applying it to your particular present situation. If

there is no specific application, leave the space blank.

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.” ___________.

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” __________________.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ___________________.

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“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land

I swore to their forefathers to give them.” _________________.

“Be strong and very courageous.” ______________________.

“Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you.” ______________

__________________.

“Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever

you go.” __________________.

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth.” _________________.

“Meditate on it (God's Word) day and night, so that you may be careful to do

everything written in it.” __________________.

“Then you will be prosperous and successful.” ___________________.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.” ________________.

“Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged.” __________________.

“For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ________________.

2. Decide how to put into practice the insight you’ve received.

3. Follow the same format with the following passages; First write out the phrase,

then be still, waiting for God to show you something special He wants you to know.

Write that down. If you have to skip some phrases that’s okay.

Matthew 6: 25-34

Philippians 4: 4-9

Romans 12: 9-18

Colossians 3: 1-10

Hebrews 12: 5-11

Galatians 6: 1-10

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Turn Your Radio On

“DAY 2”

God is God, and He can illumine your mind with His thoughts while you're

ringing up a sale, or memorizing the forms of a French verb, or talking back to your

mother! But if you tune in to His frequency, you're much more likely to hear from

Him.

In fast-paced and media-oriented modern life, a half an hour of silence is a

miracle. There are a lot of demands on your time and mental concentration that aren't

optional – school, work, church activities, social life, and maybe sports, rehearsals,

babysitting, jobs around the house, etc. Obviously, recommendations like

“pray constantly,” and “Be still and know that I am God” don’t mean consciously

turning your thoughts to God all day long every day. It is impossible to meditate on

Scripture while you're quarterbacking a football game, following the band director

through a hard piece of music, or trying to remember all the things the boss told you

to do before closing time! You can't intercede for each person on your prayer list

during the biology exam. But you can learn to maintain an attitude of companionship

with God, returning your thoughts to Him whenever your mind is free to wander.

This takes practice. During the activities that don’t require much brain-drain,

you can train your mind to pray or to think about God. Most likely your parents taught

you to pray before you eat. That habit is so automatic that at least three times a day

you thank the Lord – and if you're like me, those 30 seconds of conversation with God

have helped you through some pretty hard days. You can develop other strategies for

turning your thoughts heavenward.

Falling asleep each night meditating on a verse of Scripture, thanking God, or

reflecting on His faithfulness can save you from insomnia, temptation, and fear. Just

try mentally repeating one biblical thought over and over again as you drift off to

sleep. If you're like most people, you need a rather short phrase like, “He is my fortress,

I will never be shaken,” or, “I am with you always,” or, “Do not worry about

tomorrow,” Because your brain is exhausted at that point and can't be expected to work

very hard. That simple exercise can keep you from dreading taking the driver’s test,

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imagining that a special someone crawled into bed with you, or planning revenge on

the kid who teased you so unmercifully.

Waking up each morning repeating, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us

rejoice and be glad in it,” or saying, “Good morning, Lord, thank you for my home,

my health, my clothes, my family, my school, and my dog,” can beat the devil to the

punch. Satan is so good at inserting wrong thoughts into our minds and then accusing

us of having thought them. If you don’t habitually turn your mind toward God the

minute your alarm rings, then thoughts like, “It’s raining and I don’t want to get out

of bed,” “Giving that science report will be horrible, so maybe I should just skip

school,” or, “I can't stand to face another boring day,” are sure to come to you.

In case you haven’t noticed, some of the devil’s most ferocious attacks come

when you haven't quite awakened yet, or when you're just falling asleep so your mind

isn’t alert enough to be on the defensive. You need a good offense for the beginning

and ending of your day.

If you invest in some good praise songs and other uplifting Christian music,

your Smart-Phone can help you out. Get rid of any music that won't bring you closer

to the Lord and listen to music that will place your thoughts on God.

How about putting something inside your locker to remind you of God's love?

Every time you open it, take a moment to remember that God loves you – no matter

what happened last hour, even if you lost your math assignment, and regardless of the

fact that your friend purposely ignored you when you passed her in the hall. Forming

the habit of thinking of God's great love for you and thanking Him for it every time

you open your locker at school could change a lot of your days.

Going running or walking in the conscious companionship of Jesus is a great

experience. You can share your joy, your failure, your disappointment, your fear, your

anticipation, your insecurity, your excitement, or your heartbreak with Him. When

your mind wanders – and it will – gently refocus it on Christ. If a computer were to

capture your inner dialogue, the printout would read something like this:

“Lord, that tree is really awesome. You did a great job of designing it. You know, I'm

not sure about signing up for art next year. What do you think? You have my future

planned, and I need your advice. My mom’s been really crabby lately. Am I doing

something wrong? Give me a good idea for making her happy today. Forgive me for

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snapping at my sister. I know you want me to apologize, but I've been putting it off.

Okay. I give in. I'll do it. Help me study for the history test tomorrow.”

Taking a Bible verse card along to center your thoughts, spending part of the

time singing worship-full Christian songs or using the last three or four minutes just

to quietly listen to God might prove helpful.

Actually, you can turn your negative thoughts or statements into times to

practice the presence of God. It’s kind of like putting on the whole armor of God and

quarterbacking plays that defeat the devil’s offense.

When “How could I be so dumb?” escapes from your lips, reaffirm “Lord, thank

you that you love me just the way I am.” If you're about to say, “What a lousy day,”

decide to thank God for the rain. Instead of joining all your friends in making fun of

Mr. Green, pray for him. Complaining about lunchroom food could be replaced with

gratefulness that you get something to eat. The “I can't stand him” turns into “Lord,

help him. He’s got a lot of problems.”

“It’s not fair that all the other kids have the newest running shoes and I don’t”

becomes “God, I thank you that during this time when my father is out of work I can

love my family and love You.”

As you plan with God, He’ll give you other ideas for practicing His presence

daily. Remember that one of the strongest deterrents to bad habits is establishing good

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ones. Sure, sometimes praying before each meal, or saying “Thank you, Lord, for the

day” each morning can become merely routine. But it’s surprising how often God

breaks into that established pattern with His special love and light. So many times, I

have felt God's presence fill a dreary, droopy day with His brightness just because I

paused to consciously invite Him to share that moment with me. Turn your mental

radio on and tune in to God. Your life will be richer for it.

Steps to Take.

1. Select one or two of the ideas presented or come up with one of your own to

consciously form the habit of turning your thoughts toward God.

2. Take a whole month to establish this thought pattern in your brain. For each day,

rate your progress, G = Good, F = Fair, P = Poor, and on a weekly basis record

how this new habit helped you.

EXAMPLE:

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday Friday

Saturday

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

G

F

P

F

G

P

G

Thursday morning, I started the day by thanking God for everything I could think

of. Instead of the usual mad rush to catch the bus, I had peace as I got ready and

actually got to the bus stop early.

This Month I'll Practice the Presence of God by Working on These Two Strategies:

1. ________________________.

2. ________________________.

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On a separate sheet of paper, using the example above, Grade yourself; good (G), fair

(F), or poor (P) for each day and write out the account of your victories.

A Leash for Your Hyperactive Imagination

“DAY 3”

Erin began praying that her school friend Mallory would give her heart to

Jesus. “Lord,” she pleaded, “do something to open her eyes so she’ll see that knowing

you is more important than always having the right clothes.”

But at that point, Erin pictured the awesome jacket Mallory had just purchased,

and her mind immediately jumped to the one she’d seen at Macy’s. It was perfect. If

she saved the next two paychecks, she could buy it, and she knew she’d get a lot of

compliments. Suddenly, Erin realized how materialistic she was. She felt like a

hypocrite who couldn’t even concentrate for two minutes to pray, and she wondered

if it was any use to continue asking God to reach Mallory….

Garret decided he’d pray for ten minutes and that he’d time it. He started

praising God and thanking Him for specific things. He continued, “Thank you, Lord,

for the victory over Kennedy High.” At that moment, his quarterback mind started

constructing the perfect play to be executed against Robert E. Lee on Friday night.

Their defense had been severely weakened when their best tight end had suffered a

bad injury. His play would take advantage of the defective pass defense. Abruptly he

remembered that he was supposed to be praying – not winning a football game! He

just mumbled: “I guess I can't pray very well. Amen.” Garret didn’t like to fail, and it

was just easier to exit.

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Matt’s prayer was even worse. When He thanked God for the blood of Jesus, it

brought back scenes from the movie he’d watched the night before. It even crossed his

mind that he ought to learn some of the violent moves he’d seen to make Spike – the

guy who harassed him mercilessly – shut up. Once the sequence of violent events was

replayed mentally, Matt was horrified. “If I can think about hurting someone like that,”

he mused, “I must not even be a Christian.”

Do you identify with any of these scenes? Do you have a terrible time

concentrating in prayer? You might be comforted to know that even great men and

women of God face the same problem. Keeping your mind on praying isn’t easy! But

the conquering of inner space – and that will change your world – is a most worthy

goal. Decide to accept the challenge.

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THE NECESSARY INFORMATION

1. The devil is trying to sabotage your prayer time, but you have the power of Jesus

to stop him.

Satan is capable of inserting thoughts into your brain and then accusing you of

having thought them! He acts just like an armed robber who, seeing a policeman,

thrusts the gun into the hands of his victim, shouting, “Look, he’s trying to shoot

me!” The devil robs you of your communication with God by interjecting a terrible

thought into your mind and then whispering, “You're a terrible Christian. Anyone

capable of thinking that must not even be saved!” don’t let the enemy pull this on

you!

Being tempted isn’t sin, and you're not responsible for the evil thoughts that

invade your praise time. But you could sin by following up those evil thoughts with

some reasoning of your own. Or you can call the devil’s bluff! You can calmly and

with authority say, “In the name of Jesus beat it!” then go back to your praying as

though nothing had happened. Be sure to put this strategy into operation.

2. By constant practice you can learn to concentrate better and better.

Parents don’t spank the twelve-month-old baby who falls while learning to

walk, and God doesn’t condemn inexperienced prayer warriors for their inability

to concentrate. He will react with delight because you’ve decided to learn how to

communicate with Him – no matter how much your mind wanders. Don’t expect

praying to be easy. It isn’t.

3. Some planning will help you.

Have a pencil and paper ready. If you suddenly remember “I didn’t finish the

math assignment,” or, “I forgot to call Chris,” or, “I have to bring my parent signed

permission slip back today,” you can just write it down and go on praying.

Treat a straying thought or a full-fledged fantasy like a little kid that appears in

the middle of the basketball court during the game – gently remove it and go on.

The devil’s purpose is distraction. If he can make you bemoan your failure or get

upset about your daydreaming or wandering thoughts, he’s got you. Simply return

to praying so you lose a minimum amount of time.

Pray out loud in order to concentrate better.

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Change activities whenever you get bogged down. Read the Bible instead of

praying. Sing a praise song out loud if you're falling asleep reading Leviticus, etc.

Focus your thoughts by writing a letter to God.

Decide to discipline your mind in every area. That will help you pray better.

Learn how to really study. Listen in class instead of daydreaming. Take notes on

sermons. Keep your mind on a tight leash!

The more you practice concentrating in prayer, the better you'll become. You

learn to pray by praying. Stick with it and don’t give up.

Steps to Take

1. Read a psalm, personalizing it and praying it out loud – that means putting it into

your own words, maybe modernizing the concepts, and using first-person pronouns

(I, me, and my). Have a pencil and note pad ready for writing down something you

must remember to do, and the minute you realize your mind is wandering, gently

bring it back to the task at hand. If you can't concentrate enough to do this

spontaneously, write it out first. The following is an example:

Psalm 91 – God Will Protect Me

I can constantly live under Your protection and You're my all-powerful God.

However, if I stray far from Your safety zone and _________ (sin I'm tempted to

commit) only to scurry back when I see imminent danger, the insurance policy You

promise doesn’t automatically cover me. However, if I stay by Your side I can

relax, even if ____________ because You're so near I feel as if I'm in Your shadow.

I'm telling You, Lord, You're my bomb shelter, my bullet-proof vest, my car

alarm system, and my personal policeman, so I trust You to shield me from the

storms of life. You will save me from the trap set for me by ___________, who

enjoys seeing Christians like me fall, and from the plague of _______ that’s going

around my school right now.

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Thank you that I can feel safe in You, just like a chick under its mother’s

feathers. I'll find refuge in You when _______________. Your faithfulness will be

my air-cover, my tank, and my high-tech missile system. I won't be afraid of the

street violence at night, or of the gangs who invade my school in broad daylight,

or of getting held up, or of innocently contracting AIDS because of a medical

slipup. I won't fear ________, ________, or __________ because You're there

watching out for me.

A thousand might get so depressed they will never rise again, and ten thousand

may be utterly wiped out – but I'm indestructible, because if something happens to

my physical body I'll just exchange it for one that no one can ever hurt again. If I

follow You wholeheartedly, I'll only be an observer to the punishment of the

wicked.

As I make my permanent home with You, deciding never to leave, You will

always be my refuge. Staying right with You, I can claim that no harm will come

to me and disaster won't stop at my house. Lord, You'll command angels to guard

me when ____________, ____________, and ___________ are problems for me.

Angels will carry me so I won't stumble over the rocks and boulders of sin, false

ideas, and wrong decisions. Through You, Jesus, I can be victorious over the devil

– that old lion who is looking for someone to eat up, that snake who keeps on

inventing Eve-like temptations.

Lord, I do love You with all my heart. Make my love so pure that You will say,

“I will rescue you.” Thank you that “the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the

righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18: 10). I acknowledge Your name and

receive Your protection.

I will pray to You and expect Your answer. I claim Your promise, so I know

that You will be with me in trouble to deliver me and honor me. Thank you that

You'll stuff a lot of living into my lifespan and constantly demonstrate Your saving

power.

2. Now be still before the Lord and let Him speak to you.

3. Using the same system, personalize and pray the following:

Psalm 103 – God's love letter to you.

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Psalms 63, 64, - God's promise to you when others unfairly attack your

reputation or try to harm you.

Psalms 12-16 – God's promise when it seems that evil and corruption have taken

the upper hand.

Psalm 101 – Taking a stand on personal conduct and the friends you choose.

What If Prayer Doesn’t Give Me Any Warm Fuzzies?

“DAY 4”

In my surveys and conversations with high school kids, what do you think the

students identify as the number one problem in their prayer lives? Consistency.

Nothing else even came close.

The world runs on an if-it-feels-good-do-it philosophy, implying you shouldn’t

engage in any activity that doesn’t give you immediate self-gratification. So, the

answer I got is not surprising. Self-discipline has become an old-fashioned word –

along with spinning wheel, covered wagon, and jukebox. The Bible talks a great deal

about self-discipline, though, and you can't become a committed Christian without it.

The power comes from God, but we must cooperate with Him or it will never flow

through us. “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is

God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians

2: 12-13). An automobile engine has all the power, but it’s still work to drive a car –

especially in heavy traffic. You must depend on God for power and directions, but He

has assigned certain responsibilities to you.

The Bible commands us to pray. “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5: 17).

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With

this in mind, be alert, and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6: 8).

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray

and not give up” (Luke 18: 1). If you are not praying, you are not obeying God!

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Steps to Take

In prayer you learn to communicate with God and develop a relationship with

Him. Building a relationship takes time, energy, and commitment. Effective

communication requires your best effort. A cutting-edge prayer life will require the

following:

1. Renew your love and commitment to Jesus.

Do you really love Him enough to sacrifice something for Him? Will you obey

Him even if it costs you an awful lot? Do you really intend to give up other things

that are important to you so He can have first place in your life? If you can't answer

yes to each of these questions, you may as well not read on – the other points won't

help you unless your commitment is firm. (However, you can repent and then take

the quiz over again!)

2. Rearrange your schedule so that you give your best time to God in prayer.

1 Peter 4: 7 lays it on us: “Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that

you can pray.” If you're so exhausted you can't see straight, you can't pray. If you

have so many things going on you're a basket case, you can't pray. One of the most

important requirements for a consistent prayer life is getting enough sleep so you

can be alert for prayer. It means getting to bed at a decent hour – often going to

bed before you know who won the game or giving up going out with your friends.

(Sometimes, arranging your own transportation so you can leave early will solve

the problem.)

In order to spend priority time in prayer, you'll have to take something else out

of your schedule. Here are some options:

• Learn to spend less money and work fewer hours.

• Watch a lot less TV.

• Give up an extracurricular activity at school.

• Give up some of your social life and devote the time to prayer.

• Write out how you spend every hour for a whole week and bring it to an

efficient person who is a committed Christian. Let him or her give you

pointers on how you can eliminate wasted time so you can pray more.

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• If you're a compulsive studier, addicted to top grades, study less and pray

more.

You can't just squeeze prayer time into an overcrowded schedule; you'll have

to sacrifice. Ask God what you'll have to eliminate in order to have an effective

prayer life.

3. Decide to pray – even when you don’t feel like it.

Although God often allows us to feel His presence and at times sense a certain

inner joy in prayer, there are other days when we feel nothing. Never check your

emotional temperature. Just start praying – no matter what. God will bless that

consistency.

4. Expect prayer to be hard work.

It’s easier to switch on the TV, read a magazine, or call a friend than it is to

pray. Your body would rather go swimming, take a nap, or eat pizza than pray!

Prayer takes heavy concentration. It’s necessary to constantly resist the devil

who is doing everything possible to keep you from praying. Use some sanctified

creativity to fight Satan’s efforts to keep you from praying effectively. If you're

tired and find yourself turning into a couch potato, do some exercises without

interrupting your conversation with God. You can pray for your school while doing

sit-ups! Splash some cold water in your face and walk around as you ask God to

improve your relationship with your parents. Pray out loud so you don’t drift into

daydreaming. Some people pray better walking back and forth. Use a list of things

to pray for so you don’t lose your focus.

5. Realize that most results of prayer occur in the invisible spiritual world.

Some teens get discouraged because they don’t see immediate answers. Your

prayers are kind of like the bombing of Pacific islands during World War II before

the Marines stormed the beaches; although no one saw exactly what happened in

those “softening up” maneuvers, they paved the way for victory. Keep praying that

you'll overcome your addiction, that you'll learn how to communicate with your

father, and that you'll be able to share your faith without fear. Something is

happening behind the scenes. Obey God and wait for visible results.

6. Try praying for ten minutes straight.

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Praise God, thank Him, confess your sin, pray for others and for situations. Then

pray for yourself. This will seem like a long time at first, but you'll get used to it.

A Helpful Habit

“DAY 5”

Let’s face it, sometimes you have no creativity or imagination. You need a

comfortable mold for your quiet time, a familiar routine. Although this book gives you

many ideas to use during your devotions, you need a format you can always go back

to. A guide to time with God each day, which follows, is just that. I’d suggest you

make a copy, back it with cardboard, and keep it by your Bible. When you don’t know

what else to do during devotions, follow this outline. It will help you to maximize your

time with God.

Steps to Take

A GUIDE TO TIME WITH GOD EACH DAY

1. Begin by thanking God for the privilege of having a personal appointment with the

Creator of the universe and ask Him to show you new things from His Word and

teach you to pray better.

2. Read a praise psalm as a prayer of thanksgiving, substituting I and me for the

pronouns you, him, etc., to make it personal. (Praise Psalms: 9, 19, 27, 34, 46-48,

92-93, 97-98, 100, 104-105, 107, 111, 113, 115, 121, 135, 138, 144-150.)

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3. Read a chapter in the Bible. (I recommend starting with the Gospel of Mark.) (1)

a. Read the chapter twice.

b. Choose a title for the chapter that describes the general theme. (2)

c. Write down any examples to follow or actions to avoid.

d. Jot down your questions about any hard-to-understand passages and bring them

to your youth worker or pastor to answer for you at a later time.

e. Listen to God as you read the passage. Write down the thoughts the Holy Spirit

brings to your mind while meditating on this chapter.

f. Copy the commands in this chapter. Write out the changes you have to make in

your life in order to put them into practice.

g. If you wish, write out a paragraph summary of the chapter.

4. Take time to pray.

a. Praise God for who He is, remembering His characteristics – like all-powerful,

loving, all-knowing, etc. You could make up a little song to sing to Him or use

a hymn or praise song you know.

b. Sit quietly, receiving God's love and enjoying the fact that He is your friend.

c. Thank God for everything – material blessings, physical health, opportunities

to grow spiritually, the chance to get an education, and what you will learn from

the problems you're facing.

d. Confess and forsake any sin in your life. Follow through on making things right.

(For example, after you ask for forgiveness for yelling at your mother, apologize

to her.)

e. Pray for your family, friends, school, church, community, country, people you

know who haven’t accepted Jesus, missionaries, world situations, and your own

life.

f. Give God your life, your actions, and your thoughts for this day.

g. End by thanking and praising God again.

(1)

It would be great to decide to read the same chapters as a good friend, to be accountable to

each other for following this guide each day, and to talk over what you're learning. (This could be

dynamite in a dating relationship.)

(2)

It’s a good idea to use a notebook. And it would be helpful to make yourself accountable by

showing your notebook to someone – parent, pastor, or friend.

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CHAPTER 9

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“PIZZA WITH BILL, IRREGULAR

VERBS AND SPRING BREAK”

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CONFESS IT AND FORGET IT

Chelsea was a straight-A student – in fact, the counselor had just called her into

his office to inform her that she was tied with Ryan Adams for top scholastic honors.

After four years of hard work, she had a chance to be valedictorian of the senior class.

She was overjoyed – and scared to death.

Ryan was a brain who had almost no study habits – and didn’t really need them,

considering the classes he’d chosen. Chelsea had some of the same instructors, so she

knew they were easy graders. Her problem was third-year Spanish. Miss Rivera was

ready to retire, and her method of teaching was definitely old-fashioned. She seemed

to delight in torturing her students. Her sadistic weapon was irregular verbs, which

had to be memorized in present, imperfect, preterit, future, and conditional tenses. Her

predictable tests called for one verb form after another.

Chelsea spent hours learning verb forms – she even dreamed she discovered a

secret machine that would come up with any verb in the desired tense if she pushed a

button.

Miss Rivera decided to give a unit test on the Friday before spring break. It

couldn’t have come at a worse time. Because Chelsea had picked up some rare virus,

she missed four days of school. Barely recuperated, she had only a week to pack and

arrange everything to leave at 5:00 a.m. Saturday morning with the youth mission team

to spend their vacation in Mexico. There just wasn’t much time to study. Thursday

night, Bill called and invited her to Pizza Heaven – and she’d been dying to go out

with him for six months. They spent a great evening together.

But once she closed the door to her room that night, a feeling of panic swept

over her. She wasn’t ready for the Spanish test first hour. If she stayed up all night to

study, she might get sick again and not be able to go to Mexico with Bill and the other

kids. Yet, if she didn’t do something, she’d miss her chance to become valedictorian.

Overwhelmed and exhausted, she remembered how Marissa laughed at her for

studying, declaring that crib sheets worked just fine. She couldn’t – she was a

Christian. But a voice seemed to whisper from the shadows made by the lamp at her

desk: “Miss Rivera is an unfair teacher, and just this once you're justified. Make the

sheets. It’s good review for you, and tomorrow you can decide whether or not to use

them.” So, Chelsea copied the verbs in tiny letters on little sheets of paper.

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The next morning, she faced a civil war within. She reasoned that if all the other

kids cheated, making the curve impossible, she had no choice. She’d just carry the

answers in her pocket and perhaps it wouldn’t be necessary to use them. She took her

assigned seat in the back corner of the room. The exam was the usual – filling in blanks

with irregular verbs. She answered the whole test, finding that there were five answers

she questioned. Her conscience reminded her that she had once cheated in the fifth

grade and it had turned out to be a disaster. But Miss Rivera was sitting at her desk

reading a book, and the girl in front of her was brazenly copying from a full sheet of

paper. It would be so easy and no one would ever know. Her hands were sweaty and

her mouth was dry. Her hand was shaking but she reached into her pocket and silently

pulled out the papers. Chelsea was so organized that in two minutes she had changed

three answers and assured herself of a perfect test score. When the bell rang she gave

a sigh of relief and handed her test to Miss Rivera.

The next morning, she got up at 3:30 a.m. to do her hair just right and make sure

that she didn’t forget to put everything in her suitcase. Bill had saved a seat for her,

excitement was in the air, and she was about to make her dream visit to Mexico – but

all Chelsea could think about was a crib sheet and three irregular verbs.

Once she got to Tijuana it was even worse. Every time she tried to communicate

in Spanish, an irregular verb would enter the conversation. When they prayed together,

Chelsea felt as if God were light years away. They painted a church, showed the kids

at the orphanage how to play with the games and the toys the group had brought, and

put on skits in the parks, after which the Mexican kids shared their faith with

whomever happened to be around. Chelsea participated in everything, but her heart

just wasn’t in it. “I think you're still not over that infection,” Bill worried. “You seem

to lack a little of your spark.”

Their second morning in Mexico, the youth pastor led in devotions. “I had a

different talk planned,” he began, “but I think the Lord wants me to talk on confession

of sin. Proverbs 28: 13 reads, ‘He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever

confesses and renounces them finds mercy.’ I think you all remember the story of

Achan. Because he disobeyed God by stealing some silver and gold and fashionable

clothing, all of Israel was defeated at Ai. Those of us here who have unconfessed sin

in our hearts will not feel bold for the Lord and so, in a way, the ministry of the entire

team will be hindered. I want all of us to be silent for a few moments and to get right

with God.”

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Chelsea began to cry. She forgot her excuses and told God, “I was wrong. Please

forgive me for cheating on that test.”

The youth pastor’s wife, Cherie, came up to her afterward and asked if she’d

like to talk. Chelsea told her the whole story. Cherie listened attentively before

speaking. “Chelsea,” she instructed, “you'll never have peace until you tell Miss

Rivera what you’ve done and face the consequences. Although you usually shouldn’t

confess a sin to anyone who’s not directly concerned, in this case it would be good if

you told the whole group. You see, you were chosen for a team of ten out of the whole

youth group and you were sent by the church to this short-term missionary project.

Unconfessed sin affects the ministry of the entire team.”

Chelsea swallowed her pride and did one of the hardest things she’d done in her

whole life – she told the group what she’d done. Encouraged by her example, one of

the guys confessed resentment against the youth pastor and asked for forgiveness.

After that, two girls who had trouble getting along confessed the jealousy and

competition they struggled with.

All of them sensed the presence of God as never before. Chelsea felt as though

she’d just been released from prison. That afternoon their skits in the park were

different. There was unity and commitment in what they did and people seemed drawn

to them in a special way. Bill’s comment surprised her, “Chelsea, it took a lot of

courage for you to be honest before the whole group. I admire you for what you did.”

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A horrible thought crossed Chelsea’s mind. What if she’d just kept covering her

tracks without confessing? She had come so close to just stuffing her sin under a

pretense of faithfulness and good deeds. She had almost opted for a life of misery and

hypocrisy.

YOU Have an Appointment With the Creator of the

Universe…

… to learn more about confession and forgiveness.

The Price Tag of Forgiveness

“DAY 1”

“It doesn’t matter what you do, God will always forgive.”

“If God pardons me for doing a whole bunch of bad things I'll have a more

interesting testimony.”

Have you ever heard or thought anything like this? A lot of people just take

forgiveness for granted because they forget that it’s a wonderful miracle that cost God

a lot.

Just put yourself in the place of someone who has never heard the truth about

the forgiveness Jesus offers us. Imagine the anxiety and frustration of being told that

you can never be sure if you’ve made the grade or not, that you must perform certain

good deeds or rituals to try to please some distant higher power, and that everything

depends on your achievement. What would it be like to live with an underlying sense

of guilt that won't go away? How stressful it would be to always wonder whether

you’ve done enough. Aren’t you glad that you know that “the blood of Jesus, his Son,

purifies us from all sin”? Aren’t you thankful that you heard the good news that Jesus

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paid the full price for all your sins so that you're saved by faith and not by works? But

do you really appreciate how much your forgiveness cost God?

J. Edwin Orr explained that there are two principles of forgiveness; (1) Someone

must pay the penalty. (2) The one who forgives suffers. For instance, if I lend you

$1000 and I forgive your debt, I suffer the loss. If your father bails you out, he pays a

price.

Jesus took the punishment for your sin, and that sin caused Him great physical

and mental suffering. Don’t ever take forgiveness for granted. There’s no excuse for

rattling off the thoughtless and-Lord-forgive-all-my-sins-amen prayers with the same

lack of reverence with which you'd recite, “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled

peppers!” Every sin is lethal. When you ask for forgiveness, appreciate that this great

miracle is available to you only at a tremendous cost. Confess your sin, receive God's

forgiveness, and then thank God for this priceless gift.

It’s easy to think, “Sure Jesus suffered to provide me forgiveness, but that was

two thousand years ago. It’s all over now.” I’d like to suggest that His forgiving you

still costs Him a lot.

Steps to Take

1. Read Luke 15: 11-32.

2. Now reread it, putting yourself in the place of the father and answering the

following questions:

a. How do you feel when your son comes up to you and says, “Hey, Dad, I can't

wait until you die for my share of the inheritance – I want it now”? ________

b. What emotions do you experience when your son moves to a foreign country?

__________________

c. How do you respond when you don’t hear from your son for months at a time?

_______________

d. What is it like to see your son coming in the distance? _____________

e. How do you react when your son says he’s sinned and deserves punishment?

________________

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f. What emotions do you struggle with when your older son becomes angry and

refuses to attend the party? __________________

g. How do you feel when your older son shows his jealousy, accusing you of not

even letting him invite his friends over, but throwing a big party for your kid

brother who has ruined the family reputation? ______________

h. What did it cost you to forgive the younger son? ____________

i. What did it cost you to forgive the older? ______________

j. Returning to the present, what new insights did you receive about the price of

God's forgiveness as you read this passage? ______________

What Really Happens When You Confess Your Sins?

“DAY 2”

You’ve probably heard this somewhere; “When you repent of (admit and turn

from) your sins, receive forgiveness, and invite Jesus to take control of your life, all

of your sins – past, present, and future – are canceled out.” Confession of sins is

necessary to experience “new birth” – the supernatural miracle of becoming a totally

different person in Christ. Let’s look at how the Bible describes what takes place; “I,

even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers

your sins no more” (Isaiah 43: 25). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new

creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5: 17). “I tell you the

truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will

not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5: 24).

Salvation is our position in Christ – we’ve admitted that we can't save ourselves,

have totally committed our lives to Him, and have confessed our sins to receive

forgiveness and eternal life.

Salvation in no way depends on our own efforts – only on our willingness to

permit Jesus to save us. A drowning man cannot save himself, but he has two choices;

(1) He can splash around and fight like crazy, refusing to give the lifeguard a chance

to help him; or (2) He can give up and let himself be rescued. Like the drowning men,

you can be saved only by recognizing that you are helpless.

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“If my sins are all taken care of and I'm on my way to heaven,” some people

ask, “why is it necessary to confess them as I commit them?”

This illustration may help you. It’s reasonable to assume that a loving mother

will forgive her child no matter what he has done. However, all of us know from

experience that if that kid breaks his mother’s prettiest vase while playing basketball

in the house and tries to hide the evidence, he’ll feel uncomfortable around his mother.

Although there’s forgiveness in her heart, the mother will react when she finds a few

pieces of the broken vase. Only admitting the truth and asking for forgiveness will

restore his relationship with his mother. We must confess every sin because sin keeps

us from a clear communication with God and destroys our fellowship with Him.

Sin in our lives makes real prayer impossible; “If I had cherished sin in my

heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66: 18). “Surely the arm of the Lord

is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated

you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear”

(Isaiah 59: 1-2).

Although a Christian who keeps totally depending on Jesus is free from the

necessity of sinning, when he or she does sin, only admitting and confessing that

wrongdoing makes it possible to be rightly related to God and to other believers.

First John – that contains phrases like, “You dear children are from God,” and is

obviously written to Christians – gives us a full explanation of the reason a Christian

must confess his or her sin. “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have

fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we

confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from

all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and

his word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you

will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our

defense – Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1

John 1: 7-10; 2: 1-2). We cannot have fellowship – a clean and beautiful

communication with God – unless we agree to admit before God any behavior that

does not line up with Scripture.

Now, it is true that a Christian does not have to sin. When Jesus died on the

cross, the power of sin was broken. If we’ve truly decided that He will be the boss of

our lives and receive His power to obey His commandments, we will experience

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victory over sin. However, we can also make the unnecessary choice to do our own

thing and decide to sin. Sometimes ignorance of God's Word causes us to

unintentionally disobey Him. In either case, the moment we realize we’ve sinned, we

must agree with God that we have done wrong and ask for forgiveness.

Because the devil’s chief delight is making Christians feel like strangers to God,

causing them to question His love, and giving them a blah and boring outlook on life,

he fights for all he’s worth to keep you from confessing sin. Rationalization is a Satan-

assisted art. Even a little kid can come up with a dozen reasons to justify his

wrongdoing. Admitting that you are wrong is terribly difficult – right?

But confession of sin is a wonderful privilege. It’s the method God has designed

to restore all the joy of having an intimate friendship with Jesus after we’ve blown it

by treating Jesus like dirt. Actually, it all boils down to this; A constant willingness to

confess sin results in freedom and joy, while refusing to agree with God that we’ve

sinned leads to frustration, depression, and defeat.

Pride is our great enemy. It tells us that since you didn’t act any different from

everyone else, you must not have done anything that terrible. And it constantly asks,

“What will other people think?” My intentions were okay, so it doesn’t matter what I

did – is another copout. Don’t let pride rob you of the peace with God that comes from

squarely admitting your sin. Confession of sin is a wonderful privilege and that’s why

it’s part of the pattern of prayer Jesus gave His disciples; “Forgive us our debts, as we

also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6: 12).

Steps to Take

1. Memorize Proverbs 28: 13; “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but

whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

2. Ask God to show you any unconfessed sin in your life. Be totally honest with Him.

Admit where you’ve done something the Bible says is wrong and ask the Lord to

forgive you.

3. Review this verse every day this week, repeating it again and again. Only “overkill

memorization” will insure that you will remember the verse for the rest of your life

– and this is a verse you'll need often. Trust me!

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But It’s Impossible to Forgive Something Like That

“DAY 3”

“I can never forgive him for what he’s done to me.” Have you ever heard that

or said it yourself? Do the biblical commands to forgive seem unfair to you? How do

you feel when you read verses like this? – “For if you forgive men when they sin

against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men

their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6: 14-15). “Be kind and

compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”

(Ephesians 4: 32). Is it right to expect people to forgive things like sexual abuse, being

abandoned by a parent, or being told continually, “You'll never amount to anything”?

If we had to forgive by using only our human resources, it would be impossible.

But the God who knows everything about us and is still willing to forgive us offers

the supernatural ability to forgive with our will – not our emotions. Emotions are so

changeable and unstable that we can't begin to understand them, much less control

them. However, it’s God's miracle that sooner or later your emotions will catch up

with your will to forgive. When you say, “Lord, I forgive my father – or my sister, or

that teacher who always picked on me,” and you mean it with all your heart, reminding

yourself of your commitment to forgive whenever things get tough – someday your

emotions will clear and your resentment will be gone. We’re all different, so the time

element will vary.

God's purpose in our forgiving one another is to free both the victim and the

perpetrator of wrongdoing. The person who tells you, “I'll never forgive you for that,”

puts a big burden on you. If you decide not to forgive your mother, you become

miserable and trapped. We just can't function very well in unforgiveness. The God-

given biblical commands to forgive others are meant to help us. He didn’t give us the

capacity to forgive on our own because He wanted us to begin the incredible adventure

of trusting God for pardoning power and everything else we need. By coming to God

to receive the power to forgive, we become free and we get to know God an awful lot

better.

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There are living examples everywhere that demonstrate the difference

forgiveness makes. I once taught a Bible club for children. The atmosphere was

contaminated by the hatred displayed by some children who were caught up in a family

feud. I finally persuaded the oldest girl involved to accompany me to the home of the

children she had been harassing in order to ask forgiveness. Once we arrived, the

tension mounted. No one wanted to forgive and forget. It was all very awkward.

Finally, a six-year-old led the way, and everybody asked for forgiveness. Later when

we all walked down the street together, the children were skipping for joy. One boy

unknowingly came out with a great Bible truth; “We’re all so happy because we’ve

forgiven one another.” A new sense of contentment and peace pervaded the Bible club.

We’ve all heard people give radiant testimonies about the joy found after

forgiving an abusive parent, a swindler, or even a rapist. Forgiving and being forgiven

is one of the greatest things in the world. It changes our outlook on life, cures insomnia,

and puts new energy into life.

It’s no wonder that the devil does everything possible to keep you from asking

for forgiveness. It’s terribly humbling, and excuses for putting it off readily come to

mind. In case you haven’t caught on by now, these pretexts are sent by Satan himself.

When you do decide to ask another person for forgiveness, have you ever noticed that

it’s never the right time, and that your mouth gets so dry the words just won't come

out? Demonic resistance is tremendous. That’s normal. Satan doesn’t want you to

enjoy that wow-this-is-great feeling that asking forgiveness will give you.

Don’t be a wimp. Don’t fall for Satan’s tactics. Being willing to ask another for

forgiveness is a real sign of manliness or femininity at its best. It’s always a step of

faith, but as you purpose to say, “I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?” God will come

through with the strength. Even if the other person refuses, you'll be free. You will

have done your part, and God will bless you for it.

Steps to Take

1. Ask for Forgiveness

a. Ask God to bring to your mind all the people from whom you need to ask

forgiveness. Even if the other person is mostly at fault, you should ask

forgiveness for what you did. Make a list of these people.

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b. Decide on the wording ahead of time – something simple like – “I'm sorry I

_________________. I was wrong. Will you forgive me?” NEVER bring up

the guilt of the other party. If the person doesn’t want to pardon you, don’t get

upset. You’ve done your part and the Lord will take care of the rest.

c. If you’ve taken money, borrowed something without returning it, or damaged

something, it’s your biblical obligation to pay all you owe. If the amount is

large, arrange manageable payments. Then you will say, “I'm sorry. I

_______________ and I intend to pay you back. Will you forgive me?”

d. Decide how you will ask for forgiveness; Person to person is preferable, by

phone – and it is well worth it, or by letter. A text is acceptable but maybe use

this as a last resort, as sometimes the written word can be misinterpreted.

e. Don’t put it off. Start right away so you can begin checking names off your list.

If it includes an especially tough situation, get another Christian to pray for you

while you're asking for forgiveness. (Try to pick an appropriate time if you're

going to talk to the person or make a phone call.)

2. Paying Back What You Have Taken or Damaged.

The Bible contains a principle called restitution. That means that if you steal or

break an object or forget to return something borrowed, you are responsible to pay

the owner back. The Law of Moses explains this standard, applying it to animals,

the most valuable property the Israelites owned.

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“If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back

five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep” (Exodus 22: 1). “If a

man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner

is not present, he must make restitution” (Exodus 22: 14). The New Testament

instructs us; “Let no debt remain outstanding” (Romans 13: 8). You are responsible

to pay for the food you ate on the sly, the book you never returned to the library,

the repairing of the desk into which you chiseled your initials, and the change you

swiped from your mother’s purse. Even if you weren't a Christian at the time, it’s

still your responsibility to make it right.

Sometimes there’s no guilt involved because you damaged something accidentally.

However, the principle of being economically responsible for the loss still applies.

a. Ask God to help you remember what you’ve taken from others or in some way

destroyed. Make a list of the people and the things you owe them.

b. Start paying people back as quickly as possible so you can begin crossing names

off your list.

c. If you owe a lot of money, ask a mature, committed Christian to help you work

out a reasonable schedule of payment. Maybe you could work for the person to

pay back the debt.

YOU CAN ALWAYS AFFORD A CLEAR CONSCIENCE – NO MATTER

HOW MUCH IT COSTS YOU!

When Should I Feel Guilty?

“DAY 4”

Do you sometimes feel discouraged, depressed, and defeated, like you're a

terrible failure as a Christian, yet you're not even sure what’s wrong? Does that Iknow-

I-could-do-better-but-I-can’t-remember-doing-anything-really-terrible-yet-Ifeel-

guilty syndrome hit you at the most unexpected times? Are there days when some

vague, dark blah cloud seems to hang over you? Do you also experience specific pangs

of conscience, like a replay of the angry words you spouted off to your mother and an

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insistent inner voice saying, “Talking back to your mother was sin? Confess it to God

and apologize to your mom”?

When you confess your sins, which signals should you respond to? It’s very

important that you know the answer to this question because the devil is a liar and he

spends a lot of time laying false guilt on people.

Satan’s flip-flop strategy also includes trying to make teenagers totally

comfortable with things that are definitely contrary to God's commandments. If he can

cross the wires so you feel guilty when you're not doing anything wrong, and you

accept sin as normal behavior, he can make you miserable and ruin your life.

Although he’ll attack you directly on this, he’ll more often use the strong deception

he’s placed on the whole society, especially the media, to try to influence you.

There is only one way for you to straighten out your thinking. Always remember

that what the Bible declares to be sin is wrong – no matter what everybody else says.

But if Scripture doesn’t set forth a principle that condemns the action, why should you

feel guilty? It’s not your fault that your parents got divorced, that your brother started

taking drugs, or that Marcy decided to move in with her boyfriend. The Bible does not

hold you responsible for the decisions of other people.

There should be no guilt attached to lack of ability, making honest mistakes, or

not measuring up to the unrealistic standards you’ve set for yourself or that others

have placed before you. The Bible does not say that being clumsy, singing off-key,

not being able to understand math, missing the free throw that would have won the

game, or losing the assignment should make you feel guilty. There’s nothing wrong

with being human!

If you have that vague, yucky feeling of guilt when you haven’t specifically done

anything that the Bible says is sin, decide that it’s from the Pit and reject it decisively

and firmly.

However, when the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, it will be specific and it will

have a biblical base. If you react with pride, something the Bible repeatedly condemns,

confess it immediately and turn from it. The Bible declares that sex outside of marriage

is wrong – no matter how many people say it’s natural, or that it’s the only way to

express your love, or that it’s necessary in order to be accepted by your peers. If you're

doing it, you should feel guilty. Treat it as sin and repent.

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The Bible teaches, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility

consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2: 3). No matter how often you're

taught to assert yourself and trample on others in order to get ahead, you should feel

guilty when you take advantage of people to advance yourself.

In the tricky area of when a thought becomes a sin, you must again use Scripture

as your standard. Remember that it is not a sin to be tempted. The devil can put

thoughts into your mind. He even gave Jesus the idea of worshiping Satan – it’s no

wonder he puts horrible thoughts into your brain. You need to strongly refuse these

thoughts in the name of Jesus – but don’t feel guilty, because they're the devil’s ideas,

not yours. However, they can become yours if you say, “Hey, that’s right,” and then

continue the line of reasoning on your own. When you willfully think or act out wrong,

you're sinning.

Because this area is so important, I’d like to give you three examples.

1. The devil can give Tony thoughts and feelings of homosexuality. At that point Tony

has two choices:

a. Tony can avoid sinning and counter with;

1. I know a homosexual act is wrong because Leviticus 18: 22 says so.

2. Acting on my feeling would also be contrary to the scheme of God's

creation and therefore unnatural because I read that in Romans 1: 2627.

3. I don’t have to panic, because I believe 1 Corinthians 10: 13. “No

temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is

faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But

when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can

stand up under it.” There is a way out, because the Bible says there is.

(1)

b. Tony has another alternative, one that will lead to disaster;

1. He can start to agree with the devil’s reasoning and choose the route

Satan has planned for him. The first step is accepting the big lie

swallowed by much of society; “I was born gay.”

2. Next comes the myth; “I must express my sexuality physically.”

3. And finally; “I must choose a gay lifestyle.”

(1)

This is a tough area, which often requires the help of competent, concerned, and committed

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Christians. If you or a friend need help and hope and you don’t know where to turn, you can contact

Exodus International, in San Rafael, CA.

2. When Darcelle sees an incredibly beautiful sweater in a store window that is totally

outside her budget, the devil whispers, “You need that sweater so everyone will

notice you.” Here are her options:

a. Darcelle can let the Bible direct her response and keep clear of wrongdoing.

1. I remember that the Word of God says, “Man looks at the outward

appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16: 7). So, I'll concern

myself more with what’s in my heart than the clothes I wear.

Friends worth keeping will like me for what I am, not for what I possess.

2. Besides, “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6: 6). Lord,

thanks for the clothes I do have. I won't get depressed because I can't buy

the sweater. A smile will do a lot more to make me beautiful than a new

sweater.

b. Or Darcelle can choose wrong.

1. Darcelle can accept an invitation to attend a Pit-sponsored pity-party, after

which she blows up at her mother, saying, “I'm tired of being the poorest kid

in school. I don’t have any good clothes and I just have to have the pink

sweater I saw in the window.”

2. She may even consider shoplifting.

3. Michelle can't help hearing the worn-out Pit recording, which keeps repeating,

“All you need to make you happy and fulfilled is a boyfriend.” It’s what she does

with this thought from the enemy that counts.

a. She can respond with information from God's Word and turn from sinful

thought patterns;

1. Colossians 2: 10 tells me, “You have been given fullness in Christ.” That

means that Jesus is all I need to fill up the empty spaces of loneliness and

rejection in my life. Instead of an instant boyfriend, what I really need is

more of Jesus.

2. I really believe Jeremiah 29: 11; “For I know the plans I have for you,”

declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give

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you hope and a future.” Lord, I'll wait until you pick out the right person for

me to date. I know that any relationship outside Your will would bring me

nothing but problems and pain.

b. Or Michelle can choose to follow the devil’s thought pattern.

1. She can say, “That’s really true,” and decide that since Ian is the only

possibility around, she’ll go out with him even if he’s not a Christian.

2. When he says he’ll dump her if she doesn’t have sex with him, she can

convince herself that she needs a boyfriend so much that she’ll give in.

In order to know when to feel guilty and when not to, you must study your Bible

constantly and allow the Holy Spirit to convict you of specific sin. Scripture will also

tell you what to do with your guilt. Unless you understand the purpose of God-sent

guilt, you can become pretty mixed up. Like pain, genuine guilt is really a friend.

Without the warning that pain gives, your infected appendix could burst and you could

even die. The pain is what gives you the chance to go to the doctor, and get an

operation, and then resume a normal happy life.

Guilt serves you notice that you’ve been infected with the terrible disease called

sin. The Bible will tell you whether the name of the illness is pride, greed, immorality,

lying, or something else. By admitting your wrongdoing and being willing to turn from

it and, if necessary, make restitution, you permit God to perform the necessary

operation so you can again experience His freedom and joy.

Learn to quickly recognize a thought placed in your mind by the devil, to firmly

reject it, and save yourself one of Satan’s guilt trips by attributing the idea to him and

not to yourself. And don’t fall for the a-dark-cloud-just-fell-on-me-I-feelyucky-so-I-

must-be-guilty-of-something strategy. Remember that genuine guilt appears when you

have disobeyed God. If you haven’t done anything scripturally wrong, don’t feel

guilty.

But don’t forget that the devil will also try to cover up the guilt you feel for sin

you really do commit, so you won't deal with it until complications set in. don’t let the

enemy get by with it. Decide to confess each sin to God immediately. Also make it

right with the person you’ve sinned against.

Rejecting false guilt and dealing promptly with guilt sent by God will give you

tremendous freedom. But there’s no pat formula for recognizing the difference. Only

staying close to God and carefully studying the Bible will give you this discernment.

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Steps to Take

Take a Learning-to-Tell-the-Difference Test.

1. Should you feel guilty if:

a. You tell your mom to say you're not home so you don’t have to answer the

phone call of the kid you least want to talk to. ___ Yes ___ No

b. Your team lost the game because you struck out with bases loaded in the top of

the ninth. ___ Yes ___ No

c. You know who stole the answer key to the biology test but say nothing when

the teacher asks for information. ___ Yes ___ No

d. Your parents fight or get divorced. ___ Yes ___ No

e. You don’t have any money to give in the missionary offering. ___ Yes ___

No

f. You talk back to your mother when she’s obviously wrong. ___ Yes ___ No

g. You spread some untrue rumors about a girl who has ruined your reputation

with her lies. ___ Yes ___ No

2. Correct your test using the following answer key. Pay special attention to the

biblical reasoning behind each answer. Biblical Answers to the Test:

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a. “Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his

neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4: 25). Every “little

white lie” is a sin, and you should feel guilty every time you say something with

the intention of deceiving. Every time you don’t tell the truth, you must go

through the embarrassing ordeal of confessing it to God and the person to whom

you lied.

b. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on

those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we

are dust” (Psalm 103: 13-14). You never have to feel guilty for something you're

incapable of physically, mentally, or emotionally. It’s okay to be human.

c. “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent – the Lord detests them

both” (Proverbs 17: 15). “If a person sins because he does not speak up when

he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned

about, he will be held responsible” (Leviticus 5: 1). God expects that you do

your part to see that justice is carried out. You should feel guilty for withholding

information necessary to convict another of wrongdoing. Telling on a classmate

for cheating, stealing, or beating up on somebody is one of the hardest things

God will ask of you as a teenager in today’s world.

d. “The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of

the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son” (Ezekiel 18: 20).

Obviously, if the whole argument started because you took the car without

permission and wrecked it, you should feel guilty for your actions. Ask for

forgiveness and pay for at least part of the damage. But aside from that, this

verse sets forth a very important biblical principle; You are never responsible

for the decisions of others. You can't blame your parents for your sin, and they

can't blame you for theirs. Don’t you feel guilty for what someone else does.

e. “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,

not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8: 12). If the reason you

have no money for the announced Sunday missionary offering is that you blew

your whole paycheck on Friday, you should feel guilty. But if you're really

broke and can't put anything in the collection plate or buy an expensive

Christmas gift for your mom or pitch in to buy something for your Sunday

school teacher, don’t feel guilty. God judges your heart’s generosity, not the

size of your pocketbook.

f. “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20: 12). “Do not let any

unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building

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others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”

(Ephesians 4: 29). You should feel guilty, because even if you're right it’s your

responsibility to express yourself in such a way as to honor your mother and

build her up.

g. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20: 16).

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for

every careless word they have spoken” (Matthew 12: 36). You should feel

guilty not only for lying but for trying to play God. The Bible teaches; “Do

not take revenge, my friend, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written;

‘It is mine to avenge’ I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12: 19).

These examples should give you some idea of how to apply Scripture to the area

of guilt. Don’t hesitate to ask a mature Christian, who knows the Bible better than you

do, to help you find the verses that apply to your situation.

Forgiveness Is for Keeps.

“DAY 5”

If you're making a long-distance phone call to Tibet, or trying to whisper across

the classroom, or shouting instructions to a friend who won't turn down his radio –

then you know the frustration. You say the same thing over and over to make sure the

message gets through. And you’ve been on the other end of overkill conversations as

well. Your math teacher repeats the assignment seven times in hopes that someone

will remember to do it. Does your mom ever sound like a broken record when she

explains what she wants done? Don’t worry. That means she’s a normal mother and

that you're a typical teenager, not especially noted for your ability to follow directions!

But you're getting the point: Constant repetition implies lack of confidence in

the listener’s ability to hear or willingness to act. If you're still praying – “Lord, forgive

me for the candy bar I stole from the corner store five years ago, for knocking down

my little sister’s snowman when I was in sixth grade, and for cheating on the test on

fractions” – then you don’t understand God's forgiveness. When we agree with God

that we’ve sinned, and we do what is humanly possible to make things right with the

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person we’ve wronged and then turn from our sins, God not only forgives – He forgets.

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers

your sins no more” (Isaiah 43: 25). “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all

sin” (1 John 1: 7). And it disappears!

But you might say, “I believe He’ll totally forgive all that kid stuff, but you

don’t know what I've done – I've had an abortion.” “I was part of a group that did

hundreds of dollars’ worth of vandalism.” “I fathered a child, and I don’t even know

where he is.” “I've shoplifted enough stuff to start a store.” “I've literally given my

mother an ulcer.” But God is great, and He can forgive anything. He can and He will.

That includes sins like murder, which you can't in any way undo. God totally and

completely forgives the person who repents of wrongdoing – no matter how terrible

the offense. Although some scars may remain, God will erase the pain and the guilt.

The miracle of Christianity is not only that the sins of those who put their trust

in Christ are wiped clean, enabling them to spend eternity in heaven, but the person

also gets a new start so that he or she can enjoy complete freedom here on earth.

You don’t have to ask God for forgiveness over and over again for the same sin.

When your heart is sincere, God forgives you the first time, and His forgiveness has

no strings attached. It is His will that you resist all the accusations Satan will throw at

you concerning past sins that you’ve already confessed. When you still feel guilty after

making things right with God and others – throw the whole thing back in Satan’s face.

His agenda is to make you feel yucky, and to steal your joy by rehashing finished

business with God. Be smart enough not to put up with it.

Remember; You're not just free on bail – you're free! You never again need to

return to the prison that sin had placed around you. Because they acted like forgiven

people, God used Paul, the former persecutor of Christians; John Newton, once a slave

trader; and Nicky Cruz, an ex-gang member. The church is made up of people who

used to lie, take drugs, sleep around, and step on others to get to the top. But God's

forgiveness changes people. There’s a song that affirms that if all you have is God,

you have enough to start over again. That’s true. Take the gift of His forgiveness,

never look back, and serve the Lord with all your heart – refusing to let the memories

of forgiven sin stand in your way.

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Steps to Take

Sometimes a specific ceremony helps us visualize a commitment and record it

forever. Although you could do this alone, I’d suggest you invite a good friend to

share the experience with you.

1. Spend about fifteen minutes in complete silence before God. Have a pencil, and a

paper with two columns, along with your Bible. As you pray, asking God to

refresh your memory, write down in column one the forgiven sins for which you

still sometimes feel guilty. In column two, record any unconfessed sin that God

brings to mind – immediately confessing it.

2. Then thank God for His forgiveness – and burn the papers, symbolizing that you

and the Lord are forgetting about these sins.

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CHAPTER 10

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“BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT I WANT

TO HEAR”

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STOP, SHUT YOUR EYES, AND LISTEN

When Trent came home from Bible camp, he was ready to turn the world upside

down for Jesus. He’d rededicated his life to the Lord and felt God was calling him to

be a pastor. Working hard in his church, he channeled his enthusiasm and boundless

energy into whatever seemed most exciting at the moment.

He convinced almost every kid in the youth group to join the Pro-Life march

and organized a picnic afterwards. Then he put his heart into planning extravagant

evangelistic socials for the youth group. But when the second one fizzled, he decided

to join the door-to-door evangelism team. At first, he really depended on God and saw

several people accept Christ. But the routine of it all and the North Dakota winter

weather caused him to look for greener pastures. All the while, he was neglecting his

schoolwork, sloughing off on jobs his parents assigned to him, and ignoring his little

sisters.

One night his parents had a serious talk with him.

“Trent,” his father began, “we’re very happy to see you involved in church and

choosing the right kind of friends. But you keep jumping from one thing to another,

and your grades are suffering.”

“We’re so proud that you're thinking about the ministry,” his mother said, “and

we know that Christian work demands discipline and the ability to stick with whatever

you start. You aren’t developing these qualities. We’d like to help you.”

Trent was stunned. He was always thought of as a “super-Christian”. After all,

he was doing the Lord’s work, and to him homework didn’t seem to be very

“spiritual.”

His father saw the look on his face and interrupted his thoughts. “A young man

of your ability shouldn’t be sliding by with a C average. The sidewalk hasn’t been

shoveled for three weeks, and you didn’t even do this week’s lesson for the

Bible study course you're taking.”

“But, Dad,” Trent countered, “you know I'm the star of the Christmas play, and

we’ve been practicing every other night. Really, I don’t think worldly knowledge is

all that important. Besides, I read my Bible lesson, even if I didn’t fill it out.”

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“Son, until you learn diligence and responsibility, God will never be able to use

you effectively,” his father affirmed quietly. “I'm ordering you to shovel off the walk

now – and asking you to think about what we said.”

Trent obediently started the snow-removal project, all the while feeling that his

parents didn’t correctly understand God's priorities. “Most adults,” he reasoned,

“are very materialistic, so they emphasize things like good grades and always getting

your work done on time. If the Lord comes back next week, it won't make the slightest

difference whether I can explain photosynthesis or know who wrote Moby Dick.”

For Sunday, their church had invited a famous guest speaker and his topic was;

“Listening to God.” He began by saying, “Many people do not fully believe that God

speaks today. If we think we get direction only through Scripture, then we will miss

out on much of what God has to share, because He will speak so often through his

Spirit, circumstances, and other people. We must make absolutely certain that we are

fully convinced and persuaded that God does speak to us personally about our families,

our businesses, our finances, our hurts, our frustrations, and our fears.” (1) The visiting

pastor recommended three things;

1. After your daily Bible reading, sit in quietness before the Lord for five minutes to

let the Holy Spirit impress something on your heart.

2. Take notes in Sunday school class, Bible studies, and church services, because God

may want to say something directly to you through these teachers of His Word.

3. When you're facing difficult or unusual circumstances, ask God what He wants to

teach you through the experience.

(1) Charles Stanley, Listening to God, Nelson Audio Library, side 4.

Trent was all pumped up to listen to God. He decided he’d ask God to show him

specifically whether or not he was called to be a pastor. When he talked it over with

Steve, his youth group leader, Trent excitedly exclaimed, “And maybe God will even

send an angel to tell me!”

Steve smiled knowingly and asked; “Trent, approximately how many years

passed between the events recorded in Chapter 12 of Genesis when God called

Abraham, and the writing of Revelation, Chapter 22?” Trent had no idea. Steve said,

“The answer is about 2000 years”. How many people do you think God was dealing

with during that time? How many of them saw angels? Not very many, right? God is

God and He can do whatever He wants, but His most common ways of talking to us

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are through the Bible, through the still small voice of His Spirit, through

circumstances, and through other people. Once you start looking for visions of angels,

instead of sincerely seeking to hear God's voice, however He wishes to speak to you,

the door is opened for satanic deception. Hearing from God should be your goal. You

don’t need some exotic experience to go along with it.”

That calmed Trent down a little, and he brought a notebook and pen to the

Wednesday night service with the intention of taking notes. But what the pastor was

saying made him uncomfortable; “Unless you are a diligent worker, God will never

be able to use you. Even if you're sincere, talented, and well-versed in Scripture, you'll

burn out without perseverance and hard work.”

Trent stopped writing in the middle of the sentence and started drawing the

robots he was famous for in sixth grade. His sermon note-taking had bombed, but he

thought the chapter-a-day-plus-listening remedy might rescue his self-image. He read

the first chapter of 1 Corinthians and attempted to sit quietly for five minutes. But after

one minute and 48 seconds, which seemed like an eternity, he flipped on his iPhone,

vowing that tomorrow’s period of silence would last a little longer and that he’d

gradually work up to five minutes.

On the fourth day, he read something that really grabbed his attention. During

his short time of concentrating on listening to God, the words of that verse kept coming

back to him; “Now it is required that those who had been given a trust must prove

faithful” (1 Corinthians 4: 2). The only “visions” he had were of an un-shoveled

sidewalk, a half-written English theme, and an un-kept promise to his little sister,

Jessica. Instead of doing the work his parents had assigned to him, completing the

composition, and making plans to take Jessica to the zoo on Saturday, he flicked on

the TV with the excuse that God didn’t seem very interested in telling him whether or

not he should be a pastor.

Trent then turned his full attention to a project designed to put a Christian comic

book into the hands of every student at Armstrong High. The idea was to pass them

out to students as they left the school grounds at 3:00 p.m. Trent and Deb were given

the street next to the teachers’ parking lot. When the juniors’ counselor, Mr.

Perkins, walked by, Trent smiled. “I could give you a free comic book too,” he joked.

“Would it be beneath your dignity to read it?”

“Not at all,” the amiable Mr. Perkins had replied. “I might even like it.”

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Trent thought no more about it until his homeroom teacher handed him a slip,

asking him to make an appointment with Mr. Perkins. Wondering what was up, he

arranged to see him that afternoon.

Mr. Perkins closed the door to his office, cleared his throat, and began, “Trent,

I just don’t have any respect for religious fanatics like yourself. You can pass out

propaganda like mad, pull off a sensational religious speech in English class – and at

the same time earn shamefully low grades. It’s actually remarkable that a kid as smart

as you are can come up with such a terrible report card. Mrs. Doyle asked me to talk

to you. She feels she’s wasting her time on you. She wants you transferred to honors

English where you'll flunk if you don’t do the work. I called your parents, and they

agree with Mrs. Doyle. What have you got to say about it?”

Trent, for once in his life, was speechless. He sputtered something about

needing a couple of days to think it over and asked if he could leave. Once out in the

hall, he realized that God had tried in many ways to get his attention. But because he

hadn’t wanted to face the consequences, he’d blocked out God's voice. If he’d only

realized it and had been willing to listen, he would have received God's instructions

the first time He spoke – through his parents.

God had quite a lot for Trent to learn before he could even think of becoming a

pastor.

YOU Have an Appointment With the Creator of the

Universe …

… to learn strategies for listening to God.

All Ears!

“DAY 1”

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Very few things get the attention of everyone – a fire alarm, an air raid siren, a

lady in a bathing suit riding an elephant down main street, perhaps – but certainly not

spoken words or written instructions. Communication breaks down all the time. Often

it is because we didn’t pay careful attention to the things we were being told.

Real listening requires a lot of active energy. It’s something few people know

how to do – just look around your classroom during a teacher’s lecture and you'll see

what I mean! Most kids easily tune out a parent’s scolding, instructor’s assignment, a

when-I-was-a-boy comparison, plus anything else they don’t happen to be particularly

interested in. Some couldn't concentrate on totally listening for ten minutes even if

their lives depended on it.

The reason so many teenagers – and adults – hear nothing from God is that they

tune Him out just like everyone else. Listening isn’t that easy, but you can learn the

necessary skills.

The first thing to get straight is that you don’t call the shots. God does. You

can't dictate to Him when or how to speak to you. You can't just request that God send

you a dream in Technicolor every time He has something to tell you, that He install a

heavenly TV channel for you to tune in at your leisure or send an angel each time He

has a message for you. He is God and He will decide when and how to communicate

with you.

As He did so often in the New Testament, God will speak to you through His

Spirit. An impression from the Holy Spirit indicated to Peter that Ananias and

Sapphira were lying about the amount of money they sold their property for; prompted

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Philip to approach the Ethiopian in his chariot to witness to him; led Peter to go with

the men Cornelius had sent; caused the church at Antioch to choose Paul and Barnabas

as missionaries; and kept Paul from preaching in Asia.

We know that Peter had just been up on the roof praying before he received

instructions from the Holy Spirit, and while the Antioch church was fasting and

praying, they sensed God wanted them to send out two missionaries. My guess is that

Philip was meditating on God's Word – not thinking about the Roman Circus as he

walked along the road that day, and that Paul had opened his heart to the Holy Spirit’s

voice by spending time with God.

You can't be receptive to God's still small voice if your mind is buzzing with

finishing the English assignment, impressing that certain someone, hurrying to get to

school on time, trying out for the team, and planning a ski weekend. You need to take

time to quiet down – five minutes to a half an hour. At first this may seem impossible

and pointless. While God may be working on the inside of you, it will probably take a

while before you learn to enjoy spending time with Him and sense His Holy Spirit

giving you the specific guidance you need. When you stop rushing around and sit still,

you make it possible for God to get your attention.

Have you ever wished that someone cared enough about you to want to spend

unhurried time alone with you? Wouldn’t you like to be so important to someone that

time with you was top priority – no excuses to get going, no urgent business to attend

to, no impatience with hearing your story over and over again? There is Someone like

that. God loves you so much He wants you all to himself. It’s up to you to find a place

and a time to meet with Him without competition and distracting noises. Often the

only possibility of this kind of stillness is early in the morning or late at night. Morning

is usually best because your mind isn’t filled with the problems of the day and no one

will disturb your tranquility at 6:00 a.m. If you want Him to show you His love, shower

you with His peace, share His secrets and guide your life, you have to make the

appointments.

One of the biggest obstacles to hearing from God in our modern age is that our

minds are so cluttered with garbage that we can't really distinguish His voice. If you’ve

been watching demonic horror movies, soaking in hours of TV, endlessly playing a

video game and / or listening a lot to secular music, your mind will be so full of junk

that God won't be able to get a word in edgewise. Tune-in to your local Christian radio

station, find some downloads for your Phone by artists who know Jesus as Savior –

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and above all, spend some time reading the Bible and good Christian books. Clear out

the trash, so that impressions sent by God are not drowned out.

God wants to speak to us directly through the Bible. Be an active listener by

taking notes on each sermon and Bible talk you hear, participating in the discussions

in your Sunday school class or Bible study. Devote some special time to digging into

God's Word and read a Scripture passage each day. Very often God will apply its

words to your specific situation. Open your Bible expecting God to speak to you. It’s

a good idea to have a notebook and pen ready to write down some specific insights

you get from God's Word. Even if you don’t find a verse which tells you whether or

not to accept the part-time job offer, filling your mind with Scripture will enable you

to better discern what God's wants to tell you through His Spirit, other people, or

circumstances.

Like, Trent, you may not realize how much God wants to teach you through

your parents, your teachers, and others in authority over you. When someone criticizes

you, instead of immediately defending yourself, ask God if there’s some truth in what

was said. Ask Him if you should change in some way. In some cases, it would be wise

for you to ask a trusted Christian friend to evaluate the unfavorable comments about

your character honestly. Don’t become so proud that you shut out the things God wants

to tell you through other people.

It’s true that some circumstances are arranged by the devil. Job’s catastrophe,

the temptation of Jesus, and Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” are biblical examples. But you

must also remember that God permitted Satan to cause these painful situations. When

trials come we pray that God will bail us out. That is the right thing to do. But we

should also ask a question; “Lord, what do you want me to learn through this ordeal?”

If you charge your way into a financial jam, God's first step toward giving you

prosperity will be teaching you how to manage money. If you didn’t crack a book all

month, it is very doubtful that God will supernaturally give you the answers to the test

questions. Often God tries to get our attention through unusual or difficult

circumstances, but we’re just not listening.

If you really start taking notes in church, set aside priority time to sit quietly

before God, carefully evaluate what others say to you, and try to learn God's lessons

from each circumstance, some people might think you're a little weird. But if you

don’t, you'll miss out on a lifetime of heavy-duty blessings like:

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1. Seeing God clear up your confusion.

2. Finding the security niche God has for you while the storms of life rage.

3. Exchanging sadness and pessimism for joy and peace.

4. Discovering friendship with God as the cure for your loneliness.

5. Confessing your sinfulness and rebellion in order to experience forgiveness and

the release of flowing with God's purposes.

6. Replacing insecurity with God's rock-solid reality.

7. Getting clear direction in chaotic situations.

No matter how messed up the world gets, no one can ever take from you “the

secret place with God” that you build by forming habits that enable you to listen to

what He wishes to tell you.

Steps to Take

1. Use the chart below to evaluate your listening habits this week.

2. It would be a good idea to make copies of this chart so you could check your

progress week after week. (Few people would say that Christians should never

watch TV, etc., but one must use discretion and limit the time spent in front of the

Tellie.)

LISTENING HABITS – HOW DID YOU DO THIS WEEK?

Did You

Junk Food Diet /

Spiritual

Advice,

Difficult or

Take Notes? Secular

Vitamins /

Correction

Unusual

Christian

circumstances

(including

unusual

blessings):

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Sunday

Hours of TV ___

Hours of music

Criticism

1. ______

morning

___

Received:

Hours of secular

2. ______

service

___________

music ___

Hours of TV or

___________

Youth

radio ___

3. ______

Hours of

___________

Meeting

4. ______

video/movies/Face Time in:

___________

Bible

book ___

___________

Bible reading

Did you ask

study

Did you:

God what you

___

are to learn

Other

Pray about it?

from

these

services

Listening to God ___

___

things? ____

Confirm it

Prayer ___

with

appropriate

Reading

scripture? ___

Christian books

___

Get mature

Christian

advice? ___

You Are What You Think

“DAY 2”

An old saying goes like this; “That which exists in the well of your thoughts

will sooner or later come up in the bucket of your speech.” What we mull over in our

minds also spills over into our actions. It’s no wonder that the mind is the world’s

greatest battlefield. If the devil can infiltrate your thoughts, he’s on his way to winning

– and you're on your way to sinning!

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There are some techniques that can be used either for good or for evil.

Hopefully you’ve been warned about Eastern meditation and chanting, which forces

one to concentrate on pagan deities and false teaching, with the goal of achieving a

state in which all thinking ceases – opening the mind up to demonic forces! Any

physical benefit of this kind of meditation is completely offset by very real dangers.

However, there is also what I call chewing-the-cud-Bible-meditation using

repetition of scriptural truth, which can help you to relax and focus your mind on God.

Like the contented cow, that probably enjoys its food more and for a longer time than

any animal, your concentrating and refocusing on a little piece of Scripture can give

you immense satisfaction and peace of mind. The goal of Christian meditation is never

a blank mind. It is not some good work engaged in to gain God's favor. It is rather

hiding God's Word in our hearts so we won't sin against Him. It is consciously putting

our minds on God's truth so we don’t soak in the humanistic thinking all around us. It

is digesting Scripture chunk-by-chunk and making it part of us.

When you feel like taking revenge, refuse to take your eyes off the words “Love

your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6: 27) until that message melts

the feelings of anger and resentment and you come up with a specific plan to put it

into practice. If you're really upset and about to do something rash, say out loud, “Be

still and know that I am God,” (Psalm 46: 10) over and over until you sense that the

Lord of the universe is perfectly capable of handling your problem. As you face

seemingly irresistible temptation, making a little song out of “When you are tempted,

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he will also provide a way out” can save you from buying Satan’s I’ve got-you-this-

time lie.

Other times, meditating on Scripture is like putting money in the bank for future

use. The verses you over-memorize will stay with you forever. If you go to sleep

repeating “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5: 18), your dreams and

the waking moments of your tomorrow may be quite different than if you used your

drifting-off-to-dreamland time planning a tantrum to force your dad to let you have

the car Friday night! Having firmly entrenched that biblical principle in your memory

and your value system, it will come back to you when you need it most.

Total concentration on a phrase from Scripture is a good way to relax. It’s

different from reading or studying, which is more like work. You’ve probably noticed

that some of the devil’s worst attacks come when your mind isn’t fully in gear.

Forming a habit of chewing on a short little phrase of God's Word can give your mind

the rest it needs and keep out demonic interference at the same time.

Isaiah 26: 3 is a key concept; “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind

is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee” (KJV). Or in today’s English; “You will

keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” It’s the

not-so-secret formula for peace of mind. Obviously, you can't read the Bible all day

long, nor can you sit around all day thinking about God. But if you take five minutes

each day to concentrate on a phrase or sentence of Scripture, you can pull it out and

chew on it during every moment your mind isn’t occupied doing a math problem,

studying for the history test, or giving change to a customer. You can walk to your

locker repeating, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1

Timothy 6: 6). You can iron your clothes singing to yourself, “God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble” (James 4: 6). You can wait at the bus stop, letting “So

do not fear; for I am with you” (Isaiah 41: 10) run through your mind like one of those

neon signs that constantly repeats its message.

This isn’t some gimmick, however. If your relationship with Jesus isn’t vital

enough so you can truly trust Him, your “meditation” could be just playing word

games. The Bible only comes to life if we have a love relationship with the Author. If

you’ve ever fallen in love, you know how you hang on every word spoken by that

special someone. You think the jokes are funny, the stories interesting, and the ideas

fantastic. Love and trust go together. You trust the person because you love him or

her, and you love because you trust.

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Only if you love and trust Jesus completely can His promises produce faith and

dissolve fear. To some people “For God so loved the world” means nothing, but to

those of us who have experienced that wonderful love personally, it’s a beautiful

reminder of what our Savior has done for us and what He wants to do for every person

on earth. Fall in love with Jesus and let His words bring you the peace, joy, comfort,

and truth that you need.

Steps to Take

Suggestions for meditating on 1 Peter 5: 7; “Cast all your anxiety on him because he

cares for you.”

1. Read the verse out loud several times.

2. Read it out loud, emphasizing a different word each time: CAST all your anxiety

on him because he cares for you. Cast ALL your anxiety on him because he cares

for you, etc.

3. Write it out a couple of times.

4. Picture the recommended action in your mind as you repeat the verse, exchanging

the word anxiety with what’s bothering you at the moment: Cast all your worries

about passing algebra on Him because He cares about you. Cast all your concern

about being popular on Him because He cares about you, etc.

5. Describe the actions of the God who cares about you by adding phrases to the end

of the verse as a way to make it personal: I will cast all my cares on Him because

He cares for me by giving me a friend like Carla. I will cast all my cares

on Him because He cares for me by providing a good Bible study to attend. I will

cast all my cares on Him because He cares for me by loving me even when no one

else seems to.

6. Using a tune, you know or one you make up, sing the verse a few times or invent

a rhythm for repeating the verse.

7. Read the verse silently a few times, just enjoying its rich meaning.

8. Remember the verse whenever your mind isn’t fully occupied and repeat it to

yourself throughout the day.

9. Choose other short verses or parts of verses and go through each of these steps. Try

these for starters:

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a. “A gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15: 1).

b. “Trust in the Lord and do good” (Psalm 37: 3).

c. “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” (Psalm 56: 3).

d. “The word of the Lord stands firm forever” (1 Peter 1: 25).

e. “Pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62: 8).

Are You Listening to the Right Station?

“DAY 3”

Thousands of thoughts flit through your mind each day; “I want almond-fudge

instead of strawberry.” “He sure is a bore.” “Lord, that flower you made is

sensational.” “Maybe the only way to get a good grade is to cheat.” “I know Jesus

would want me to love her anyway.” Your ideas can be influenced by Satan, come

from God, or originate in your own mind. How do you tell the difference?

Some people flippantly declare things like, “The Lord told me to find another

youth group,” Or, “I heard from God, and I'm dropping chemistry.” It’s very possible

to substitute what we want to do for instructions that really do come from God. On the

other extreme, there are those who are so fearful of making a mistake that they're never

certain God has spoken to them. They expect nothing and they get it every time. To

add to the confusion, Satan masquerades as an angel of light trying to make us think

his ideas are really from God. How can we recognize when God talks to us?

First of all, we need a right relationship with God and a willingness to obey

Him. If you're unwilling to forgive your father, the devil can easily talk you into not

respecting him. When you're hiding out from God because of a sin you won't admit,

Satan’s solutions seem very logical. Pride blurs God's reality. Besides, God won't

waste His breath if you’ve already decided not to obey Him. Unless you're walking

close to Him, ready to do what He tells you, forget about hearing from Him.

The real test of any idea you feel you’ve received from God is this; Is it

consistent with Scripture? When the Bible says “Do not be yoked together with

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unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6: 14), you know God will never “lead” you to marry a

non-Christian. Scripture declares, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord”

(Ephesians 6: 1), and “Do everything without complaining or arguing” (Philippians 2:

14) So your decision to make a stand against having to do three hours of housework

every Saturday can't be from God. “Do to others what you would have them do to

you” (Matthew 7: 12) means that the Lord did not tell you never to speak to Shauna

again.

There are many times when we should check what we feel God is telling us to

do with some mature committed Christian. Pray about it, too, and don’t rush into

anything. Some of the best advice I've ever received is this “God's will today will still

be God's will tomorrow. Take some time and check it out.” There is a tremendous

difference between unwillingness to obey God and caution that just wants to make

sure before acting. God has a great deal of patience and will confirm His will for those

who really want to do it. A sudden impulse to act now is usually from the devil. He

has tricked many well-meaning Christians with the if-you’re going-to-obey-God-

you’ve-got-to-act-now routine. It’s his purpose to provoke rash action because he

knows you’d never fall for his trap if you thought things through. There are

emergencies in which obeying God required immediate measures but they are rare.

Although there may be a struggle in coming to the decision, doing God's will is

accompanied by a deep inner peace. Most of the devil’s thoughts and propositions give

feelings of agitation, compulsion, and frenzy. That I-can’t-stand-it-any-moreI’ve-got-

to-do-something-I’m-not-sure-what-but-I’ll-try-anything feeling should flash a

blinking red warning sign. It means that you must stop and spend both quantity and

quality time with God in order to straighten out the confusion.

It has been said, “Taking the easy way is what makes rivers and men crooked.”

Usually, satanic suggestions help us get our own way at the expense of others. His

advice encourages us to bypass integrity and hard work to earn easy money, gives us

excuses to play the game of life by our own set of rules, or provides us a scheme for

being noticed and applauded. The Bible, however, is full of things like complete

surrender to God, loving your brother and your enemy, encouraging one another, not

causing someone else to stumble, giving to the poor, and bearing one another’s

burdens. None of these fits very well with doing what comes naturally. So much of

following God requires sacrifice, courage, and diligence. You should seriously

question a call to a beach ministry in Hawaii or a desire to be rich and famous for

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Jesus. What God tells you to do will always fit in with all the principles laid down in

Scripture and will seldom be exactly what you planned anyway.

The enemy will appeal to our pride – thoughts like: “You should really be youth

group president instead of Brett.” “People never pay much attention to you.”

“Everybody’s got it in for you, or they would have followed your suggestion.” “If no

one is going to show any more appreciation for what you do than that, just quit,” These

are variations on themes the devil has used successfully for centuries. Another of his

lines is to lead you to believe that you, or a group you are part of, has a new insight

from God or secret knowledge that no one else possesses. The scenario goes something

like this; “Just think, the Bible has been around in complete form for almost 2000

years, and you're the first person / group to discover this hidden truth that will

revolutionize the world.” You are extremely important to God and to all humanity as

a member of the body of Christ, and you don’t need to fall for such nonsense in order

to feel significant.

That doesn’t mean that God won't show you new things from Scripture that

you’ve never seen before. He will. He may use you to impart this to others who haven’t

noticed them yet either. But keep in mind that Bible students the world over and

throughout the ages have had the same Holy Spirit to teach them truth from the Word

of God.

Probably everybody likes a big emotional rush – that rollercoaster tingle in the

stomach, that I'm-hopelessly-in-love feeling, or the thrill of a lifetime opportunity.

And it is true that God does give us some emotionally stimulating times. It’s great to

be singing praises with everyone else and to feel God's presence. God is God. He can,

and He does, give His children supernatural experiences – sometimes accompanied by

lots of excitement.

It’s very dangerous, however, to confuse emotions with reality. For one person,

conversion to Christ is a supercharged dramatic event, and for another it might be very

quiet and matter-of-fact. Although what is outwardly evident in the two cases is very

different, the inward reality is the same. There are dangers in looking for emotional

experience instead of seeking God, however He may choose to reveal himself. If we’re

counting on some big rush, the devil is capable of supplying it. If you're hearing literal

voices, they can be satanic.

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The same caution must be exercised with dreams and visions. A study of people

who have taught false doctrines throughout the centuries will show you how the devil

has sometimes used dreams and visions to convince people to accept ideas that

completely contradict Scripture. Just because it seems miraculous is no guarantee that

it comes from God. Be sure you follow God and His revelation in the Bible – not your

emotions, or your dreams and visions.

You must be aware of the pitfalls in order to avoid them, but don’t give up on

hearing from God. Letting God speak to you is an exciting adventure. If you’ve prayed,

aligned your life with God's will, have pure motives, find the direction consistent with

Scripture and the wisdom of other mature Christians, then knowing that God wants

you to do something is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

One such experience is significant to me personally. Teaching positions were

scarce and I’d prayed a lot about what to do. Suddenly I got two job offers in one day!

When I stepped into the dingy halls of Edison High School, I was certain that God

wanted me to turn down a higher paying job in the suburbs to teach there. Only

afterward did I discover that I’d escaped a terrible interview that other new teachers

described as an ordeal, because the guy who was to interview me had been on vacation.

Later I learned the reason I’d been chosen, even though there was a fat file of

applications – a group of Christian students were praying for an advisor for the

Christian club they wanted to start. I knew God had placed me in that school and I felt

special – awed by how He had arranged “impossible” circumstances to put me where

He wanted me to be.

Learn to listen to God. You'll be glad you did.

Steps to Take

1. Write down one or two things you feel God is impressing on your heart.

_____________.

2. Ask yourself the question: Did God say _______________? And answer it by using

the following tests to find out.

3. Is your lifeline tuned in to God's frequency so that you're presently in a position to

hear from God?

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a. Have you gotten rid of all the Lord-don’t-ask-me-to-do-that-because-I-won’t

issues?

b. Are you free from a this-is-what-I-want-God-to-tell-me-and-it’s-the-only-

thing-I’ll-listen-to attitude?

c. Are you willing to let God instruct you however He pleases?

d. Are you reading the Bible regularly?

e. Are you praying and spending quiet time with the Lord?

f. Have you confessed and forsaken every known sin?

4. Does the message pass the real test?

a. Does it square with the biblical doctrine that God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

– three persons, one unity) is totally superior to you, a mere human, and part of

His creation who will never become some kind of a god?

b. Is it consistent with the biblical teachings to “serve one another in love”

(Galatians 5: 13), “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5: 14), “Love

your enemies” (Matthew 5: 44), and “Honor one another above yourselves”

(Romans 12: 10)?

5. Does it uphold every one of the Ten Commandments, plus every other doctrine and

command in the Bible?

6. Do other mature, consistent Christians agree that this idea could have come from

God? (Obviously, this doesn’t apply to the little daily decisions of life.)

God is Speaking – Are You Listening?

“DAY 4”

God didn’t stop talking to His people the minute the Bible was finished. He isn’t

sitting smugly up in heaven while some poor soul is trying to find a verse that will

indicate whether or not to buy the blue jeans on the half-price sale, or whether or not

joining the swim team is a good idea. It isn’t true that He’s only interested in the big

areas of life, where He has given specific scriptural instructions. Jesus assures us,

“Even the very hairs on your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10: 30).

You are important to God, and He wants to guide you in every area of your life

– if you're prepared to listen to whatever means He uses – His Holy Spirit, another

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person, circumstances, or the Bible. As the Holy Spirit makes Scripture applicable to

you personally, He could use a verse such as “Bring the whole tithe into the

storehouse” (Malachi 3: 10) to remind you that you haven’t given Him any money for

three weeks and that using all your money to buy a pair of Ray Bans you don’t need

is putting Him in second place.

The devil may try to convince you that you're not very important, that what you

do doesn’t really matter, and that God would never take the time to specifically show

you His will. Don’t believe it! Each one who gives his or her life totally to God can

make a significant difference. Decide to be a person who changes your world – and

you can only do that if you listen to God.

Another from-the-Pit big lie is that God is a big meany, a super killjoy who’ll

only yell and scream at you like authority figures who've hurt you. Because the devil

runs such a successful propaganda campaign, a lot of people are scared of God. They

wouldn’t want to hear from Him. They're afraid. But the truth is, God has your best

interests in mind. Communicating with Him is a wonderful investment of time and

energy.

Obviously, if you're leading a double life, you're aware that seriously getting in

touch with God would blow your cover. If you're rebellious or proud, you probably

wouldn’t even answer a long-distance phone call from heaven! If you have a nobody’s-

gonna-tell-me-what-to-do attitude, you may as well steer clear of the Almighty.

However, you could also come to the conclusion that since God went to all the trouble

to create you and send Jesus to die for you, He really does love you a lot! And it would

only be sensible to want to hear instructions from the One who knows everything there

is to know and really cares about you.

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In order to do that, you need to develop some good listening habits. Jesus told

an interesting parable about how people hear God's Word. When the sower threw out

his seed, which represents the Word of God, the results depended on the condition of

the soil into which it fell. What God has to tell you will never sink in if you have a

listening problem.

The story Jesus told describes some hindrances to hearing from God.

Some seed fell on a path that was so packed down that the seed couldn’t

penetrate. This represents a closed mind. This person has already decided what he or

she wants to listen to and what to tune out. Sometimes it takes a lot to get our attention.

I remember a teenager who gave up on Christianity and became very cynical and bitter.

In quick succession he had three serious automobile accidents in which he was not

hurt, but his attitude remained unchanged. I shuddered, wondering what God would

have to do to get through to him. Closing your mind to what God is trying to tell you

is very dangerous.

The seed that fell on rocky places did sprout – but the thin layer of soil on top

of the rocks didn’t allow the roots to grow deeper, so the little plants eventually died.

The people described here are cloudy-minded hearers. They’ll gladly accept God's

Word – or anything else- but it’s all very superficial. Unless a relationship with God

is deepened by serious Bible study to find out who God is and what He wants of us,

it’s easy to stray off into the showy, the thrilling, or the exotic. If you don’t sink your

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roots deeply into biblical principles and realize that Jesus isn’t a temporary rush – He’s

the “way, the truth and the life” – you may mistake another voice for His own.

If a plant or a tree doesn’t have deep roots, any little storm can topple it. If you're not

anchored in biblical truth, the winds of adversity could destroy your flimsy faith.

The thorny-soil people are those who have cluttered minds. Their thoughts are

so full of impressing members of the opposite sex, school activities, homework,

money, and possessions that listening to God isn’t possible. There’s just too much

competition, too much busyness, too much noise to even pay attention to a Sunday

sermon, much less take the time to be alone with God. When your dad can't put down

the evening paper long enough to listen to you, or when your friend doesn’t want to

talk to you on the phone because he’ll miss part of his favorite TV show, you feel hurt.

How does God feel when He tries to talk to you?

But take heart. You can learn to be an alert listener. (2)

(2) Many ideas for this section have been adapted from Charles Stanley’s book on tape, How to

Listen to God, Nelson Audio Library.

Steps to Take.

1. You can come to church well-rested with an I-know-God-has-something-to-sayto-

me-today-and-I-don’t-want-to-miss-it attitude. You can buy a notebook and take

notes so you'll remember what was said.

2. Prepare your Sunday school lesson ahead of time and participate in class. You can

ask questions and get your youth pastor to teach you how to do some Bible

research. Take part in the discussions in your Bible study or Sunday school class.

If you don’t understand the meaning of a certain verse, do some investigation or

ask a serious Bible student. If you think the Holy Spirit has impressed something

on your mind, check it out with Scripture.

3. Be alert to events and / or statements that can confirm to you that God has spoken,

and you're on the right track.

4. Respond to what you hear by putting it into practice. Buy flowers for your mom;

apologize to your friend; clean your room without being told, or whatever God is

asking you to do. Obey instantly.

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God does want to guide you through this difficult and dangerous life. He wants

to warn you of pitfalls, direct you through the fog, and tell you He loves you. If you

don’t take the time and trouble to learn to be a good listener, you'll miss out on so

much.

Obey Is a Four-Letter Word!

“DAY 5”

Every teenage generation from the dawn of time has heard it; “The young people

of today are going to the dogs.” Although that means different things to different

people, it’s always negative. And you’d have to admit that sexual promiscuity, drug

use, disrespect for authority, crime, and shoplifting are on the increase.

But looking at things objectively, one has to reach the conclusion that today’s

youth just don’t know how to cope with the world they're facing. Divorced parents,

chaotic homes, lack of supervision and care, absence of sure standards, insecurity, and

inability to trust others – all these things make the teenage world anything but a young-

only-once paradise. Those who don’t know Jesus face a world without hope. It’s no

wonder that escaping into alcohol, drugs, gambling, video games, gangs, and lots of

other less-than-healthy alternatives appear attractive. So often there seems to be no

way out.

Charles Stanley made a very interesting observation, with which I completely

agree; “Listening to God and obeying Him are the only constructive methods that

enable us to survive the storms of modern life.” (3)

Life is like a maze in which every wrong turn brings peril and heartache. Only

hearing God's voice and obeying it can keep you out of the serious trouble caused by

unwise decisions.

Willingness to obey is a prerequisite for hearing “a word from the Lord.” God

knows everything. He knows whether or not you'll obey Him before He even

communicates with you. Even though His mercy and compassion often cause Him to

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warn you even if you're not ready to listen, He basically gives His directions only to

those who are willing to follow them.

(3) Charles Stanley, Listening to God, Nelson Audio Library, side 4.

The devil works overtime making people afraid to obey God. Here are a few of

his campaign slogans; “Christians don’t have any fun.” “If you really dedicate your

life to God, He’ll call you to be a miserable missionary.” (I happen to know a lot of

missionaries, and they're very happy and fulfilled people!) “Really spiritual people

dress out of style and are so heavenly minded they're no earthly good.” “If you stood

up for Jesus at school, you'd lose all your friends.” “She rededicated her life to the

Lord two years ago and she hasn’t had a date since.”

To be honest with you, obeying God isn’t always easy. Like the mother who

serves vegetables instead of chocolate, God's priority is what is good for us – not what

we want most. Just as the coach insists on rigorous training, which produces aching

muscles and tired bodies, God concentrates on stimulating us to reach our full potential

in Him – not on babying us and catering to our every desire. Instead of a self-centered

comfort-zone existence, God challenges us to become agents of change in the world.

It’s a mind-blower, but God chose to depend on us for evangelizing the lost,

comforting the hurting, and showing His love to people who need Him. You have to

give up a lot to totally dedicate yourself to a cause, but it makes you a lot happier than

being an unproductive couch potato!

I heard an interesting story on the radio the other day. One man decided that the

quickest way to get rich was to discover uranium. He invested in a Geiger counter and

proceeded to explore a mountainous area, looking for the valuable mineral. Braving

the elements, sometimes with insufficient funds to eat very well, he kept up the search

for years. And he succeeded. He sold his claim for a fantastic sum, bought a mansion,

retired early, and proceeded to live in luxury. However, he soon became bored and

depressed, confiding that the happy years had been those in which he was trying to

reach his goal. Now he felt that life had nothing exciting to offer anymore.

Jesus put it so well: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever

loses his life for me will save it” (Luke 9: 24) I'm convinced that He was referring to

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time as well as to eternity. The way to adventure, excitement, joy, and fulfillment is

following God – even if, at times, the going gets tough. It’s frustrating to be on the

nothing’s-happened-yet-to-change-this-terrible-situation side of a miracle. But when

the Red Sea opens before you, there’s nothing quite like it. Following God and

watching Him work in seemingly impossible circumstances is where it’s at! You're a

key person in the most important project in the history of the universe. Winning the

world for Jesus is a crusade worthy of the best within you, a cause that will enable you

to make a difference for all eternity.

Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it”

(Luke 11: 28). God wants you to enjoy His very best. It’s His will that you enter into

marriage with no regrets, no shameful past you wish you could erase. He wants you

to experience being used by Him to help someone choose heaven, seeing your prayers

answered, sensing His peace in the midst of incredible chaos, and savoring the security

of knowing what is right and what is wrong. Obey is a four-letter word – a very good

one if God is the Person giving the orders.

Steps to Take

1. Slowly, read Colossians 3 two times, asking God what steps of obedience He wants

you to take in response to this Scripture.

2. Write down the things God instructs you to do and how you're going to go about

implementing them. For example, “Lord, I need to clothe myself with humility”

might mean telling your little brother that you were wrong and he was right about

the distance of Mars from the sun, or it might require that you tell your English

teacher you didn’t really read the book you wrote your repot on.

3. Other suggested passages for reading this way are: Romans 13; 1 Peter 5: 5-11; 1

Thessalonians 5; and 1 Timothy 6: 11-21.

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CHAPTER 11

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“GOD, IF I WERE RUNNING YOUR

UNIVERSE”

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF WHAT GOD IS DOING CAN BE

DECIEVING, or, LORD, YOU JUST DON’T FIT INTO THE CAGE

I MADE FOR YOU

Jason shuddered as he thought of entering the funeral home. That building had

always seemed rather spooky to him. When he was younger, he and his friends told

the usual humorous stories about caskets and death – but they had preferred to walk

on the other side of the street. He always protested when his grandfather joked, “Some

night I'm going to rent a room in that hotel.” He had never wanted to see the inside of

the place.

But now he had no choice. The events of the last thirty-six hours kept playing

in his mind. Tuesday morning had started out just like any other. He and his best

friend, Talon, met at his locker as usual to walk together to English class. They had

laughed and joked, and Talon, who was the president of their church youth group, had

excitedly shared his new plan for mailing an attractive evangelistic magazine to the

home of every member of the senior class. Their small school boasted of ninety-six

prospective June graduates. The magazine was expensive, but Talon had good fund-

raising ideas.

After the usual boring grammar exercises, the bell rang and Talon had left for

the band room with a cheerful, “I'll go through the lunch line first so I can save you a

good seat.” Those were the last words Jason ever heard from him.

As Jason was running up the stairs from the locker room after gym class, he

heard shots and screams from the first-floor hallway. Mr. Miller, the gym teacher,

ordered all students to leave the building. Amid pushing and shoving and mass

hysteria, another shot rang out.

Everybody had shivered outside in the cold, fearing that something horrible had

happened. The arrival of six police cars and two ambulances, and all the local news

stations confirmed that suspicion. Four students were carried out on stretchers and,

finally Trevor Douglas, a drug dealer who had been expelled two years before,

emerged in handcuffs, escorted by the police.

Eventually, students were ordered to return to their lockers to pick up their coats

and to go home. Entering the building he knew so well gave Jason an eerie feeling. It

was then he realized that Talon was no place in sight. He panicked.

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Hurriedly, he had slipped into his jacket and run to Talon’s house to tell his

mom what had happened. The two of them decided to go check out the emergency

room. His mom had scribbled a quick note; “Talon, we went to the hospital to see if

you're okay. If you come home, please call Marysville to let us know you're safe.”

Then they jumped into the car and headed for the hospital in the next town.

When they arrived and asked for information at the desk, the receptionist

explained that the four patients who needed immediate attention had absorbed the

entire medical staff of the small hospital. There had been no time to identify the

victims.

Talon’s mother had insisted, “I'm Mrs. Jones. I'm expecting a phone call from

Talon Jones. Has it come through yet?”

“No one by that name has telephoned,” the receptionist affirmed, “but I'll inform

you if we receive the message.”

They sat down on the blue plastic-covered chairs and began silently praying –

panicky, incoherent prayers – at times fervent, at times interrupted by haunting

uncertainties, at times remembering the others caught up in this nightmare. Each

minute seemed like an eternity. And still there was no call from Talon.

Fifteen minutes later, Melinda Martin’s parents arrived. Her mother was

sobbing uncontrollably. “Emily saw Melinda get shot,” her father explained. “We have

no idea how serious it is.”

“Margaret,” Talon’s mom ventured, “God is still in control. You can put your

trust in Him. That will make things a lot easier.”

“How can a loving God allow my innocent daughter to get shot within the walls

of Central High?” the hysterical woman retorted. “I certainly don’t want to hear

anything about a supreme being.” Next came Barbara O’Keefe, Derek’s mom. She

was recently divorced and had just moved to Marysville. Derek was a very shy

freshman, and Jason hardly knew him. “Do you have reason to believe that Derek may

be one of the victims?” asked Mrs. Jones.

“Good reason,” she answered. “Mrs. Banister called to tell me she was on hall

duty and she saw Derek get shot in the leg.”

“I'm so sorry,” Talon’s mother offered.

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More people kept arriving – students, parents, and teachers – until there was

standing-room only. As the clock ticked away and the tension mounted, less and less

was said. Finally, two hours later, a very solemn-faced Dr. Hill appeared. “Usually I

talk to families in private – but I think this horrendous event has made us all one big

family, and we need to support one another. Nicole Meyers was shot in the arm, but

her wound has been dressed and she should be okay. Derek O’Keefe’s leg wound will

require an operation and long recuperation, but he should suffer no long-term major

problems. Melinda Martin is still unconscious, with a bullet lodged in her abdomen.

She has been sent by ambulance to Ashton Hospital, where a specialist will assess her

case and most likely operate.”

Some had burst into sobs, and Melinda’s mother became hysterical.

When it was a little quieter, Dr. Hill continued. “I'm sorry we couldn’t report to

you sooner, but we were dealing with matters of life and death and our staff is very

limited. Now – I regret to have to tell you that Talon Jones was shot in the chest and

was pronounced dead on arrival …”

Now Jason replayed that horrible scene one more time as he followed his parents

and his sister into the mortuary. He took a seat with them to wait until those who were

not part of the immediate family could move forward and stand beside Talon’s open

coffin. When it came time, Jason wished he could run – but he had to face it. He put

his arms around Talon’s mom and dad and older brothers and then turned to the silent

form of Talon – so stiff and cold and unresponsive.

All he could think was, “Why? Why Talon, God? He was the best Christian in

school, and he planned to be a missionary. Why did you let him get shot?” And his

own heart ached so much. How could he ever face going back to school or church

without seeing Talon? Who would he study physics with? Who would he watch the

World Series with? Who would he share his problems with? It didn’t seem fair that

God would allow him such intense emotional suffering.

Jason had always believed that the Lord knew what He was doing. The first

table grace he’d learned started with, “God is great and God is good…” He’d never

questioned God's justice before. But then, his life hadn’t included any real tragedy.

Now the question emerged with irresistible force – “Why would God allow such

senseless loss of life?”

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School was closed the day of Talon’s funeral, which was held in the civic

auditorium so everyone could attend. Talon’s parents had invited a well-known youth

evangelist, who was a friend of the family, to preach the sermon. At the end he gave

an invitation, and thirty-five kids and two adults came forward. Jason determined to

do all he could to follow them up and start the high school Bible study that Talon had

always dreamed of.

That day, Jason realized something very important. We only see things from the

earthly side, but God looks at circumstances through the binoculars of heaven. The

only reason for us existing at all is to prepare for eternity, and sometimes even good

and enjoyable things are swept aside to focus us on that purpose.

Although Jason still felt sad and shaken, his sense that we serve a God who

knows what He is doing had returned. This time the Lord had permitted Jason to see

something of a reason for permitting tragedy, and he was very grateful. Jason knew

that this wouldn’t always be the case.

Yet, he made a decision to trust that God's ways are higher than ours – even if

we don’t have a clue about God's purpose in the situation.

YOU Have an Appointment With the Creator of the

Universe…

… to learn more about Him.

It Just Doesn’t Seem Fair!

“DAY 1”

If you’ve ever been in a class where everybody got away with murder, you’ve

seen injustice. Because the teacher refused to enforce the rules, bullies ran the show.

Widespread cheating meant that those who really studied were treated unfairly.

Besides this, the fun-and-games instructor who gave you what you wanted at the

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moment – no homework, no difficult exams, and a totally relaxing class hour – made

you pay a terrible price later when you had to catch up on the material you never

learned.

God is not like that teacher. His rules come with built-in consequences if they

are disobeyed. Sex outside of marriage causes pain – to the illegitimate child, in the

transmission of diseases, and in the form of inability to gain the trust of a marriage

partner. A habitual liar has few friends. Refusal to listen to the wisdom of parents has

resulted in many repeat performances of the prodigal son drama.

God knows it’s not fair to permit Adolf Hitler to walk into heaven alongside the

best Christian who ever lived. He has a system of rewards and punishments. But

because His justice system includes both heaven and earth – and hell – and because it

operates for both time and eternity, we don’t always see the end result. Not every

wrong will be righted immediately, but God knows what He’s doing!

The Lord gives us what we need, not what we desire at the moment. Christians

are to be soldiers in God's army – which means that advancing the cause of the

kingdom of God is more important than the temporary comfort or emotional

satisfaction of the individual soldier. In light of knowing we’ll enjoy a forever with

Him – and considering what He did on the cross to secure our salvation – we should

be willing to suffer in His service. The refining process for gold, and for human

character, requires some intense heat.

Since God is all-wise, we shouldn’t complain the minute something seems to be

unfair. Accepting the fact that God runs His justice system fairly gives you a lot of

benefits – like peace of mind, comfort, joy, and the ability to sleep at night! Nehemiah

understood this. Although his people were hurting and he was praying for relief, he

told God, “In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully,

while we did wrong” (Nehemiah 9: 33). When John saw the punishments against

Christian killers, recorded in the book of Revelation, he gave this response: “Yes, Lord

God Almighty, true and just are your judgments” (Revelation 16: 7). As we recognize

the validity of God's wrath, we should commit ourselves to doing everything possible

to spread the gospel. In this way, we help limit the number of people who, for their

rejection of God's plan of salvation, will experience the just judgment of God.

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Steps to Take

1. Take some time to meditate on the following verses, memorizing one of them, and

thanking God for His justice. In your own way, singing praises, making up a new

song, or praying, worship your awesome and just God.

He is the rock, his works are perfect and all his ways are just. A faithful God

who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (Deuteronomy 32: 4)

Righteous are you, O Lord, and your laws are right. (Psalm 119: 137)

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. (Psalm 119: 160)

Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. (Psalm 119: 164)

2. Experience an example of the justice of God by putting yourself in the place of

Mordecai, who believed that it was wrong to bow down to anyone or anything

except God. For his obedience to God, he found himself and his entire nation in

big trouble.

Read Esther 3

How do you feel toward yourself, your enemies, and toward God when you find

out you and your people are scheduled to be wiped out on December 13 (the

thirteenth day of the last month Adar)? _________________________

Read Esther 4: 1-11

How do you react when Esther is afraid to approach the king because he might

refuse to help her and have her killed? ________________________

Read Esther 4: 12-17

How do you feel when Esther asks you to organize a fast for all Jews to unite

before God on her behalf as she prepares to approach the king?

____________________

Read Esther 5

How do you feel when you hear about the gallows Haman has built to hang you

on? ____________________

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Read Esther 6 and 7

How did you react when the king forced Haman to honor you? How do you feel

now that Haman has been hanged on the gallows instead of yourself?

______________

Read Esther 8

How do you feel now that you have Haman’s job and have reversed Haman’s

orders so that your entire nation will be saved? _______________________ Back

to the present

Write out what you think Haman might have prayed to God.

______________________

When have you experienced God's justice? _________________________

Remember that even though now you have an emergency similar to the one

described in Esther, Chapter 3 or Chapter 5 – accompanied by many fears and

doubts – God plans to bring the situation to an Esther, Chapter 8 solution, either

here or in heaven.

3. Spend some more time worshipping your just God – even thanking Him for the

justice He plans for a presently unfair situation.

But Not Even Santa Claus Loves Everybody.

“DAY 2”

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That we worship an amazingly merciful and compassionate God is provable just

by reading the biography of a guy named Manasseh.

You may never have heard of this guy, but he was the son of Hezekiah, and he

was a king of Judah. Although he had the advantage of a godly father and a good

upbringing, he completely turned his back on the Lord. Not only did he worship idols,

he brought statues of them into God's holy temple and sacrificed his sons as burnt

offerings to them. Manasseh became deeply involved in witchcraft, consulting

mediums and spiritists. He led the people of Judah astray until they were more pagan

than those in the countries that surrounded them. God spoke to Manasseh and his

nation – probably many times – but they paid absolutely no attention.

Finally, the king of Assyria ordered that a hook be put in Manasseh’s nose, and

that he be bound with chains, to be dragged to Babylon as a prisoner of war. Now, in

his great misery, Manasseh asked God to help him. If you had been God, how would

you have responded? After all, he deserved his situation.

The Lord not only forgave him but brought him again to Jerusalem and helped

him to lead his people back to God. Manasseh is a monument to the mercy and love

of God.

If somehow or other you’ve picked up the notion that God is super-critical, just

waiting to come down on you the moment you do anything wrong, you'd better read

your Bible more carefully. God is the God of a second chance – the God who forgives

and forgets our sins, the God who longs to show you compassion.

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The only requirement to receive His mercy is to chuck that know-it-all attitude

and come humbly before Him, confessing your sin and determining to let Him call the

shots from now on. Those who refuse to recognize their sinfulness are like the small

child who accuses his mother of being unwilling to zipper his jacket while kicking so

violently she can't even get near him! Such people insist that God is cruel and unfair

as they continue to reject His great love and promise of a new and wonderful life.

Open your heart to God and His mercy. God does love everybody, even if He’s not

some sentimental Santa Claus who does nothing but give out presents.

Steps to Take

1. Reread the following verses until they become part of you, concentrating on phrases

you can throw at the devil in the heat of combat. Repeat phrases like, “You are

forgiving and good, O Lord,” and, “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and

gracious God.” When the devil tries to tell you that God has given up on you, take

refuge in your all-merciful God and praise Him for His love.

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger,

abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86: 15)

Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever. (2 Chronicles 20: 21)

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues

through all generations. (Psalm 100: 5)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The

Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (Psalm 145: 8-9)

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.

(Psalm 86: 5)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathized with our

weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are –

yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so

that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4: 15-

16)

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2. Experience God's love and care and mercy as you put yourself in the sandals of

Elijah.

Read 1 King 17: 1-16

What thoughts go through your mind when you know the king wants to kill

you? ______________________.

What emotions

battle within

you when the brook

dries

up? _________________.

How do you feel as you look back on how God provided for your physical needs

of safety and food? ________________________.

Read 1 Kings 17: 17-24

What doubts and fears plague you when you realize that the boy is dead?

___________

How do you feel after experiencing the miracle? _______________

Read 1 Kings 18

As Elijah, write in your diary, recording your intimate feelings about God.

What is your response to the Mt. Carmel experience? _____________________

Read 1 Kings 19: 1-2

What is going on in your mind after receiving a death threat from Jezebel?

__________________________

Read 1 Kings 19: 3-18

After this experience you pray to thank God for His love and His mercy. What

do you say? _____________________

Back to the Present

3. Write a prayer of thanks for a time in your life when God showed you great

compassion.

4. Just spend some time thinking about the great love of God and how He’s

demonstrated that love to you. Worship the God of love and mercy!

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Did You Know That Holy Also Means Happy?

“DAY 3”

I remember reading Roman, Greek, and Norse mythology. The stories were

good, but I was shocked to find gods and goddesses picking favorites, sleeping around,

staging tantrums, and carrying out exaggerated schemes of revenge. It was horrifying

to realize that some people actually worshiped such creatures.

How secure I felt that the God I serve is no Zeus, whose thunderbolts flew

whenever he got ticked off. The God of the Bible obeys His own rules and He is

perfectly holy.

The original meaning of holy is “sound, whole and happy.” Synonyms include

perfect, pure, and untainted by evil or sin. God is all of these.

A rebellious society that lives to sin pictures holiness as something of a joke.

Excitement, action, and popularity are equated with wrongdoing. Being nasty,

aggressive, promiscuous, self-serving, and unwilling to submit to authority is

considered the norm. Nobody considers the terms “goodie-goodie,” “snitch,” “holy

Joe,” or “Jesus freak” as complimentary.

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Because of this, today’s Christians fail to appreciate the value of holiness. We

seldom stand in awe of the holiness of God. Few people have an Isaiah experience in

which the chorus “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of

his glory” (Isaiah 6: 3) is answered by “Woe to me! … I am ruined! For I am a man

of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the

King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6: 5).

But as you contemplate the Person who never made a mistake, never had a bad

attitude, never acted selfishly, and never thought anything He’d be ashamed of, you

can catch that God-is-in-heaven-and-you-are-on-earth-so-let-your-words-be-few

feeling of awe. Reflecting on His absolute purity will bring to mind some things you

do that make you uncomfortable in His presence and will give you a desire to change.

Thinking of a flawless Being without sin should make you realize that you're

approaching majesty, and it should transform your flippant God-is-a-good-bud

mentality into one of respect and true adoration. “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due

his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness” (Psalm 29: 2). He’s

awesome, majestic, eternal, and without a single fault or blemish.

Bow before Him, kneel or fall on your face. He is worthy of all your adoration,

all your reverence, and all your worship!

Steps to Take

1. Meditate on these verses, repeating them over and over until you really digest their

meaning. As you join those in heaven saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God

Almighty, who was and is, and is to come,” your spirit will be lifted above

geometry tests, scoldings from your mom, and an empty wallet.

Let them praise your great and awesome name – He is holy. (Psalm 99: 3)

There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock

like our God. (1 Samuel 2: 2)

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come.

(Revelation 4: 8)

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“Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are

your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to

your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15: 3-4)

But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.

(Habakkuk 2: 20)

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:

“Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1: 16)

2. Put Yourself in the place of a teenager who witnessed the giving of the Ten

Commandments. Sense the holiness, majesty, and awesomeness of God.

Read Exodus 19: 1-8

How did you react when you heard that if you and the other Israelites would

obey God fully and keep His covenant (pact) you'd be His special people?

________________

Read Exodus 19: 9-15

How did you feel when you put on your clean clothes and were told that anyone

who touched the mountain from which a holy God was to reveal himself would be

put to death? ___________________

What impression did all these preparations and instructions give you about the

character of God? ____________________

Read Exodus 19: 16 – 20: 21

Why did you sense fear? ____________________

Did you want to climb the mountain to get closer to God? Why or why not?

________________________

What things went through your mind as God spoke the Ten Commandments?

________________________

When many people were afraid to hear God speak again and Moses said,

“God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you

from sinning,” how did you feel? _____________________

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Back to the Present

Do you personally think of God as holy, majestic, and Someone not to mess

around with – or is your “god” a namby-pamby who always lets you get your own

way?

Do these two chapters change your concept of God? How? ________________

3. Just meditate on the great holiness of God. Thank Him for His perfection, integrity,

and unchanging character.

Choose the Right Security Blanket

“DAY 4”

Do you really feel safe and secure? Your world may be caving in at this point,

and you want to scream, “No!” But even if your dad’s not in the process of marrying

another woman, you don’t have to change schools, and your grandmother didn’t just

die, you may sense that nothing seems very solid. You may be painfully aware that

some international crisis thousands of miles away could change life as you know it.

Because few people have any clear idea of right and wrong, you're probably meeting

chaos and confusion almost everywhere. A diagnosis of cancer, a car accident, a job

loss, a natural disaster, being betrayed by a friend – so many uncontrollable monsters

loom on the horizon. The poor-little-me-in-this-big-bad-world refrain is a catchy little

tune and rather easy to pick up.

There’s an Ultimate Security Source, though – a Friend who will never let you

down, a Counselor who'll never give you a bum steer, a Comforter who will always

understand. Your Creator will always be there for you if you'll take the time to form a

deep relationship with Him. He won't die, or move away, or forget about you when

someone more interesting comes along. He’ll love you no matter what. He’ll care

enough to discipline you and tell you the truth. He’ll keep on believing in you, even

when everybody else gives up on you.

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God always makes good on His promises. All of us know the pain of being let

down. When people don’t keep their word, we lose confidence. But God is different.

You can depend on Him completely.

It’s scary to see someone change right before your eyes. But it happens. After a

year of heavy drug use, the guy you used to know has disappeared. Bitterness and

unforgiveness can turn the once-cheerful parent into a grouch. Deteriorating health

can alter a person beyond recognition. But God never changes. The investment you

make in forming an intimate relationship with Him is a sound one. “Jesus Christ is the

same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13: 8).

The devil hates to see a secure Christian. He makes up all kinds of lies to keep

you off balance and to torture you. He’ll try to tell you that God doesn’t love you

anymore when you sin, when something terrible happens, or when you don’t measure

up to that standard someone else has set for you. But God shows His faithfulness even

in nature – the sun comes up every morning, spring always follows winter, and there’s

an ecological balance that even man has a hard time destroying. People who have

walked close to the Lord for many years all testify to the faithfulness of God – and

some have lived through the most difficult of circumstances. The Lord won't let you

down – no matter what.

The secret of security is to place all your hope in a God who never fails. If you

expect of your parents what they are unable to give you, only disappointment and

resentment await you. Placing your eyes on a Christian leader who may fall can set

you up for a devastating experience. Friends are fickle and they often disappoint you.

Confiding in your good looks, your charm, or outstanding ability means that when

others don’t agree with your assessment of yourself, depression sets in. Your fabulous

clothes, a place on the football team or cheerleading squad, your wheels, or your

spending money might be gone tomorrow. Realize the risk of letting people or things

be your security blanket. Instead, say with David: “When I am afraid, I will trust in

you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man

do to me?” (Psalm 56: 3-4). Claim the promise: “Whoever trusts in the Lord is kept

safe” (Proverbs 29: 25).

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Steps to Take

1. Reread these verses about God's faithfulness over and over until they become part

of you. Choose your favorite and memorize it.

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your

righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O Lord,

you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high

and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 36: 5-7)

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to

proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night. (Psalm 92: 1-2)

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your

faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm

forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. (Psalm 89: 12)

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions

never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations

3: 22-23)

2. Put yourself in the place of Gideon as you experience the faithfulness of God.

Read Judges 6: 1-24

You are separating the husks from the wheat, which should be done in a high,

windy place but you are hiding in a winepress – something like a very shallow

well. Because of all the dust and chaff, your allergies are probably acting up. How

do you feel when your pity-party is interrupted with, “The Lord is with you, mighty

warrior”? _______________.

What questions plague you? _______________________

What doubts do you struggle with when the angel of the Lord commands you

to save Israel from the Midianites? ___________________

Read Judges 6: 25-32

Even though you're afraid to obey – and so you tear down Baal’s altar at night

– how does God demonstrate His faithfulness? ____________________

What reactions do you have as your father defends

you?

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______________________

Read Judges 6: 33-40

After calling your countrymen to battle the Midianites, what emotions swell

within you? ____________

How does God again show His faithfulness, and how does that make you feel?

______________

Read Judges 7: 1-8

After obeying God, how do you feel about facing a huge Midianite army with

only 300 men? __________________________

Read Judges 7: 9-15

What thoughts race through your mind as God once again demonstrates that He

is totally trustworthy?

Read Judges 7: 15-24

As you contemplate this great victory and the events that led up to it, how would

you describe the God you serve? __________________

Back to the Present

Think about God's faithfulness to you. List some ways He has shown you that

He will never leave you or forsake you. List them and thank Him that He’s a faithful

God. ___________________________________________

Our God Is an Awesome God!

“DAY 5”

“Why doesn’t God do something?” – about the famine that’s taking so many

lives, about the senseless killing evoked by hatred and greed, about the lady who

assassinates with her tongue?

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Certainly, you’ve heard comments like this. Maybe you’ve even made them

yourself.

It’s not that God doesn’t have the power to do whatever He wishes – it’s that

He has priorities more pressing than the momentary good His direct intervention could

achieve. He created human beings with the ability to choose – good or evil. If He

stepped in every time a person got out of line, that liberty would be a joke. He also

ordained some automatic penalties for our disobedience to Him. And He doesn’t

prevent a sickness caused by our foolishness, neglect of our bodies, or promiscuity.

He also permits tragedy, natural disasters, and trials designed to turn our minds toward

the necessity of preparing for eternity. If horrible circumstances cause someone to

accept Christ as Savior, that person is eternally grateful for the experience.

While God doesn’t use His clout to remove every inconvenience or irritation

from our existence, He stands ready to help His own loved children. “For the Lord

your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who

shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and

the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing” (Deuteronomy 10: 17-

18). “Do not be terrified by them (gangs, mean teachers, kids who make fun of you,

unfair bosses) for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God”

(Deuteronomy 7: 21). It is wonderful to know that an all-powerful God is on your side.

Have you ever watched blinding streaks of lightning, that make Fourth of July

fireworks look like peanuts – or been startled by a resounding clap of thunder? How

about comparing the torrents of rain that fall from heaven with your puny sprinkling

system? Don’t the diamond rings in a jewelry store look pretty shoddy compared to

the glistening droplets found on every leaf and flower and blade of grass if God

decides to turn on the sun full blast after a rainfall? Add to that a breathtaking

rainbow, and you have to admit that God can pull off some pretty amazing feats! A

hurricane, a tornado, or an earthquake is an even more impressive show of strength.

The Lord can transform the alcoholic who used to beat his wife into a man of

God, turn the gang leader into a preacher, and make the timidest girl in town into a

dynamic witness for Him. When God starts working, the Red Sea opens, two small

fish feed a multitude, the lame man leaps for joy, the atheist accepts Christ – and a

Bible study group gets started at your high school!

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The God of Elijah is your God. There are still “Queen Jezebels” who’d just as

soon eradicate all Christians. The idols today aren’t called Baals – they have names

like money, popularity, peer pressure, good grades, sports, social life, sex, and video

games. There are still many “chameleon Christians” who only act born again at

church. And like Elijah you may feel as if you're the only one who has opted for

24hour-per-day commitment. But the God you serve is Almighty. He can send fire

from heaven, or make you strong enough to withstand temptation, or help you win

your friends for Christ, or give you joy when you must stand-alone for what is right.

You never need to feel outnumbered, socially unacceptable, and discouraged. Our God

is an awesome God!

Steps to Take

1. Celebrate the strength and might of God – as well as the fact that you can plug in

to His power. Meditate on each of these verses. Memorize them and take them with

you wherever you go.

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great

power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. (Jeremiah 32: 17)

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty

and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the

kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you

are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give

strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29: 11-12)

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. (Psalm

147: 5)

You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and

strength to his people. Praise be to God! (Psalm 68: 35)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has

been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28: 18-19)

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2. Imagine that you're an Israelite teenager when Moses appears on the scene in Egypt.

Experience the great power of God. (Putting yourself in the place of biblical

characters as you read the Bible can give you insight on how to pray.)

Read Exodus 5: 1-21

What emotions do you have to deal with when you find out your father was

beaten because Pharaoh became angry when Moses asked him to let God's people

go? _____________________

Read Exodus 7: 19 – 23; 8: 5-6, 12-19

How do you feel about living through these four plagues? ________________

_________________

How do these events change your attitude toward God? __________________

______________________

Read Exodus 8: 22-24; 9: 2-12

How does the fact that only the Egyptians suffer from these things make you

rethink

what

it

means

to

be

one

of

God's

chosen

people?

_______________________

What does it teach you about the character and power of God?

____________________

Read Exodus 10: 12-23

What did realizing that God could send grasshoppers and darkness, whenever

and wherever He chose, due to your faith? _________________________

Read Exodus 12: 1-13, 29-36

How do you feel about leaving Egypt and having your former slave-driver give

you jewels, beautiful clothes, and other items of value?

___________________

As you look back on all that made this possible, how would you describe God?

____________________

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Read Exodus 14: 1-12

What terrifying thoughts run through your mind as you see the best army in

the

world

coming

after you and that there is no escape

route? _____________________

Read Exodus 14: 12-31

Describe the sensation of passing through the Red Sea. _______________

__________________________

What did you think when you saw the water fall back on the Egyptians?

_____________ Write

a

little thank you note to

God for

what He’s done.

__________________ ______________________

Back to the present

How have you personally experienced God's power? ____________________

___________________________

If you'd trusted Him for more things, do you think you'd have seen even more

of His power? Give examples. _______________________

3. Praise God for His mighty power.

CHAPTER 12

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“OUT OF FOCUS”

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SPOTLIGHT ON THE GREATNESS OF GOD

Joel tried to shut out the buzz of his alarm clock. He didn’t even want to get out

of bed, much less face another day at school, go to football practice, or show up at

Bible study. If only he could climb Mt. McKinley alone, take a plane to Siberia, or

join some jungle tribe who’d never heard of a first down, a field goal, or an offside

penalty!

But since he had no choice, he got ready for school, grabbed a bite of breakfast,

and arrived at homeroom on time. Throughout the day, though, he tried to avoid

everyone. And during Mr. Berg’s boring history lecture, he again relived the disaster

that so made him want to escape …

Joel, as a junior, had aced out Mike MacIntosh as first-string quarterback. After

three wins in a row, he’d become an instant hero. But that was before Friday night’s

game against Jefferson High, a school with an average team, which West expected to

defeat with ease. First, Joel made a touchdown pass – to a Jefferson High’s linebacker!

In possession of the ball again, Joel fumbled and their opponents recovered. Behind

14 – 0, West started the fourth quarter with their power play – but Joel was sacked for

a fifteen-yard loss. They had to punt, and Jefferson brought the ball down field until it

was within four yards of a touchdown. And it was Joel who drew a penalty for

unnecessary roughness, which so demoralized the team that Jefferson easily made

another TD.

At this point, the coach put Mike in – even though he was just recovering from

the flu – and he played very well.

Newspaper headlines called the game the upset of the year, and the article

sarcastically commented that Joel Martinez was by far the most valuable player – as

far as Jefferson was concerned. The coach bawled him out, the guys got on his case,

and even Tiffany commented, “Joel, you really messed up. What happened?” …

Joel felt like a total failure. He couldn’t stop reliving his errors long enough to

concentrate on history, or to listen to his coach’s instructions, or to pray. He even had

nightmares about being tackled by NFL players wearing Jefferson uniforms.

He arrived at Bible study without his Bible and in no mood to hear a pep talk.

But Tom, ever enthusiastic and thoroughly convinced that God can handle anything,

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realized that something was wrong. “Before we start our study,” he began, “I’d like to

share with you a secret I've learned.”

“When I was your age, I was always down on myself and could become

depressed over things like the appearance of a new zit, a girl who wouldn’t smile at

me in the hall or dropping my books as I boarded the school bus. Finally, one day, my

grandfather told me, ‘Tom, you think an awful lot about yourself, and so little about

God. Who’s really more important in this universe – you or God?’”

“That caught me by surprise,” said Tom. “What he said was true. Then my

grandfather – who was always cheerful, even though he faced a lot of difficult

circumstances – gave me some of the most important advice I've ever received. He

said, ‘When you get discouraged with yourself, concentrate on God. You'll never be

disappointed with Him. And if you look at things from His point of view, there won't

be anything to be depressed about. The apostles rejoiced because they were counted

worthy to suffer for their wonderful Savior and that they'd receive big prizes in heaven.

If you started to think about God's plans and activities rather than your own,

Tom, things would change.’”

“You know, I took that counsel to heart,” Tom concluded. “And my life hasn’t

been the same since.”

In spite of his determination to stay depressed, Joel couldn’t help hearing what

Tom had to say. Instead of paying attention to the Bible study, he thought of Tom’s

words. Finally, when Joel did tune in, Tom was closing.

“Praising God beats a pity-party any day. Tonight, we’re going to go around the

circle a few times, and each guy has to express something to praise God for.”

Greg, who was kind of a goof-off, made everyone laugh by starting, “I praise

God that I only have to spend forty-three minutes a day in Ms. Campbell’s class.”

When it came to Joel’s turn, he nonchalantly chirped, “I praise God that He

didn’t paint the sky fluorescent orange.” But finally, the group ran out of jokes and

began to praise God for real things like – “” Helping me study just the right material

for Tuesday’s geometry test,” “supplying the money for me to go on the ski retreat,”

and, “convincing my father that I could continue to attend this Bible study.”

In spite of everything, Joel did start thinking about God and all He has done.

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Although he didn’t say it out loud, he thought, I thank God that once I get to heaven I

won't remember that football game anymore.

Next, he thought of how God gave Jonah a second chance. Maybe prophets and

quarterbacks have something in common. He hoped so. Then he remembered what

God did for Joshua when he made an extremely big mistake. Joshua, fooled by the

first masquerade party in history, signed a peace treaty with his pagan neighbors –

totally against God's orders. His popularity rating plummeted. But within a short time,

God gave him a tremendous victory and even answered his prayer that the sun stand

still in order to complete defeating the enemies.

Hope started to replace despair. Joel began to see how thinking about what God

has done, and can do, was a lot better than rehashing what he had done or should have

done. For the first time in his life he began to see what “praising God” was all about.

God created us to praise Him, and we can't function properly if we fail to do it. Joel

realized that his self-centered thoughts had gotten him completely out of focus but

putting his mind on God was helping him to see things a lot more clearly.

YOU Have an Appointment with The Creator of the

Universe….

… to learn to praise the God who gives your life

meaning.

Have You Told God Lately That You Like His Landscaping?

“DAY 1”

Although it’s true that “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim

the work of his hands” (Psalm 19: 1), there’s a lot being done to try to hide that fact.

Instead of permitting students to appreciate the greatness of the God who paints leaves

gold and orange and scarlet each fall and installs intricate timing devices in migrating

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ducks so they know when to fly south each year, biology books hint that every plant

and animal and person evolved without the aid of an intelligent Creator. Taking good

care of the planet God entrusted to us for our use and enjoyment has been replaced by

a reverence for “mother earth,” and by attempts to be aligned with the mysterious

forces of nature. Once again in world history, there is an epidemic of, “They

exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather

than the Creator – who is forever praised” (Romans 1: 25).

The conviction that everything, including your own existence, was only an

accident robs you of purpose and destiny – and any reason to do what’s right. The

belief that “god is in everything and everything is part of god” blurs the distinction

between Creator and created things. If “god” is reduced to your own dimensions – a

person who must blow his or her nose, a being that forgets all about play practice on

Tuesday afternoon, and an entity that freaks out when the line is still busy, then there’s

certainly no hope on the horizon. If the vulture that looks for dead dinners, the

mosquito that spoils your picnic, and the cockroach that has yet to make a human

friend should be objects of our worship because they are part of “god”, then it would

seem rather impossible to admire the characteristics of this “god”.

However, the truth is that God is our Creator. “His creation came from the

resources of His own infinite being, which was always here. When we say He makes

things ‘out of nothing,’ we mean that He does not need any resource external to

himself, does not lose part of himself in creating, and that His creation is distinct from

himself rather than an extension of His being.” (1) He is above his creation, and He

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has authority over it. He has made a rational, predictable universe in which the book

you throw out the window never sprouts wings to fly upward.

(1) W. A. Pratney, The Nature and Character of God (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers,

1988), p. 134.

The earth doesn't change orbit and get so close to the sun that all Idaho produces

instant fried potatoes, and water doesn’t suddenly begin to freeze at 60 degrees

Fahrenheit, wrecking everybody’s car radiator. Because God is a consistent rational

Being, His creation reflects it.

God's creation is meant to give us a special appreciation for the Master

Designer: “For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities – his eternal

power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has

been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1: 20). And unless you're blinded

by false teaching, running from God, or so caught up in yourself that you notice

nothing else, seeing a thundering waterfall, watching a playful kitten, or trying to count

the stars in a night sky automatically gives you a desire to praise the God who made

all these amazing things. A trip to the doctor’s office occasioned just because one tiny

part of your body is malfunctioning should make you appreciate the Genius who

planned such a complex organism, capable of so many incredible processes.

If you don’t notice the glory of your Maker in the beauty of a sunrise over a

crystal-clear lake, the majesty of a snow-capped mountain, the vastness of a desert

landscape, or the velvet softness and fragrance of a single red rose, then you're missing

out on one of life’s greatest pleasures. Walking with God and sensing His presence in

a forest of stately pine trees, on the wave-flattened sands of an ocean beach or

exploring the muffled shadows so beautifully blurred together by the morning fog is

to experience a captivating closeness with Him.

It’s fantastic to be able to join in the ecstasy of broadcasting: “The Lord reigns,

let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice … His lightning lights up the world;

the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the

Lord of all the earth” (Psalm 97: 1, 4-5).

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When you recognize God as great and good and Creator of everything, you feel

fantastic inside – like you're flowing with the right current. Not only does praising

God for His creation help you, it’s important to God.

You're not too happy when others take everything you do for granted, failing to

notice your originality – right? Maybe God would appreciate some complimentary

comments from you on His creativity! After all, His landscaping is pretty outstanding!

Steps to Take

1. Carefully read Psalm 104, praising God for all the things He has made.

2. Then compose your own psalm of praising the Lord for His wonderful

workmanship displayed in nature. You might do this by making up your own song

– either written or extemporaneous, praying your thanks for “all things bright and

beautiful, all creatures great and small.” Or you could come up with a formal

written psalm, using either prose or poetry.

The important thing is that you give Him your heartfelt appreciation for the

world he fashioned especially for you.

A Ferris Wheel, Adolf Hitler, and Meaning in Life

“DAY 2”

So many ancient people viewed time as an ever-turning wheel, with no

beginning and no end – existence without destination. And you do have to admit that

a lot of human actions are repeated over and over again. You go to bed so that you can

get up every morning, only to fall asleep at the end of each day. You eat a hamburger

and then get so hungry you can gobble down a medium-sized pizza in a couple of

minutes – and soon your stomach is demanding ice-cream. If you clean your room it

gets dirty again, and if you wash clothes this week, you'll soon discover that the job

must be done once more. One generation replaces another – the baby grows up, its

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mother becomes an older woman, and the grandmother dies. Soon the baby is the

mother and the mother turns into the grandmother. If one didn’t know better, these

endless cycles suggest meaninglessness.

But there is one fact that changes all this. God is at work in history – and in each

individual life. The human situation isn’t one vicious Ferris wheel, which never goes

anywhere and never means anything and never stops. There was a definite starting

point: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1: 11). He

made Adam and Eve – and everyone else – in His own image with the purpose to “fill

the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1: 28), and “to share in the inheritance of the saints

in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1: 12).

The Bible teaches that Jesus will come to close out history, and John seeing this

in a vision described the future scene: “And books were opened. Another book was

opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had

done as recorded in the books” (Revelation 20: 12).

Because “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews

9: 27), each day of your life counts for eternity. The wonderful thing about your

existence is that God sent Jesus to die for you so that by accepting Him as Savior, you

can be assured of a forever with Him that is more fantastic than anything you could

ever imagine.

What happens on the international scene also has meaning. God called Assyria

“the rod of my anger” because He used that cruel and conquering country to punish

the idol-worshipping people of Israel. Hardhearted Pharaoh brought glory to God by

providing a context for God's marvelous miracles. Scripture mentions famine, war,

natural disaster, and disease as warnings, which turn the minds of people from daily

trivia to the Lord who made heaven and earth, causing them to turn from indifference

and wrongdoing to repentance and faith.

What happens has meaning. It’s not always discernible from the human side,

but it makes a lot of sense when viewed from a heavenly perspective. It took a terrible

earthquake in Mexico City to make my friend decide to accept Christ – and it shook

up a lot of people enough so they came to know Jesus.

“Okay, I'll concede that,” you might be saying. “But could anything good really

come out of something as devastating and heartbreaking as World War II?”

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And the answer is yes. Adolph Hitler’s destruction of six million Jews so rallied

world sympathy that the United Nations voted into existence the nation of Israel, a

direct fulfillment of a seemingly impossible prophesy. Many soldiers, seeing firsthand

the conditions in under-evangelized nations, dedicated their lives to missionary

service. The pilot who led the attack on Pearl Harbor and who would never have had

a chance to hear the gospel in an unoccupied Japan later became a Christian. A German

concentration camp challenged the Christian commitment of

Corrie ten Boom, which prepared her for a worldwide ministry, and a Holland under

Nazi control gave Brother Andrew – then a teenager – a free course in courage, that

prepared him for smuggling Bibles into Communist countries. Actually, a few books

could be written on the subject.

All history is a monument to biblical truth: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but

sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14: 34). “Blessed is the nation whose God

is the Lord” (Psalm 33: 12). When people forget God, their nation is plagued by

problems, but when they repent of their sins and wholeheartedly return to the Lord,

the country benefits.

The story of the Jewish people recorded in the Bible bears this out. Nations

changed for the better as a result of the Wesleyan revival in England, the Welsh

awakening in 1904, and even the U.S. “Jesus Revolution” of the 1970s. But when

people turn their backs on God and popularize sin, conditions worsen. The fall of the

Soviet Union is a good example, one the Western world would do well to heed. All

this should lead thinking people to the conclusion that preparing to meet God is the

most important thing they can do in this life. It should also cause you to praise the God

who works in history.

“So, what does this all mean for me?” you ask.

I'll tell you. First of all, it signals that you should look for God's hand in current

events – not only for signs which indicate that Jesus will soon return but for direction

in praying for certain leaders and situations, and for confirmation of your belief that

sooner or later God punishes wrongdoing. Also, when things look dismal, it’s good to

review the past track record of how the prayers of God's saints have changed

impossibilities. Here’s a faith builder from the pen of Brother Andrew:

“Back in 1983 our (missionary) organization, Open Doors, called for seven

years of prayer for the Soviet Union. We were convinced that the evil conspiracy that

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had brought untold misery and torment to the Body of Christ worldwide was

headquartered in one place; Moscow…. Within a year we began to see results. We

heard for the first time about an obscure man named Gorbachev … The winds of

change we prayed for began to blow, and there was no holding them back. Finally,

just under six years from the time we first began praying, the walls between East and

West began to crumble. The Berlin Wall – a worldwide symbol of Communist

oppression – came tumbling down. Prison doors began to open. Eastern Europe rose

up against the powers that had held them in bondage. In 1989, after more than thirty

years of smuggling Bibles behind the Iron Curtain, I challenged the Russians openly

to allow our organization to distribute a million Russian-language Bibles to Soviet

churches. Incredibly they said yes.” (2)

(2) Brother Andrew, And God Changed His Mind (Grand Rapids; Baker, 1991).

And this miracle is still progressing. How about praying instead of complaining

about your country’s problems!

Finally, remember that the God who works in history has a special purpose for

each person. You are not some poor soul being endlessly reincarnated in some cycle

of karma, being punished for things you did in some past life of which you're totally

unconscious and looking forward only to becoming a blob of nothingness in outer

space somewhere. Your life was specifically designed by a loving and personal God

who has woven meaning into every moment. You're doing things that matter and going

places – most important, you're preparing to travel to the place where “he will wipe

every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,

for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21: 4). And your trip will be

more exciting if you learn to praise the God of history.

Steps to Take

1. Carefully read Psalms 106 and 136, reliving the marvelous deeds of a God who

works in history, a God who remains faithful despite the foolish choices,

indifference, and sinful actions of His people.

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2. Then list some things you know or have experienced about God intervening in

the human story. For example; The delegates to the Constitutional Convention

were deadlocked, but after taking a three-day prayer recess they worked out their

differences. Or – my brother Johnny should have been killed in that car wreck,

but God saved his life.

3. Then spend some time praising God that He’s in control of all history –

especially the news reports that make you uneasy. Also pray, as God leads you,

for some tense world situations, knowing that by praying you're doing something

to impact current events.

Memories Should Be Made of This

“DAY 3”

It happens to everyone – the big disappointment. The guy or girl you like starts

dating someone else; you had your heart set on a car, but now you know the cost of

the insurance premium; an operation means that your dream of breaking some records

for your school in your sport can no longer be realized. Or maybe it’s a family crisis.

Your sister is running off with some drug addict, or your father just lost his job.

Possibly it’s personal – like not being accepted by the group, having a learning

disability, or never measuring up to your mother’s expectations.

Whatever lies behind it, your discouragement deepens into depression – nothing

seems to matter, nobody really understands. You feel trapped and forgotten. What

should you do?

In Psalms 42 and 43, you can learn how David handled such feelings. He started

out not by deciding that everything was hopeless or detailing the problem but by

realizing that what he needed was more of God. This is always David’s bottom line;

To get through a crisis, I must have more of the power of the Holy Spirit in my life.

However, there was also the emotional dimension. David admitted when he was really

down, and told the Lord when others were making fun of him and asking, “Where is

your God now?”

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But then he remembered past victories in his spiritual experience. He recalled

how he joined everybody else in praising God and the joy they shared. It put his mind

back on what God can do. Even though he vacillated back and forth, the thing that

gave him hope was placing his thoughts back on God and His faithfulness.

When trials come, it’s a good idea to spend time thinking about the day you

accepted Christ, to reflect on answers to prayer, to relive the times He rescued you

from danger, and to meditate on all the blessings you’ve received. Like David, you

can learn to gently steer your mind back to what God has done in the past.

Where might you be right now and what might you be doing if you'd never

accepted Jesus as Savior? It’s kind of frightening to even ponder this, but it will also

cause you to praise and thank Him for all He’s done for you. What might your present

problem be if you didn’t know God? Realize that He can help you the same way in the

future as He has in the past.

Memories, like so many facets of life, can be used for good and for evil. You’ve

probably listened to an elderly lady who doesn’t miss a beat as she recounts how fifty

years ago her scoundrel of a boyfriend deceived her into thinking he was planning to

marry her, and then eloped with her best friend. Of the man who insists on telling

anyone who will listen how his life has been filled with one misfortune after another.

For some people, the past can serve as an escape from present reality. There are people

who spend their whole lives replaying the high point of their existence – the honor

awarded, the feat accomplished, or the job landed by acing out

250 qualified applicants. It’s a way of forgetting the here and now. Some people just

stuff their recollections because remembering is too painful.

But God can give a totally different dimension to memories. He can heal those

that are hurtful. And He can use the rest to show you His faithfulness in caring for

your needs and rescuing you from the pitfalls brought on by pessimism, promiscuity,

and pride. How many times did God put someone in your path with just the needed

warnings or the perfect word of encouragement? Can't you think of times when the

Lord provided exactly what you needed at just the right moment? Has God ever

supernaturally protected you from harm? Meditating on these miniature miracles can

build your faith in a God who can do for you today and tomorrow what He did

yesterday and the day before.

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“Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Glorious and majestic are his deeds” (Psalm 111: 2-3). Memories should be made of

this!

Steps to Take

1. Carefully read Psalms 42 and 43, filling in these boxes as you go along. PSALMS

42 and 43

Practicing Positive Self-Talk

Projecting a Correct View of God

What does David ask himself, and what

List all David’s descriptions of God.

does he tell himself?

Expecting God to Intervene

Looking Beyond the Present

What does David pray for?

What Does David Say About His Future?

2. Reread the two Psalms, filling in anything you missed the first time.

3. Make a list of the times God has specifically helped you, His special blessings, and

His daily faithfulness. Keep it, so you can look at it and focus your mind on

memories of God's goodness on days you tend to feel depressed.

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* Note: You can make simple charts like this one for other Psalms to better capture what the Bible

teaches about God so you can pray more effectively.

Hanging Around With Heroes

“DAY 4”

Reading through the Psalms, one soon notices how often the author’s praise of

God leads him to recall the miracles that are part of the history of Israel. Remembering

the incredible deeds of the Almighty, which are all part of the majestic panoramic plan

to bring salvation to man inspires awe and admiration. If Joseph hadn’t forgiven and

saved his family, they all would have starved to death and the tribe of Judah destined

to bring Jesus into the world would have been wiped out. If Esther hadn’t petitioned

for her people, the Jews would have disappeared from the face of the earth, and no

descendant of David could have given birth to a Savior. Saying that history is His

Story is no exaggeration, and studying biblical miracles is a real faith booster.

It’s become an automatic habit with me: Whenever a situation seems

impossible, I open my Bible to an account that tells how God changed some mountain

into a mole hill. Once, I turned to Exodus 14, relived the dramatic escape of the

Israelites, and almost experienced their terror as they looked back and saw Pharaoh’s

great army marching after them! Some words leaped off the page to speak to my

present situation; “The Egyptians you see today you will never see again” (Exodus 14:

13). God was undoubtedly tired of hearing my tale of woe concerning the “Egyptians”

in my life. I saw things in a new light, and although the situation didn’t change

immediately, my distress was gone. A little later, things took a dramatic turn for the

better.

When the workload seems overwhelming, I read about Nehemiah and the Jews

rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. I once again focus on the winning combination of

prayer, persistence, refusing to listen to satanic lies, and obedience to God. It always

gives me a new perspective on my present project. If I feel like a small and

insignificant individual facing insurmountable odds, I turn to the story of David and

Goliath. Again, I realize that “One with God is a majority.”

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Afraid to obey God's instructions, I read about Gideon who was also a scaredy-

cat with a strong desire to follow God. The result of his obedience, regardless of the

emotional battle, gives me some much-needed courage.

I find 2 Chronicles 20 my all-time favorite. King Jehoshaphat learned that a

strong enemy alliance had come to fight his little army. He led the nation in prayer

and fasting, using the spiritual strategy of sending the choir singing praises to God in

front of the soldiers. The Lord caused these invaders to begin fighting one another,

and the Israelites had only to celebrate their glorious victory. Shortly after really

studying this passage, I found myself on the side of a highway far from anyone who

could help, with my ignition keys locked in my trunk. I thought of Jehoshaphat, and

that made me really expect God to rescue me. I sat down by the road to pray. Within

minutes a very polite gentleman driving a tow truck asked if I needed help. I explained

the situation and he promised to send someone from the gas station. After a while

another man appeared and quickly opened my trunk. All of a sudden, my praise party

was interrupted with the realization that I had only ten dollars in my purse. Hesitantly

I asked, “How much do I owe you?” the guy smiled and answered, “Two bucks.” To

me, this miracle was just as great as Jehoshaphat’s military victory.

Faced with the possibility of laws I may not be able to go along with, I remember

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s deliverance from the fiery furnace and Daniel in

the lions’ den. I want to be like them. Right now, there are some Jerichos in my life,

but it’s great to know that God can knock down these walls as easily as He did in the

time of Joshua. The God who surrounded Elisha with angelic forces, who pulled off

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an earthquake to release two of his servants from prison, and who fed five-thousand

people with five loaves and two fishes can certainly take care of me!

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that

through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

(Romans 15: 4) And not all of God's mighty deeds recorded in the Bible that make it

easier for us to trust God, remain in the past. Some spill over into the present. We

should constantly praise God for giving His Ten Commandments and inspiring the

writing of His holy Word. Where would we be without these divine instructions? The

fact that Jesus rose from the dead affects us every day we live. He’s at the right hand

of God the Father, praying for us! Because He conquered death, we don’t need to fear

it. Hanging around with heroes of the faith – Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Gideon – is a

really good idea. It draws your attention to their miracle-working God who, by the

way, is still in business today!

Steps to Take

1. As you read Psalm 105 and Psalm 111, really praise God for His miracles.

2. Which biblical miracle is your favorite? Why? _________________

3. On a separate sheet of paper try writing a psalm of praise based on that event,

adding as David does in Psalm 106, a few of God's other fantastic feats.

4. Develop a miracle mentality by meditating on what God has done and anticipating

what He will do.

It’s Amazing What God Can Do With Ordinary People

“DAY 5”

“That’s just the way I am, and I can't act any differently.” “It’s useless to try to

reform him so just accept him the way he is.” “You can't change human nature.”

We say things like that a lot. And it’s obvious that most attempts to alter basic

personal behavior have failed. In spite of educational emphasis on equality and respect

for people of all backgrounds, racial hatred seems to be growing. All the information

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available on the harm done by drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol doesn’t dissuade young

people from using them. Neither prisons nor chemical-dependency programs seem to

have much success in improving those under their care. No matter how much is written

about the futility and horror of war, modern armies are as barbaric as any in history.

But there is hope – because the amazing power of Jesus Christ can totally

transform lives! It’s exciting to read how a Saul of Tarsus dedicated to destroying

Christians got converted and became one of the most motivated missionaries of all

time. The wimpy Peter, who denied that he even knew Jesus, later preached

unashamedly to a huge crowd, which possibly contained some of the same people who

heard his denials. James and John, whose quick tempers gave them the nickname “sons

of thunder,” turned into men whose lives reflected more and more of their humble

Savior. John is now known as the “apostle of love.” Jesus can change anybody. He

can change you.

Biographies of Christians whom the Lord has used in a special way point to the

greatness of God. Someone is reported to have attended a meeting where D. L. Moody,

a famous evangelist of the last century, was preaching. He commented that there was

no relationship between the man behind the pulpit and what occurred that night. It was

just that God chose to display His power through a simple and uneducated ex-shoe

salesman who had completely surrendered his life to God.

Maybe you’ve never heard of J. O. Fraser, but his story is fascinating. Giving

up everything, he went to China as a missionary. And after serving in other areas, he

felt God wanted him to evangelize the Lisu people who lived in the mountains. For

ten years, he worked and prayed and got many others to pray for these primitive

demon-worshipers. But the idea of stopping their ancient practices filled them with

terror. That Fraser could be content with Christ alone – even though deprived of all

contact with other Christians and people of his educational level, all the while living

in the most primitive conditions, with tribesmen totally indifferent to his message – is

one of God's special miracles. Making what he thought would be his final visit to the

villages before transferring to a different missionary station, Fraser saw family after

family – 400 in all! – make solid commitments to Christ.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How

unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11: 33).

Hearing about how God works makes us want to praise and adore Him more.

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Gladys Aylward, who was employed as a servant girl in England, offered herself

to a mission board to serve in China. She was rejected because it was thought her lack

of formal education would keep her from learning the difficult Chinese language.

Undaunted, she took a train across Russia all by herself and miraculously found the

lady missionary she had come to help. When her companion died, Gladys told the

Lord how terribly lonely she was. He started sending her orphans – and not only did

she raise them to be strong Christians, she never felt lonely again. During the Japanese

invasion of China, God showed Gladys just when to lead the children to safety. This

was so noticeable that when Gladys moved her children to a different town, many

people followed her, rightly assuming that the city she just left was about to fall to the

Japanese. That God uses availability, not ability, is amply demonstrated in this story

of His faithfulness.

Reading biographies of people who fully followed God is a most uplifting and

enjoyable pastime. Try it. It’ll cause you to praise the God who worked so wonderfully

in the lives of other people.

Another faith-builder is watching God change you and the people you know.

Not long ago, a guy came to our youth meeting all excited. A former gang member,

he’d been assaulted as he’d left his home for church. He couldn’t believe how much

God had changed him, because instead of a desire to get even, God put into his heart

a love for his assailant.

Do you know some former alcoholics and drug addicts who are now serving

God? I do. In your church, are there some couples whose marriages were on the rocks

before they came to know the Lord of love, who renewed in them genuine affection

for each other? There are in mine. A few young people are growing so fast, one can

almost measure their progress from week to week.

If you're serious about God, you'll be able to point to changes He’s made in you!

It’s boring to be “saved, sanctified, and petrified.” God wants to show off His talent

for remodeling personalities, using you as an example! A you’re-the-Potter-I’m-the-

clay attitude toward your Maker will allow miracles to become the rule rather than the

exception in your life.

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Steps to Take

Let’s look at how God changed Peter. Be sure to carefully read each Scripture

passage because this study can be of help to you personally. It will lead you to give

thanks to the Savior who can do so much to alter the course of a life God wants to use

without destroying the basic human personality. Under His control, even our

weaknesses can be transformed into characteristics He’ll use for His glory.

Put the emphasis on God, not on yourself. Ask Him to do for you what He did

for Peter and praise Him all during the process. The reason the Lord could work in

Peter was that He was available. In spite of his failures, his heart’s desire was to follow

God. Why don’t you tell God you want to be another Peter, and start thanking Him

now for what He will do in your life?

1. Learn about God's life-changing power by studying the life of Peter. God even used

Peter’s big mouth. Lips that once talked before thinking (Luke 9: 28 -36), later

delivered a sermon after which three thousand people were saved (Acts 2: 141)!

Peter’s sometimes-impulsive initiative, that got him out of the boat and walking on

water (Matthew 14: 25-31) compelled him to cut off the ear of the high priest’s

servant when Jesus was arrested (John 18: 1-11) and made him run to the tomb to

check out the reports of the women (Luke 24: 9-12). Nonetheless, he was fine-

tuned by the Holy Spirit into a wise and dynamic leader (Acts 1: 2516; 3: 1-26; 9:

32-43; 8: 14-25).

The independent and proud Peter boasted that he’d always be loyal to Jesus even

though nobody else was (Matthew 26: 31-35), and he was not slow to tell even Jesus

what to do (Matthew 16: 13-28). But he became a man who was willing to listen to

others when he needed to be set straight. Combining Galatians 2: 11-16 with Acts 15:

1-12, we can realize that Peter defended Paul, who had once corrected him in public

for acting hypocritically!

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The man who used to sleep through prayer meeting (Mark 14: 32-38) learned to

use every spare moment to communicate with God (Acts 10: 1-48). The guy who had

an opinion about everything (John 13: 3-11) was now so open to listening to God that

the Lord gave him supernatural knowledge (Acts 5: 1-11). The disciple who once

thought he’d return to fishing (John 21: 1-23) now preached the gospel whenever and

wherever he could (Acts 5: 29-32). Peter, who had been so afraid that He denied Jesus

three times in a row (Mark 14: 66-72), became so bold that he testified in front of all

the Jewish leaders (Acts 4: 1-22). And he was so willing to give his life for Jesus that

he slept soundly the night before his scheduled execution (Acts 12: 1-19).

Peter, transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 1-13; 4: 31), had the

power to proclaim that the crucified Savior was alive (Acts 2: 22-24) and the

willingness to obey God no matter what it cost (Revelation 12: 11).

2. If you want to have a powerful reason to praise God, ask Him to overhaul your

personality. And praise Him as you watch Him work!

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU FINISHED THE BOOK!

You’ve worked through a lot of different prayer possibilities. Use the ones that

helped you most – and if you feel like you're in a rut, refer to this book again and try

something else. And most important, decide that getting to know God better will

always be a priority in your life.

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