The Ultimate Boys' Book of Devotions: 365 Devos to Make You Stronger, Smarter, Deeper, and Cooler

By Ed Strauss

This 52-week devotional will help tween boys understand what being smarter, stronger, deeper, and cooler is really all about according to Luke 2:52, helping them grow up the way Jesus did—in God’s Word. In the humorous, cheeky, and sometimes gross style that makes the 2:52 series so engaging and fun for boys, this year-long devotional combines important principles with practical messages, teaching lessons boys need to learn and helping them put this valuable knowledge into practice. Each devotion presents a Bible verse, explains it, shows how it applies to boys’ lives, and offers tools to help boys live in a godly way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: May 4, 2010
• ISBN: 9780310876724

Ed Strauss

Ed Strauss lives in British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and three tween-aged children. Ed is a freelance writer with a passion for Biblical apologetics and fantasy fiction. Apart from writing, Ed enjoys biking and exploring nature.

Book preview

The Ultimate Devo For Boys

ALSO IN THE 2:52 SERIES

2:52 Boys’ Bible

How to Draw Good, Bad & Ugly Bible Guys

How to Draw Big Bad Bible Beasts

Big Bad Bible Giants

Bible Heroes & Bad Guys

Seriously Sick Bible Stuff

Weird & Gross Bible Stuff

Creepy Creatures & Bizarre Beasts from the Bible

Bible Angels & Demons

Bible Freaks & Geeks

Bible Wars & Weapons

The Ultimate Devo For Boys

ED STRAUSS

2:52 365 DAILY DEVOITIONS

AND JESUS GREW IN WIDSOM AND IN STATURE. AND IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MEN LUKE 2:52 – NIV

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ZONDERKIDZ

2:52 Ultimate Devo for Boys

Copyright © 2007, 2009 by Edward Strauss

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

ePub Edition MARCH 2010 ISBN: 978-0-310-87672-4

Requests for information should be addressed to: Zonderkidz, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Strauss, Ed, 1953-

2:52 ultimate devo for boys / by Ed Strauss.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-310-71314-2 (softcover)

1. Boys—Prayers and devotions. 2. Preteens—Prayers and devotions.

3. Bible—Meditations. I. Title.

BV4855.S758 2009

242’.62—dc22

2009013980

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All Scripture quotations unless otherwise noted are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®.

NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of

Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered

as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does

Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

Zonderkidz is a trademark of Zondervan.

Table of Contents

Half Title Page

ALSO IN THE 2:52 SERIES

Title Page

Copyright

DEVOTION 1 YOUNG AND FUN LOVING

DEVOTION 2 SEEING THAT GOD IS REAL

DEVOTION 3 JESUS’ POWERFUL RESURRECTION

DEVOTION 4 LOOKS AREN’T EVERYTHING

DEVOTION 5 THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER

DEVOTION 6 TRACKING DOWN TREASURE

DEVOTION 7 BUFF ISN’T ENOUGH

DEVOTION 8 THE ULAM FAMILY REUNION

DEVOTION 9 A WISE MAN’S ATTITUDE

DEVOTION 10 DON’T LET THE BULL LOOSE!

DEVOTION 11 CHECKING YOUR MOTIVES

DEVOTION 12 TALKING TO GOD ALL DAY LONG

DEVOTION 13 ONE GOD—ONE WAY TO HEAVEN

DEVOTION 14 CONTROLLING THE HEAT VENTS

DEVOTION 15 ALIEN FUNGI

DEVOTION 16 BURST OF POWER

DEVOTION 17 SHOUTING MATCH MISTAKE

DEVOTION 18 SAVAGE APPROACH TO BIBLE READING

DEVOTION 19 KEEPING A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

DEVOTION 20 WISE GUYS FOR FRIENDS

DEVOTION 21 RESISTING PEER PRESSURE

DEVOTION 22 GETTING ALONG

DEVOTION 23 MADE FOR ACTION

DEVOTION 24 FULL-MEAL DEAL

DEVOTION 25 ANGELS ON UNDERCOVER ASSIGNMENTS

DEVOTION 26 BEEFING UP YOUR BRAIN POWER

DEVOTION 27 DULL AXES, DULL MINDS

DEVOTION 28 HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE

DEVOTION 29 HOWLING KILLER MICE

DEVOTION 30 PLANNING, PLOTTING, AND PRAYING

DEVOTION 31 LEARNING FROM THE MASTER TEACHER

DEVOTION 32 LIGHT YEARS AHEAD

DEVOTION 33 GIRLS ARE COOL

DEVOTION 34 COOL WOMEN

DEVOTION 35 RESPECTING THE ELDERLY

DEVOTION 36 A FAITHFUL FRIEND

DEVOTION 37 LIFE CHANGES

DEVOTION 38 USELESS INFORMATION

DEVOTION 39 ADMITTING YOU DON’T KNOW

DEVOTION 40 BUILT UP, NOT PUFFED UP

DEVOTION 41 RUNNING OUT OF BOUNDS

DEVOTION 42 CONTENT WITH WINNING

DEVOTION 43 WHAT GRUDGES LEAD TO

DEVOTION 44 THE SULKING KING

DEVOTION 45 YOUR NEIGHBOR’S TOYS

DEVOTION 46 GO WHERE YOU MEAN TO GO

DEVOTION 47 WHY GOD GIVES US GIFTS

DEVOTION 48 AMAZING WAYS THROUGH THE MAZE

DEVOTION 49 MONSTERS IN THE CLOSET

DEVOTION 50 THE PLANET OF MISSING SOCKS

DEVOTION 51 HOW TO TREAT ALIENS

DEVOTION 52 FIRST ON GOD’S LIST

DEVOTION 53 MIXING AND MINGLING

DEVOTION 54 IT’S NOT FAIR!

DEVOTION 55 YOU NEED OTHERS

DEVOTION 56 IN TRAINING

DEVOTION 57 VIGOR MEANS POWER

DEVOTION 58 GROW LIKE A STATUE?

DEVOTION 59 LIVE LONG AND STRONG

DEVOTION 60 SMART STRATEGIES, SMART MOVES

DEVOTION 61 MEMOS AND REMINDERS

DEVOTION 62 DO THE MATH

DEVOTION 63 LOSING STUFF ALL THE TIME

DEVOTION 64 GARLIC PEELS, ZITS, AND MESSY HAIR

DEVOTION 65 ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!

DEVOTION 66 BEING BORN AGAIN

DEVOTION 67 LOCK IT UP!

DEVOTION 68 MUSCLES AND MORE

DEVOTION 69 BRING ON THE ANTS

DEVOTION 70 WOUNDED BUDDIES

DEVOTION 71 STANDING WITH FELLOW CHRISTIANS

DEVOTION 72 TOO GOOD TO WORK?

DEVOTION 73 THE REUBEN RECORDS

DEVOTION 74 SETTLING DISAGREEMENTS

DEVOTION 75 MAGIC BOOKS DISAPPEAR!

DEVOTION 76 ACTUALLY ASKING QUESTIONS

DEVOTION 77 TRUSTING THE TRUSTY

DEVOTION 78 OBEYING AUTHORITIES

DEVOTION 79 THE A-TO-Z FACTOR

DEVOTION 80 SPIRITUAL DEFENSES

DEVOTION 81 STRENGTH FROM INSPIRATION

DEVOTION 82 BE CONSIDERATE OF ROSES

DEVOTION 83 TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

DEVOTION 84 BATTLE LOST TO THE BOTTLE

DEVOTION 85 LAY THAT CLICKER DOWN

DEVOTION 86 REALLY LEARNING

DEVOTION 87 PERFECT MESSAGE, IMPERFECT DELIVERY

DEVOTION 88 WHY WE WORSHIP GOD

DEVOTION 89 HAVE MERCY—FORGIVE OTHERS

DEVOTION 90 DON’T JUST WAIL! PRAY!

DEVOTION 91 EATING AWAY YOUR PEACE OF MIND

DEVOTION 92 DEFEAT YOUR GIANTS

DEVOTION 93 WALKING A LEVIATHAN

DEVOTION 94 UNDER PRESSURE

DEVOTION 95 QUALITY RESEARCH

DEVOTION 96 LEARNING THE GUR AND BùR

DEVOTION 97 IMAGINATION—GOOD AND BAD

DEVOTION 98 CONTROLLING YOUR THOUGHTS

DEVOTION 99 CHOOSE COOL WATER, NOT DUST

DEVOTION 100 MYSTERIOUS ANGEL BODYGUARDS

DEVOTION 101 TROPHIES WAITING IN HEAVEN

DEVOTION 102 STANDING UP TO FRIENDS

DEVOTION 103 WHEN HUMOR IS BULLYING

DEVOTION 104 FOUR KEYS OF FRIENDSHIP

DEVOTION 105 OVERLOOKING MISTAKES

DEVOTION 106 CONSIDERING OTHERS

DEVOTION 107 THE TOE THING

DEVOTION 108 NOT FAIR!

DEVOTION 109 ENDURANCE

DEVOTION 110 BEING THERE FOR FAMILY

DEVOTION 111 WEREN’T BORN YESTERDAY?

DEVOTION 112 FIGHTING AND BITING

DEVOTION 113 WORKING OUT THE DETAILS

DEVOTION 114 TOP CAMEL MAN

DEVOTION 115 JESUS’ POWER OVER DEMONS

DEVOTION 116 MIRACLES ARE EVIDENCE

DEVOTION 117 PUTTING ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT

DEVOTION 118 HELPING YOUR FAITH GROW

DEVOTION 119 HIDING GOD’S WORD DOWN DEEP

DEVOTION 120 BITING YOUR TONGUE

DEVOTION 121 CHILDISH THINKING

DEVOTION 122 PETE TAKES THE HEAT

DEVOTION 123 FILLED WITH SKILL

DEVOTION 124 TOTALLY INFINITE UNDERSTANDING

DEVOTION 125 JUNK TALK

DEVOTION 126 LAST-MINUTE SCRAMBLE

DEVOTION 127 UNMISTAKABLE SMELL

DEVOTION 128 BE HAPPY, YOUNG MAN

DEVOTION 129 PART OF THE PRIDE

DEVOTION 130 HE WHO WORSHIPS GOD, WINS!

DEVOTION 131 JESUS’ RETURN FROM HEAVEN

DEVOTION 132 KNOW BETTER THAN GOD? NOT!

DEVOTION 133 AVOID CAUSING GRIEF

DEVOTION 134 NOT COOL!

DEVOTION 135 WANT RESPECT?

DEVOTION 136 STRONG, SILENT TYPE

DEVOTION 137 FOLLOW THROUGH

DEVOTION 138 SIBLING SOLUTIONS

DEVOTION 139 THE BULLY OF BAHURIM

DEVOTION 140 PLAYING MIND GAMES

DEVOTION 141 REMEMBERING TO SAY THANKS

DEVOTION 142 WHO YOU GONNA BELIEVE?

DEVOTION 143 EYEBALLS UNDER CONTROL

DEVOTION 144 SHARK…MUST…EAT

DEVOTION 145 A SENSE OF TIMING

DEVOTION 146 TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

DEVOTION 147 TINY DETAILS, BIG SOLUTIONS

DEVOTION 148 HAPPY THOUGHTS VS. SICKNESS

DEVOTION 149 GENEROSITY WITHOUT GRUMBLING

DEVOTION 150 HOW TO REALLY ARGUE

DEVOTION 151 ANAH’S CLAIM TO FAME

DEVOTION 152 PLUNGING INTO THE SEWERS

DEVOTION 153 BRING HONOR TO YOUR PARENTS

DEVOTION 154 WISDOM AND WRINKLES

DEVOTION 155 BRINGING UP THE PAST

DEVOTION 156 MOTIVATED TO WORK

DEVOTION 157 READY FOR ROUGH TIMES

DEVOTION 158 EYE GARBAGE

DEVOTION 159 ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES

DEVOTION 160 TEMPTATION

DEVOTION 161 WISE ABOUT BASIC STUFF

DEVOTION 162 DEMOLITION DERBY

DEVOTION 163 SHEERAH THE BUILDER

DEVOTION 164 CHOOSING CHRISTLIKE COACHES

DEVOTION 165 YOUR FAMILY’S WEIRD RULES

DEVOTION 166 WARS ON THE EVENING NEWS

DEVOTION 167 WAR IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM

DEVOTION 168 BIG BRAGGING MOABITE MAN

DEVOTION 169 A WILLING WATER BOY

DEVOTION 170 A BAND OF BROTHERS

DEVOTION 171 THE RETURN-THE-OX RULE

DEVOTION 172 HANGING WITH UNCOOL KIDS

DEVOTION 173 WHEN DONKEYS FALL DOWN

DEVOTION 174 FAVORITE FRIENDS AND FAVORITISM

DEVOTION 175 YOUR FAITHFULNESS RATING

DEVOTION 176 GOD’S AMAZING UNIVERSE

DEVOTION 177 WISDOM VERSUS BOOK LEARNING

DEVOTION 178 THINGS IN COMMON

DEVOTION 179 JOINING A GANG—OR NOT

DEVOTION 180 FEELING OVERWHELMED

DEVOTION 181 HELMETS AND SHIN GUARDS

DEVOTION 182 READY TO DEFEND

DEVOTION 183 SPECIAL TRAINING PLAN

DEVOTION 184 LOST: ONE HUNDRED WISE MEN

DEVOTION 185 WRONG PLANET? SOOO SORRY!

DEVOTION 186 LIBRARIES AND LEARNING

DEVOTION 187 WORTH GETTING ORGANIZED

DEVOTION 188 WE WERE THERE. WE SAW IT HAPPEN!

DEVOTION 189 LOOKS JUST LIKE HIS DAD

DEVOTION 190 GOD IS STILL IN BUSINESS

DEVOTION 191 DOING WHAT YOU CAN

DEVOTION 192 PHARISEES AND THEIR SEATS

DEVOTION 193 WEAR YOUR CLOAK

DEVOTION 194 LIGHTS OUT

DEVOTION 195 TAKE YOUR BENCH TIME

DEVOTION 196 TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

DEVOTION 197 PUSHING PEOPLE AROUND

DEVOTION 198 FLAT FLATTERY

DEVOTION 199 A TOUGH TIMES BROTHER

DEVOTION 200 TURNING ON THE TAP

DEVOTION 201 THE RIGHT KIND OF WISDOM

DEVOTION 202 CAFETERIA-STYLE EXPERTS

DEVOTION 203 UNREASONABLE DOUBTS

DEVOTION 204 LETTING GOD DEAL WITH THINGS

DEVOTION 205 HOW THE UNIVERSE WAS FORMED

DEVOTION 206 KEEP THESE FACTS IN MIND

DEVOTION 207 FAIR AND EQUAL

DEVOTION 208 HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY COMPETITION

DEVOTION 209 STRENGTH WITH MERCY

DEVOTION 210 LAME EXCUSES

DEVOTION 211 YOUR PERSONAL TRAINER

DEVOTION 212 FORTY-YEAR-OLD JEANS

DEVOTION 213 HAMSTER-CAGE BREATH

DEVOTION 214 FEARFULLY MADE

DEVOTION 215 LUST OF THE EYES

DEVOTION 216 ABSOLUTE PURITY

DEVOTION 217 PROTECTORS OF THE TRIBE

DEVOTION 218 LISTENING TO LECTURES

DEVOTION 219 DON’T GET ME STARTED

DEVOTION 220 OKAY, YOU’VE GOT MY ATTENTION!

DEVOTION 221 LIVING LIKE PHANTOMS

DEVOTION 222 CHURCH—BELIEVERS BELONG TOGETHER

DEVOTION 223 DEALING WITH PERSECUTION

DEVOTION 224 TAKING THE PLUNGE

DEVOTION 225 HOLDING ONTO CLUES AND KEYS

DEVOTION 226 SAVE IT FOR MARRIAGE

DEVOTION 227 DOG-GODS AND COPYCATS

DEVOTION 228 FINDING OUT COOL STUFF

DEVOTION 229 SAUNA ROOM SCHOOL

DEVOTION 230 OPEN EARS, OPEN MIND

DEVOTION 231 EXTREME RESEARCH

DEVOTION 232 REWARD DAY FOR CHRISTIANS

DEVOTION 233 TAKING A SPIRITUAL SHOWER

DEVOTION 234 DON’T BE SUPERSTITIOUS

DEVOTION 235 IMPERFECT PARENTS

DEVOTION 236 INTELLIGENT DISCUSSIONS

DEVOTION 237 DIRT ALERT!

DEVOTION 238 NORMAL GROWING UP

DEVOTION 239 WHEN FRIENDS ARE DOWN

DEVOTION 240 EXTRA MILE FRIENDS

DEVOTION 241 WHEN YOU JUDGE OTHERS

DEVOTION 242 PLUG INTO GOD’S POWER

DEVOTION 243 PERSONAL BEST

DEVOTION 244 IMPRESSED HEARTS

DEVOTION 245 PUBLIC, UNITED WORSHIP

DEVOTION 246 LOTS OF PEOPLE SINGING

DEVOTION 247 AVOIDING THE DARK SIDE

DEVOTION 248 GOD—ALWAYS MERCIFUL AND LOVING

DEVOTION 249 FEAR CAN BE A GOOD THING

DEVOTION 250 TRUTH VERSUS MYTH

DEVOTION 251 DEAD FRED AND MADAME MAMBA

DEVOTION 252 PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

DEVOTION 253 WOMEN ON THE FRONTLINES

DEVOTION 254 HORSE-SIZED JOBS

DEVOTION 255 WHEN FRIENDS DESERT YOU

DEVOTION 256 WHEN OTHERS ARE DOWN

DEVOTION 257 FIGHTING BEASTS OR BEASTLY FEASTS

DEVOTION 258 PUTTING THE BEST THINGS FIRST

DEVOTION 259 LION ON THE LOOSE

DEVOTION 260 WHY GOD GAVE PROPHECIES

DEVOTION 261 FANTASTIC OUTER SPACE

DEVOTION 262 UNDERSTANDING AND TRUSTING

DEVOTION 263 IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL

DEVOTION 264 YOU KNOW YOU’RE GOOD

DEVOTION 265 BRAND-NAME BLUES

DEVOTION 266 KIDLOCK!

DEVOTION 267 PUTTING YOUR HEART INTO IT

DEVOTION 268 REPORTING WRONGDOING

DEVOTION 269 WHEN ADVICE ISN’T APPRECIATED

DEVOTION 270 GIVING GENEROUSLY TO GOD

DEVOTION 271 BUMPED OFF THE PATH

DEVOTION 272 SERVING GOD FOR REAL

DEVOTION 273 HAVING A MEAL WITH JESUS

DEVOTION 274 GOD IS YOUR DAD

DEVOTION 275 MAKING SOME PRIVATE SPACE

DEVOTION 276 BE STRONG AND TAKE HEART

DEVOTION 277 DON’T FALL TWICE

DEVOTION 278 CUTTING CORNERS

DEVOTION 279 HELPING JESUS

DEVOTION 280 DON’T FORSAKE FRIENDS

DEVOTION 281 PAINFUL FAVORS

DEVOTION 282 WOW! REVELATIONS FROM THE BIBLE

DEVOTION 283 BECOMING MORE LIKE JESUS

DEVOTION 284 GOD GUIDING YOUR MIND

DEVOTION 285 PARENTS’ BRAINPOWER

DEVOTION 286 GETTING A GLORIOUS BODY

DEVOTION 287 THE HEAVENLY CITY

DEVOTION 288 TEMPORARY TROUBLE, HUGE REWARDS

DEVOTION 289 EXCELLENT THINKING

DEVOTION 290 A TIME FOR HUMOR

DEVOTION 291 LEAVING OFF GETTING EVEN

DEVOTION 292 TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

DEVOTION 293 DUMPING ANGER

DEVOTION 294 A DEAL TO AVOID

DEVOTION 295 LISTEN TO YOUR FOLKS

DEVOTION 296 GHOSTS ON THE LOOSE?

DEVOTION 297 BADLY MISTAKEN THINKING

DEVOTION 298 KEEP YOUR COOL

DEVOTION 299 NOT LIMITED BY CIRCUMSTANCES

DEVOTION 300 LISTENING TO WISE ADVICE

DEVOTION 301 RESPECTING PEOPLE’S PROPERTY

DEVOTION 302 LOVE YOURSELF? PROVE IT!

DEVOTION 303 BAD BOY’S GOOD ADVICE

DEVOTION 304 FEELING DUMB?

DEVOTION 305 GROWING OUT OF ELEMENTARY GRADES

DEVOTION 306 KEEP AT IT! DON’T STOP PRAYING!

DEVOTION 307 WATER BUFFALOS, BUTTERFLIES, AND YOU

DEVOTION 308 DOING STUFF NOW

DEVOTION 309 THE COURAGE TO CONFESS

DEVOTION 310 BUTTING IN

DEVOTION 311 WILLING BUT WEAK

DEVOTION 312 IS IT WORTH GETTING INTO?

DEVOTION 313 WHEN SEWER WATER’S FLYING

DEVOTION 314 GOD ISN’T JUST LIKE YOU

DEVOTION 315 A DROP IN THE BUCKET

DEVOTION 316 YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT

DEVOTION 317 FEASTING WITH THE FAMOUS

DEVOTION 318 RILED ABOUT RABBLE RUBBISH

DEVOTION 319 MEDDLING AND INTERFERENCE

DEVOTION 320 USE YOUR GOOD REP

DEVOTION 321 FEEL OTHERS’ PAIN

DEVOTION 322 A PUPIL’S PUPILS OPEN

DEVOTION 323 PAYING ATTENTION IN SCHOOL

DEVOTION 324 GETTING A SECOND OPINION

DEVOTION 325 IT PAYS TO LISTEN

DEVOTION 326 BUILDING MUSCLES

DEVOTION 327 THANK GOD FOR MONEY

DEVOTION 328 THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER

DEVOTION 329 WITNESSING AND ALLIGATORS

DEVOTION 330 BALANCED MEALS

DEVOTION 331 TAKING CARE OF YOUR TEMPLE

DEVOTION 332 MUSTARD AND MULBERRY MIRACLES

DEVOTION 333 FUN TRIVIA VERSUS WORTHLESS IDOLS

DEVOTION 334 JUNKING JUNK, POUNDING IDOLS

DEVOTION 335 COMMONSENSE SOLUTIONS

DEVOTION 336 BUCKLE DOWN AND DO IT

DEVOTION 337 TESTED WITH HARD QUESTIONS

DEVOTION 338 ODD OLD WORDS

DEVOTION 339 CRAFTY, WINDY TALK

DEVOTION 340 IT’S NOT LUCK

DEVOTION 341 WHY THE GOSPELS WERE WRITTEN

DEVOTION 342 RULING NATIONS—OUR DESTINY

DEVOTION 343 ZONED OUT AND DISTRACTED

DEVOTION 344 TRIVIA AND JUNK INFORMATION

DEVOTION 345 GETTING GROUNDED BY GOD

DEVOTION 346 TAKE TIME TO CHEW

DEVOTION 347 FALSE KNOWLEDGE

DEVOTION 348 REASONABLE FAITH

DEVOTION 349 WHEN GOD ANSWERS NO

DEVOTION 350 LISTENING TO GOD’s BREATHING

DEVOTION 351 CAN YOU WAIT A MINUTE?

DEVOTION 352 DON’T STAND THERE WITH YOUR MOUTH OPEN

DEVOTION 353 YOUR FAITH, GOD’S WILL AND POWER

DEVOTION 354 LIVING IN JESUS

DEVOTION 356 STOP NON-STOP QUARRELS

DEVOTION 357 ANGELS FREEZING TONGUES

DEVOTION 358 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY

DEVOTION 359 RULE NUMBER FIVE

DEVOTION 360 KEEPING PROMISES

DEVOTION 361 HAPPY CELEBRATION TIME

DEVOTION 362 DESPERATELY THIRSTY DUDES

DEVOTION 363 KEEP IT FLOWING

DEVOTION 364 NOT BEATING THE AIR

DEVOTION 365 FESTERING INFECTION

DEVOTION 366 ALL FOR YOU

About the Publisher

DEVOTION 1

YOUNG AND FUN LOVING

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

—1 Tim othy 4:12

Timothy was a young man when he joined Paul’s team. Timothy was timid, but God saw that he had the right stuff and later made him a leader of the churches. Only problem was, Timothy was still so young. Many older Christians thought young meant immature, so Paul told Timothy to prove that this wasn’t true by setting an example of living as a Christian.

What does this mean for you? Does it mean that being a Christian is super-serious business and that you should never laugh, never have goofy moments and never enjoy any wild, energetic fun? Does it mean you have to try to be perfect? No, it doesn’t mean any of that. But being young and fun loving does not equal being foolish and out-of-control.

Live for the truth and give careful thought to how you speak and behave. You may be full of energy and jokes, but don’t let go completely so that you become outrageously foolish and disrespectful like a baboon that’s throwing stuff at the crowds watching him. Yes, have fun, but remember how God expects all Christians—young and old—to behave.

More people are watching your life than you imagine. Don’t give them any reason to look down on you or the faith you believe in.

DEVOTION 2

SEEING THAT GOD IS REAL

God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.

—Romans 1:20

God is a spiritual being. He lives in another dimension, and human eyes just aren’t made for seeing spiritual things. That whole realm is invisible to us. But there is a way to clearly understand what he’s like. How’s that? By looking at the world that God made.

When you play a super cool computer game with cutting-edge graphics, you just know that some awesome programmer designed the thing, right? Even if the programmer’s not around for you to actually see, you know he or she exists. If you walk into your friend’s house and see a million-piece Lego castle, you might ask, Whoa! Did you build this? If your friend says, Nah. The dog sneezed, and this all fell into place, you’d say, Yeah, riiight.

It’s the same with God. Study the awesome way that nature works and how complex living things are, and it hits you that you’re looking at the work of an invisible, intelligent Creator. And this Creator’s not just super smart, he has awesome power. When people examine things like DNA or the human brain, even if they don’t know God they figure there had to be an intelligent designer behind it. It’s far too amazing to be an accident.

Do you want to see evidence of God? Look at the things he created. They tell you a lot about what he’s like and give you a glimpse of how powerful he is.

DEVOTION 3

JESUS’ POWERFUL RESURRECTION

He was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.

—Acts 2:31 – 32

Jesus was nailed to a cross on a Friday morning, and he died that afternoon. His friends buried him just before sunset, and Jesus’ lifeless body lay in a cold, dark tomb all that night, all the next day, and all the next night. Then at dawn Sunday morning, there was a violent earthquake, the stone door of his tomb rolled aside, and Jesus walked out. He appeared to his disciples, proving that he was alive again.

You may say, Okay, I saw a program on TV about a guy whose heart stopped. He was dead for two minutes, and then the doctors gave him an electric shock, and he came back to life. Yeah, but that guy wasn’t nearly beaten to death by Roman soldiers and then nailed to a cross. And he didn’t lay dead in a tomb for about forty hours. When people are dead like Jesus was dead, they stay dead.

Another thing: when Jesus’ body came back to life, his flesh-and-blood corpse was transformed into a powerful, eternal body that could walk through walls or appear and disappear. His body had been utterly changed. This was a supernatural miracle.

Jesus is the only person who ever actually died, rose from the dead, and now lives forever! His resurrection was huge, convincing proof that he was who he claimed to be—God’s Son.

DEVOTION 4

LOOKS AREN’T EVERYTHING

In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom.

—2 Sam uel 14:25

King David was a very handsome guy, and he married Maacah, the drop-dead gorgeous Princess of Geshur. Well, no big surprise that their son Absalom was so good-looking! From the top of his head to the end of his big toe, there wasn’t a blemish on him. There wasn’t even one freckle out of place. Problem was Absalom was in love with how he looked. He thought his hair was so cool, he let it grow down past his waist. He had five pounds of curly locks!

Absalom’s outside might have been picture-perfect, but his heart was seriously messed up. This is the guy who killed his older brother, tried to murder his father, and took advantage of ten women up on the palace roof where everyone could see them. Whoa! Talk about a mess! If you think that Absalom sounds like a Hollywood star with his life out of control, you got that one right! Some dudes don’t make good role models no matter what kind of celebrity they are.

It’s nice if you’re good-looking, but that really isn’t the important thing. If you don’t know right from wrong, looks don’t count for much. Are you ready for this one? The Bible says that a good-looking person with no morals is like a gold ring stuck through the snotty snout of a pig! (Proverbs 11:22)

You can be plain, or you can be a looker; it really doesn’t matter. What’s important is to have godly character.

DEVOTION 5

THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

—Acts 1:8

What’s this? Receiving power? That sounds good—like a superpower! But who is this Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of God, and Jesus promised his disciples that after he went to heaven he’d send the Spirit of God himself into their hearts—to live inside them! Wow! No wonder you get power! When God’s Spirit enters you, you admit the most powerful being in the universe into your life.

There are lots of movies and cartoons about kids receiving superpowers. Someone gets bombarded with radiation, or a genetically altered spider bites him, and the next thing you know he can walk up walls, bend steel bars, or surround himself with a force field. Of course, on top of going to school and doing homework, these superheroes have to wear colorful costumes and go out and save the world!

Although superheroes aren’t real, what the Bible says about God filling you with the power of his Holy Spirit is real. Of course, God probably won’t give you the ability to climb up skyscrapers. God gives his Spirit so that you’ll have power to live like a Christian. His Spirit also comforts you when you’re afraid or sad. The Holy Spirit teaches you how to pray and guides you in your choices. The Spirit also helps you tell others about Jesus.

God’s Spirit can give you power, and you need that power. So, pray and ask God to help you access the power of the Holy Spirit, so you can begin to live a stronger Christian life.

DEVOTION 6

TRACKING DOWN TREASURE

If you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will…find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom.

—Proverbs 2:4 – 6

King Solomon wrote this proverb, and he knew all about searching for treasure. Once a year his ships sailed south to a mysterious African land called Ophir and came back loaded down with gold. Solomon took in more than twenty-five tons of gold a year! For centuries, people have wondered where those gold mines were, but the secret’s lost now.

What would you do if you found a genuine treasure map that led to King Solomon’s mines or some other buried treasure? You’d be mighty interested in tracking down that treasure, right? Even if you had to crawl up mountains and hack through jungles, you’d keep at it. It’s worth it for riches like that! Think how much you get into searching for treasure when it’s just graphics in a computer game.

There’s treasure in the Bible too—real treasure. The knowledge of God is worth more than buried treasure…and definitely more than computer-animated jewels. How does that figure? Simple. Having faith in Jesus guarantees you’ll have eternal life in a paradise beyond your wildest dreams. Obeying God’s Word gives you heavenly rewards that’ll still glow like the sun a million years after diamonds have turned to dust.

Those are good reasons to read your Bible. Dig in, and you’ll come out with your mind full of wisdom and your heart full of spiritual treasure.

DEVOTION 7

BUFF ISN’T ENOUGH

Let not…the strong man boast of his strength…but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord.

—Jeremiah 9:23, 24

God had just finished telling the Israelites that disaster was going to hit their land and there was nothing they could do to stop it. The enemy was going to invade their land and smash into their fortresses. The Israelites could boast till they were blue in the face about how strong they were, but they weren’t anywhere near strong enough to stop what was coming. Only God could protect them.

If you’re tough, don’t lie and say, Oh man, look at me! I’m a pitiful weakling. If you’re strong and you know that you’re strong, have a healthy self-confidence. Know that kids can’t push you around. If tough situations come up, be confident that you can face them. There’s nothing wrong with that. God wants you to be strong.

But don’t go around boasting about how strong you are, because no matter how tough you are you can’t handle all the heavy stuff life sends your way. A lot of things are so big that you can’t protect yourself from them. If you depend on your muscles alone, you’ll go under. But realize that you have your limits and that you need God to protect you, and you’ll make it.

God is strongest of all. When you can’t handle stuff, trust him to take care of it.

DEVOTION 8

THE ULAM FAMILY REUNION

The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons—150 in all.

—1 Chron icles 8:40

Imagine going to an Ulam family reunion! Guess what they talked about? Bows and arrows. Guess what activities they had? Archery contests. Now, Ulam’s great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was Prince Jonathan. Jonathan was such a top archer that when David wrote a song about him, he called it The Lament of the Bow and talked about Jonathan’s archery skill. You see, archery had been in Ulam’s family for generations.

Different families are into different things. Wait till the next family reunion or get-together and listen to what the men talk about: maybe they’re big into football or antique cars or computer games. Some families are into movies or horses or chess or camping, and well…some are into archery. If no one’s into the same thing as anyone else, don’t sweat it. But usually families have some kind of common interest—at least eating.

Maybe your family’s pet hobbies bore you to tears. Or maybe other kids wonder about your family traditions. Don’t let it bother you. Whether you’re totally into the family thing or not, it’s part of your heritage. It’s part of who you are and shows that you have roots that go back for generations. Roots are good.

As you get older, you start asking, Who am I? A big part of the answer to that question is who your family is and what your family traditions are.

DEVOTION 9

A WISE MAN’S ATTITUDE

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

—Proverbs 9:8

Why, when you think of a certain kid, would you describe him as a mocker? Well, these days you probably wouldn’t. Instead, you’d say, Man, does that kid have a mouth on him! Or, What a know-it-all! Back in Bible days they had a simple name for a kid like that—mocker. No matter what you tried to tell this kid, he’d mock you.

Try to set him straight on something, and he just hates you. Why should he listen? He knows it all already. Of course he doesn’t, but he’s so defensive and proud that he can’t bear to listen to any kind of correction. So he tries to act smart and uses sarcastic humor to attack anyone who tries to straighten him out. You learn quickly not to try to tell him anything.

A know-it-all is a pain to be around. So be wise. When your friends try to teach you how not to goof up, or your parents rebuke you after you’ve blown it, listen to what they say and learn from it. It’ll keep you from making the same mistake again. When someone goes to the trouble to correct you, it shows they care about you.

Don’t get into it with a mocker, and don’t be a mocker yourself. You’ll learn a lot more and be a lot easier to live with if you’re willing to listen to correction.

DEVOTION 10

DON’T LET THE BULL LOOSE!

Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life.

—Leviticus 19:16

Now, there’s a commonsense law that makes sense, huh? It’s simple and to the point. But God didn’t stop there. Most people really need things spelled out, so God spelled them out: If you have a mean bull that has a bad habit of goring people with its horns, keep el toro locked up in a pen (Exodus 21:29). Do not let the bull loose, whatever you do!

Some kids can’t stand rules. They just wanna cut loose and go out and have fun. Yeah, but if you don’t obey common sense rules, you endanger other people’s lives. You might leap off the diving board right on top of another swimmer. Ignore the maximum-number-of-kids-on-a-trampoline rule, and you’ll bounce some kid off the trampoline onto his