Saved from the Flood Washed by His Blood

By Halee Lopez

Life is very difficult as a teen girl, not to mention trying to live to glorify God on top of all the peer pressure that we encounter on a day-to-day basis. It is easy for us to oftentimes shy away or blend in with the crowd, but God is calling us to step out of the shadows and do otherwise. He is calling each of us to accept His grace and offer of salvation. He is also guiding us from where we are so that we can let others see His glory shining through us. We are young and the devil is constantly telling us that we are not worthy, or that no one would listen to us if we shared the gospel. The opposite is true. God knows we are capable of doing all things through Christ who strengthens us, even if we are young.

Join in on the 365-day journey to change your life and the world around you for the better, so that more people can have the opportunity to rely on God’s promises. This is your time to shine, child of God. Come, read, and find rest in the One who saves, loves, and works through you.

God bless you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9798886160727

Book preview

Day 1

The Suffering

The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.

—1 Peter 5:10 CSB

Do you sometimes feel that the pain and suffering you go through is oftentimes unbearable? I felt the same way all throughout my life, especially in my eighth-grade year. The people at my school seemed to have abandoned me and treated me horribly. I got bad scoliosis, so I had to wear a big, ugly, plastic back brace that caused me pain and judgment from others. Not to mention, I had a lot of vision problems. I became more depressed and sulked around a lot. I wouldn’t let anything into my mind except for the negative thoughts that the devil was feeding into me. I believed that no one could ever understand my agony. Well, I was wrong.

One day, we were having our usual Sunday-school class when we were doing a lesson over Jesus dying and suffering on the cross. The more the lesson, the more I realized that Jesus truly understood what my suffering was like. God sent His one and only, perfect, pure Son to not only die on the cross to save us from sin, but He suffered as well. All of Jesus’s life on earth, He was mocked and ridiculed, but He persevered through it to save us! He was accused of crimes He did not commit and then beaten and tortured. He carried His cross and even got a crown of thorns driven into His head. But He kept going, for us. He was nailed to the cross, for us. He was innocent but paid the price of sin and death, for us. Jesus understands your suffering, and God will be there with you through it all.

Suffering is not a karma thing; we experience these pains so that we may grow closer and rely on God, who will give us new strengths and a stronger faith. Trust in His understanding and His will. He will guide you through your suffering and put you on a firm foundation, as First Peter 5:10 says. So whenever you are dealing with struggle and hard times, look to God and pray. He understands, loves, and heals.

Day 2

Youth Influence

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

—1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

Take a moment to remember how the world thinks of us teens. When I think of the way the world tries to describe us, this image comes to mind: bullies who chew gum and ride skateboards, kids who spray paint graffiti on the back of a school building, and people who do illegal things and party all the time. Although some kids may do that, not all of us do. Some of us are Christians just trying to make the world a better place. All this reminds me of the verse from 1 Timothy 4:12. It’s an example of what young followers in Christ, including us, should live by. Paul was writing a letter to young Timothy, who was put in charge of a church. Despite Timothy’s youth, Paul saw great potential and strong faith in Timothy, just like God sees it in you. The first part of this verse says, Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young… Just because you aren’t as old as other people doesn’t mean that you can’t make an impact or that you cannot do anything for God and others. Prove the world wrong and show that teens are good and can live as a positive example for others to follow.

First Timothy 4:12 then goes on to say, But set an example for the believers. This means to act the way Christians are supposed to and be a role model for others who are walking with Christ. Be a role model to those who need Him as well. The final part of this amazing verse says, In speech, in conduct, in faith, in love, and in purity… This means that we, as Christians, need to act like an example in everything we do. Say kind things to and about others, live the way God is calling you to (do not act rebellious as the world thinks of us), love, and forgive all others (even those who mistreat you), have strong courage in God, and be spiritually clean. Timothy was very young when he became the leader in the church of Ephesus, but he still did what God called him to do. Be an example like Timothy. Follow God and do not be afraid of judgment from others. God is always with you. Now it’s time to give the world a second impression of teens!

Day 3

Trust in You

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

—Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

Have you ever had big plans or dreams, but when the time comes, something else happens or you don’t get what you want? Yeah, that’s happened to me plenty of times: In fifth grade, I worked so hard in softball but I did not make all-stars. In eighth grade, when I was told that I had to wear this back brace. And the most recent one, when I was constantly praying and putting in the effort to make the All-Region band, but still did not make it. These things happen a lot and we have disappointment that haunts all of our dreams. You may be mad at God because He didn’t let you do whatever it is you wished. But He does these things and allows setbacks in our lives for a purpose, not to ruin or punish us. It’s all a part of His big plan, whether it is making you work even harder to get something or if it was to say that it just wasn’t what He wanted you to do. You have to let go of the wheel and let Him drive you because His plans are much greater and higher than what ours will ever be. He may use your delays as a testimony that He was with you, causing others to draw near to Christ. Or maybe He just wanted you somewhere more important to Him than a baseball field. One Christmas, my older sister gave me a music CD by a Christian singer, Lauren Daigle. One of her songs is called Trust in You. I strongly suggest that you listen to the song and write down the lyrics that God is making stand out in your eyes. Deeply think through each one and how it can help you grow your trust in the Lord. To me, this relates to the message in Jeremiah 29:11 because they both say that God has good plans for you. In the chorus of the song, it mentions her wanting God to do one thing, but then He does something different. Even when things didn’t go her way, she still trusted in God and His mighty plan. We need to do the same thing. God’s plans are perfect and pure and He will lead and guide you to what’s right, you just have to allow Him to. Pray to God for Him to take control of your life and that He will guide you down the right path. And remember to trust in God because He is there with you and He loves you.

Day 4

Washed White as Snow

Come now, let’s settle this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them white as wool. If you will only obey Me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!

—Isaiah 1:18–20 NLT

Temptation rises; you try to resist it but fail. Guilt and sorrow sweep over you. Either that or you let it go within the next minute or two. Getting forgiveness is often brushed to the side with a simple God-will-forgive-me-later or nobody’s perfect attitude. But that is not the way to go. God doesn’t work with the it’s-okay-to-disobey-the-One-who-created-me frame of mind. God is so pure that He cannot be around our sinful manners. But He loves us and wants to be right there with us, guiding our every move. When we resist Him, it only makes the distance between us that much further. When we truly ask for forgiveness of our sins, God will be happy to be with us once again. Just do not repeat your sinful ways. God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to suffer, die, and rise again just so our sins will be forgiven because the eternal punishment for sin is death. Even though Jesus paid that price for us, we can still have that punishment in hell with the weeping and gnashing of teeth if we don’t turn away from sin and put our faith and beliefs in Jesus Christ our Savior. But if we truly repent, fix ourselves, and grow close to God, He will wash us white as snow. When judgment day comes, He will look upon every single sin that we have committed, so you really do not want to be on His bad side. But the fortunate thing is, He forgives us and gives us many opportunities at doing His will because He loves us. Also, we should go by God’s example of forgiving others and do it as well (holding a grudge is a sin too). Forgiving others is the key to getting forgiveness from God. We need to stay close to God and repent of our sins. He loves us completely, and He will wipe our slate clean if we truly care and want Him to. Those who obey God will be rewarded and pleased at what He has done for them. Do not take this chance for granted. Accept His grace. Be overflowed by His mercy.

Day 5

Trustworthiness

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

—Luke 16:10 CEV

What character qualities come to mind when you think of the word trustworthy ? According to https://www.Thesaurus.com, trustworthy people are reliable, dependable, honest, full of integrity, responsible, unfailing, etc. We can all name someone that falls under this category, and unfortunately, we can name one that’s not. But the true question is, are you trustworthy to God? Being trustworthy to God means that you obey Him, are faithful to Him, are honest and straightforward with Him, and devote your life and time to Him. You might be wondering why I chose Luke 16:10 as the verse for trustworthiness. I chose it because this verse reminds me of how God looks upon us and how He chooses what responsibilities He can put into our own hands. If God calls on us to do something smaller, like a prayer or a kind deed for someone else, and we do it, He’ll trust us to do what He asks of us with something bigger. On the contrary, if you don’t follow up with the small tasks assigned to you, how can He trust you with the large ones? If you look at this spiritually, you’ll see that other people’s life or death can be the result of your actions. Let the Holy Spirit guide and fulfill your Christian duties.

Here’s another perspective: it’s one with other people. Relationships—whether it be a friendship, partnership, or something else—can be affected by your honesty toward others. Breaking promises and lying can hurt others, just as well as yourself. You could lose those relationships, get into fights, and have a hard time getting a job because of your dishonesty to others. Pray to God for Him to help you be a great, trustworthy, understanding friend and family member. Also, pray that you will follow what He tells you to do and that you will fulfill those promises that you make. Live that trustworthy and honorable life that God has set out for you. Be reliable to Him yourself and others.

Day 6

Taking Care of You

You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you, and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.

—1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ERV

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, I’m not good enough ? Or have you ever watched people walk past you with that " You’re gross, don’t look at me " stare? I understand, I’ve been down both of those roads thousands of times. Oftentimes people let this mindset get stuck in their heads. They go out and do drugs or decide to change their ways just to fit in or be better than what the world thinks about them. Other girls just give their bodies away to any guy who they think is cute. Truth is, all this is wrong. God made you the way He wanted you to look, think, and act. God is the one we should be paying attention to, and He wants you to stay the way you were created. As Christians, we should work to be role models and lead others to Christ, which means standing out and staying pure. If people see us like they do everyone else who belongs to the world, they won’t see the change and difference in our hearts. They won’t want to have the God that we have because they see absolutely no impact from having Christ. Sticking out in a Christ-like way and taking good care of our bodies will encourage others to want to be like us.

Another good reason for taking care of our bodies is that God has a plan for them. If God wants you to travel all around the world preaching the gospel, He made you for that purpose. But if you mistreat it, let’s say with drugs, they will slowly take over your body and you will be stuck in a hospital feeling sorry for yourself instead of going to the ends of the world. God paid a high price for you by sending His one and only Son to die on the cross for you. He’s in charge of your body, so listen to Him when He cares for your body and let Him do what He wants to do with it. Honor God with your body by doing what’s right for it and by staying away from sins that can harm it. Use it as a testimony to guide others in a relationship with Christ. God loves you the way you are. He made you gorgeous and strong.

Day 7

Worker for Christ

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

—2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

Are you one of those people who work hard in everything you do, whether it be sports, school work, chores, or pleasing the Lord? Do you slack off and get your work done ten minutes before due? I’m typically one that works hard, but when it comes to serving the Lord, I fear judgment and try to avoid doing His works. As children of God, we need to serve Him with full commitment, heart, and potential. This means following His commands on everything , even if it’s as simple as telling someone, Jesus loves you or if it is ministering to other peers. God watches us and rewards His faithful servants. Second Timothy 2:15 begins by saying, Study to show thyself approved unto God… On judgment day, He’ll look at all you have done for Him and all that you didn’t. You need to work hard and listen to Him so that he will approve of your actions and be proud of you, His good and faithful servant. The verse continues with, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, meaning if you work hard for God and do all that He wants you to do, there’s no need to feel guilty. After all, God being proud of you is one of the best things in your life. You won’t feel bad about not doing what you were told. The final part of the quote, …rightly dividing the word of truth. Being a good worker means that we should tell the truth of God’s word and faithfully explain its meaning to others through our speech and action. God calls us to be a faithful servant who obeys God’s commands and does it with a pure, kind, and caring heart. In Isaac Newton’s science studies, he says that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For those godly actions, there are countless rewards, blessings, and joys waiting for you. For the slacking ones, there’s a negative result and disappointment from your Creator. God will guide you through it all, so follow Him!

Day 8

That Little White Lie

Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory.

—Romans 3:23 NIrV

Have you ever tried to save yourself from trouble so you decided to take the easy way out? Did you tell a half-lie or something that you could say was technically true? Have you heard of a mass shooting and thought that that person’s sin was way worse than your little fib that you only tell occasionally? Many people, including me, have done this. We look at other people’s sins as far worse than our own. We try to compare our God to other people’s. This is wrong for two reasons: when we judge others for their sins, we technically commit the same sin that we just criticized them for (check out Romans 2:1). By the way, the Bible tells us in black and white that all sins are equal. We can’t judge others for their sins because we have plenty of our own. Secondly, it doesn’t matter what sin is, none of us can live up to the standards that God has placed for us. Even though our sins may be different, we all failed to follow God’s requirements. Jesus had to carry our sins with Him to the cross. And if we judge others, we are acting as if we are actually greater than those we look down upon. God calls us to be humble and kind, but our perceptions of others cause us to be both arrogant and disrespectful to them. God calls us to love one another, not criticize each other. No sin is okay or better than another in God’s eyes. So stop judging! Do not even try to compare yourself with anyone except Jesus Christ, who is clearly greater than we are. Jesus once said that before you get somebody to get the speck out of your eye, you must remove the log in yours. That is the way to figuratively correct your sins before trying to fix others’ problems. You carry faults as well. Stay humble and kind and love others. The way that you judge others is the way that you will be judged.

Day 9

God’s Guidance

For how can those who abandon their faith be brought back to repent again? They were once in God’s light; they tasted Heaven’s gift and received their share of the Holy Spirit.

—Hebrews 6:4 GNT

Ever find yourself doubting that anything could help your life’s struggles? Even God? I’ve been in these situations before, and they are not fun. I get so swept up in self-pity or sorrow that it seems like nothing will ever help me. I kept my problems to myself, and the longer I stayed in that dark corner, the worse things became. Problems kept persisting, and more began to arise. The devil threw me into his flaming pit of grief. As days went by, I had less joy and experienced more depression. I put God aside and sulked, angrily. Then something, like a gut feeling (it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me), started telling me that I needed to find answers. I was reading my Bible when God revealed to me something in the book of Matthew, where Jesus said that if your hand or foot or eye is causing you sorrow and self-pity, get rid of it. He meant that whatever makes you feel sorry for yourself or leads you away from God, don’t hold on to it. Don’t let it control you. God doesn’t want you to mope around because of all that you are going through, He wants to bring happiness and blessings to the ones around you.

When God explained to me what Jesus meant, my soul backtracked off of the path of misery and ran to God, crying for help and repentance. God saw me and took mercy on my soul. He was glad that He found His lost sheep. I asked Him to help and guide me on my recovery. Ever since, He’s been close to my side. Always! Whenever you are struggling, mentally or physically, don’t be too shy to go to God with all of your needs and problems. He has a plan for you to grow closer to Him by asking for His help when you are facing difficulties. Go to God because He will be merciful to you and will help you through life’s struggles. He is proud of those who come humbly before Him and ask for help. He saves. He cures. He loves it. He provides. He guides. He forgives. And most importantly, don’t forget to go to Him with everything on your mind. God has everything under His control. Everything works for the better when you trust in God and use His guidance. Everything!

Day 10

Two-Faced

It is the same with ships. A ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship. The man who controls the rudder decides where the ship will go. The ship goes where the man wants. It is the same with the tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it brags about doing great things. A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame.

—James 3:4–5 ICB

Haven’t you ever been around one of those people that you thought was your best friend because y’all enjoy each other and the time that y’all have together? Then, when you aren’t around, or if someone else comes along, they act like you’re nothing and talk about you behind your back? If you said yes to this, you are not alone. I faced this problem many times throughout my life. The thing is, this is wrong. Gossiping about others is wrong! And not only that, when God has had enough of this evil world, He will question everybody and all of their motives. He won’t tolerate the lies and corrupt speaking that come from our very tongues. It wouldn’t be more shameful than to guiltily stand before God’s presence because He knew what you said or encouraged others to say behind someone’s back.

In James 3:4–5, it says that whatever you say has an influence and leaves a trace in someone’s heart, including God’s. Like a small spark can set a great forest on fire, you can destroy your mind, life, friendships, and even other people’s lives just by a single word. When you hurt someone else’s feelings, you hurt God’s as well. Even if you do not say anything, even if you are just a bystander, you are equally guilty because you did not stand up for that person and what God says is right. With toothpaste, you can squeeze it out of the tube, but it is very difficult, near impossible to put anything back into it.

The same applies to our words. You have an impact on the world, and as a Christian, it’s really important to keep rude things away. The world is constantly watching our every move, seeing what children of God are really like. Our behaviors and actions could be the difference between eternal life and death for them. Your mouth could be used in great ways, or it can harm those you love! Speak kind words and leave an imprint on the world that will show how great it is to have Christ in your heart.

Day 11

Forgiving Others

And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you in the Messiah.

—Ephesians 4:32 ISV

If you asked me what kind of animal I would most likely be, I’d have to say a cat. I am not mean, nor do I like to scratch like cats, but I tend to hold grudges as they do. The hardest thing for me to do is easily forgive someone who has done so much wrong to me. No matter what they do, though, you still have to forgive them. In athletics, specifically track, I am a long-distance runner. My long stride makes me move quicker, but I still cannot sprint. In the past, people have passed me by on a sprint and would always brag about it. It would hurt me because I try so hard, but no one seems to appreciate it. It made me want to say, Come on now, I have a life too! The more I think about those little things that hurt me, the angrier I become. But now, when I read Ephesians 4:32, I realize that we all make mistakes and that I should forgive them as Christ has forgiven me. I mean, when you think about it, I have done much more wrong to God than they have to me. Yet God forgives me, through Christ, when I fully repent of my sins and turn toward Him.

Being a Christian means that we are saved from our faults and that Christ lives within us. But it also means that we should try our best to live like Christ instead of conforming to the world’s sinful habits. When we live like Christ, we follow in His footsteps and do what God commands of us. He tells us to have mercy on those who have done us wrong. And remember one more thing, don’t just forgive others, show them that they are forgiven. Be kind to them and show them Christian love, mercy, and compassion that comes from Christ alone. Christ forgave us. I am not saying to be best friends with your betrayers, but be like God and forgive them with all of your heart, soul, and mind.

Day 12

Run with Endurance

So then, with endurance, let us also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of Him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne.

—Hebrews 12:1–2 HCSB

You can definitely pick out a true long-distance runner from a crowd of racers. Their stamina and speed show it, but more importantly, they have the attitude of perseverance that is revealed through long races. When reading Hebrews 12:1–2, it reminded me of track and cross country, with every detail of the race representing our run with Christ to the finish. When the gun goes off, it’s when we first accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We start fast, zoned into the race. It’s like when we first believe and everything’s going great because we are close to God. Then, the race goes on. Shortly, we get tired and problems arise. Fatigue and pain make you want to quit. The same thing happens in our faith because things start to get hard and we don’t see God, but we continue with faith and courage because we believe that He is there. The heat of the winds arises and works against us, along with the rough spots in our path. This is where the devil tempts us, slowing or even stopping our pace, trying to prevent us from moving any further. Sometimes, we turn the other direction, but do not fall for his taunts.

God is our coach, our positive mindset. He’s there to give us help, strength, and motivation to keep running. Here comes the final lap, when most give in or don’t try to make the most of it. But those who have great hope and faith conquer it, and they put all of their strength into it. Lastly, but most importantly, the final stretch to the finish line! We see it and put strong devotion into finishing for the Lord. The finish line is eternal life, good health, and everlasting joy in heaven with our Creator. Finish as close as you can to Jesus, who is the ultimate winner of this spiritual race. The race is done! You do not want to finish it disappointed in your results. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and don’t look back at the life that you used to have. Start strong. Finish strong. Stay strong. Do it for the Lord and not for men. It’s important to focus on Jesus, keep a strong faith, and let God guide you till the end!

Day 13

Recognition

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.

—Philippians 2:3 KJV

Are you one of those kids who are liked by almost everyone and popular in your school? Or maybe you’re one of those people who long for recognition and just to be appreciated by others? Since we’re human, it’s only natural to want to be liked by everyone. Ever since the age where kids start to judge each other and split off into groups, I have been in the not-liked-by-many group. I never understood why because my dad was like the coolest cop that was known by practically every kid. I didn’t even have glasses or a back brace back then. When I decided to make it a habit to read my Bible and devotional daily, I started to realize that God never created me to fit in. He created me to stand out from the world so that my actions and good deeds would influence others so that Christ would be made visible through me. When they see a kind and forgiving girl lugging around a back brace, they can tell that God is working through me and they can see His strength through my weakness. That’s what God created me to be. He did this so that I wasn’t absorbed into the world’s way of living. We, as Christians, shouldn’t live our lives trying to impress other people, even if it’s the popular group of girls or the guy you have a crush on. Your actions should be made to make God proud, not showing off too much athletic ability or wearing clothes that attract too much attention. I am not saying that you shouldn’t give it your all in sports.

I am saying that your motives shouldn’t be something along the lines of boasting and showing off your skills in a bragging manner. And I am not saying to not wear real nice clothes; I am saying to wear modest and appropriate clothing, something that doesn’t reveal too much. Don’t be selfish with the spotlight or with your things. This is how friendships can be destroyed. Put others’ needs before your own and show kindness and generosity to all. Be humble, and do not go around claiming all of the awesome things you did this last weekend. Compliment others and give 100 percent of the credit to God (He allowed you to be able to do those incredible things that you have done). Perform your actions the way Jesus would, with a good heart and soul. Be one who truly means their gestures and one who does it without letting the whole world know.

The best deeds are the ones that are done when there is no audience to praise them. Be the good and faithful servant who is willing to give up everything they have in this world to follow Christ (if that is what you are called to do). You should be so absorbed into God that everything you do should be something that He will appreciate. Also, a note of encouragement from Mark 10:31 KJV: But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. In other words, those who are humble and follow Christ will be raised and honored by others.

Day 14

Your Purpose

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us in advance to do.

—Ephesians 2:10 CSB

Think of a down day that you have had recently. Did it last a day? A week? A month? A year? Have you ever questioned your purpose in life? Sometimes, I wondered why God let me live when I could have just died as an infant. This one day, I was in scoliosis therapy, and my mom and therapist were discussing what could be causing my back pain. My mom explained her concern to the therapist about it being from the problem that I had when I was a baby. There was a big chance of me dying from this issue. The fact that I lived through all of it was no doubt a miracle that came from God. As my mom was talking about this, my therapist was amazed at the story. But no matter how many times I heard this story I could not figure out why God was allowing me to have so many issues after what I had gone through. Then something changed my attitude about the whole situation, and not from what my mom said, but from the words my therapist had spoken. She looked at me and said, You must have a very special purpose.

Even though it was a simple statement that wasn’t very specific, it still transformed me. It made me realize what Ephesians 2:10 says. I have a purpose, which is to serve God and do good things for Him. God has a plan that has been sketched out from the beginning to the end of your life. He has given you certain characteristics to help you serve Him and stay strong in your faith. God created you perfectly and knew that you were going to be very important. He truly does have a purpose for you and your life. To find it, you have to pray, search through His Word, and have complete trust in God. You may not see it now, but with Him, you will soar on wings like eagles! Love yourself, love God, and know that He has an ideal plan for your life!

Day 15

Power of Prayer

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

—Mark 11:24 NIV

Have you ever heard someone say something along the lines of, When in need, ask God for help? When someone is in a hard time in their life, they can sometimes let the devil enter into their minds. They often struggle to believe this statement. But whether or not you doubt it, the saying is very helpful and very true. God knows all, hears all, and will listen to all. God will not think that your needs are dumb. God wants you to bring every need, struggle, and problem to Him. God only thinks that two types of prayers are bad:

Ones that are careless, meaningless, and boastful. The dishonest and insincere prayers are ones that He absolutely hates, no matter how good you think you are.

Ones that never happen. God loves when you talk to Him, and prayer is very beneficial to relieve stress, to put your trust in God, and just to feel more comfortable and closer to Him.

Prayer works, and I’m living proof of it. Remember that problem that I mentioned in yesterday’s devotional? The one that I could have died from during surgery? The people at my church had heard about the news and prayed for me. Not only did they ask for me to live and come out of surgery safely, but they also put complete faith in God and His mighty works. They believed and called to God. He listened to their words and then answered them in their favor. Because of doubtless faith and prayer, I am living today! And I guarantee that if prayer influences an infant’s life, it will definitely have an impact on anything that you face. Prayer is the building block of a firm and sound relationship with God and a bright future. It is how you communicate with Him, whether it be for help, forgiveness, or simply show your gratitude. Don’t be scared to go to God. He will listen and understand your every word. Believe in your prayers, because you do not have to be the legitimate prayer person to have effective prayer. Trust that God is making the right decision with all of your questions. Live like you have received what you have asked for and you will get it from God. In other words, have faith. Look to God for comfort through prayer. He is always there for you.

Day 16

Friendliness

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

—1 Peter 3:8 ESV

Do you ever find it hard to love and forgive those who have hurt you? Is it hard for you not to think less of someone else because of their personality or appearance? Be honest with yourself. It’s hard for all human beings to see eye-to-eye and to be equally kind and loving to each other. But God calls us to love and forgive everyone because He did it for us every time we asked. God wants us to be like-minded, showing peace and joy toward others, not showing violence and envy. He wants us to comfort and understand other people as best as we can. We need to love everyone as if they were all our brothers and sisters, which they are through Christ. And not only that, we do not need to brag or act better than them, but we need to act as if they are better. In other words, be humble. No matter who they are, the most bullied kid in school, or the biggest bully in the school, we should treat them with respect. Forgive them like God has forgiven you thousands of times. We are to live like Christ; that’s what we are called to do. Think about how Jesus would act toward that person and try your best to follow through with those actions. That may include showing mercy on the biggest jerk, telling someone that Jesus loves them, letting a lonely kid participate in something with you, or simply saying, I’ve got your back. I’ll be there when you need someone to talk to. Be friendly and forgiving and loving and supportive to those who need it (which is technically everybody). Here’s a challenge from me to you: pray to God that you can forgive those who have hurt you. Be kind and loving to all, showing no favoritism, and reveal to the world your compassion and care for others. Include people and make them feel welcome in your hearts. Most importantly, work to lead someone to God. He can provide everlasting joy, comfort, and peace!

Day 17

New Life

This means that everyone who belongs in Christ has become a new person. The old life has gone; a new life has begun!

—2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

If you are a Christian, have you really understood the meaning of new life once accepting Christ into your heart? If you are not yet a true Christian, haven’t you ever wondered what that term meant? Even though you were born again, you didn’t physically die, so how does that work? Second Corinthians 5:17 has a brief explanation of its meaning. Your old life has gone away, and your new life has come. The life in this situation is transforming. A transformation from not truly knowing or believing in Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, to a person who believes and has a true passion to follow Christ. When you accept Christ in your heart you are not only changed but you are supposed to show your change, to show that Christ is in you to the whole world. I mean, it would be pointless to say you are saved but then you still act like the same person before you belonged to Christ. By this, I do not mean be perfect, because that’s humanely impossible since we inherited sin from Adam and Eve.

But strive to be pure and blameless, living as close of a life to Christ as you can. Like I have said before, your actions on this earth are what God will ultimately judge you by. And if you live as the person that you originally were, not the one you claim to be, what will happen to those who haven’t given their hearts to Christ? They would see that becoming a Christian is pointless because you act the same way that nonbelievers do. We don’t want them to believe that! Every life is equally important in God’s eyes. He wants them to be rescued from the evil trap of the devil and He will be disappointed when He finds His disciples give Him up to be like the wicked world again. When we became a new person, we became a light in a dark and miserable world.

Don’t hide it. Shine the light for all to see God’s glory at work through you. Pass the light, the love from the Lord on to others, just like a candle can pass its flame on but not dim its own light. Live out your new life to the fullest.

Day 18

What Defines You

But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that He rewards everyone who searches Him.

—Hebrews 11:6 CEV

Have you ever been asked what defines you? Have you wondered what about you described you? Do you think that something along the lines of athletic abilities, artistic talents, smart brains, or even your kindness would characterize you? Yes, God gave us all many talents, but none of them are what truly defines us. What defines you is your relationship with God and how you act as a Christian. It’s the things that come from your heart. To be perfectly honest, God doesn’t look for the fastest track sprinter or the strongest volleyball server on the team. God looks at your heart. Don’t get me wrong, it is totally awesome to have these amazing abilities, but God cares about your faith in Him even more than your RBI at-bat. He wants Y ou to make H im the center of your world. All of these things that you are known for are worldly and will not last, except for your faith. Your soul will last forever only if you truly believe that God is real and that you sincerely seek Him. Here’s another thing to think about: The things that define you are the things that God will judge you for, right? If you live your life talking bad about others, cursing, swearing, cussing, or even just saying dirty things, you let that characterize you. I am sure that you don’t want to be the person who is supposed to act like Christ but speaks as if working for the devil! You should be illustrated as a person who speaks humbly, kindly, and purely. Also, the way you treat people physically spells out your life. Do not go around bullying or abusing people, but pick them up instead. Jesse Jackson once said, The only time you should be looking down on someone is when you are helping them up. You should guide and encourage others to live like Christ and show brotherly/sisterly love. The things you wear and the actions you make are what delineates you. Remember, God is watching over you, and your actions and faith will always be the determination in what pleases God and what disappoints Him.

Day 19

Clear the Fog in the Path

Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.

—Romans 12:21 ERV

Recall a time when you felt trapped and stuck in a dilemma about what to do. When you are caught in situations like these, you do not know which way to go because both of the outcomes are unclear. Other times, you know which way to go but temptations are telling you to go the easy route. This problem is one that I struggle with most. Do I do this and then have to face that, or do I do that and have to face this? My struggle to know which way to go is as confusing as this sentence sounds. These choices remind me of roads, with my life being a car. The road that the devil wants us to take reminds me of I-45. It’s so big that it has four lanes just to go one direction! It’s broad and the path is clear, making it very tempting to take. There are so many cars on it, just like there are so many lives that choose to take the easy path and say, You only live once! It feels so good for life to be that easy, so it’s hard to see the danger that lies ahead. The other road is like the one you have to take without a car. It has dangers and fears, along with judgment. But those who are faithful to God see the light at the end of the path and stay on the trail until they reach heaven. The narrow and thorny path is only temporary. So is your suffering.

You know that it’s right, and once you reach the end, you have no regrets because you have eternal life with God the Father. Those who take the devil’s road only see the happiness that lasts for a very short time before sorrow that lasts forever. A lot of times it’s either tempting to take the broad path or it’s foggy because you are not sure which choice to make. Pray and trust in God so that you see everything clearly. Then, obey His will for your life; take it to heart! By doing these steps, you will clear the fog in the path and you will have a greater understanding while growing in your faith. Like I said in the last devotional page, you need faith to please God. You need faith to let Him give you the clear answers. Listen to what He has to say, and go by it. He will lead you to the right choices and help you overcome evil.

Day 20

The Tie Between Loving God and Loving Others

We love Him because He first loved us. If a man says, I love God, but hateth His brother, he is a liar: for he who hath not loveth his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God loves his brother also.

—1 John 4:19–21 KJV

To me, First John 4:19–21 really stands out. It has a powerful message that you don’t even have to uncover to find. It says it in pure ink. Those who love God must love their fellow believers as well. Though these verses still stand as a strong command today, you see them being broken constantly. So many people claim that they love God and that they believe in God, yet they show hatred toward other people. Are you guilty of this? Honestly, I am sure that we all are to an extent. Just take a moment right now to think about it. Now, I ask you this: If you detest someone that you can physically see, how do you have a true love for God? You can’t see Him! It’s impossible to love God without loving another person. You might be thinking, How dare she! Making assumptions about my relationship with God! But God told John to put it in the Bible. I understand it’s hard to love others, especially those who have put a scar of shame or humiliation on you. This is what God calls you and me to do. We are to love because God first loved us. We have disobeyed, rebelled, and even fought against God a ton of times, but He still loved us and He still forgave us of our trespasses. As followers of Christ, we are called to live like Jesus, which means that we love like Him too. When we love all others, we can love God.

This may seem confusing that to love God, we must love others, so let me use an example. You and someone else are walking around in an art museum exploring the wonders of creativity. You come across a painting that you don’t like, but it’s made by your favorite artist! You say, I love this artist, but I do not like this painting of his. Technically, if you hate a painting, you hate a part of that artist who had envisioned their picture. The same applies to real life because we are God’s masterpieces. If you don’t despise someone, you despise that part of God that had the idea to create this person just the way they