Month 1 : 12 Months Of Faith

eNotAlone > Teens > Religion and Spirituality for Teens

Month 1
12 Months Of Faith: A Devotional Journal for Teens
by Jennifer Leigh Youngs, Bettie Youngs, Ph. D., Ed.D., Debbie Thurman

Have you ever wondered if God is really there or if He cares about you? He may also be wondering about you, waiting for you to ask Him into your life. 12 Months of Faith: A Devotional Journal for Teens can help you connect with your Heavenly Father every day and gain a deeper understanding of what His Word is saying to you. Journaling is one of the best ways to do this. In these pages, you will find a guide for communicating your deepest needs and desires through your pen to God's ears. Listen for His answers and insights. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Ps. 37:4).

Based on twelve Christian principles examined in each month of the year, 12 Months of Faith will lead you through daily reflection, prayer and Scripture to a deeper relationship with God and help you to see who you really are in Christ, and how he is growing you in faith and wisdom.

12 Months of Faith will teach you these truths and more:

• How God's grace and promises apply to your life 24/7
• How to make God-directed decisions
• How to bring God into all your relationships
• Why all of us must sometimes experience sorrow
• How to recognize sin and keep it from overwhelming you
• How to make a godly impact on the world

Month 1

Communication: Meeting with God Daily

God wants us to know Him. He wants a special and personal relationship with each of us. He wants us to seek His wisdom and instruction on a daily basis through prayer and reflection on His Word, the Bible. As we seek Him daily, He will help us to see more clearly and to know Him more completely. This is God's promise-that He will walk with us every moment of our lives. What an awesome knowing! Our Heavenly Father is always there, always ready to guide, guard, comfort and direct us, always ready to provide clarity when life gets complicated, painful and especially tough. Do you talk to our Heavenly Father on a daily basis?

Questions to Guide This Month's Devotions

Is God always there for me?
Is there a "best" way to talk to God-and how will I know when He's talking to me?
Does God want to change everything about me?
What signs can I look for that show me God is working in my life?

Week 1
——————

Is God Always There for Me?

Scripture for Reflection

The Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Ps. 121:7-8

In this world of uncertainty, it is comforting to know that one thing remains constant: the love of God. The creator of the universe who always was and always will be is still the God of all comfort. He can intervene in the affairs of kings and nations one moment, and speak words of love and encouragement to us in His characteristic inner, quiet voice the next. God is totally awesome! He is everywhere at once. But what about all the pain, sorrow and suffering in the world-why would such a loving God allow it? God knows that every day brings the possibility of pain and hardship; after all, He gave us free will, and so we sometimes mess up, even hurt one another.

God has written His law on our hearts so that we might know how to live. He has given us His promises and "sealed" us for eternity with Him if we love Him and keep His commandments. In this, there is great hope and assurance. Yes, God is there for us 24/7. We can count on it. Can He count on us?

Questions to Think About and Journal On This Week

Have I questioned God's presence or love for me? If so, what happened to make me doubt?

——————————————————————

Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? . . . It is I myself! Touch me and see.
Luke 24:38, 39

Do I do daily devotions or Bible reading? If so, what results do I see? If not, am I willing to learn about faith and how it can be more powerful in my life?

——————————————————————

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
Ps. 119:98-99

Am I dealing with something confusing or painful at this moment? What would I like to tell God about it?

——————————————————————

O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. . . . Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!
Ps. 65: 2, 4a

Have I ever seen or experienced something I might call a miracle? If so, what made me think it was God at work?

——————————————————————

Then the Lord said, "I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world."
Exod. 34:10

Have I ever felt comforted when I cried out for help to God? How did that make me feel about Him?

——————————————————————

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
Ps. 28:7

Would I be willing to commit to just one month of daily devotions and prayer and see what God can do with that? What is the one thing I really want Him to do in my life during this month?

——————————————————————

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 transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 4:6-7

Read Psalm 121. When the psalmist said, "The Lord will keep you from all harm," did he mean that I would never have trouble if I trust God or that God would bring me through difficult times? Why does God allow me to experience pain and sorrow sometimes?

I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and Earth.
Ps. 121:1-2

About the Author

Jennifer Leigh Youngs, is a speaker and workshop presenter for teens and parents nationwide. She is the coauthor of the bestseller Taste Berries for Teens and Taste Berries for Teens Journal, and author of A Stress-Management Guide for Teens and Goal Setting Skills for Young Adults.

More by Jennifer Leigh Youngs

Bettie Youngs, Ph. D., Ed.D., is an international lecturer and counselor. Dr. Young's is a university professor and executive director of the Phoenix ED Foundation. She serves on the board of trustees to Drake University and is consultant to Fortune 500 companies. Dr. Youngs is founder of Bettie B. Youngs & Associates and president of Instruction & Professional Development, Inc. Dr. Youngs is the author of 24 books published in 29 languages. A noted expert, she is a frequent guest on television and radio talk shows, including Oprah, Donahue, Geraldo, Montel Williams andSally Jesse Rafael. Her work has been recognized in USA Today, The Washington Post, Redbook, McCalls, Working Woman, Parents Magazine, Woman's Day and others.

More by Bettie Youngs, Ph. D., Ed.D.

Debbie Thurman - author, journalist and speaker - has been actively involved in many facets of Christian ministry for more than twenty years. She now runs her own ministry, Sheer Faith, in Central Virginia where she leads a weekly support group and works with local and state officials and churches to improve mental health care and family support.

More by Debbie Thurman