bless the stress and
MOVE ON!
A LITTLE ANXIETY IS A GOOD THING ! It pushes you to study harder, to practice more of the things you do well, or to get more involved in good causes. When you worry a little about something, it shows you care about the outcome.
But the key is a little. Let anxiety become the ruler of your life, the king of your domain, the nagging voice that feeds your nightmares, and youll find yourself on shaky ground. That kind of stress just makes you a mess.
Martin Luther suggested it would be a good idea to simply pray and let God worry. He had the right idea. Do pray. Talk things through with God and let him remind you who defines your worth. He does. Not school or work or scholarships or even acts of service. Just God.
If youre walking around with so much stress you cant function well, then you need to seek out earthly help too. Parents, teachers, friends, and counselors can all make a difference if you let them.
Give up the kind of stress that ruins your days, and give in to getting the right kind of help when you need it.
SCRIPTURE
Humble yourselves, therefore, under Gods mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6 7
TALK WITH GOD
Lord, I am such a worrywart. I keep thinking I can just let things go, but I dont. Please help me to remember Im not alone. I have you, and I have others who care about me too. Today, I put all my worries in your hands. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
what are you
THINKING?
I S THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Are you sure youre going to win today or sure something will go wrong? Like it or not, your attitude influences the way you experience the world.
From champion athletes and billionaire businesspeople to your own schools star quarterback and valedictorian, successful people nearly always owe part of their success to a positive attitude. They believe that good things will happen to them, so good things often do happen.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul reminded believers how important their attitude was. Ephesians 4:2223 says that you are to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires [and] to be made new in the attitude of your minds.
In other words, you have control over how you choose to see things. You can look for positive ways to grow through the bad stuff, and then you can really hold on to what you know of the good stuff. Its your choice.
Changing your mind requires one thing, though. You have to be willing to be honest with yourself, your family, and your friends. God designed you to be unique and special just as you are. Thats why he gave you a mind of your own and the ability to make choices.
Go on, then. Change things up a bit and make it a great day!
SCRIPTURE
I can do all [things] through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13
Talk with God
Lord, I know that my attitude isnt always the best. In fact, I seem to totally forget sometimes that the way I think has anything to do with me. Help me to look for the good things you have planned for me each and every day. Amen.
whos in
CHARGE
here?
Y OU OBEY THE RULES AT HOME, listen to your parents, and do your best to stay within the guidelines, but now that youre getting older and more responsible, you realize that obedience doesnt really end there. Someone is always in charge, and it seldom feels like its you.
The best way to learn how to be a leader or even a good follower is to learn to respect those in authority. Imagine that you just got your drivers license and went out on the road, only to discover that everyone followed their own rules. People went through red lights, turned without signaling, and drove at any speed. Whatever anyone felt like doing was okay, except that everyone was in danger of being hurt all the time. Would you want to drive on that road?
Having rules and people who enforce them is indeed important when youre driving. And just like cops on the road, parents, teachers, and others who have authority over you deserve your respect because theyre trying to help keep you happy and safe as you enjoy everything around you. And since God is the ultimate authority, we all look to him for guidance both personally and in community with others. When everything works together, having someone in charge isnt bad after all.
SCRIPTURE
Jesus came to [his disciples] and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matthew 28:18
TALK WITH GOD
Lord, sometimes people in authority can be scary. They sometimes abuse their power or neglect their responsibilities to those under them. I know we all need help and guidance, so I pr ay for everyone today who has authority over someone else, that theyll be wise and caring. Amen.
what is
BEAUTY?
T HE PERSON WHO SAID beauty is in the eye of the beholder got it right. After all, everybody has a different way of seeing things and deciding if theyre beautiful or not. For example, you might look at a painting and think its amazing. But other people might miss the point the artist was making and think the painting is ugly.
Just like people can misjudge a painting, the world often defines beauty only by surface appearances. Maybe you struggle with the idea of beauty presented in magazine styles and on prom queens, but that is beauty in its most shallow form. Real beauty radiates from the heart. Unlike surface beauty, this inner beauty has everything to do with who you really are. When you shine the light of Gods love on your friends and family, on people you meet and classmates that others ignore, your innate beauty comes through, and the message of the Artist who created you is harder to miss. Youre beautiful, pure and simple!
If youre going to work on your own beauty regimen each day, remember to start on the inside. Let God lavish the luster of his Spirit on you, and see what a difference it makes.
Take a look at Proverbs 31:30: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the L ORD is to be praised.
Your inner beauty will never fade. Shine on!
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 6:2830 talks about how glorious the flowers are. Read through that passage and remind yourself why you dont need to worry about beauty or anything else. God is taking care of you.
TALK WITH GOD
Lord, when I compare myself to some of my friends, I imagine that I dont measure up, because they are all beautiful. They have the best clothes and the cutest hairstyles. Help me to see them and to see myself as you see us. Help me to be all I can be for you. Amen.
O KAY, LETS DEAL WITH IT . No matter how perfectly you were created, you probably dont like something about yourself. Thats just human nature. You might have the best hair or the nicest smile or the most wonderful cheekbones, but all you see is the flaw, the one thing about yourself that you dont like. In fact, youre pretty sure you resemble a canine.