Melanie Shankle - Fearless Faith: 100 Devotions for Girls

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ZONDERKIDZ

Fearless Faith
Copyright 2018 by Melanie Shankle
Illustrations 2018 by Heather Gauthier

This title is also available as a Zondervan ebook.

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ISBN 9780310765646

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

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Art direction: Ron Huizinga
Cover art: Heather Gauthier
Interior design: Denise Froehlich

Printed in China

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Introduction

I have a daughter whos just a little bit older than you probably are right now, but I have watched her learn to trust God in so many ways over the last few years. I remember being your age and trying to figure out what God wanted me to do with my life and how I could make a difference in the world around me. The bottom line is we are living in a time that calls for fearless faith.

It wont always be easy to do the right thing or to stand up for what you believe in because there will be people around you who wont understand. But we serve a God who has called us to things bigger than we can even imagine, and he is with us every step of the way. We all have times when we feel afraid, when its hard to trust God to help us get through all the challenges that come our way. But fearless faith helps us do what he is calling us to in spite of feeling afraid. My hope is that the devotions and activities in this book will help you know God more and remind you that he has made you kind, fierce, and brave. The world is waiting for you, sweet girl, to shine bright.

Love,

DAY 1

Have I not commanded you? Be strong
and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not
be discouraged, for the L ORD your God
will be with you wherever you go.

JOSHUA 1: 9

E

very single one of us is afraid of something. Even those of
us who seem to be brave are usually just better than others

at hiding how scared we really are. But you know whats
amazing? That God knows how scared we feel and uses us for
his purposes anyway.

I once read that the phrase Do not fear or Fear not is used
365 times throughout the Bible. There will be very few times
in our lives when there isnt some situation to be afraid of. In
The Wizard of Oz, the cowardly Lion spends his whole jour
ney searching for courage and when he finally meets the Great
Wizard of Oz, he is told that true courage is facing danger
even when youre afraid.

No doubt Joshua was terrified as the time grew near for him
to lead the people of Israel across the Jordan River and into
the Promised Land. But God assured him in Joshua 1:5 that
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. And God promises us the same.

TAKEAWAY

Fearful times will come, scary circumstances will arise, giants
will stand in our way, but we have a God who is with us
always, whispering that true courage is when we walk ahead
in our fear and take the leap of faith, always knowing that he
promises to never leave us.

WRITE ABOUT IT...

What scares you? How can you be fearless instead
of afraid?

DAY 2

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

EPHESIANS 2:10

S

ometimes its easy to look around and wish we were more
like someone else. We wish we could sing like this person

or make really good grades like one of our friends always does.
Or maybe we wish we had long, blonde hair or that we didnt
have so many freckles across our nose. Maybe there has even
been a time when someone said hurtful things about us that
make us feel like we arent good enough or smart enough.

But Psalm 139 says that we are wonderfully and fearfully
made. He created each one of us very specifically to live in
this time and in this generation, just the way we are. Our
school, our friends, and our family wouldnt be the same
without the unique way we have been created. Psalm 17:8 says
we are the apple of Gods eye. Psalm 18:19 says, He rescued
me because he delights in me. Isaiah 49:16 says, He has
engraved me on the palms of his hands. Zephaniah 3:17 says,
He takes great delight in me. He will quiet me with his love
and rejoice over me with singing.

That is some serious love. That is a God that wants to give
us hope and a future. That is a God who sees us as his
masterpiece.

TAKEAWAY

God made each one of us with specific plans and purposes in

mind. He gave us talents, gifts, and abilities that are unique to

us. Its our job to find out what those are and use them well.

WRITE ABOUT IT...

What are some of your gifts?

DAY 3

... we will not compare ourselves with each
other as if one of us were better and another
worse. We have far more interesting things to
do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

GALATIANS 5:26 (THE MESSAGE)

W

e all love Instagram and Snapchat, but at the same time,
we have never had so many ways to compare our lives to

our friends lives. We know what they are eating for breakfast,
if theyre having a party, or when they are on vacation.

It can look like everyones life is better than ours. Theres