Joe White - Fuel: 10-Minute Devotions to Ignite the Faith of Parents and Teens

FUEL

Copyright 2003 by Dr. Joe White.

A Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188

Focus on the Family and the accompanying logo and design are federally registered trademarks of Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995.

TYNDALE and Tyndales quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scriptures marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide (www.zondervan.com). Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version, (NKJV). Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of Focus on the Family.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

White, Joe, 1948

Fuel: 10-minute devotions to ignite the faith of parents and teens / Joe White.
p. cm.

A Focus on the Family book.
ISBN-13: 978-1-58997-121-9
ISBN-10: 1-58997-121-3

1. Christian teenagersReligious life. 2. Christian teenagersConduct of life. 3. Christian lifeBiblical teaching. I. Title.

BV4531.3.W48 2003

248.83dc21

2003008854

Editor: Betsy L. Holt & Mick Silva

Cover Design: Kurt Birky

Cover Copy: Joy Olson

Cover Photo: Photodisc

Interior Design: Kurt Birky & Angie Messinger

Printed in the United States of America.

11 12 13 14 / 10 9 8

To my daddy.
You showed me how a busy dad gets it done.

Special thanks to Will Cunningham, Elizabeth Jones, my mom,
and the Kanakuk staff for their invaluable contributions to this book.

Introduction
Family Devotional Time

This book is written for families: adults and teens in the critical years from 11-18.

These are the years when the hormones peak.

These are the years when media begins Marketing sex and hollow philosophies to minors.

These are the years when political correctness tells teenagers that God is irrelevant and science has all the answers.

These are the years of peer pressure when even the strongest young Christians will be pushed to the breaking point.

On TV sporting events, bikini-clad females are used to sell beer, and a nude man and woman kissing in the shower MTV-style are used to sell a wet-dry electric shaver. Ask a 19-year-old boy and girl who walk shamefully away from an abortion clinic if they bought the shaver or bought the sex.

Unfortunately this is also the time when many families stop having devotions together. Folks, these are not the years to taper off. If anything, you should be turning up the heat. Theres no better time to teach your son or daughter about God than during these years. And youll be rewarded for doing it. You can have fantastic discussions with your child, and youll rejoice as you watch your teenager make good decisions and learn to develop a godly lifestyle.

In fact, family devotional time is not an option. God commands moms and dads to teach their children about Him.

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.Deuteronomy 6:6-7

The Bible doesnt say, Teach your kids about Gods Word. It says, Teach them Gods Word. Then you can help them apply it to their daily lives. God didnt issue this command to Sunday school teachers and educators. He gave it to ordinary parents like you and me.

Thirty-one percent of college students met criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and 6 percent for a diagnosis of alcohol dependence in the past 12 months.

In 1970, 5 percent of 15-year-old girls had sex; in 1972, 20 percent of 15-year-old boys said they had sex. In 1997, 45 percent of boys and 38 percent of girls said they have had intercourse in their teen years.

Does having an intentional devotion time with your teenager pay off? Does it work? Youll know when your son or daughter hits college. Youll get another report card when you see how your grandkids are raised. As a counselor of teens, Ive heard hundreds of horror stories about drug addictions, alcohol-related accidents, date rape, unwanted pregnancies, abortions, and eating disordersand more from kids whose parents didnt spend consistent time with them.

According to some statistics, sixty percent of all high-school Christian kids in America abandon their faith sometime during their college days.

On the flip side, after working with kids at our Christian sports camps in Missouri and Colorado, Ive also seen thousands of kids with strong character and an even stronger faith, raised by parents whove guided their spiritual paths.

Open my eyes, [Lord,] that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.
Psalm 119:18

The devotionals in this book are designed to help your kids earn straight As on their life report cards. Each devotion brings Gods Word to lifeand the results are guaranteed.

Says who? Not me. God guarantees these family devotional times.

How blessed is the man [child, mom, dad]
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither;
and in whatever he does, he prospers.Psalm 1:1-3

We are in a battle for the hearts and minds of American teens. This devotional book is intended to help you win that battle.

The Plan

Start today. Then when its time to leave home, you will be sure the gift has been receivedthe one that never gets outdated and will join your family together forever.

Every family will do the devotions differently, but here are some suggestions that helped ours get the most out of it:

1. Ask someone to open in prayer.

2. Read the Scripture passage.

3. Discuss what you hear God saying in the passage.

4. Read the devotional amplification and discuss each question.

5. If appropriate, make each other accountable to the devotionals challenge.

6. Close with prayer.

Some tips:

a) Alternate which family members lead the reading and discussion each day.

b) Strive for equal discussion time for each family member.

c) Encourage encouragement! Find the good in each persons response. In our house, criticisms or put-downs cost the critic a quarter, which was then put into the family charity fund.

Its fitting that the gospel account according to Matthew should lead the 27 books of the New Testament writings. Matthew records more of Jesus teachings than any other book in the Bible. And Matthew knew Jesus personally as King of the Jewsthe Messiah, and the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies about the One who is to come. In reading and understanding this book, we encounter the Saviors fundamental plan for life the way it was designed to be lived.