Ron Luce - Connecting With God. A Teen Mania Devotional

2009 Ron Luce

Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com

Revell edition published 2014

ISBN 978-1-4412-2539-9

Previously published by Regal Books

Ebook edition originally created 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Other versions used are:

CEVContemporary English Version. Copyright American Bible Society, 1995.

NIVScripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

All dictionary definitions are from Websters New Collegiate Dictionary, 10th edition.

To a generation of potential heroes who are teenagers.
This is your moment in history.
Make it count!

INTRODUCTION

This is not a typical book. Its a thirteen-week devotional you can work through by yourself or with a group, but its more than that. It is not supposed to be just one more thing that you read through and then forget what you read. It is designed to get you into action, to push you over the edge to make a big difference in the world.

It is going to be important for you to decide beforehand that you are going to make it all the way through this devotional. The next thirteen weeks could be the turning point that you have been looking for in your life.

I want to encourage you right now to do the following:

1. Make a commitment to have your quiet time every day for the next thirteen weeks.

2. Make a commitment to do everything that you are asked to do (including filling in all the blanks and memorizing all the Scriptures). In the back of the book, theres a place to record each Scripture that you memorize. Make sure you do that each time youve completely memorized a Scripture and youll be amazed at how much of Gods Word youll be putting in your heart.

3. Find an accountability friend to go through it with you every day. (Choose someone you feel comfortable with. You need to get in each others face to keep pressing on every day. The big thing here is to make sure that both of you are doing the stuff every day that you are supposed to do.)

Some things in this book will really stretch you out of your comfort zone. Some things will cause you to draw attention to yourself. As a follower of Christ, you have to get peoples attention so that they know you are a Christian and that you are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. While I do want you to go forth boldly in every area of your lifehome, school, work, sportsI would never encourage you to break any laws or rules set forth by your authorities. You want to avoid offending people so much that you actually drive them away from God rather than drive them into His presence. Keeping this in mind, get ready to step out of your comfort zone and into the wild, exciting life of a follower of Christ!

I commit to go all the way through this devotional.
I will start on _________________and plan to finish on ____________________.

______________________________________
Follower of Christs Signature

______________________________________
Accountability Partners Signature

______________________________________
Youth Pastors or Parents Signature

WEEK 1

A CALL TO ARMS

DAY 1

TO FOLLOW CHRIST

Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 4:19

God is raising up a fresh, fiery brand of young passionate Christians who want to change the world. The purpose of this book is to show you how to become one of thema true follower of Christ. It is time to wake up. Check out what God is doing, and jump into the middle of it!

Followers of Christ take Jesus at His word. They actually believe it is possible to live out what He teaches. They have quit just listening to sermons, and decided to live them. They have decided to go after God with everything in them.

Young followers of Christ are determined to make their lives count. They are frustrated by sermons about how God is going to use young people. They already do all they can to BE the young people God is using NOW. They are not satisfied with an average, pretty-good Christian life where people think they are saints if they stay off drugs. They have something so big in their hearts that they have to do something with it or it will eat them alive.

These young firebrands have quit looking to the world. They are looking to God for their marching orders. True followers find their purpose in Him and in doing what pleases Him.

Think about what kind of a follower of Christ you want to be, and take a few minutes to pray about it. Write out your thoughts.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

DAY 2

SEEK GOD FIRST

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

In a very real way, followers of Christ have checked out of this worlds system because they value different things. Their hearts dont belong to things; they belong to God. True followers dont ask what God can do for them; instead, they ask what they can do for God. They are not caught up with clothes, clichs, cars and cool things; they are excited about seeking, loving, serving and knowing God.

Christianity is not a part-time thing for followers of Christ. They dont go to church because somebody makes them go. They want to go, and cant wait to dive back into more of God! They have found their identity in Him and in His plan for their lives. They have found the reason they were created, and nothing will stop them.

Followers of Christ know that they are here to change this world with the love of Christ. They are here to make this world a different place. They want less sin in the world when they are finished with it. They want fewer broken hearts when they are gone. They want to see more people going to heaven when they are finished pouring their lives out for this world.

They have found something that demands their all, and they dont mind giving it for Him. They have found something worth sinking their teeth into, and they are not about to let go! They have made a discovery so important that it has altered the rest of their lives.

You can have all the money, fame, prestige and toys this world has to offer, but until you have changed the world, you have not accomplished anything. What do you want to accomplish?

Take four minutes to memorize Matthew 6:33. Write out what it means to you.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________