Chapter One
Devotion #1
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the
gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction,
and many enter through it. But small is the gate and
narrow the road that leads to life, and only
a few find it."-Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
A Narrow Road That Leads to Wider Promise
You can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow
gate that leads to life. The highway to hell is broad, and its
gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the
road to life is narrow, and only a few ever find it.
Many of your friends will encourage you to join them on the
wide path. It looks like fun, and Satan promises that you'll
feel loved and accepted if you live as the world lives. You'll
have more "friends" on the broad path. You won't be
branded a "narrow-minded Christian" if you
choose to travel on the Anything Goes
Highway. On that wide path you'll hear
that cheating to get good grades is okay,
that R-rated movies don't hurt you, and
that it's cool to drink and take drugs.
The broad way is also the way of disappointment
and false promises. It can't deliver
love and acceptance and long-lasting happiness because it's
Satan's lie. Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV) says, "There is a way that
seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." The
broad way might be "fun" for a while, but your heart will
never find peace this way. True joy and acceptance are found
through God on the narrow path. Traveling God's way can
mean a difficult, rocky road at times. But it leads to peace
here on earth and eternal life in heaven. It's not heavily traveled,
but Jesus is always with you, so you're never alone.
You're standing at a fork in the road. Take off with
confidence down the narrow way-to life!
Did You Know
. that Jesus told the disciples they
had to be like children (and have
childlike faith) to enter heaven?
Read Matthew 18:2-5.
Girl Talk:
What path are you
walking on right now?
Do you think God
would be happy with
your choices?
God Talk:
"Lord, I don't
always make the right
choices. Help me to be courageous
and choose the right path.
I want you to be proud of me.
I love you. Amen."
Beauty 101:
Walking down a path is a great way to get
exercise. Fast walking for twenty to thirty
minutes a day gets your heart pumping. Walk
only during the day, and take a buddy with you!
More To Explore: Luke 13:24-25
Devotion #2
"The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:
'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have
drawn you with loving-kindness.'"
-Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
Never-Ending Love
Our limited human minds find it hard to grasp how
much God loves us. His love continues forever and can be
counted on in all our times of need. God pulled us to him
with his love and kindness. "We love Him because He first
loved us" (1 John 4:19 NKJV).
Think about the person you love most in the world. Then
multiply the love you feel for this person a thousand times.
That's only a tiny drop of the love-the everlasting
love-that God feels toward you.
Every day for a month, take a few minutes to
think about how much God loves you. Say it
out loud: "God loves me. The all-knowing,
all-powerful, all-loving God of the universe
loves me!" See how that changes
your feelings during the month. We
would live much differently if we truly
understood how much God loves us. He
wants only the best for us-all the time. He
wants to meet all our needs-we only have to ask him. (That
doesn't mean he will give you everything you want, but instead
everything he knows you need.) He wants to fight our battles
for us-we only have to lean on him. He wants to give us
direction and to have the joy Jesus died for us to have.
God wanted us so much that he pulled us to him. Jesus said,
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me
draws him" (John 6:44 NIV). People do not come to Christ
strictly because of their own ideas or decisions. It is God
pulling them to him. He loves you and wants you that much!
God's love for you is without limit. Soak it up!
Did You Know .
that God is faithful to those
who love him? Moses tells the
Israelites what will happen to
them, depending on whether
they love God or hate him.
Read Deuteronomy 7:8-10
for more of the story.
Girl Talk:
Do you feel that
God really loves you?
How do you think he
shows his love to
you each day?
God Talk:
"Lord, it's hard to believe that
you love me so much, but I am so
grateful to have your love. Help me to
show love to others the way you
show your love for me. Thank
you for never leaving me.
Amen."
More to Explore: Psalm 103:17 and Titus 3:3-6
Devotion #3
"The good soil represents those who hear and
accept God's message and produce a huge harvest-thirty,
sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had
been planted."-Mark 4:20 (NLT)
Cultivate Your Faith
When you plant garden seeds, you don't expect much
of a crop from dry, rocky ground, or a patch full of weeds.
But good soil-black soil full of minerals-will produce up to
a hundred times the amount of seed that was planted. In the
same way, people with good hearts, ready to receive God's
word and act on it, will also produce an abundant harvest.
They will become all that God created them to be.
God has given you special talents and abilities that he
wants you to use. Do you love to run fast? Do you
have a good singing voice or an ability to play the
flute well? Can you write poetry, or paint
watercolors? God wants you to enjoy the
gifts and talents, but also use them to
bring joy to others and glory and praise
to God. Is your life producing such a
harvest? It can!
If you don't like your harvest, check
your soil. Is it full of weeds (like resentment, 12
laziness, or jealousy)? Then deal with the weeds. Pray for
help to get rid of them, then do what God tells you to do. Is
your soil dry and hard from lack of water (from ignoring
reading your Bible)? Then soak it in the rivers of living
water from God's Word. Then you'll grow the fruit of the
Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV).
If your soil needs attention, be a good farmer and
plow it. Plant it with seeds of obedience to God's
word-then wait for that bumper-crop harvest!
Did You Know .
that an Academy Award-winning movie
talked about using your talents for
God? Chariots of Fire is a true
story about English athletes in
the 1920s. One of them, Eric
Liddell, says, "I believe that
God made me for a purpose,
for China [as a missionary],
but he also made me fast.
And when I run, I feel his
pleasure!"
Girl Talk:
Are you using your
talents to the best of
your ability? Can others
see God's influence
in your behavior?
God Talk:
"Lord, I want to use my talents for
you. Please help me to honor you in all I
do. I want to give you a bumper crop!
Amen."
More to Explore: Luke 8:15 and John 15:4-5
Devotion #4
"Don't take pride in following a particular leader.
Everything belongs to you."-1 Corinthians 3:21 (NLT)
The Real "In" Group
Don't get your feelings of self-respect or personal
worth from being accepted by a particular person or group.
Because you belong to Christ, they don't have anything that
you don't have!
Most classes have a few girls who have decided they are the
"popular" group. They will claim to have inside information
that others don't have, or act as if they are more special than
anyone else. Don't fall for that! Don't believe the lie that
claims you have to be part of someone's group to be "in"
or "cool." You already belong to the coolest group
you could join: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
God designed you to have friendships
that are rewarding, with give-and-take
sharing. Relationships get out of balance
when one person thinks she is more special
than others. YOU are important,
valuable, and significant. Centering your
life on someone who demands to be the 14
focus will throw your friendship out of balance.
If you belong to Christ (have accepted him as your Savior),
then you're a daughter of the King. Everything God has
belongs to Christ, and everything Jesus has is yours. If you
stay true to him, all the blessings here and in eternity belong
to you. You are as worthy as anyone else on earth-anyone!
So don't brag about being part of So-and-So's group,
or follow the "popular girls" because they have more of
what the world offers. Your worth comes from belonging
to Christ-not to a particular friend or group.
God says you have worth and value. You are worth so
much to him that he sent his Son to die for you so that
you could spend eternity with him. You can't get any
more valuable than that!
Did You Know .
that even a church with the
great apostle Paul as teacher
had problems with cliques?
First Corinthians 1:10-13
describes the problem of a
church in Corinth arguing
over who was more
important.
Girl Talk:
Where do you go to
feel wanted and
respected? Do you rely on
friends for self-esteem or
God? You may rely on both,
but always remember
that God's opinion of
you matters
the most.
God Talk:
"Lord, I sometimes worry
too much about what others think
of me. Please help me remember that
you are the one I need to please. In
you, I have all the love and respect I
will ever need! Thank you! Amen."
More to Explore: 1 Corinthians 3:3-6
Devotion #5
"Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser!
No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to
please people, I would not be Christ's servant."
-Galatians 1:10 (NLT)
Be a God Pleaser!
Are you trying to win the approval and acceptance of
people? Is that your primary reason for saying and doing
things? You can't spend your time trying to win the approval
of people and still be a servant of Christ.
At the lunch table, when someone tells a dirty joke, do you
laugh too so you'll be accepted, even when the joke makes you
very uncomfortable? Or do you join in backbiting and gossip
about other students so you won't feel left out, even though
you know it's wrong? Do you ignore a less popular student
because your friends would make fun of you if
you were kind to him? Then you are trying to
please people instead of God. And God's
Word says you can't be in God's service-useful
to him-if you're more interested
in people's opinions about you than God's.
As believers, we are to be like Christ
and follow in his footsteps. How did he
handle such situations? Once the Pharisees 16
tried to trap Jesus into saying something they could use against
him. "'Teacher,' they said, 'we know you are a man of integrity
and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the
truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention
to who they are'" (Matthew 22:16 NIV). Jesus didn't
play favorites or change what he said depending on who was
listening. He said and did what God told him to say and do,
no matter whom he was around. We are to be the same.
Go out and live your life today in a way that pleases God.
Did You Know .
that even when you eat and drink, you
can do it for the glory of God? In
1 Corinthians 10:31-33, Paul talks
about doing everything for the
glory of God, because you are
always a witness to those
around you.
Girl Talk:
When you think about
doing something, do you
only worry about others'
reactions? Or do you also
think about what God
would say?
God Talk:
"Lord, I'm not always
proud of the way I act, and I
need your forgiveness. Help me
to do what you would do, at all times.
I want to be a great witness for you!
Amen."
More to Explore: Ephesians 6:5-8
Devotion #6
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
Now remain in my love."-John 15:9 (NIV)
Living in Love
Jesus wants you to know how much he loves you.
Jesus said that he loves you just as God, the Father,
loves him. Just as much, and in the same way. Imagine
that! So it's important that you continue to rest and live in
that everlasting, bountiful love.
Sometimes it's hard to believe God can love us that much.
After all, we all do things that we know are wrong and for which
we need forgiveness. Maybe you cheated and turned in a book
report that you actually wrote last year. Perhaps you pretend
to like your stepmother, but you secretly hate her. When
you're so imperfect, can God still love you? YES! Or
maybe your family is breaking up, or your health is
breaking down. Does God still love you, no
matter what is happening in your life? YES!
"I am convinced that nothing can ever
separate us from his love. Death can't,
and life can't. The angels can't, and the
demons can't. Our fears for today, our
worries about tomorrow, and even the
powers of hell can't keep God's love away" (Romans 8:38 NLT).
Sometimes we need reminders that God loves us. Say it
out loud: "God loves me, and I can trust him. God loves me,
and I can trust him." If you have trouble believing that God
really cares about you or that he can forgive you for your
sins, repeat that to yourself several times every day for a
month. Get it down deep inside you. In time, your love for
others will also grow. "God is love, and all who live in love
live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God,
our love grows more perfect" (1 John 4:16-17 NLT).
Settle down, get comfortable, relax-and live in God's
love for you.
Did You Know .
that God's love surpasses all
knowledge? Read Ephesians
3:17-19 and find out just how
huge God's love is!
Girl Talk:
Do you have days when
you think that God can't possibly
love you? Would it help
you to remind yourself
daily that God does
love you?
God Talk:
"Lord, I know you love me
so much that I can't understand
it. Sometimes, I can't even believe it.
Please help me to remember every day
that you love me. Thank you for your
love that never ends. Amen."
More to Explore: John 15:10-11 and Romans 5:6-8
(Continues.)
