A Daily Word for Boys (eBook)

JANUARY 1

Purpose

In Christ we were chosen to be God’s people. God had already chosen us to be his people, because that is what he wanted. And God is the One who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants. We are the first people who hoped in Christ. And we were chosen so that we would bring praise to God’s glory.

EPHESIANS 1:11-12 ICB

Alex liked to dream. As he rode his bike along his driveway, he liked to imagine who he would be when he grew up. He imagined running into burning buildings as a firefighter or solving problems as an engineer. He imagined walking his dog and traveling to cool places. He liked to think about all the exciting things he would do with his life.

It is great to imagine what kind of life you will live. God has given you great dreams! But no matter what you do in your life, your most important purpose is to glorify God. You might grow up to be a father, a husband, a teacher, a pilot, or a business owner. No matter how you spend your time or what job you do, you are first and foremost a chosen son of God.

What are some ways you can honor God every day?

JANUARY 2

Decision

“If you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve.

But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

JOSHUA 24:15 NLT

Cameron knew his friends weren’t making good choices. His heart told him that he shouldn’t follow along when they were being unkind to others or disobeying the rules. He knew he should stand up for what is right, but he was nervous and he didn’t want to be alone or different from his friends.

Every day you are faced with choices. Even though doing the right thing can be scary, you are the only one who can control your actions. No matter what anyone else does, the choice to do the right thing is one hundred percent up to you. When you are nervous, ask God for strength and he will give you the courage to serve him in all you do.

When those around you do something you know is wrong, how can you honor God with your choices?

JANUARY 3

Respected

An overseer must be so good that people cannot rightly criticize him. He must have only one wife. He must have self-control and be wise. He must be respected by other people and must be ready to help people by accepting them into his home. He must be a good teacher. He must not drink too much wine, and he must not be a man who likes to fight. He must be gentle and peaceful. He must not love money.

1 TIMOTHY 3:2-3 ICB

Simon sat in church with his parents. He didn’t feel like going to Sunday school that morning and so he was listening to the sermon instead. The pastor was talking about leadership and Simon thought that it was boring. Isn’t leadership basically just telling people what to do? As the pastor talked more about it, Simon started to realize that maybe it’s more complicated than that.

Leadership is a serious job. There are many areas in life where you can be a leader, but the Bible specifically talks about what it means to be a leader in the church. If that is something you want to do, you can look to the Word to see how you will need to live. God loves his children so much that he wants the people who teach them to be kind, qualified, and self-controlled. He doesn’t want people to be hurt by harsh, proud leaders.

How does good leadership help the people being led?

JANUARY 4

Brave

“Here’s what I’ve learned through it all:

Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord.

Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope.

Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!”

PSALM 27:14 TPT

Eric opened the door to the room where youth group was being held. As he stepped inside, he looked around and didn’t recognize a single face. His family had recently moved to a new town and his mom thought it was important for him to make friends at church. They had prayed before she dropped him off, that he would be brave and courageous. His mom knew big groups made him nervous. As he looked across the room, he saw another boy wearing his favorite team’s jersey. He took a deep breath and went to ask him about it.

God is on your side. He is with you all of the time and he knows exactly what you need. He doesn’t command you to be brave and then leave you alone to figure it out. He says to be brave and courageous because he is always there to help. He will encourage you and strengthen you when you need it most.

Can you think of a time when God has encouraged you and helped you when you needed it?

JANUARY 5

Stay

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.

No branch can produce fruit alone.

It must remain in the vine.

It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone.

You must remain in me.”

JOHN 15:4 ICB

Jake didn’t understand his homework. He hadn’t paid attention during the instructions, and he didn’t want to take the time to ask for help. Instead, he scribbled something down even though he knew it was wrong. The next day when they were going over the assignment, he wished he had taken the time to ask for help. It was simple and would have only taken him a few minutes.

You will always be better off when you ask for help. You aren’t meant to live your life alone. This is true every day and with God. Stay close to him and he will take care of you. Spend time with him and you will produce good fruit. If you try to get through your life without him, it is like cutting yourself off from the best help you could ever be given.

Is there a problem in your life that you have tried to tackle on your own?

JANUARY 6

Appropriate

Everyone enjoys giving great advice.

But how delightful it is to say the right thing at the right time!

PROVERBS 15:23 TPT

Jason was talking with a group of his friends. He was trying to explain why Aaron, his brother who had Down’s syndrome, spoke the way he did. He sounded different and his friends didn’t understand. One boy made a rude comment while another talked about how much fun Aaron was to be around. He was joyful and observed things in a unique way. Later that day, Jason thought about his two friends and how their words were so opposite. One had taken the time to say something meaningful while the other had just spewed out what was on the tip of his tongue. Jason didn’t want to spend time with someone who spoke so rudely.

What you say matters. Your words can either encourage or discourage someone and you are the only one who can control what comes out of your mouth. Try to be the kind of person who speaks carefully and says things that will lift others up. When you are careless with your words, you can tear people down and create lasting damage. Instead, bring life with what you say.

How can you practice controlling what you say?

Who can you lift up with your words today?

JANUARY 7

Faith

Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.

HEBREWS 11:1 ICB

Trent knew God was real. He had learned about him his whole life but on some days, he just felt really far away. He was busy with school, sports, activities, and friends. Sometimes days went by when he didn’t even think about God. He wasn’t sure if he was doing a very good job at following Jesus.

Have you ever felt discouraged by your faith? It can be hard to think about God when he isn’t right in front of you. This doesn’t make you a bad Christian. God knew we would struggle. That’s why he sent the Holy Spirit to guide us when he can’t be directly with us. The more you walk with him, the stronger your faith will get. Just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it isn’t real. Faith is like a muscle; when you use it even a little bit each day, it will become stronger. God is so proud of your desire to follow him!

How can you strengthen your faith a little bit today?

JANUARY 8

Character

God’s people need to be very patient. They are the ones who obey God’s commands. And they remain faithful to Jesus.

REVELATION 14:12 NIRV

Orlando was having a difficult day. As he sat with his mom before bedtime he listened closely as she encouraged him. She shared that one day, everything would be perfect. She said when Jesus returns he will make all things right and we just need to wait patiently for him to come back. Orlando couldn’t even really understand what “perfect” meant but it sounded great. He was excited about a day when he wouldn’t fight with his friends, or struggle to grasp a concept at school. His mom’s words lifted his spirits and he fell asleep dreaming about what a perfect world would look like.

One day, Jesus will come back again. He will make all things right and will wipe every tear from your eyes. As you wait for him, let God help build your character. He can help you to be patient and kind even when life is hard. Waiting is hard but your patience will be rewarded one day.

How can you build your character as you look forward to Jesus’ return?

JANUARY 9

Excited

I’m asking the LORD for only one...