JANUARY 1

A NEW CREATION

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 NLT

In the middle of winter, it might feel like spring will never come. No matter how many frosty days are left, you dream about how exciting and refreshing springtime will be. Everything around you will be filled with warmth and burst into life. Flowers will bloom. Babies will be born. The grass will turn green, and you’ll feel the sun on your face while you run around outside. The world becomes new again.

When you belong to Christ, your life is just like the world in springtime. It’s new. You’ve become a different creation. Your heart has been made new, and it is full of life. God’s love has transformed you just like the world is transformed in each new season. Today, rejoice that you have new life inside of you. Ask God to refresh you and make you feel newly alive! Remember that your heart has been made new. You don’t have to hold onto the old you.

Thank you, God, for making me new. Help me to remember that you see me through Jesus. When I am discouraged, remind me that I am yours.

JANUARY 2

BE STILL

Be still and know that I am God. I will be praised in all the nations; I will be praised throughout the earth.

PSALM 46:10 NCV

Do you ever feel anxious or frustrated? There are a lot of things in your life that you can’t control, and your parents probably make a lot of decisions for you. No matter how little control you have, you can choose to be still and recognize who God is.

You can sit for a moment and remember that God is in control. He is the one who knows all your days. You can worship him no matter what else is happening in your life. No matter how frustrated you might be, you can praise him. You can choose to respond to God with worship and admiration. It is your choice to love God with your actions, words, and attitudes. Even if everything around you feels crazy, you can be still and know who God is.

Jesus, no matter how stressed out I feel, I can choose to praise you. When I feel overwhelmed or out of control, help me to choose to worship you.

JANUARY 3

PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6 NLT

Did you know that God cares about your troubles? No matter how big or small they are, God cares about them. If you are frustrated in school, he cares. If your family is going through a hard time, he cares. If you don’t like what you’re eating for dinner, he cares. There is nothing in your life that he doesn’t care about. Nothing is too small for him to notice or too big for him to handle.

He wants you to know that he loves you and he will take care of you. He wants you to share your troubles with him. Even if you think it’s silly, he wants you to talk with him about your day, both your good moments and your difficult ones. When you talk to him, he can replace your worry with peace, and you can thank him for his goodness.

Thank you, God, that I can talk to you. Thank you for caring about me and for taking care of my worries. Teach me how to pray about everything instead of worrying about what I need or want.

JANUARY 4

STAY STEADY

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.

JUDE 1:24 NIV

Imagine you are hiking on a trail through the woods. Part of your path goes downhill over some rocks. As you struggle to keep your balance, you reach out toward whatever trees or branches are around you. You don’t want to fall, so you find something that will help you keep your steps steady.

In your everyday life, God keeps you steady. Grabbing him will keep you from falling, just like grabbing a branch will keep you steady when you’re hiking. Maybe you feel unsteady because you’re struggling in school, or perhaps you’re finding it hard to have a good attitude. Maybe there’s a problem with a friend or your family is going through a hard time. Whatever is causing you to struggle, God can keep you steady. Reach out to him and ask for help.

God, thank you for keeping me steady. You are the one who helps me not to fall. When I am having a hard time, I know that I can count on you.

JANUARY 5

SHARING GOOD NEWS

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.

ROMANS 1:16 NIV

When you share the gospel, you are giving a wonderful gift. You might feel nervous or unsure of what to say, but you don’t need to be ashamed. Sharing Jesus with someone can change their life. The gospel is really good news, and when you have something good, you want to share it!

Imagine having a birthday cake but no one to share it with. Imagine having a room full of gifts but no one to play with. When you have good things, it is best to share. It isn’t fun to keep good things all to yourself. Today, ask God to show you how to share his love with someone. He will give you courage and the right words to say. He will help you even if you are nervous.

Thank you, God, for the gift of the gospel. Help me to share it with those around me. Give me the right words to say and help my actions to show people how much you love them. I don’t want to keep good things to myself.

JANUARY 6

FOCUS YOUR HEART

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

PHILIPPIANS 4:8 NLT

You become like the things that you think, the things that you hear, and the things that you see. This is why the Bible says to focus on what is true, right, pure, and lovely. If you are focusing on what is negative, then you will become that way as well. If you find that your thoughts are filled with worry, negativity, or jealousy, your heart will feel heavy.

A heart that is focused on what is good is full of peace. One way to focus on what is true is to practice being thankful. The more you practice seeing the good things in your life, the easier it will be to focus on what is good. Today, ask God to help you keep your mind focused on what is good.

I want my thoughts to honor you, God. Show me where I am focusing on negative things. Thank you for always helping me when I need it. Help me to practice thanksgiving as a way of concentrating on what is true.

JANUARY 7

PEACE OF JESUS

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

COLOSSIANS 3:15 NLT

What does it mean for the peace of Christ to rule in your heart? It means that peace is the one in charge. Peace is the biggest, strongest. and most important feeling inside of your heart. Peace tells fear to go away. Peace tells worry that it is not welcome. When peace is ruling, you will constantly be aware of where that peace comes from.

Peace comes from putting your faith in Jesus. Peace comes from knowing that Christ died for you, rose from the dead, and is coming back again. Peace comes from knowing that there aren’t any problems on earth that can change the truth of who Jesus is. Today, let peace take over your heart. Let peace tell every fear and anxious thought to go away. Jesus is so great, there isn’t room for anything else!

Jesus, thank you for your peace. I want peace to rule in my heart. I don’t want there to be space for fear. Teach me how to let peace be in charge. Thank you that your truth never changes.

JANUARY 8

MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE

We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself.

JAMES 3:9 NCV

You are made in the image of God. This means that you were made to look like God. Did you know that? Every part of you is precious and made to reflect who God is. He is good, so that means that all his creations are good too.

If you are made in the good and perfect image of God, then so is everyone else. Each person that you see or talk to is a reflection of God just like you are. No matter how different someone is from you, they are God’s perfect and good creation. Your love for people of every shape, color, size, and age comes from your love of God. When you love people even when they are different from you, you display God’s love. If you love God, then you must also love his people.

God, you created everyone in your image. Help me to see people the way that you see them: precious and good. Teach me how to love everyone equally no matter how different they are from me.

JANUARY 9

A MASTERPIECE

We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

EPHESIANS 2:10 NLT

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