JA N UA RY

God Listens
I pour out my problems to him.
I tell him my troubles.
PSALM 142:2

ou can talk to God because God listens. Always.

What you have to say matters in heaven. He takes you very
seriously. When you speak to God, He turns to hear your voice.
No need to worry about being ignored. God never says, Not
right now.
Even if your words come out wrong . . . even if what you have
to say doesnt seem important to anyone else, its important to
God, and He listens.
He listens in the morning and in the night . . . and even in
math class. He listens to the joy of the ballplayer who makes the
game-winning play . . . and to the tears of the one who didnt. He
listens to the sadness of someone who is sick . . . and to the fears
of someone facing the first day in a new school. When the lonely
ask for a friend and the frightened ask for courage, God listens.
Very carefully.
Growing in Grace
Just as God listens to you, families and friends should listen to
each other. When you take time to listen, you make others feel
important. When someone wants to talk, dont say, In a minute.
Say, Im listening!
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God Chooses You

You are chosen people.
1 PETER 2:9

o you ever feel invisible? As if nobody even notices you?

Maybe some new clothes will get me noticed, you think. And
maybe they do. For a little while. But then the latest craze is yesterdays news, and youre back to . . . invisible. Want a change
that lasts? Learn to see yourself as God sees youcovered with
the clothes of salvation and wrapped in a coat of goodness
(Isaiah 61:10).
Do you ever feel like a nobody? When you do, remember what
you are really worth. Remember whator rather whoGod gave
to save you: You were bought with the precious blood of the death
of Christ, who was like a pure and perfect lamb (1 Peter 1:19).
If you ever start to feel invisible or left out, remember this:
God chooses you to be His child. That can be hard to remember
sometimes. So pray about it. Think about it. Let the way God
sees you change the way you see yourself.
Growing in Grace
God chooses to see you as His wonderful creation. How do you
choose to see your family and friends? They are each a wonderful
creation of God. Your mom. Your dad. Even your sister and brother.
Find something you love about each of your family members and
friendsthen tell them what it is.
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Worry Doesnt Work

I was young, and now I am old.
But I have never seen the Lord leave good people helpless.
PSALM 37:25

o you ever worry? We all do. Maybe you worry about things
such as How will I do on the math test? Why is my best
friend acting that way? Will my mom and dad be angry with me
if I mess up?
Some worries can be fixed with a little studying or even a
heart-to-heart talk. But what about those worries that are too big
for youlike thunderstorms, or sickness, or the terrible things
you see on the news? You could spend your whole life worrying!
Honestly, do you think thats what God wants? God didnt
send Jesus to save you just so you could worry. Jesus wasnt
nailed to the cross just so He could ignore your prayers. Worrying
cant fix anything, but God can. Trust Him with all those things
you worry about. God has even put his angels in charge of you
to watch over you wherever you go (Psalm 91:11).
Worry? I dont think so.
Growing in Grace
Got worries? Try this: Imagine putting your worries in a box. Wrap
it up tight with string, and tie it with a big knot. Say a prayer and
hand that box of worry over to God. Then relaxand trust God to
take care of you!
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God Lives Here

You know the Father.... The word of God lives in you.
1 JOHN 2:14

ave you ever done any decorating in your room? Maybe

you added a poster here. Put out a favorite collection there.
Maybe you even got to pick the color for the walls. You added
this and changed that until it looked like you lived there.
Well, God loves to decorate too. Actually, God has to decorate. Let Him live long enough in a heart, and that heart will
begin to change. Hell move some forgiveness into that corner.
Hell add some shelves and fill them up with His Word. Its not
always pleasant though. You might feel a little uncomfortable
when He knocks down that wall of jealousy or anger, but that
new spirit of kindness He puts in will look and feel great. Then
Hell paint your whole heart with lovelove for Him and love for
others.
God wants to give your heart a complete makeover. So He
wont stop working until Hes completely finisheduntil it looks
just like He lives there.
Growing in Grace
Decorate your room with Gods Word. Write favorite Bible verses
on sticky notes. Then stick them by your light switch, above your
pillow, or anywhere else youre sure to see them. God loves it when
you make room for Him!
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Dont Give Up
Is anything too hard for the Lord? No!
GENESIS 18:14

urprise! God does it again!

What did He do? He answered a prayer. Thats what He does
for those who believe in Him. But sometimes its in the most
surprising way! Look at what He did for these faithful folks. . . .
Just when everyone said it was impossible, ninety-year-old
Sarah had a baby (Genesis 17:17; 21:2). Just when no one else
had the courage to even try, David took down a giant with just
a stone (1 Samuel 17:50). And even though it didnt make sense,
Joshua marched around Jericho, and the walls came tumbling
down (Joshua 6).
Whats the lesson for you? Just three words: Dont give up!
Do you think youve got a problem too big for God? A test too
hard? A fear too scary? A friendship too broken? Keep praying!
God is watching. And the God who surprised Sarah, David, and
Joshua is already working on an answer to your prayers.
So dont give up. For if you do, you may miss the surprise!
Growing in Grace
To see Gods surprising answers in your life, try this: Write your
prayers on pieces of paper and tuck them in a special box. Every
week or so, read over your prayers. Which ones has God already
taken care of? Did any of His answers surprise you?
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At Home with God

If anyone loves me, then he will obey my
teaching. My Father will love him, and we will
come to him and make our home with him.
JOHN 14:23

od wants to be your home. He doesnt just want to be the

friends house you visit or the clubhouse you hang out in
sometimes. He doesnt want to be your vacation spot or even the
place you hope to live someday when youre older.
He wants to be the place where you live all the timestarting
right now. He wants to be the place that you come to for answers,
for help, and for comfort. He wants to be your home.
For many people this is a new way of thinking. They only
think of God as Someone to talk about or to pray to. He is just
Someone they visit on Sundays or holidays. He is a miracle
worker, not a place to live. But your Father wants to be much
more. Your Father wants you to live with Him all the time (Acts
17:28). God wants to be the home that you carry with you wherever you go.
Growing in Grace
A snail takes his home with him wherever he goes. No matter where
trouble strikes, he always has a safe house to climb inside. The next
time you see a snail, think about how God wants to be the home
that goes wherever you go. Be like the snailjust without the slime!
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Be Brave!
I will not remember their sins anymore.
HEBREWS 8:12

he Bible says that those who are in Christ Jesus are not
judged guilty (Romans 8:1). It also says that God will
make right any person who has faith in Jesus (3:26).
That is great news for Gods children! Because sometimes,
even when you want to do right, you do wrong. We all do. Thats
why Gods promises are so wonderful! If you believe in Jesus
and obey Him, God promises that your sins will all be taken
away and that they will be hidden by Jesus. So when God looks
at you, He doesnt see your sin; He sees the One who saves
youJesus.
That means that you dont have to worry about messing up.
Youve already won because Jesus saves you. Trusting in that
promise gives you the courage to try to do the right thingeven
when you know you might mess up. Trusting in that promise
lets you be brave.
Growing in Grace
Grab some friends and play a game of hide-and-seek. As you hide,
remember how Jesus hides your sins and mistakes. And as you seek,
remember how God promises never to seek for your forgiven sins!

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Washed Clean
Then [Jesus] poured water into a bowl and
began to wash the followers feet.
JOHN 13:5

n Bible times, the roads were often made of dirt, so peoples

feet were caked with mud and dirt. Washing those feet was
the yuckiest job around. It was a servants job. But at the Last
Supper, Jesus became the servant. He washed His followers
feet, the dirtiest part of them. And He will wash the dirtiest
part of you . . . if you let Him.
Sin makes your heart even dirtier than those followers feet.
Jesus will wash away that dirt, but only if you confessor tell
Himthat you are dirty. Tell Him about that bad thought, that
bad word, that thing you wish you hadnt done.
If you pretend your heart is cleanthat you never mess up
or sinJesus cannot wash you. You will never be clean until
you first tell Him you are dirty. But if you just tell Him, He will
wash all those sins away. He will wash you whiter than snow
(Psalm 51:7).
Growing in Grace
The next time it rains, ask your parents if you can go outside and
splash in the mud. Go ahead. Get dirty. Thank God for the rain
that washes the earth. Then, as you clean off your feet to go inside,
thank Him for Jesus, who washes away the dirt of sin.
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