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Introduction
“The eyes of the Lord move over all the earth so that He may give strength to those whose whole heart is given to Him.”
2 C hroni C les 16:9
God is looking for brave boys who want to live for Him. Is that you? Maybe you don’t always feel brave. These short devotions have been written to help you grow braver and stronger. When you give your life to Jesus and His Holy Spirit comes to live inside you, He will make you brave. And as you read God’s words in the Bible and pray, you will have more of God’s power to make you strong. So let’s get going and show God and others that you want to be brave for Him!
Blessing #1: You Are Loved
Tonight your head will sink into your pillow. When your eyes close in sleep, there is one thing you need to remember—God loves you. He always has, you know. And He always will.
God takes care of everything while you sleep. This means you never have to worry about anything. God isn’t afraid of the dark. When you need Him to help, He will help. God is love, and He loves you. In fact, He thought love was such a good idea that He made it His most important rule.
I am loved by You , God .
Help me love others .
Jesus said. . .“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
MATTheW 22:37
Blessing #2: You Are Forgiven
When you do something you know you shouldn’t do, you might feel bad. You might be afraid someone will find out. You might want to hide. Maybe you feel this way right now.
God wants you to tell Him what you’ve done. This is a way you can let Him know “You were right, and I was wrong.” This is when you tell God you’re sorry. And forgiveness is what you need.
Before you go to sleep tonight, pray. Tell God about all the things you are sorry for. He listens. He forgives.
I can choose to obey You and do the right thing , God.
Help me make good choices .
If we tell [God] our sins, He is faithful and we can depend on Him to forgive us.
1 John 1:9
Blessing
#3:
You Are One of a Kind
When God creates, it isn’t like in a toy factory where every toy is made with the same parts and put together in exactly the same way. When God made you, He made every part of you to fit just right. No one is exactly like you. And no one can do all the things God made you to do. You are special to God. You are part of His good plans. His plans are perfect!
Tell Him, “Thanks!”
You didn’t make me look , sound , and act like other boys , God . I can act more like You because You made me to be like You . You made the parts inside me. You put me together inside my mother.
PsAlM 139:13
Blessing #4: You Are Gifted
God made you, and He made you to do something special. He knows you will be very good at it too!
You might have heard someone say that a person is “gifted.” This means a person can do something well because God gave them the ability to do it.
When you use your God-given gift, it can be used to help others.
Tonight, dream big dreams about how you can help other boys and girls.
I
learn more every day , God . Teach me how to follow where You lead me . Help me do what You made me to do .
God has given each of you a gift. Use it to help each other.
1 PeTer 4:10
Blessing #5: You Have a Purpose
When you have a reason for doing something, it’s called “purpose.” It’s sad when a person can’t find a reason to do something good.
The most important reason to always do your best is God—because You work for Him. His plan was to give you a reason to do the right thing. God helps you and is always there for you. He will always show you the right thing to do. With His help, you can do it!
I can make the good choice to obey You , God . Your love is the best reason to spend time doing what You know I can do .
We can work for [God]. He planned that we should do this.
ePhesiAns 2:10
Blessing #6: You Are Strong
Do you feel strong? Have you ever flexed your muscles and smiled, thinking about how strong you will be when you’re all grown up?
God helps His kids. He is strong when they are weak. He can even make them stronger. He never leaves His kids alone. And because God is with you, that makes you strong!
When you’re afraid, it’s easy to forget that God is strong. But don’t forget. Don’t lose hope. Don’t hide. This is a time to smile, because God is with you. He loves you, and He can—and will !—make you strong.
Thanks for being strong when I sleep , God. And thanks for making me strong when I wake up each morning.
“Be strong and have strength of heart! . . . For the Lord your God is with you anywhere you go.”
JoshUA 1:9
Blessing #7: You Are Chosen
When kids choose teams on the playground, the chosen ones can either choose to join the team or walk away. It’s just like that with God. He chose you, but you have to make a choice. You can stay and follow Him, or you can walk away.
When you join God’s team, you get to work with other Christians and do work that is super important to God.
God never wondered if He loved You enough before He chose you. He loves you. Never forget that! And He chose you. Always remember that!
