The Devotional Survival Guide for Teen Girls by Renae Brumbaugh Green
Renae Brumbaugh Green
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Introduction
A Google search for “survival guide” provides the following definition: “A survival guide is a resource, often in the form of a book or other material, that provides information, instructions, and skills necessary to survive in difficult or challenging situations.” A wilderness survival guide is a great resource to have on hand if you get lost in the forest or jungle. It might tell you what foods to look for, how to tend to injuries or bug bites, how to find shelter, and how to stay safe. God’s Word—the Bible—is the ultimate survival guide for life. God is the source of wisdom, and He gives it freely to anyone who asks. While this book is no substitute for God’s Word, it takes key points from the Bible and relates them to common issues you might face. I hope the topics—and my thoughts on them—are helpful for you as you navigate your teen years. At times, these years of your life can be difficult and confusing. They’re also a time of tremendous growth as you transition from child to adult. Whatever comes, whatever you may face, you can engage it with confidence, knowing God has given you everything you need—not
—Renae Brumbaugh Green
A Beautiful Heart
But the L ord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The L ord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the L ord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 niv
The way we look—our appearance—plays a huge role in how we see ourselves. But should it really? Modern mirrors that reflect a near-perfect image have been around for less than two hundred years. Before that, people relied on polished brass, which gave a warped image at best, or a glance in a clear body of water, which was blurry. God never intended for us to derive our identity from our physical appearance. It’s the least interesting thing about us! Though others can’t see our hearts the way God does, they can observe our actions and attitudes. A pretty face may be nice to look at, but if that pretty face is attached to a mean spirit, people won’t find her attractive for long. Most people are drawn to qualities like kindness, honesty, intelligence, humor, and reliability. It’s important to stay clean and well-groomed, and there’s nothing wrong with having fun with fashion and trying to look your best. But don’t ever let your looks determine your worth. The real treasure is found much deeper, in a loving, Christlike heart.
Father, I want to look my best, but I don’t want my looks to be my main focus. Help me grow a beautiful heart.
Work of Art
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14 niv
Have you ever spent a lot of time and energy on something? Maybe you worked hard to prepare a meal or poured yourself into a creative project. When you were done, did you feel a sense of accomplishment? That’s a great feeling. That’s how God felt when He made you. You’re not a random set of genes. Every part of you was fashioned on purpose, and His main goal was to create a masterpiece. Remember, His goal is for our spirits to look like His Son, Jesus Christ. Our physical bodies are just the tents where our spirits live. He is thrilled with the person He created each one of us to be.
His heart must break when we listen to Satan’s lies. Satan tells us things like we’re not good enough, we’ll never measure up, we’re failures, we’re nobodies. Satan wants to hurt us, because that’s his nature. When you start feeling like you’re not enough, remember where those thoughts come from. Tell Satan to be quiet, and recall this verse. In you, God created a one-of-a-kind work of art. You are exquisite.
I’ve been listening to the wrong voice, Father. Help me recognize when Satan is trying to make me miserable. He wants me to feel bad about myself. I know my identity is found in You. Thank You for making me special and unique. I want to honor You with my life.
The Holy Spirit in You
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.
1 Corinthians 6:19 niv
When we decide to follow Christ, His Spirit comes and lives inside us. To people who don’t know Christ, that sounds like craziness. But the truth is, the essence of a person is found in their spirit. And since Christ is still alive, He chooses to make His home within each person who follows Him. It’s one of the beautiful, mysterious miracles we experience as His children.
But the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He doesn’t force us to follow Him or choose His ways. He wants us to lay aside our own desires and let Him have control every single day. Each day, we choose Him or we choose ourselves. We choose Him or we choose to please others, even when they’re wrong.
What have you done with the Holy Spirit in you? Have you locked Him in a closet, only letting Him have His way when it’s convenient? Or are you letting Him have free rein over your thoughts, decisions, and actions? Are you using your body, your skills and talents, and your opportunities to serve Him? He lives in and through you. It’s up to you how much control you give Him.
I know my body is the place where You live. You love through me. You serve others through me. I’m Yours, Lord. Do whatever You want with my life.
Show Me Your Friends
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 13:20 niv
American businessman Dan Peña said, “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” This quote seems to repeat what King Solomon wrote in the verse above. If we surround ourselves with negative, lazy, or gossipy people, we’ll be influenced by them, and we’ll become like them. If we choose to hang around loving, wise people who want to follow God’s plan for their lives, their presence and example will encourage us to do the same.
Nobody is perfect, so there’s no point in looking for friends who are without fault. But Proverbs 20:11 ( niv ) tells us, “Even small children are known by their actions.” A person’s character can be observed through their actions, no matter their age. Take a look at the people you surround yourself with. Are they kind, even to people others bully or ignore? Do they work hard? Are they honest and trustworthy, or do they cheat on homework and gossip behind others’ backs? Strive to set the example for others. And try to find friends who reflect the kind of character you want to have.
I haven’t always chosen my friends based on their character, Lord. Sometimes I want to be their friend because they’re pretty or popular or funny, and I overlook traits like dishonesty or meanness. Help me to reflect Your love in my life, and lead me to friends who want to please You.
Guard Your Heart
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
Proverbs 22:24–25 niv
Whether we admit it or not, we often become like the people we hang around. When we spend time with someone who is easily angered, who gets upset and plans revenge at the smallest offense, we absorb that attitude. Before long, we find ourselves getting easily annoyed. Some might call these people “toxic” friends. They may pull us into their vengeful plots, and before we know it, we find ourselves in the middle of trouble and drama we didn’t really want. Though we should love everyone no matter what, it’s our responsibility to be on guard. Proverbs 4:23 ( niv ) says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” We must be intentional about setting boundaries with people who influence us in negative ways. That means limiting time with those who cause you to feel stressed out or angry with others, or who encourage you to ignore God’s direction in your life. Be kind. Encourage them from a distance. Let them come to you by showing an interest in the God you follow. Whatever you do, don’t loosen your standards to be accepted by them—no matter how fun, popular, or interesting they may seem. Pray for them, and let God work on their hearts. You take care of your own heart, which belongs to God.
Teach me to guard my heart, Father, as I shine Your light to others.
Allergic to Sin
But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
1 Corinthians 5:11 niv
Have you ever known someone with a peanut allergy? Maybe you have that kind of allergy or a similar one. For that person, even a whiff of peanuts can cause a dangerous reaction.
In a loose way, Paul is saying that Christians are allergic to sin. Since we (the church) make up the body of Christ, we need to avoid sin. When a member of our body decides to contaminate us with ongoing, purposeful sin, we must set them apart so we’re not all exposed to its harmful consequences. Later in this passage, Paul compares sin to yeast. Just a little has a way of working its way through the entire batch of dough.
When nonbelievers choose to sin, that’s different. They’re not part of our body. But someone who professes to follow Christ yet willingly and rebelliously chooses to ignore His guidance is a danger to the entire body. Pray for them. Treat them with kindness. But step back. Don’t consider them a close confidant for a while. Hopefully this process protects us and shows them how much they miss being a part of the body of Christ, bringing them to reconsider and change their ways.
The counsel in 1 Corinthians 5 seems harsh, Father. But I know all Your ways are based in love. Teach me this kind of tough love as I pray for those who choose sin.
Not from God
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7 niv
Have you ever felt anxious? If so, you’re not alone! We all experience anxiety at times. But for some, the anxiety doesn’t go away.
Second Timothy 1:7 says that God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. If God doesn’t give anxiety, where does it come from?
You guessed it. Satan hates us, so when a thought appears that your logical self knows isn’t from God, you can bet it’s from Satan. He whispers things like “They don’t like you. You’re not good enough. You’ll fail.” But God gives us the remedy. James 4:7 ( niv ) says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” When you hear those anxious thoughts, tell Satan he’s a liar. Tell him to shut up and get lost, because you belong to Jesus.
Then pray. Tell God all about those anxious thoughts Satan told you. Thank Him for helping you recognize the lies. Fall into His love as He wraps His arms around you. Feel His peace fill you. Hold your head high and remember who you are: a strong, beautiful, powerful daughter of the King.
Thank You for showing me that anxiety doesn’t come from You. Give me Your peace, and remind me that I’m Your strong, powerful daughter.
P owerful and Strong
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 niv
Do you believe God is strong and powerful? Or does He hide in a corner, avoiding anything hard or scary? Hopefully you see Him as a mighty King who fears nothing and no one. Get that picture fixed in your mind.
Now remember that He created you in His image. He made you to be like Him. That’s your calling and purpose. It’s why He placed you here on this earth. He wants you to be strong and bold, not shrinking and afraid. When fear takes hold of your heart, call out to God. Ask Him to make you confident about what to do. He will give you His strength (He does live inside you, after all), and He’ll let you know whether you should stand still, fight, or run. Whatever He tells you to do, you can do it with assurance. You don’t have to question or second-guess yourself when you listen to His voice. What situations strike fear in your heart? If it’s sin, you’re right to run from it. But if you’re timid when you want to be bold, ask God to remove the fear and replace it with His power, love, and self-discipline.
I know You made me strong, but I don’t always feel strong. I don’t have that kind of confidence on my own. I need You, Father, to be powerful in me.
The Peace He Gives
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27 niv
Think about the worldly things that bring you pleasure. It’s not wrong to be excited about a new outfit, a fancy car, or a delicious meal. But those things, as nice as they are, bring only temporary happiness. Clothes wear out or go out of style. Cars get old. And even after the best meal, we’re still hungry a few hours later.
Christ promised to give us peace. It’s different from worldly pleasures because His peace never wears out or goes away. It’s not like worldly peace, which is based on a place or situation—like a beach vacation or a trickling mountain stream. The peace that comes from Christ lives inside us. We can find it even in the midst of the most difficult situations. Paul and Silas found peace in a prison cell and sang hymns all night long. Jonah found peace in a fish’s belly as he called out to God.
The peace of Christ is bold. It takes whatever Satan throws at us and says, “Is that all you’ve got? That’s nothing. My God is way bigger, way stronger.” Next time you face something hard, remember the gift He has already given you. Ask Him to activate His peace in your life. Trust His power and love to get you through whatever you face with dignity, serenity, and peace.
Thank You for Your peace, Lord. Remind me to access it every day.
Just Say No
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 niv
People often discuss peer pressure as if it’s a teen problem, but you’ll face peer pressure for the rest of your life. As long as you live, you’ll never stop wanting to be liked, respected, and admired. At times, it seems the quickest way to acceptance is by acting the way others want us to act.
The good news is that with age comes experience. The more we practice saying no to those things that don’t match up with God’s plan for our lives, the easier it gets. Not that we ever master it completely, but peer pressure isn’t as much of a struggle for those who practice self-discipline over many years.
Right now, early in your life, learn to say no to things that don’t fit with God’s calling and purpose. Do it with gentleness and love, not with a haughty, holier-than-you attitude. In the moment, it may feel like the hardest thing you’ve ever done. But that kind of resolve will build strength to say no. Next time, it may feel easier.
When we stand up for who we are in Christ, others admire us. They may not show it. But inside, they’ll respect us for being authentic and true to our convictions.
I don’t want to look like this world, Father. Help me say no to things that don’t fit with Your purpose for my life.
Who Am I Trying to Please?
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 niv
Paul, the author of this letter, spent his early life living up to everyone’s expectations of him. He belonged to a religious group called the Pharisees. They were known for their strict interpretation of Jewish tradition and written law, and they took great pride in how well they lived up to these standards. They condemned anyone who didn’t measure up, which led Paul to help execute people who followed Christ. He was the ultimate people pleaser when it came to doing what his religious buddies expected.
Later, when he encountered Christ, he realized how wrong he’d been. He no longer wanted to please other people. His only goal became to please God. He’d jumped through all the hoops of trying to be accepted by others. He knew it was a shallow, endless goal with no lasting satisfaction.
Learn from Paul’s experience. We will never gain the peace and acceptance we long for by trying to please others, because humans are fickle. They’re never satisfied. . .they always want more. But when we live to please God alone, we step into the purpose He had in mind when He designed us. That kind of life leads to lasting peace and fulfillment that come only from Him.
Forgive me for trying to please others, Lord. More than anything, I want to please You.
When You’re Tempted
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 niv
Have you ever gone through something difficult and thought no one in the world could possibly understand how you feel? The truth is we humans are all made of the same stuff. We may have different experiences and backgrounds, but our emotions are similar. We’ve all felt embarrassed. Anxious. Ashamed. And when faced with decisions, we’ve all made the wrong ones at some point.
God knows this, and He understands. He’s not shocked when we’re tempted to do something we shouldn’t. As a matter of fact, He expects it! He has already arranged to give us the strength we need to say no. When possible, it’s best to avoid the people, places, and situations that might trip us up. But we can’t always control our circumstances. Sometimes we find ourselves looking temptation in the face and wanting to say yes. When that happens, we can take a deep breath, ask God to help us, and follow His lead.
Say no. Leave.
Call someone for help.
He will give you a way out if you only ask.
Lord, please give me wisdom to avoid temptation when possible and to say no when I’m faced with it.
Obey Your Parents
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:1–4 niv
The teen years are a time of growing independence. You’re not a child anymore. You’re not yet an adult, but you feel your wings spreading, and you’re ready to make your own decisions. It can be a difficult time, especially when your will goes against your parents’ will. One of the best definitions of maturity is the ability to postpone pleasure. During this time, God wants you to obey your parents, even when it’s hard. You’ll have your time of independence soon enough.
The last part of this passage is a note to parents. They’re to deal gently with their children, with compassion for what they’re going through. If you feel exasperated by your parents, you still must obey them (unless they’re asking you to do something illegal, abusive, or that goes directly against God’s Word). When it seems your parents don’t understand you, talk to God. He will hold them accountable for treating you with compassion, respect, and love. He will hold you accountable for obeying them, and He will bless you for it.
Help me honor and obey my parents, even when it’s hard.
Why We Should Obey
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Colossians 3:20 niv
Childhood is the training ground for adulthood. Ideally, each child will grow up in a home filled with love, respect, and kindness. But no one is flawless—not even our parents. Even so, we must obey them while we’re children. And we must treat them with honor for the rest of our lives.
Even imperfect parents usually want the best for their children. They want you to be safe, successful, and happy. Their guidance is given with the best of intentions, so obedience is for your ultimate good, even when it’s hard.
Obedience to parents provides good practice for things you’ll face in adulthood. We must obey the law and respect authority. We will have jobs in which we must follow our boss’s orders. There’s a chain of command in almost every situation we face, and those who struggle to obey their parents often have trouble submitting to authority as adults. That could mean getting fired from a job, paying a bunch of unnecessary fines, or even landing in jail.
God is our ultimate authority. Perhaps the best practice for following God’s direction in our lives is obeying our parents when we’re children. We won’t always like what God asks us to do. Still, we must obey. Sometimes He requires us to do hard things or go against our personal desires. Still, we must obey, knowing that even when we don’t understand, all His requirements are based in love.
Help me to please You by obeying my parents. I trust You, even when I don’t understand.
All the Lessons
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it.
2 Timothy 3:14 niv
Timothy was still a young man when Paul took him under his wing. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were Christ followers. His father was not. From an early age, Timothy’s mother and grandmother had taught him the scriptures. They’d led him in God’s ways. When Paul came along, he further guided Timothy in the truth. In this passage, Paul basically says, “Remember who you are and whose you are. You belong to Christ.”
Whether or not your parents have taught you to follow Christ, somehow you’ve decided you want to learn more about Him. If not, you wouldn’t be reading this book. You’re probably about the same age as Timothy was when Paul met him. Read the verse above as if it’s written directly to you. Remember the good things your parents/ grandparents/teachers/pastors have taught you. Remember what you’ve learned from reading the Bible. Listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you. All of these want only the best for your life. Never forget the good things you’ve learned from them. Apply those principles to your life—they will serve you well.
Thank You for the good lessons my parents and others have taught me. Forgive me for questioning their wisdom and guidance. Help me apply those lessons to my life. Help me obey my parents and obey You.
Keep Choosing Right
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 niv
Have you heard of decision fatigue? It’s what happens to many of us at the end of the day, when we’ve already made a thousand decisions about everything from what to wear to what to eat to whether we’ll do our homework or scroll through our phones. Our brains get tired, and sometimes that fatigue causes us to make poor choices.
We can make it easier on ourselves by limiting our decisions. Choose your clothes the night before. Plan your meals ahead of time. But even then, we’re faced with unexpected, difficult choices. We can get tired of always doing the right thing. At some point, most of us want to give up.
But God made us for strength and perseverance. The word persevere means to keep going even when things are hard and failure looks like a very real possibility. In this passage, Paul acts as both coach and cheerleader. He reminds us to persevere in following Christ, even when it’s hard. Keep making all the big and small choices that will please God, and He will bless you for it.
Sometimes following You is easy. But often it’s hard and I want to give up. Please give me strength and courage to keep going. More than anything, I want to please You.
Make Your Choice
“But if serving the L ord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the L ord .”
Joshua 24:15 niv
In this passage, Joshua is talking to the Israelites. He’s spent several verses reminding them of all the things God has done in the past. He brought them out of Egypt. He rescued them from all sorts of bad situations, including slavery, hunger, and bully nations that wanted to destroy them. Time after time, God poured out His love on His people, yet many of them still chose to disobey Him. Some of them even wanted to create man-made idols to worship instead of worshipping God. So Joshua lays it out for them. “God won’t force you to love Him. The choice is yours. But as for me, as for my family, we choose the Lord.”
The same is true for us. God doesn’t force us to follow Him. Many things compete for our attention. Without realizing it, we can worship the idols of money or popularity or success. Whatever you spend most of your time thinking about—that’s what you worship. Each day, you have a choice. Who will you serve?
Hopefully your answer will be the same as Joshua’s. “As for me, I will serve the Lord.”
Forgive me for ever choosing anything over You, Lord. Today and every day, I choose to serve You.
What Lies in Store
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 niv
We’ve all had negative, defeated thoughts flow through our minds. I’m a loser. I’m so dumb. I’ll never be good enough. But we can be certain those thoughts are not from God. The source is actually very sinister—they’re whispers from Satan, who wants us to be miserable. They can also show up out of habit; if we let ourselves dwell on them, they start to feel normal.
We can take comfort in knowing that thoughts are not facts . They’re just thoughts. When we hear those voices, we can push them aside. We can roll our eyes and say, “That’s ridiculous. That’s not what God says about me at all. And everything God says is true.”
The truth is, everything God makes is good. He created you in His image, so you are made for success and victory, power and peace. And He’s still working in your life! He’s not done, and He won’t quit until His plan and purpose have been completed in you. That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?
Look to the future with confidence, knowing God is busy doing something amazing in you.
Thank You for the confidence I have knowing You’re doing something unique, purposeful, and beautiful with my life. I trust You with my future, and I can’t wait to see what You have in store.
Trusting His Plans
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the L ord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 niv
This verse is part of a letter sent from the prophet Jeremiah to the Israelites who had been sent into exile. Their present circumstances seemed pretty crummy. Judging from what they currently faced, they had little hope of things ever getting better. But God spoke these words to Jeremiah to share with His people.
Many people think that the Christian life is all peace and joy and easy times. But the Bible never says that. Instead, Christians have hope , which is the promise of good things to come. Hope is the opposite of fear, which is the belief that bad things are in store. No matter what we face, no matter where we are right now, we can hold our heads high with confidence. God is working. He’s on His way to rescue us. And though we may not know exactly what the future holds, we can know, without doubt, that God has good things planned—things beyond what we can think or imagine. First Corinthians 2:9 says that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him.
I’m so excited for the future You have in store for me, Lord. I trust Your plans for my life.
The God of Hope
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 niv
This verse is a prayer Paul wrote for the Christian believers in Rome. It’s more than just pretty words. When you really think about Paul’s request, this prayer holds a lot of substance.
First, Paul wants the God of hope to fill them with joy and peace as they trust Him . Joy and peace are the reward of trust. We must believe that God loves us and has everything under control. We must have confidence that even when things are hard, He is working everything out for our good. That kind of trust brings peace and joy.
But wait. There’s more! Paul doesn’t want our hope to be some pie-in-the-sky, wishful thinking. He prays for a supernatural, spiritual hope that comes when the Holy Spirit is allowed to display His power in our lives. When we submit to the Holy Spirit and follow His guidance, He infuses our hearts, minds, and thoughts with a hope that comes only from Him. We don’t just wish . We believe . We know . And that’s when we find a fountain of joy and peace that bubbles out, overflowing from our lives onto every circumstance, every person around us.
Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who lives in me, gives me hope, and fills me with Your joy and peace.
Seek Him First
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33 niv
What are your plans for the future? What are your hopes, your dreams? Sometimes we share them with everyone. Other times, they’re so intimate, so private, we keep them to ourselves. No one but God knows the secret desires of our hearts.
But when we make pleasing Him our first goal, He blesses us. Sometimes those blessings look exactly like we hoped. Other times, He sets aside our original plans because He has something bigger and better in store—something we’ve never thought of, something He knows we’ll love so much more than what we first wanted.
The key is to keep Him as our first priority. When we put our own plans in front of Him, He steps aside and lets us chase them. But the results of that pursuit are only as good as we can make them, and far below what could happen with God in charge.
Seek Him first, and watch what He does in your life.
You know me better than anyone, Father. You know all my secret dreams and desires. I’m tempted to do whatever it takes to make them happen, but I don’t want to put them in front of You. You are first. Pleasing You is my most important goal. I know I’ll feel more fulfilled with Your plans for my life than with my own. I trust You.
The Dedication Page
Commit to the L ord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
Proverbs 16:3 niv
In the first pages of a book, you’ll often find a dedication page. The author honors someone they admire, or who has helped them in some way, by dedicating their book to them. What a high compliment! God loves it when we dedicate, or commit, our plans to Him. He loves to be honored in that way. When we do this, He gets behind us, becoming our biggest backer, coach, and cheerleader. He gives us wisdom. He opens doors.
It’s important to remember His timeline is different from ours. We want to see results quickly, but He sees our entire lives stretched before us. Your dream to be an author or artist or college professor may happen over decades, not weeks. He has the road all mapped out. Follow Him, and you’ll get to precisely where He wants you to be. Following God doesn’t always mean our plans will succeed. God sees success in a different way than we do. But following Him does help us avoid major pitfalls as He helps us steer clear of trouble. God’s ways are far above any plans we have for ourselves. When we follow God and commit our lives to Him, we will never be disappointed.
Father, this prayer is my dedication page. I commit my life to You. Every thought, every word, every action—I want it all to be for You.
