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Charge Up Your Study Power!

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Facing tests and exams? can help. Buddy

My Study Buddy: Charge Up Your Study Power!

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Permissions Department, Our Daily Bread Publishing, PO Box 3566, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, or contact us by email at permissionsdept@odb.org.

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Editorial: Asia Pacific English Content Development Team

Cover design by Mary Tham

Interior design by Mary Tham, Lidya Jap

Printed in Singapore

Hello!

Tests and exams . . . there can’t possibly be many more things that can make us feel so stressed and anxious! Knuckling down to study while the anxiety is cranking up is no fun. It stops us from doing what we really want to do, upsets our sleep, makes us tired and grumpy . . . in other words, it messes up just about every area of our lives.

Naturally, it might seem a little odd to suggest that you spend a few minutes reading this booklet each day. But we believe that you’ll find it worth those few minutes!

How to use My Study Buddy:

• Choose one reflection from the section “Reflect” or one activity from the section “Journal”. Jot down your thoughts and talk to God about them.

• Write an encouragement to your friends using the attached cards.

• Doodle on the blank pages. Express how you feel or what you’re thinking, and talk to God about what you’ve drawn.

Write down one trouble you’re facing in your studies.

God is an ever-present help.

That means He’s always with us and able to help us.

Commit your trouble to Him now. Be confident that you will overcome it, with God’s help.

Pray:

Lord, I am confident I will overcome this trouble, with Your ever-present help.

Study Buddy:

How does God help us? He sends help through people—your teachers, parents, tutors, and friends!

If a person is humble about his academic progress, what would he say when someone praises him?

A humble person is a thankful person. Thank God for your academic progress now. Beware of boastful thoughts or words that say: “I accomplished this by myself!”

Pray: Lord,I want to practise being humble in my thoughts and words.ThankYou for helping me to achieve my academic progress.

Study Buddy:

Michael Phelps holds the record for the most gold medals won by any single athlete in the Olympics. He accomplished that by practising twice a day and sometimes even more. He trains five to six hours a day, six days a week.You’ll do better in your studies through constant practice, too.

“God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.“ yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time .

1 Peter 5:5-6

humble = to be aware of your weakness

proud = arrogant, boastful, self-important

Proverbs 21:5

Rate yourself in terms of diligence when you study your subjects.

Subject:

Rating:

Do you have a good plan for studying? Is there a subject or topic you need to work harder on?

What can you do to reduce distraction and to concentrate when studying?

Commit your thoughts to God.

Pray:

Lord, help me to enjoy being diligent. I know that good planning, hard work, and careful and constant attention will benefit me.

Study Buddy:

Game to take on a challenge? Memorise Proverbs 21:5. Try recalling it at the beginning and end of your study time!

Pray:

As a student, your work is studying. Rewrite this verse by filling in “study” or “studying”.

Fun ways to learn Whatever you ____________, _________________ it with all your heart, as _______________________ for the Lord. —Colossians 3:23

Studying for the Lord means putting Him at the centre.

Pray before and after you study. Ask Him to guide you to study effectively and efficiently, not half-heartedly, but wholeheartedly for God’s glory.

Lord, I do not want to study halfheartedly. I want to study wholeheartedly, doing my best, knowing You are at the centre and You are my best guide.

STUDY BUDDY:

Feeling bored? Try using fun ways, such as acronyms, to help you remember key facts about a topic. Here’s an example: Check your writing . . .

C apital letters Have you used capital letters?

U nderstanding Does it make sense?

P unctuation Have you used . , “” ?!

S pelling Does it look right?

COLOSSIANS 3:23

What can you do to hope in the Lord as you keep studying?

Are you physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted from studying?

God is able to give you strength when you hope in Him.

Draw hope from His character. He is a God who cares and sustains His people.

Pray:

Lord,You care for me and keep me going when I am tired. Help me to be confident in Your care and provision. Renew my strength, for I am Yours.

Study Buddy:

Feeling tired from all the revision? God has a wonderful promise for you in Isaiah 40:29–31. Decorate the words that tell us the good outcome when we look to God for help.

Fill in the blanks in this prayer, and then pray it:

Dear Lord, I am feeling anxious about studying

Thank You that You are my God, who created, sustained, and redeemed me. Help me _____________________

Guard my emotions and thoughts. Help me to rest in Jesus. As I continue studying diligently, I know I will feel secure in You even though I cannot explain why. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Whenever you feel anxious, pray.

Pray, pray, and keeping praying. Don’t forget to add thanksgiving to your prayers. God’s peace will come!

STUDY BUDDY:

Place two fingers on your wrist. Try measuring your pulse. Is it beating very fast? Here’s an antidote for calming fears and anxiety: Underline the key words in Philippians 4:6–7. Reflect on what these words mean to you.

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

In God, whose word I praise—-in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 56:3–4

Fill in the blanks in this prayer, and then pray it:

Lord, I am afraid of ______________________.

But I remember Your Word says _______________ _______________________________________.

I know Your promises are true and I can trust in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Tests and exams are set by humans. Do not fear mortals more than you trust in the immortal God.

While fear of failure is understandable, confidence in God is unshakable.

Pray:

Lord, I confess I am afraid when I think about my tests and exams. I want to surrender my fears to You, one by one. I want to have unshakable confidence in You.

Study Buddy:

Want another antidote for calming fears? PRAY. God hears you, and will answer you.

Pray:

From Luke 12:6–7, how do we know for certain that God cares about you and your studies?

You are more than your exam score. You are more than your academic achievements. You are God’s handiwork (Ephesians 2:10).

You can study fearlessly, knowing that you are His and He loves you.

Lord, as I study, fill me with the security of knowing I am remembered by You, and You care for me in detail.You have told me not to be afraid, so I surrender my fears.

STUDY BUDDY:

Looking for motivation to continue your revision? Get nice stationery. Having a fancy new pen, ruler, or highlighter might make studying just that little bit more fun!

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?

Yet NOT one of them is forgotten

by God.

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Don’t be afraid.

Luke 12:6---7

Top three things I will do with God’s help today:

You may want to choose from the list below:

• Stop procrastinating

• Study for the subject that I least enjoy

• Concentrate and focus on my revision

• Be kind to others even when I’m str

• Exercise self-control in my rest and play time

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14

How many new words can you make from the letters in “WONDERFULLY”? The first one is done for you!

One

Top three things I will praise God for today: 3 1 2

You may want to choose from the list below:

• I am who I am

• No matter what grades I get, I am loved

• I have unique strengths and weaknesses

• God didn’t make any mistake when He made me

• I don’t have to compare myself with others; I am special

Study Buddy:

Do you know that your brain is 80% water? Drinking helps you think, focus, concentrate better, and be more alert. So, drink plenty of water during your study time.

Cast your cares on the Lord

Psalm 55:22 and he will sustain you.

How are yo u feeling?

Draw in your own emotion

Top three cares I will cast on God today:

You may want to choose from the list below:

• I didn’t feel like studying today

• I’m anxious about the tests and exams

• I don’t feel anything and my parents are upset that I’m so relaxed

• I’m afraid as I can’t seem to concentrate

I’m upset that I can’t do the things that I enjoy

Take A Break!

Imagine what you’d like to do after your tests and exams are over. Doodle it down on the next page.

Unscramble thewordsUnscramble thewords

Proverbs 3:5

Fill in the blanks in this prayer, and then pray it:

Study Buddy:

Athletes maintain a strict and healthy diet before a competition.They want to stay in top form so they can perform well. Likewise, you need to keep healthy during this period. So, don’t forget to eat your fruits when your parents pass them to you.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains–where does my help come from? My help comes the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1–2 from the Lord,

Fill in the blanks in this prayer, and then pray it:

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29

Because we can rely on God’s strength instead of our own, we can have new mindsets. Instead of saying “I dislike Math”, I can say, “With God’s strength, I’m going to like Math.”

Fill in the blanks below. And then read it aloud.

Instead of . . .

Try saying . . . I dislike ___________________

With God’s strength, I’m going to like _______________________

I don’t want to

With God’s strength, I’m going to I give up on

With God’s strength, I’m not going to give up on _______________

How many can you tick off today:

With God’s help, I studied diligently. [ ]

With God’s help, I didn’t give up. [ ]

With God’s help, I didn’t allow fear to control me. [ ]

With God’s help, I took study breaks. [ ]

Study Buddy:

Add some fun to your revision by turning it into a game. Get somebody to quiz you after you’ve revised, and ask for a reward if you’ve done well, and an encouragement if you didn’t. Either way, you win!