31 Day Teen Devotion

If everything in your life cannot be the essential thing in your life, what is the most crucial aspect of the life that you want to live? If you were to choose one top priority, aim, or goal, what would you pick? Perhaps you can think of it this way: what would you want others to say about you after you die? Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Read or listen to the entire series: http://bit.ly/2IbxCr6 Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND You must be clear on the most critical thing in your life because that thought will be the grid through which you will think about and do life with God and others. The good news is that there is no mystery to what that thing should be. Paul forever solidified what the primary objective of anyone’s life should be. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Paul’s chief aim was an all-inclusive, transcending goal, and nothing surpassed it. Nothing was of higher value than to glorify God. Glorifying the Lord should be every person’s top objective in life. Of course, most folks don’t know that there will be a day when we all will glorify God. When the Lord rolls up the carpet on time, all people in heaven and hell will glorify God throughout eternity (Philippians 2:9-11). To “glorify God” means that He is your chief aim. It could suggest “spreading the fame of God” or making “His name great in all the earth.” It carries the idea of “giving Him all honor and respect” to Him alone. It’s like standing in holy awe of Him for who He is, and from that perspective, you live your life. The weight of His worth is what gives you meaning, focus, and direction for living well on His earth. Time to Reflect 1. Do you see the importance of God’s glory as your chief aim in how you live daily? 2. What does that look like practically? Be specific.

One of the more surprising things that I have learned from a career in counseling is the average Christian does not know how to change. The Bible word for change is repentance. If you were to write out a process of change, what would you say? How do you repent? Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Read or listen to the entire series: http://bit.ly/2IbxCr6 Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND The irony about folks not knowing how to change is that the purpose of Jesus coming was so we could repent. The point and force of the gospel are about changing ourselves. We have lost our way because we think about change primarily from a salvation perspective rather than a sanctification perspective. The point of salvation is to get you into a position for ongoing and lifelong transformation into Christ’s likeness. Teal change happens after you are born again—what we call progressive sanctification. Like your physical birth, you were not complete when you came into the world, but after years of growing into a fuller version of yourself, were you more mature or fully developed (1 Peter 2:2). Getting saved is not all you need to live well in God’s world. It is all you need to be justified, adopted, and secure your seat in heaven, but salvation does not change you in the way you need to be up-fitted for living in a fallen culture. If God has saved you, the rest of your life should be about repentance—the ongoing process of transforming. You do not need to be born again, again, but you must always be evolving (transforming) into Christlikeness. Time to Reflect 1. What is one thing about you that you want to change? 2. Will you share that thing with a competent, courageous, and compassionate Christian who can teach you how to change?

Why do you want to date or marry someone? What is your primary reason for desiring a community? Here’s the answer: The number reason you need someone is not to meet your deepest longings but to image the Trinity in a relational community. Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Read or listen to the entire series: http://bit.ly/2IbxCr6 Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND The Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—created Adam with the ability to image themselves. For example, there are many aspects of the Lord’s character, like holiness, love, patience, long-suffering, pity, and wisdom. Adam, made in the image of God, could do what nothing else in the Lord’s creation could do. He could image the Trinity—the original Divine community. But there was a slight problem with Adam; he was alone (Genesis 2:18). There were no options for Adam to do “Trinitarian image bearing.” What Adam lacked was not someone to fill his empty love cup, but someone to be a community with to put the Trinity entirely on display to the world. Adam was like the world’s greatest baseball player with no place to play. He was suited up and equipped—in God’s image, but he had no place to do the main thing God had designed him to do. If you want to be happy and whole, the best thing you can do is find your fullness by giving to others, not demanding people to meet your self-interpreted needs. Jesus did what I’m suggesting. He imaged God correctly by putting the Father on display wherever He went. Like the first Adam, there were people available for Him to love, serve, and help. By pouring Himself into others, He imaged a beautiful God-designed community. Who can you love well today? Time to Reflect 1. Do you need people to make you feel better, or do you need people to display the many aspects of the Father, Son, and Spirit? 2. What is one way you can change to be a better lover, server, and helper of people?

The self-reliant person lives in a fantasy world. It’s an illusionary place. It is not a real-world because it is impossible to achieve a state of self-sufficiency where you are not dependent on anyone. Nobody can be self-sufficient. Not even Jesus had the ability to be entirely independent. Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Read or listen to the entire series: http://bit.ly/2IbxCr6 Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND Jesus resisted this self-focused temptation by choosing to do something counter-intuitive to self-sufficiency: He humbled Himself to the will of God (John 6:38). He had enough sense to know that someone else had to direct His life. Self-sufficiency is the self-deceiving and isolating process of trying to be stronger and stronger while resisting other people’s help, especially help from the Lord. It is a sinful desire to build a lifestyle and reputation that releases a person from trusting God or needing assistance from their friends. While his self-reliance projects the image of being strong and in control, the reality is that the individual is weak and not in control. It’s an illusion. All of humanity needs God’s favor and empowering grace. A self-reliant spirit is a form of insanity—when you pretend to be something you are not. We are broken, depraved, and dependent creatures. We cannot accomplish and sustain anything outside of God’s proactive intervention, provision, and undergirding power. Ironically, you are God-dependent, whether you want to admit it or not. The world is clamoring to promote themselves while trying to prove to anyone who will listen that they have it together because they have tapped into their true selves and achieved greatness—according to how they define success. Time to Reflect 1. What specific ways do you struggle with self-reliance? 2. What is your practical plan to find help to overcome this anti-God sin pattern?

Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Read or listen to the entire series: http://bit.ly/2IbxCr6 Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND The insecure person wants to be safe, but a fear of other people hold them back. They are asking questions like, will they hurt me? Will they reject me? Will they like me? As the person becomes more securely established in God’s faith, the Lord will be more significant to them than people. When the Lord’s faith is operative in your heart, you will be primarily influenced and controlled by Him. It is your choice as to who or what will shape and control your thoughts. You are not a victim, though you can feel more victimized than empowered when around certain people. Submitting yourself to God is the only option you have if you want to be mature. Either other people will capture your heart because of your desire for their acceptance, or you will be resting in the truth that God’s opinion of you is so positive, unchanging, and satisfying that He controls your mind. How do you know God’s opinion of you is always positive, always unchanging, and consistently satisfying? It is the gospel. Because of the gospel, any Christian finds assurance by knowing God loves them and will be for them always. Read Romans 8:31-39. Time to Reflect 1. Are you a Christian? How do you know? How is the Lord’s opinion of you managing you? 2. What practical steps do you need to take to find security and rest in the gospel?

Most of the couples I see for marriage counseling had consensual sex before they were married. Though their pre-marriage fornication does not represent all of their current problems, you can typically discern a constellation of sinful patterns associated with and flows out of their unresolved and undiscussed infidelity. Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Read or listen to the entire series: http://bit.ly/2IbxCr6 Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND What you observe in your partner’s life today is a precursor to how the rest of your life will look—only it will be exponentially better or worse. If he (or she) is walking in the Spirit, that walk will become exponentially better. If your dating partner is walking in the flesh, it will be exponentially worse. Do not fool yourself into believing otherwise. You are not the exception to this rule. If what you observe in your partner is unclear to you, seek wise counsel to walk you through your relationship observations. Your “counsel seeking” should be more than checking a box; it must be a God-centered, divine appointment to learn, potentially change, and grow. The side effects of letting any sin have its way with you are a hardened conscience, a dysfunctional relationship, and much displeasure to the Lord. Your conscience is God’s kindness to you to let you know your need, whatever it may be, and respond to Him. If you choose not to respond to any sin biblically, the hardening process will eventually stifle your joy and damage your relationships. Time to Reflect 1. Have you had sex before marriage? 2. What are you doing to stay morally pure? 3. Will you confide in a trusted and biblical mentor about your plans to stay pure?

When making decisions, you must be “in faith” about that decision, which is why the most critical question you will ever ask is, “Am I ‘in faith’ to (insert the thing you’re thinking about doing)?” I’m asking if you believe what you want to do is the right thing to do? How do you know it’s right? Why are you “in faith” to do it? Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Read or listen to the entire series: http://bit.ly/2IbxCr6 Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND Faith is like a stool upon which you sit. To be “in faith” is to make sure your stool has balance. That stool has four legs: Canon, Community, Conscience, and Comforter. If you place yourself in a context where these four means of grace are operative in your life, you will be safe to move forward with what you want to do. Let’s examine each one. 1. Canon – What does the Bible say about what you want to do (2 Timothy 3:16-17)? 2. Community – What do a few trusted, courageous, and wise friends say about what you want to do (Proverbs 11:14)? 3. Conscience – What do you think about what you want to do (Romans 2:14-15)? 4. Comforter – What does the Spirit of God say about what you want to do (John 16:13)? Most poor decisions happen because the person who made the decision was not benefiting from these four means of grace that the Lord provides for us. They either did not know about this process or even more sinister; they did not want to learn from one of them. One of the marks of humility is when a person will hold their ideas loosely while submitting them to God’s Word and His community for more careful analysis. Time to Reflect 1. Which of the four means of grace is your most significant struggle? 2. What is your plan to change that?

You’re old enough to be disappointed by people. You’re old enough to disciple people, which I talked about in the last devotion. If your disappointment in people is more controlling than your desire to help them, you will not be a good disciple-maker. Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Read or listen to the entire series: http://bit.ly/2IbxCr6 Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND How you think about others will determine the quality of the soul care you will provide. One of the most important keys to remember when it comes to discipleship is that all your disciple-making falls within a “speck fishing parameter.” Let me explain. Jesus said it this way: You have the log in your eye; they have the speck in theirs (Matthew 7:3-5). This idea about the log and speck is an oft-repeated truth that can lose its significant force because of our familiarity with it. A helpful way for you to see if it has lost its practical relevance in your life is by answering a few biblically-based diagnostic questions. Here are three of those questions. 1. Do you consider yourself better than the person who needs your input? 2. Does your soul care to your family members have a “looking down on them” feel? 3. Are you impatient toward those who have yet to arrive where you are or do not see things your way? The person who believes he is a servant of all is in a better position to accomplish redemptive soul care initiatives in the lives of those who need to change. Time to Reflect 1. Are you more controlled by God’s call to disciple others or by people’s actions toward you? 2. What specific way do you need to change as it pertains to the “log and speck” paradigm?

God calls every believer to disciple other Christians while evangelizing non-believers. Thus, your role—no matter your age—is to care for those within your sphere of influence. Even if you’re a Christian teen, you have a responsibility to disciple or evangelize your parents. Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Read or listen to the entire series: http://bit.ly/2IbxCr6 Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND Your ministry and responsibility to God do not begin when you leave your home. The individuals within your family unit also fall within your calling to love others more than yourself. Do not sell yourself short. There comes a time in every teen’s life when how they relate to their parents begins to change. When you were younger, you were the recipient of all their care, while there were not many reciprocal expectations placed on you to care for them. You’re not that kid any longer. You’re an adult, and you need to act like one. Being an adult is to step into a caregiver’s role, which includes your siblings and parents. This role change includes the spiritual side of things. If you are a believer and a spiritually maturing teen, you’re old enough to begin providing biblical care for your family. It is one way you can honor your parents. Some believers become caught up in convoluted definitions of what honoring parents means. For example, they may think that bringing corrective care to their parents as not being loving. They are wrong. There are times when the most loving thing a child can do for their parents is correct them when they are going down a wayward path. Providing loving corrective care is one of the more substantial implications of the gospel, as it mirrors how God cares for you. Of course, another aspect of your discipleship responsibilities is to encourage your parents. Whether corrective or encouraging, you must be discipling those in your home. Time to Reflect 1. Your spiritual maturity determines your ability to care for your parents. Do you believe it’s time for you to take your care to the next level? 2. What hinders you from bringing biblical care to your parents?

Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Read or listen to the entire series: http://bit.ly/2IbxCr6 Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND To know God better means your primary relationships should provide you contexts to deepen your experience with Him. If your primary contacts do not give you that kind of care, you should consider changing your closest network of friends. While it is true that evil companions can corrupt your morals (1 Corinthians 15:33), it is also true that good friends can make you a better person. Good friends are a substantial reason you should pursue biblical companions–those who want to motivate you to live a God-glorifying life. Here is a set of questions that Lucia and I ask each other regularly. These conversation starters get the ball rolling as we transparently share our experience with God—the good and the bad of it–with each other. I recommend them to you. 1. What has the Lord taught you lately? 2. How have you applied what He taught you to your life? 3. What have you read or heard that is helping you in your walk with God? 4. What specific areas are you struggling? 5. How can I serve you in a particular area of your sanctification? 6. What are some ways in which you are leading your friends? Time to Reflect 1. How do you characterize your closest relationships? 2. Will you use our questions to strengthen your friendships?