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This is to help you to read your bible more, spend some time before you start thanking God for what he has done for you today, this week or this month.
Then after you have finished spend some time praying for the people you know and the situations you are involved in.
If you're about Thursday evening come along to Rupert's house for the youth house group at 8pm ( after Eastenders)
Sunday
Set it Straight!
'SEE TO IT THAT . . . NO BITTER ROOT GROWS UP TO CAUSE TROUBLE AND DEFILE MANY.' HEBREWS 12:15
When someone upsets you, what's the first thing you do? Call your best mate and tell them what's just happened to you, not leaving out exactly what you think of the person who did it? Soon you'll say that you're over it and now you're moving on. Great, but what about the mate you unloaded on? Has your offence been passed over to them? Remember what you say will have an effect, whether for good or bad. Be careful what you say in the heat of the moment because it will shape the opinion of those who hear it. It's great when you can move from resenting others to forgiving them; but when you were angry did your words influence your mate's opinion of that person? James writes, 'My dear brothers and sisters...be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. Your anger cannot make things right in God's sight' (James 1:19-20 NLT). The writer to the Hebrews says: 'See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.' Thoughtless words really do leave lasting damage. Let that stop you in your tracks! Maybe you need to set the record straight with those you've left feeling gutted over a situation you now feel differently about. It's tough but you need to do it. Swallow your pride, go back and straighten things out, until you do you won't be on the right side of God. Jesus said, 'If you... remember a grudge a friend has against you...go to this friend and make things right' (Matthew 5:23-24 MSG).
Monday
Stop n Listen
'ANYONE WITH EARS TO HEAR SHOULD LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND.' MATTHEW 11:15
Hearing God is your top priority! Mary took the time to sit and listen to Jesus (Luke 10:39). You learn to hear from God by making time listen to Him! Fifteen times in the New Testament Jesus said: 'anyone with ears to hear should listen.' This tells you three important things: 1) you were born into God's family with spiritual ears; even if you are deaf in the natural your spiritual ears can hear God speak to your spirit 2) you have to use them; are your spiritual ears clogged up with worldy wax? 3 hearing from God must become your top priority. A baby is born with the ability to hear but doesn't understand. Understanding takes time; it requires intimacy with their parents. Get the idea? Luke writes: 'Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures' (Luke 24:45 NIV). Looking back over your life you realise that God has often talked to you, you just didn't understand what He was saying at the time but later on you will. He's patient with you while you learn. Why does it seem easier to hear God's voice when you're having a rough time? It isn't, it's just that when things are tough, you're more keen to listen to him! Until that changes, you'll only go to Him in a storm and not hear what he's saying for your every day life. Jesus said, 'By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear' (John 5:30 NLT). Jesus only did what His Father in heaven told Him to do; He wants you to learn to live that way too!
Tuesday
Mighty Warrior
'THE LORD IS WITH YOU, MIGHTY WARRIOR.' JUDGES 6:12
If you've felt attacked lately, get ready; God's about to show you what the fight is all about! The level of grief the devil is giving you says a lot about what God is building in you. Check out what the Bible says about Gideon (Judges 6): 'He was hiding from his enemies, threshing wheat in a wine press.' In other words; Gideon was freaked, busting up wheat in a wine shop! His fear had got the better of him and he was trying to do a job in the wrong place. So in God's true style He sends a big shiny dude to get Gideon's attention and tell him how it really is; the angel calls Gideon, "Mighty warrior.'" You see God recognises things in you that others don't or even you don't! God sees you from start to finish. Do you have an idea or a dream that you know could never happen without God? Good, that's what God meant when He said 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit' (Zechariah 4:6 NIV). Stop allowing other people to 'define you.' All you need is God's opinion. Nothing else matters. If He says you can do it, then you can. When God speaks to you He shows you what you've got, then helps you to use it. When Gideon said, 'I don't have what it takes,' the Lord replied, 'Go in the strength you have' (Judges 6:14), and 'I will be with you' (Judges 6:16). There's an important truth here: If you do what God asks, He'll help you and the results will blow your mind. Come on you Mighty Warrior!
wednesday
Sure and Certain
'NOW FAITH IS BEING SURE OF WHAT WE HOPE FOR AND CERTAIN OF WHAT WE DO NOT SEE.' HEBREWS 11:1
We can be way too impatient! If God doesn't speak to us in the first five minutes of our prayer time we get up, shrug it off and decide 'He isn't talking today.' We need to develop teeth like a bull terrier to take hold of God in prayer and refuse to let go until we've received a 'sure word' from Him? (2 Peter 1:19). Listen: 'Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see'. There are two characteristics of faith; one is 'Sure' and the other is 'Certain'. So often people teach that faith is like jumping into a black hole but that's not actually true. Faith knows what God has said and because it is 'sure and certain' that He will do what He says, Faith helps us follows His directions even when we don't understand why He's leading us that way. How do we get faith? Well it tells us the answer in the Bible, 'Now faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God' (Romans 10:17 NKJ). It is vital that we spend time reading God's Word and listening to those who teach God's Word. Imagine that your faith is a muscle; the more you exercise that muscle the bigger and stronger it becomes. The more you listen to people talk about God and the more you read about Him for yourself, the stronger your faith will be when He asks you to follow Him. Even though you may not know where He is taking you, you'll be sure and certain that you can trust Him.
Thursday
The Favour Flava
'TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD ' PSALM 34:8
Imagine the world is a big ice cream truck with loads of different flavours of ice cream for sale, in lots of different brightly coloured wrappers. What tends to happen is people pick the one that looks the tastiest or the most colourful. God wants His people to reflect His character and glory so that humanity will be drawn to Him. Think about this; God invented all the colours and flavours in existence so we can conclude that He is in fact the tastiest option. Which must in turn mean that if we are carriers of His presence we too should be the most colourful, interesting, vibrant, tasty and happy bunch of people on the planet! When Jesus was on earth He didn't have to beg people to hang out with Him. He was just Himself and people wanted to be wherever He was. Why? Because He was tasty; He left them feeling satisfied! Listen: 'Taste and see that the Lord is good' (Psalm 34:8). God is putting Himself out there to be sampled by who ever wants to try Him and He's chosen to do it through His people. When you hang out with your mates do they get a taste of Gods goodness? Did you know that you have God's favour on your life? Yep, it's true. Your life has two massive God sized thumbs-up. So, are you representing His favour to others? Listen: If you're one of God's children then you are blessed with heaven's best; you have the favour flava! He's done it so you can point others to Him but He also wants you to enjoy Him too!
Friday
I've come too far to turn back!
'IF THEY HAD BEEN THINKING OF THE COUNTRY THEY HAD LEFT, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN' HEBREWS 11:15
Any pilot will tell you that there's a point of no return. When you reach the end of the runway there's nowhere to go but up. It's fly or die! In Hebrews 11 you'll see a list of totally normal people who did some mad and crazy things because even when they were going through the hardest times imaginable, they stuck to their vision. If you never look back, going back is not even an option. When you decide to follow God not everybody will be happy about it. Your vision could be their nightmare. Your success could prove all things they said about you wrong or remind them of the vision they abandoned. Usually the hardest place to follow your vision is at home. There are always so many people keen to remind you of what you used to be like and they're often unwilling to believe you can change! In order for God to move us on, the first thing he does is to make us uncomfortable. Until your faith factor is bigger than your fear factor you won't move! If you're at all comfortable, settled and content, don't expect God to give you more; you're not ready for it. When you start taking risks you'll pray like you've never prayed and stay as close to God as possible because it's all you've got. There's nothing like that sense of feeling frustrated and boxed-in to get your full attention on God. Bottom line: when you decide, 'I've come too far to turn back,' you'll start to see God's hand at work in your life!
Saturday
Patience and discipline
'THE LORD DISCIPLINES THOSE HE LOVES'.' HEBREWS 12:6
Today is really a day of waiting isn't it? The big day is tomorrow and who knows what surprises it will bring; socks again from Auntie Mildred, yippee! Seriously, waiting isn't easy; patience seems to be one of the hardest 'fruits of the spirit' to grow in (Galatians 5:22) but God's patience with us is amazing! Have you ever thought about how frustrating it must be to be God? He creates people and fills their life with potential only to watch them blow it over and over again, yet every time He picks us up and encourages us that we really can do it if we'll rely on His strength and not our own. Here's something we all need to know though, alongside God's patience is His discipline. The Bible says: 'Do not make light of the Lord's discipline. Do not lose heart when He rebukes you. The Lord disciplines those he loves' (Hebrews 12:6 NIV). Don't expect to enjoy God's infinite patience if you treat Him with a 'you can't tell me what to do' attitude. If you're acting like that today, you need to deal with it sharpish before He deals with you! When you do feel that heaviness inside that comes with God's discipline 'Do not lose heart'; don't go thinking God's rejected you just because He's pointed out something that needs sorting. It's the opposite, God correcting you is proof that you're His child and He loves you! Have you ever been told off by your favourite teacher or youth worker? It stings more from someone you like because their opinion really matters. Well remember that God's opinion matters even more!
