Girlz Rock: Devotions for You (Paperback)

Chapter One

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."-Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

A Narrow Road That Leads to Wider Promise

You can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate that leads to life. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the road to life is narrow, and only a few ever find it.

Many of your friends will encourage you to join them on the wide path. It looks like fun, and Satan promises that you'll feel loved and accepted if you live as the world lives. You'll have more "friends" on the broad path. You won't be branded a "narrow-minded Christian" if you choose to travel on the Anything Goes Highway. On that wide path you'll hear that cheating to get good grades is okay, that R-rated movies don't hurt you, and that it's cool to drink and take drugs.

The broad way is also the way of disappointment and false promises. It can't deliver love and acceptance and long-lasting happiness because it's Satan's lie. Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV) says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." The broad way might be "fun" for a while, but your heart will never find peace this way. True joy and acceptance are found through God on the narrow path. Traveling God's way can mean a difficult, rocky road at times. But it leads to peace here on earth and eternal life in heaven. It's not heavily traveled, but Jesus is always with you, so you're never alone.

You're standing at a fork in the road. Take off with confidence down the narrow way-to life!

Did You Know

... that Jesus told the disciples they had to be like children (and have childlike faith) to enter heaven? Read Matthew 18:2-5.

Girl Talk:

What path are you walking on right now?

Do you think God would be happy with your choices?

God Talk:

"Lord, I don't always make the right choices. Help me to be courageous and choose the right path. I want you to be proud of me. I love you. Amen."

Beauty 101:

Walking down a path is a great way to get exercise. Fast walking for twenty to thirty minutes a day gets your heart pumping. Walk only during the day, and take a buddy with you!

More To Explore: Luke 13:24-25

Devotion #2

"The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.'" -Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

Never-Ending Love

Our limited human minds find it hard to grasp how much God loves us. His love continues forever and can be counted on in all our times of need. God pulled us to him with his love and kindness. "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19 NKJV).

Think about the person you love most in the world. Then multiply the love you feel for this person a thousand times. That's only a tiny drop of the love-the everlasting love-that God feels toward you.

Every day for a month, take a few minutes to think about how much God loves you. Say it out loud: "God loves me. The all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God of the universe loves me!" See how that changes your feelings during the month. We would live much differently if we truly understood how much God loves us. He wants only the best for us-all the time. He wants to meet all our needs-we only have to ask him. (That doesn't mean he will give you everything you want, but instead everything he knows you need.) He wants to fight our battles for us-we only have to lean on him. He wants to give us direction and to have the joy Jesus died for us to have.

God wanted us so much that he pulled us to him. Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44 NIV). People do not come to Christ strictly because of their own ideas or decisions. It is God pulling them to him. He loves you and wants you that much!

God's love for you is without limit. Soak it up!

Did You Know ...

that God is faithful to those who love him? Moses tells the Israelites what will happen to them, depending on whether they love God or hate him. Read Deuteronomy 7:8-10 for more of the story.

Girl Talk:

Do you feel that God really loves you? How do you think he shows his love to you each day?

God Talk:

"Lord, it's hard to believe that you love me so much, but I am so grateful to have your love. Help me to show love to others the way you show your love for me. Thank you for never leaving me. Amen."

More to Explore: Psalm 103:17 and Titus 3:3-6

Devotion #3

"The good soil represents those who hear and accept God's message and produce a huge harvest-thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted."-Mark 4:20 (NLT)

Cultivate Your Faith

When you plant garden seeds, you don't expect much of a crop from dry, rocky ground, or a patch full of weeds. But good soil-black soil full of minerals-will produce up to a hundred times the amount of seed that was planted. In the same way, people with good hearts, ready to receive God's word and act on it, will also produce an abundant harvest. They will become all that God created them to be. God has given you special talents and abilities that he wants you to use. Do you love to run fast? Do you have a good singing voice or an ability to play the flute well? Can you write poetry, or paint watercolors? God wants you to enjoy the gifts and talents, but also use them to bring joy to others and glory and praise to God. Is your life producing such a harvest? It can!

If you don't like your harvest, check your soil. Is it full of weeds (like resentment, 12 laziness, or jealousy)? Then deal with the weeds. Pray for help to get rid of them, then do what God tells you to do. Is your soil dry and hard from lack of water (from ignoring reading your Bible)? Then soak it in the rivers of living water from God's Word. Then you'll grow the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV).

If your soil needs attention, be a good farmer and plow it. Plant it with seeds of obedience to God's word-then wait for that bumper-crop harvest!

Did You Know ...

that an Academy Award-winning movie talked about using your talents for God? Chariots of Fire is a true story about English athletes in the 1920s. One of them, Eric Liddell, says, "I believe that God made me for a purpose, for China [as a missionary], but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure!"

Girl Talk:

Are you using your talents to the best of your ability? Can others see God's influence in your behavior?

God Talk:

"Lord, I want to use my talents for you. Please help me to honor you in all I do. I want to give you a bumper crop! Amen."

More to Explore: Luke 8:15 and John 15:4-5

Devotion #4

"Don't take pride in following a particular leader. Everything belongs to you."-1 Corinthians 3:21 (NLT)

The Real "In" Group

Don't get your feelings of self-respect or personal worth from being accepted by a particular person or group. Because you belong to Christ, they don't have anything that you don't have!

Most classes have a few girls who have decided they are the "popular" group. They will claim to have inside information that others don't have, or act as if they are more special than anyone else. Don't fall for that! Don't believe the lie that claims you have to be part of someone's group to be "in" or "cool." You already belong to the coolest group you could join: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

God designed you to have friendships that are rewarding, with give-and-take sharing. Relationships get out of balance when one person thinks she is more special than others. YOU are important, valuable, and significant. Centering your life on someone who demands to be the 14 focus will throw your friendship out of balance.

If you belong to Christ (have accepted him as your Savior), then you're a daughter of the King. Everything God has belongs to Christ, and everything Jesus has is yours. If you stay true to him, all the blessings here and in eternity belong to you. You are as worthy as anyone else on earth-anyone! So don't brag about being part of So-and-So's group, or follow the "popular girls" because they have more of what the world offers. Your worth comes from belonging to Christ-not to a particular friend or group.

God says you have worth and value. You are worth so much to him that he sent his Son to die for you so that you could spend eternity with him. You can't get any more valuable than that!

Did You Know ...

that even a church with the great apostle Paul as teacher had problems with cliques? First Corinthians 1:10-13 describes the problem of a church in Corinth arguing over who was more important.

Girl Talk:

Where do you go to feel wanted and respected? Do you rely on friends for self-esteem or God? You may rely on both, but always remember that God's opinion of you matters the most.

God Talk:

"Lord, I sometimes worry too much about what others think of me. Please help me remember that you are the one I need to please. In you, I have all the love and respect I will ever need! Thank you! Amen."

More to Explore: 1 Corinthians 3:3-6

Devotion #5

"Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant." -Galatians 1:10 (NLT)

Be a God Pleaser!

Are you trying to win the approval and acceptance of people? Is that your primary reason for saying and doing things? You can't spend your time trying to win the approval of people and still be a servant of Christ.

At the lunch table, when someone tells a dirty joke, do you laugh too so you'll be accepted, even when the joke makes you very uncomfortable? Or do you join in backbiting and gossip about other students so you won't feel left out, even though you know it's wrong? Do you ignore a less popular student because your friends would make fun of you if you were kind to him? Then you are trying to please people instead of God. And God's Word says you can't be in God's service-useful to him-if you're more interested in people's opinions about you than God's.

As believers, we are to be like Christ and follow in his footsteps. How did he handle such situations? Once the Pharisees 16 tried to trap Jesus into saying something they could use against him. "'Teacher,' they said, 'we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are'" (Matthew 22:16 NIV). Jesus didn't play favorites or change what he said depending on who was listening. He said and did what God told him to say and do, no matter whom he was around. We are to be the same.

Go out and live your life today in a way that pleases God.

Did You Know ...

that even when you eat and drink, you can do it for the glory of God? In 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, Paul talks about doing everything for the glory of God, because you are always a witness to those around you.

Girl Talk:

When you think about doing something, do you only worry about others' reactions? Or do you also think about what God would say?

God Talk:

"Lord, I'm not always proud of the way I act, and I need your forgiveness. Help me to do what you would do, at all times. I want to be a great witness for you! Amen."

More to Explore: Ephesians 6:5-8

Devotion #6

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."-John 15:9 (NIV)

Living in Love

Jesus wants you to know how much he loves you. Jesus said that he loves you just as God, the Father, loves him. Just as much, and in the same way. Imagine that! So it's important that you continue to rest and live in that everlasting, bountiful love.

Sometimes it's hard to believe God can love us that much. After all, we all do things that we know are wrong and for which we need forgiveness. Maybe you cheated and turned in a book report that you actually wrote last year. Perhaps you pretend to like your stepmother, but you secretly hate her. When you're so imperfect, can God still love you? YES! Or maybe your family is breaking up, or your health is breaking down. Does God still love you, no matter what is happening in your life? YES! "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away" (Romans 8:38 NLT).

Sometimes we need reminders that God loves us. Say it out loud: "God loves me, and I can trust him. God loves me, and I can trust him." If you have trouble believing that God really cares about you or that he can forgive you for your sins, repeat that to yourself several times every day for a month. Get it down deep inside you. In time, your love for others will also grow. "God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect" (1 John 4:16-17 NLT).

Settle down, get comfortable, relax-and live in God's love for you.

Did You Know ...

that God's love surpasses all knowledge? Read Ephesians 3:17-19 and find out just how huge God's love is!

Girl Talk:

Do you have days when you think that God can't possibly love you? Would it help you to remind yourself daily that God does love you?

God Talk:

"Lord, I know you love me so much that I can't understand it. Sometimes, I can't even believe it. Please help me to remember every day that you love me. Thank you for your love that never ends. Amen."

More to Explore: John 15:10-11 and Romans 5:6-8

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