Editor’s note: 5-Minute Devotions for Teens by Laura Smith is a brand-new devo written for your kids and grandkids to help them take care of their mental and spiritual health. As Laura says in the introduction, her prayer is for teens to “feel the sweet, deep love of Jesus for you. That you’ll know He is for you, that He wants only good for you, that He’ll fight for you, and that He’ll never leave your side.” Enjoy this excerpt and share with a teenage friend.
* |
|
|
When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — John 8:12
You will have dark days. Days when a friend breaks your trust and your feelings are hurt, and you have no idea what to say. Days when depression feels heavy, like it’s weighing you down. Days when everything seems to be going wrong. But there is good news.
He’s brighter and lovelier than anything you can imagine and more powerful than any dark thing you’re facing. Jesus promises that if you follow Him, you’ll have the light of life. That might mean Jesus will give you the right words to speak to your friend or a safe place to go when things feel overwhelming. Or maybe He’ll provide a surprise that cuts through your darkness like a fluffy kitten jumping on your lap or your mom making your favorite meal or a snow day. Sometimes Jesus lights up a way out of an unhealthy situation and toward a healthy one. Jesus offers you better and brighter and wants you to live in His wonderful light.
~ Walk into a dark room and turn on the light. Notice the difference it makes. Ask Jesus to light up your life, to add brightness to anywhere that’s dark.
* |
|
|
When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — John 8:12 |
When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — John 8:12 |
|
|
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. — Romans 13:12 “Every morning when you wake up, new baby nerve cells have been born while you were sleeping that are there at your disposal to be used in tearing down toxic thoughts and rebuilding healthy thoughts,” says neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf.1
Isn’t that so cool? Every day is a new opportunity to put aside dark thoughts, negative thoughts, hurtful thoughts, and to replace them with healthy, positive thoughts.
How do you do it? You can start by reading a list of five wonderful, true things about you and your life each morning. Maybe that could be “I’m stronger than I give myself credit for.” Maybe it’s a skill you’re good at or a certain way you know you’ve been blessed. “Math comes easily to me.” Or “God has given me a safe home.” Do this before you turn on social media. Before you talk to someone who brings you down. Before you let negative self-talk tell you something bad about yourself. This shuts down dark thoughts and arms your thought life with light.
~
Create the list you’ll read each morning. Write out five awesome truths about yourself and/or your life — your gifts or talents, someone who cares about you, some positive circumstances you’ve been blessed with. I’ll get you started: * God loves you endlessly, no matter what.
|
|
|
- Caroline Leaf, Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health (Baker Books, 2013), 24.
Excerpted with permission from 5-Minute Devotions for Teens by Laura L. Smith, copyright Laura L. Smith. *
|
|
|
These are complicated days for teenagers, too. Share this devotion with a teen you love and bring a little of God’s light into their day! |
|
|
Whatever you're facing today, God can work good through all things. |
5-Minute Devotions for Teens: A Guide to God and Mental Health |
|
|
+ FREE shipping on all orders $35 and more |
|
|
5-Minute Devotions for Teens: A Guide to God and Mental Health removes the stigma on mental health and advises Christian teens what they can do when they are depressed and anxious. Scattered throughout the book are tips to help teens maintain good mental health practices such as meditation, disconnecting from social media and technology, saying affirmations, and much more. |
|
|
Each day includes a Scripture verse, short devotional, and a prayer or prompt. This 100-day devotional will help teens 13 to 17 years old: - deal with mental health issues, depression, and/or anxiety.
-
re-enter normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- develop an authentic relationship with God and deepen their faith.
5-Minute Devotions for Teens is an affordable resource that can be read again and again. |
|
|
The God of the How and When Online Bible Study |
by Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel |
The God of the How and When Online Bible Study |
by Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel |
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways . . . as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” -Isaiah 55:8–9
Friend, let’s kick off the new year studying God’s word together! Sign up now and join us for The God of the How and When Online Bible Study with Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel. |
|
|
this devotion with someone who needs it today |
|
|
*Sale price ends on 1/31/23. Limited quantities available. Sale pricing excludes ebooks and audiobooks. Free Standard Shipping for U.S. orders over $35 excluding Alaska and Hawaii. **eBooks purchases are fulfilled by our partner, Glose. Please note that: -
To access your eBooks, you can download the free Glose app or read instantly in your browser by creating a Glose account using the same email address you use to purchase the eBooks.
- eBooks fulfilled through Glose cannot be printed, downloaded as PDF, or read in other digital readers (like Kindle or Nook).
-
For more information about how to access eBooks purchased on this site, click here for our FAQs.
|
|
|
|