Teen Devotionals...for Girls! Volume 2

Introduction

This is the second book of Teen devotions… For Girls! brought to you by FindYourTrueBeauty.com. Our desire is to help you draw closer to God by finding your true beauty in Christ. We hope that as you read through these devotionals you will grow in your walk with God, and that you will be able to relate God’s Word to your life in a relevant way.

Because these devotions are designed specifically with teen girls in mind, you can read through them anyway that works for you. You can flip through and read just the ones that you want, or read from front to back. You can read one each morning, before bed, or even just one per week. You can read them by yourself, with a friend, or in a group. There are no guidelines. We understand that every Christian walk is different and we just hope that these devotions can be of some help to you along the way. If you have questions, comments, or just need someone to talk to, please feel free to contact us using the contact information at the end of this book.

Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

~Acts 20:32

True Beauty

Is it what I wear?

Written by Heather Hart

…Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

~Matthew 23:17

Have you ever stopped to think about where your beauty comes from? While we have heard that our true beauty comes from Christ, we still put a huge emphasis on our outer beauty. We take the time to put on makeup, do our hair, and pick out the clothes that we think will make us look the best. Sometimes we even think that without those things, we are nothing. We find our value in the things that we put on our bodies, instead of in Christ. The Word of God tells us that our bodies are God’s temple (1 Cor. 16:9), and Jesus took the time to remind us that it isn’t the gold (or the makeup or clothing) that makes the temple great.

Our beauty doesn’t come from the things we put on, but from the Holy Spirit living inside of us. True beauty can’t be stolen, it doesn’t wash off, and it doesn’t fade over time. True beauty is everlasting, never failing, and it grows as time goes by. It isn’t what we put on that makes us beautiful, but the evidence of our growing relationship with Jesus Christ that radiates from us. That is what truly makes us great!

Reflection:

Do you think your true beauty comes from what you wear, or from the inside?

Application step:

When you get ready for the day, remember that it isn’t what you put on that makes you beautiful. When you get ready for bed take a moment to praise God that your true beauty can’t be taken off or washed away.

Prayer:

Father God, please help me to remember that my beauty doesn’t come from clothing, makeup or jewelry, but from you. You made me beautiful, a temple for the Holy Spirit. It isn’t what I wear that makes me who I am, but you living inside me. Help me to remember that, and help my true beauty to grow as I draw closer to you. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Willful Sin

What choices do you make?

Written by Heather Hart

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

~Psalm 19:13

Have you ever made a decision to do something that you knew was wrong? Maybe your mom or dad asked you a question and you told them something that wasn’t quite the truth, or even an all out lie. Maybe you cheated on your homework or a test. Perhaps you talked bad about someone behind their back, and maybe even said something that wasn’t true. There are so many ways that we choose to sin every day. We choose to let our circumstances dictate us and our behavior, rather than what we know to be the right thing. We often are so caught up in the here and now that we don’t think about the eternal consequences. We know that lying is a sin, we know that cheating is bad, and we know that it is wrong to gossip. These are just a few examples of the ways that we choose to sin each day. Your struggle with sin might be more physical. You could be choosing a sin of mistreating your body by starving yourself, overeating, cutting, masturbation, or engaging in premarital sex. While none of us our perfect, God has promised us that if we turn to Him, He will help us. We can pray for Him to help us overcome the habitual sins in our life that are there because we are allowing them to be. He can give us the strength to live a life that is pleasing to Him, and a life that we can be proud of.

Reflection:

What are the willful sins in your life?

Application Step:

Pick a sin that you habitually choose to commit even though you know that it is wrong, and make a commitment to stop. Pray for God to help you, and when temptation arises make the choice to stand firm in your resolve. Try looking up some verses about your particular sin, and writing them in a notebook or on a note card and carrying them with you.

Prayer:

Father God, I know that I have sin in my life that is only there because I choose for it to be. I make decisions in the moment, and don’t always think things all the way through. Help me to make the right choices, help me to choose to do what will please you, and what I know is right. Help me to turn to you in the hour of my temptation, and help me prevail over sin. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Hair

Placed with care

Written by Heather Hart

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

~Matthew 10:30

God values us so much that He has numbered every hair on our head. In some cultures women are required to cover their heads because men find the women’s hair so attractive. Think about it for a minute, how much time do you spend each day brushing, washing, or fixing your hair in some way? Quite a bit, right? Why do we do that? Our hair is one of the first things other people notice about us. Could you imagine going out today without combing your hair…

God loves us so much that He gave us our hair, and He didn’t just throw it up there and let it grow, He placed each strand with care. Could you imagine how long it would take to count them all? I can’t, but God already has. He gave us our hair to cover our heads, and make us beautiful. Some of us wear our hair down, and others pull it up or style it in some way. We all know that our hair is part of who God made us, and we need to remember that God made us beautiful. So whether you have long hair, short hair or no hair, remember that God knows. He doesn’t long for you to have the shade of hair that your best friend’s mom has, or curls like your brother’s girlfriend does. He doesn’t yearn for you to have more hair, less hair, thicker or thinner hair. He made you just the way He wanted you, and He placed each strand of hair with loving care. God put variety in the world for a reason. How boring would it be if we all had hair like your Auntie Em?

Reflection:

Do you recognize your hair as a gift from God? Have you ever taken the time to thank Him for it?

Application step:

When you spend time fixing your hair today, take a moment and thank God for it. Thank Him for giving you your hair, for making it perfect, just the way He wanted.

Prayer:

Father God, in the past I haven’t appreciated the hair you gave me as I should. I have dyed it, highlighted it, curled and straightened it, trying to make it more beautiful. I have neglected the fact that you placed each strand with care, please forgive me for that. Help me to see your love for me when I look in the mirror, and whenever I take the time to care for the hair that you have given me. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Somebody

Are you a ‘nobody’ or a ‘somebody’?

Written by Heather Hart

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

~John 3:16

There’s an old song sung by Dean Martin that says You’re nobody ‘till somebody loves you. If I had to hazard a guess, most of us would agree with that statement in one way or another. We often find our worth in what others think or feel about us. We try to impress others with our knowledge, our clothing, trying to please them with our actions. The truth however, is that we are loved more than we could ever imagine and not by just someone, but by the creator of the universe! If we need to find our worth in what someone else thinks about us, we should look to Him. He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins! He loves us so much that He rejoices when we turn to Him, and He loves us so much that delights in us. There is nothing that could ever separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39), He loves us that much!

So if we are nobody until somebody loves us, we should be rejoicing in the love of Christ. We should see ourselves as somebody in Christ. God obviously sees us as somebody’s. In fact, He see’s us as enough of a ‘somebody’ to send His Son to die for us. That is something to put value in. We aren’t nobody’s, we are children of God, redeemed through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we know that we will not perish but have everlasting life! Hallelujah!

Reflection:

Where do you look to find your worth? Do you know that you are a ‘somebody’ through Christ?

Application Step:

Take some time and reflect on what God has done for you, and who you are in Him.

Prayer:

Father God, you are so glorious! Thank you so much for sending your son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins so that I could be forgiven and live eternally with you! Help me to remember that I am a somebody, and that you love me more than I could ever ask or imagine. You are so wonderful Lord! In the name of your Son I pray. Amen.

Depression

Sing out loud!

Written by Heather Hart

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

~Psalm 43:5

Why are you downcast, O my soul? A more modern way to word that question would be: Why am I so depressed?! I don’t know about you, but I get depressed sometimes. I mean, let’s face it life is hard. Not only is it hard, but it can be downright depressing! It seems like there is always something that isn’t going the way that I think it should. Someone says something about me that isn’t very nice (or maybe downright mean), I’m not allowed to do something with my friends that I really wanted to, or maybe I wasn’t even invited, or maybe the guy that I liked just started dating my best friend. Maybe it’s something bigger like you have to move, or you’re parents are getting divorced… The list of possibilities is endless, but you want to know something? One thing I have noticed is that I am only depressed when I’m focused on me. If I am busy praising God, I forget that I am depressed. Let me tell you, it is so hard to be depressed while singing worship songs!

There are lots of different ways to cope with depression, but I have truly found that the best way is to remember that God loves me. The things of this world, while they are the here and now, won’t last. I use to get so mad when my mom would say something like, it’s just high school, it only lasts for 4 years. It made me want to scream. I mean, anyone who has ever been to high school should know that it is the LONGEST 4 years of your life, and for those 4 years it IS your life. I’m not trying to make it sound like it isn’t a big deal, but I have come to realize that the individual events that happen each day, usually are forgotten in a week or two. So I wasn’t allowed to go to the mall with my friends, there’s always next time, and even if I’m not allowed to go next time, I will still see them tomorrow. As for that guy dating my best friend, either I need to be happy that she is happy, or realize that I really didn’t need him in my life, and I am better off without him. God knows everything that I need in my life, and He will provide everything that I need in His timing, not mine.

Reflection:

Do you frequently find yourself depressed? How do you handle your depression?

Application Step:

Next time you’re feeling depressed, turn on some praise and worship music. Sing at the top of your lungs about how awesome our God is!

Prayer:

Father God, I am so thankful for you! You know all of my needs, and you always take care of me. There are times when all I can see is the here and now, and I get depressed Lord. It’s so hard to look forward when life seems to be weighing me down. Help me to remember that you are awesome, no matter what life throws my way. Help me