The One Year EVERY DAY DEVOTIONS

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Chapter One

Today is the start of something big. It's the first day of a new year, another step into the twenty-first century, a bold leap into your future. Isn't that great!?! Aren't you totally excited?!?

Well, maybe you're not excited. Maybe you feel it's a little scary. And you're right. Getting ready for the first day of a new school year, moving to a different house, getting a new haircut, having a new baby brother or sister, trying a new food-any new beginning can be a bit frightening. You don't know what to expect. Your mind can race with questions. Is this the year I make first chair in the band? Is this the year I have to get braces? Is this the year I grow six inches? Is this the year I score big in soccer?

Only time will answer all of your questions. But you can answer one question today: Will you drift into the next 365 days timid and afraid about what's going to happen, or will you enter this year with a smile on your face expecting great things?

Check out 2 Timothy 1:7:

In this verse the apostle Paul encourages his friend Timothy to rely on God's Spirit to make him powerful. As a believer in Jesus Christ, you have that same Spirit inside of you to help you be strong instead of afraid.

* * *

Did you know you were born with only two fears? The fear of falling and the fear of loud noises are all that scare babies. But as you grow, other fears enter your mind. Will you fit in at school? Will you be the best? What will happen tomorrow? A popular saying goes, "Let go and let God." It means don't worry about it. Trust God with your future. He wants to give you a life filled with his joy, power, and love. Will you step out in boldness and live for him?

Here are a couple of things I'm trusting God for boldness to accomplish this year:

1. _______________________________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________________________

Pray: ask God to fill you with his Spirit and make you bold as you begin a new year

I BELIEVE ... God wants me to be bold.

January 2

Creak! Crack! BANG!

You just heard a loud noise that woke you up in the middle of the night. You peek around the room but don't see anything. You strain your ears, but the sound is gone. What should you do next?

a. Pull the covers over your head, curl up in a little ball, and try to sleep as scary thoughts race through your mind.

b. Jump out of bed and shout, "I've got a baseball bat in here. Don't mess with me!"

c. Sit up and holler for your mom or dad.

d. Calm down, start thinking straight, and ask God to help you fall back to sleep and have good dreams.

Creaks and squeaks in the night can be freaky. But those things can seem like no big deal compared to bigger scares such as threats of terrorism or wondering if your parents will ever get divorced. Life is full of uncertainties. But the Bible says over and over that there's no need to be afraid because God is always near. He's the most wonderful protector and friend you could ever find. The answer is d.

Check out Psalm 91:1-2:

Although we don't know who wrote this psalm, it's obvious that person had figured out that trusting God equals safety. Whether this writer fought lions, braved stormy seas, led armies into battle, or simply faced questions about the future, he recognized that God kept him safe when he ran to him.

* * *

Have you ever had to run to God for safety? Maybe a bully was trying to pick a fight. Maybe you heard some noises at night. Maybe you were caught in a bad storm. God can comfort you in any situation-and better yet, he wants to. All you have to do is curl up in his loving arms. He will be a shelter in all of life's stormy situations.

Because I believe God keeps me safe, I'll memorize a couple of these verses so I can bring them to mind the next time I feel scared: Psalm 31:24, Psalm 56:11, and John 14:27.

Pray: Thank God for being a safe place during scary times.

I BELIEVE ... God keeps me safe.

3 January 3

You have a lot of important decisions to make every day. What clothes will you wear? Will you practice the piano? What will you eat for breakfast? Should you take a shower? Will you be nice to your brother? Do you have to clean up after the dog?

The answers to those questions determine what kind of day you'll have. Then when the next morning comes, you have to make all the same choices again.

But can you guess what is the most important decision you'll make during your lifetime? Should you wear purple and orange socks to school? No, that's not it. Should you eat that hamburger in the back of the fridge with green stuff growing on it? Uh-uh. The most important decision you'll ever make is the decision to believe that Jesus is God's Son, who died for your sins, and to accept him as your personal Savior. It will bring a joy and peace to your life that will start now and last forever. Have you made the decision to let Jesus take control of your life?

Check out 1 John 1:8-9:

In these verses, one of Jesus' best friends, John, writes that every body messes up. But the good news is if we ask Jesus to forgive us, he does. Plus he cleans us up and makes us right with God like he is.

* * *

Do you know without a doubt that you'll go to heaven when you die? You can be sure of that. Jesus allows only perfect people in heaven with him. And since nobody is perfect, we all have a big problem. You, like every body else, have messed up, whether it's been by lying, cheating, wanting your friends' stuff, disobeying your parents, or treating your friends badly. God calls those actions sin. God sees all of your sins, but he will forgive your sins through Jesus Christ. All you have to do is pray and ask Jesus into your life.

Pray: "Dear God, please forgive me. I know I'm a sinner. I believe Jesus died and rose from the dead so I could be forgiven of my sins and live forever in heaven. Thank you for loving me and allowing me to have a personal relationship with you. Amen."

(If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, tell somebody-your parents, a children's pastor, the person who gave you this book. You just made the most important decision you'll ever make!)

I BELIEVE ... God forgives my sins.

January 4

Imagine yourself standing at the starting line of a long race. You've trained hard and decided to run this race to the end. As you look at the runners around you, you notice you're in pretty good company. These athletes are fit and prepared to run. You do a couple of quick stretches to make sure you're ready. Right before the starter's pistol goes off, the kid next to you taps your shoulder.

You look over at him and see that he's wearing a bathrobe instead of shorts like every body else. Not only that, he's wearing slippers instead of running shoes!

"I'm sure glad that's over," he says.

Over?!? you think. It's not over. The race hasn't even begun!

"Are you nutty?" you ask. "Don't you...