Elizabeth George's Blog, page 34

Temper Tantrums

[image error]It’s tough to stand up to pressure and say no to the world, to others, to your child. It isn’t always easy to not allow a 7-year-old to stay up hours past their bedtime. Or to enforce limited screen time with our teens. Especially when we’re running late for carpool, the kids are hungry, or we’re tired!

Can any other moms relate to having their normally-sweet toddler throw themselves on the floor and scream because we didn’t give them a cookie? Sometimes the easiest thing to calm a temper tantrum is to give in and give our child what they want.

Wants vs. Needs 

But a wise mom pauses to deal patiently and wisely with her child’s temper tantrum. We take a deep breath and give our children what they need, not always what they want. After all, teaching our children self-discipline now gives them a foundation so they can live God’s way in the future.

When we fail to instill discipline in our children, we aren’t equipping them to know how to control their emotions and to make wise decisions. God says to us loud and clear: teach your children and start early in their lives. Teach them faithfully and consistently. And most of all, do so from a heart of love.

And that’s exactly what it’ll take: a heart of dedication. Scripture says that we’re to teach our children …. No matter the obstacles, the arguments, or the “Yes, but, Moms.”

Faithful Parenting

Faithful parenting is challenging work. But it is truly a “labor of love” and certainly a choice that reaps the greatest blessings of all to a mom’s heart. And I admit, sometimes it seems like you’ll never get a break, that you’ll never make it, that you’re going to lose it, that there is no hope and no end in sight, that things seem to be getting worse instead of better.

That’s why you need to take notice of those peaceful, idyllic pockets and moments of joy and goodness that happen along during your days. You know, those times when all things are well, when things are going the way you—and the Lord—want them to go, when the children are charming, delightful, cheerful, and loving.

Kids of all ages will throw temper tantrums—they will simply come in different forms. Some days it will feel like a mountain of obstacles stand in the way of helping our kids choose self-discipline. But a wise mom doesn’t let whining rock her decisions.

Remember, dear faithful mom, God’s strength will come to your rescue at needed times to energize you to follow through on whatever you must do to follow His will. All of your parenting will benefit from the strength you draw from God to say no to what does not honor Him or benefit your children. 

RESPOND

Dear Lord, thank You for guiding and encouraging me with Your Holy Spirit … especially when I’m tired and my kids are throwing tantrums. Help me raise my children to follow after Your own heart. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES [image error]

A Mom After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George offers 10 principles to help moms make God an everyday part of their children’s lives. Order your copy today and receive a FREE devotional download!

REFLECT

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

In what areas am I personally lacking self-discipline?

REMEMBER

Choose to give your children what they need, not always what they want.

10 Keys to a Better Marriage

[image error]A marriage’s success depends on more than finding the right person—it depends on being the right person. Nothing just happens—including a great marriage and family life. A good marriage takes hard work. And an abundance of patience, commitment, determination, and time!

Ten Keys to a Better Marriage


Work as a team. God asks husbands to lead and wives to follow (1 Cor. 11:3).



Learn to communicate. Figure out the best time to talk to your mate. Your words are to be soft (Prov. 15:1), sweet (Prov. 16:21), pleasant (Prov. 16:24), scant (Prov. 10:19), and slow (James 1:19).



Enjoy intimacy. God designed the two of you to come together in marriage and in sexual intimacy and to become one—complete in each other.



Manage your money. Be content (Phil. 4:11–13). Grow in your understanding of budgeting, saving, bookkeeping, and giving 



Keep up the home. This is a vital area for a wife! Treat the upkeep and atmosphere of your home with utmost care (Prov. 24:3–4). Become a home-lover (Titus 2:5).



Raise your children. Learn what the Bible says about child-rearing, discuss it with your husband, and agree on a plan for training your children (Deut. 6:6–7).



Make time for fun. Perhaps you need to talk with your husband about when, how, and what you can do to make time for fun and laughter (Prov. 17:22).



Serve the Lord. If at all possible, serve the Lord together. Look to our Savior, Jesus Christ, for a perfect model of a life of service (John 5:30).



Reach out to others. Boldly ask God for His love to serve your husband and children. Also ask Him for His tender mercies to serve friends and foes, the familiar and the stranger. 



Grow in the Lord. The greatest influence on your marriage is spiritual growth. As you grow in the Lord, you become a tremendous support to your husband as you are available to listen, encourage, and give wise counsel. 

Guard against anything that would divide you as a couple—“Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matt. 19:6). As a wife, be wholeheartedly committed to your marriage. Make every sacrifice to keep your marriage healthy, growing, and fulfilling.

RESPOND

Lord, thank You for my marriage. Please help both of us to be committed to making our marriage healthy and growing in You. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES [image error]

15 Verses to Pray for Your Husband by Elizabeth George—Bring deeper unity to your marriage relationship and sharpen your awareness of God's work in your husband's life with this book for married women!

A Woman After God's Own Heart Bible—Written for all ages and for believers at any stage in their relationship with God, A Woman After God's Own Heart Bible offers fresh encouragement for everyday concerns and vision for a transformed life.

REFLECT

Read these verses with your spouse: Ecclesiastes 4:9–10; Matthew 19:5–6, Ephesians 5:33; and 1 Peter 3:1–7.

REMEMBER

A good marriage takes hard work. And an abundance of patience, commitment, determination, and time!

A Conversation about Salvation

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FROM JIM’S HEART—Having God as your heavenly Father and to be personally related to God can only come through putting your faith and trust in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This has to be the starting point in your quest after God’s own heart.

Sin Separates Us

So if you truly desire to be God’s, then now is the time to make sure you have access to God’s power through a relationship with Him. To do that you need to think about your sin, because sin is what separates you from a holy God. Sin is anything that you do that misses God’s perfect standard of holy behavior.

Have you ever told just one lie, even “a little white lie”? According to Scripture, whoever attempts to keep all of God’s law “yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). And we are told in Romans 3 that “there is none righteous; no, not one… there is none who does good; no, not one” (verses 10,12). This means all of us. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of what God calls for.

The Roman Road

But there is hope! The Bible gives clear instructions on how to deal with your sin in these verses below. They form what is called “the Roman Road” toward a relationship with God the Father because all these verses come out of the book of Romans. Follow what the apostle Paul says as he leads you down the Romans Road toward salvation through the Father’s Son, Jesus Christ:

Romans 3:23—“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

We were “all” born with sin. You might not want to admit it, but you have sin in your heart. You are under the power of sin’s control. Oh, maybe you do a few good things in your life, but unless you are perfect, you are still a sinner. Step 1 for you is to admit that you are a sinner.

Romans 6:23a—“The wages of sin is death.”

Sin is a dead-end street. It ends in spiritual “death.” We all face physical death. But spiritual death is worse because it separates you from God for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the lake of fire, where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will go. Step 2 for you is to understand that you deserve not only physical death, but also spiritual death for your sin.

Romans 6:23b—“But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Notice the little word “but” in the line above. There is an answer to your sin problem. Salvation is a free “gift” from God to you! You can’t earn this gift; rather, you must reach out and receive it. Step 3 for you is to ask God to forgive you and save you. 

Romans 5:8—“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

When Jesus died on the cross, He paid sin’s penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought—He purchased—you out of slavery to sin and death. The only requirement is to believe in Jesus and what He has done for you. Jesus did all this because He loved you. Step 4 for you is to give your life to God the Father through Jesus Christ, His Son

Romans 10:9-10—“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.”

If you’ve already done all of the above, thank God and live for Him! If you have put your faith and trust in Jesus as your Savior, you are a child of God, and God is your Father. And, as a bonus, you can be an outstanding model of a believer in Christ. Strive to live a life of obedience to His commands, and you will be a person after God’s own heart.

RESPOND

God, You know my heart better than I do. Help me to open my heart to You. Purify my heart, I pray, and renew me from the inside out. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES [image error]

A Man After God’s Own Heart by Jim George—Discover God's perfect design for how you can make a difference in all the key areas of your life, your marriage, and your parenting. Shop for this Christian resource for men today!

The Bare Bones Bible Handbook by Jim George—The perfect resource for learning about the books of the Bible in short, fascinating overviews. Pick up a copy of this Bible study aid here!

REFLECT

If you do not have a relationship with Christ, find a church to speak with a pastor there or contact a Christian friend.

If you do have a relationship with Christ, then pray for those in your life who do not.

REMEMBER

If you have put your faith and trust in Jesus as your Savior, you are a child of God, and God is your Father. 

When Your Spouse Changes

[image error]You and your husband need to understand that you are not the same people or couple you were when you were first married. Change has occurred. Both of you have gone through a variety of stages and changes during your years together. Your likes and dislikes have changed. New interests and abilities have surfaced. Perhaps children have been added to the mix. You’ve each been forced to adapt in ways you never imagined.

Here’s a simple example. When Jim and I got married, I hated spicy foods. Pepper and onions were foreign substances in my kitchen. Yet today, after living in Southern California with its spicy Mexican flavors in the local food, and living as missionaries in Singapore where chili paste is added to every food item, I now pour on the pepper and slather hot chili paste on just about everything I eat. (But I still feel ill at the smell or taste of dill pickles, which Jim purchases in the largest jars available in the market!)

Differences Over the Years

And I’m sure you and your husband have also developed different tastes, habits, and interests over the years. You’ve been forced to learn new ways to live due to physical trials, health issues, the makeup of your family unit, the demands of the workplace, financial setbacks... and the list goes on.

The key in your relationship as a couple is making and taking the time to keep up with each other’s changes. It’s hard to imagine that two married people can live together and not really know each other, but it happens all the time. Ignorance of change and distance are dangerous in any relationship, but they are especially dangerous in a marriage.

Diligent to Pray

And so you must pray!

Pray that your husband will be sensitive to your burdens, challenges, feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams—and pray for yourself to do the same.
Pray that God will help your husband listen with his heart and share meaningful communication with you.
Pray that your home will have an atmosphere of openness and love and submission so that even during the times when the two of you disagree about something, you will still be happy together.

I just have to turn this coin over for a minute and look at the other side, the wife’s side and her role and responsibilities. I had to learn—and decide—not to be a whiner. It’s easy to whine and complain, to confront or verbally attack your husband for being insensitive and clueless about your “needs.” When you and I feel or act in these ways, we need to fall on our knees and pray—for ourselves!

God’s grace is either sufficient for our trials and challenges and disappointments, or it isn’t. And God clearly says it is: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). So pray—for yourself first, then for your husband. Prayer makes change easier to navigate and strengthens your marriage!

RESPOND

Dear Lord, I long to be a woman and a wife after Your own heart. Please guide me and help me. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES [image error]

15 Verses to Pray for Your Husband by Elizabeth George—Bring deeper unity to your marriage relationship and sharpen your awareness of God's work in your husband's life with this book for married women!

REFLECT

Take steps to improve your communication with your husband. Start by heaping praise on your man and being his number one encourager. Be that kind of wife—the one who contributes positively. Then, as one of my mentors taught me, if you have to share something serious, the negative is always on the heels of the positive.

REMEMBER

God’s grace is either sufficient for our trials and challenges and disappointments, or it isn’t. And God clearly says it is: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Putting on the Armor of God

[image error]As an author, what’s happening around me often shows up in my books. The same thing occurs in Paul’s writing as he explains the reality of spiritual warfare. Paul pens this letter from a prison where, for two years, he’s been observing Roman soldiers daily. Because he learned a lot about the soldiers’ armor and weaponry, he uses it to remind us to prepare for spiritual battle.

Have you struggled to rest in the Bible’s truth? To stand for God? To follow Christ faithfully? Take heart! You’re not alone.

These battles are part of a great spiritual war involving this world...and the entire universe. Praise God, the ultimate victory has won by Christ! What can you do to ensure you are strong and will be victorious in your stand against Satan?

The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:14-18)
Put on truth

Soldiers wore a belt around their waists to hold pieces of armor in place. The belt of truth is essential for doing battle against the lies, half-truths, and distortions of Satan.

Put on the breastplate of righteousness

The breastplate provided a soldier with protection from the neck to the thighs. Righteousness is holiness, and your faithful obedience to Christ forms a protective covering.

Put on the gospel of peace

A Roman soldier had special sandals made of soft leather with studded soles that allowed him to stand firm in combat. Putting on truth enables you to stand your ground against Satan’s lies.

Pick up the shield of faith

The large Roman shield was designed for full protection. Faith is your shield. Trusting and believing God is involved in everything you hold to and have confidence in.

Put on the helmet of salvation

The helmet protected a soldier’s head from arrows and sword blows. “Salvation” is referring to

your future eternal life and heaven. The helmet of salvation gives you confidence that a great and glorious victory is coming.

Wield the sword of the Spirit

The sword spoken of here was used in hand-to-hand combat. This spiritual weapon has its origin in the Spirit of God, who teaches you what the Bible means and how to apply it in your daily life.

Dressing for spiritual success is a head-to-toe process. Putting on and wearing this armor, you can win the daily struggles of living for Christ wholeheartedly.

RESPOND

Lord, I will follow You into spiritual battle dressed for victory. May I never take for granted my faith. Remind me to use it as my shield each day. Guide me with Your strength. Each victory is to Your glory. Amen

RENEWING RESOURCES[image error]

A Woman After God’s Own Heart—Elizabeth George shares God's Word and woman-to-woman practical wisdom on how you can pursue God's priorities by putting God first in your day, your heart, and your life. https://jegeorge.co/2RpZcau 

REFLECT

Each day this coming week, choose one piece of the armor of God to put on. Pray for God’s guidance and wisdom as you trust in Him.

REMEMBER

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always...” (Ephesians 6:14-18)

The Cross of Christ

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“Girls, it’s Good Friday! It’s time to bake our cross-shaped cookies to give to our neighbors. Katherine, you get out the mixing bowls. Courtney, you find the cross cookie cutter. Then we’ll mix and roll out the dough and cut out the cookies with our cross-shaped cookie cutter. Once the cookies are baked and cooled, we’ll wrap some up for each neighbor and decorate the package. Later, when Dad gets home, we’ll deliver them together to our friends for Easter!”

Why the Cross?

Our cookie-cutter collection included the shapes of a baby chick, a bunny rabbit, and even an Easter egg. But I always chose the cross when we baked these Eastertime cookies. Until my daughters were of an age when they “got it,” they would ask me the same question: “Why the cross? Why not the chick or the bunny or the egg?”

I tried to answer their question in a way that would teach my young daughters the meaning of the cross of Christ. To help simplify it and make it memorable, I used the acrostic C-R-O-S-S. Why the cross? Because it is the longtime symbol of Christianity and represents the death of Jesus Christ.

C– hrist, God-in-flesh, gave His life (Philippians 2:8) as a
R– ansom, a payment, for our sins (Matthew 20:28),
O– ffering up His life as a sinless sacrifice (Hebrews 10:14),
S– uffering unto death (Hebrews 12:2) to secure our
S– alvation from sin and death (Colossians 2:13-14).

Sharing the Message of the Cross

As my girls began to understand the meaning, their excitement grew more and more over the years. “Don’t forget the cards, Mom,” my daughters would remind me. “Let’s sign the special cross-shaped Easter cards about the cross to take with the cookies!”

For years each Eastertime this was a tradition for our family. It was one way that Jim and I taught our daughters–and one way that our family shared with our neighbors–the Easter message: the good news of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, the good news of Jesus’ triumph over sin and death, and the good news of salvation and eternal life through Him.

Whether you are married, widowed, or single, have children at home, or have an empty nest, consider ways you can share from your home about Jesus this Easter. His life, death, and resurrection are the best news! Who do you know who needs to hear it?

RESPOND

Dear Lord, thank You for Your plan of redemption and sacrificial gift of Your Son. Help me be bold and wise in sharing about the cross of Christ. Amen.

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RENEWING RESOURCES
C-R-O-S-S Print – We’ve created a beautiful CROSS art print to help you share this message! Click here to view this and other specials. 

REFLECT

Have you embraced the Christ of the cross as your Savior?

Are you teaching your children about the cross? Are you reaching out to others with the message of the cross?

REMEMBER

The Easter message is: the good news of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, the good news of Jesus’ triumph over sin and death, and the good news of salvation and eternal life through Him.

The Women at Jesus' Tomb

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A Little History

A group of women followed Jesus from His ministry in Galilee to the last day of His life. They faithfully supported Jesus from their own means (Luke 8:2-3). They witnessed the worst moment in history— Jesus’ gruesome death— and observed the desertion of His fearful disciples. They also witnessed Jesus’ resurrection. Their experience at the tomb appears in each of the four Gospels. The names of these courageous and faithful women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and “other women” who were not identified.

Their Story

Their faithfulness— Luke 23:54-56
The disciples had deserted Jesus, but these women lingered at the cross to the very end. They observed a man wrapping up Jesus’ body. They then followed this man at a distance to see where Jesus was buried. It was sundown, so they returned home to prepare spices for a proper burial.

Their follow-through— Matthew 28:1-2
These women rose before daylight and traveled alone to the tomb. When they arrived, they found the stone rolled away. They entered the tomb but found it empty (Luke 24:3). Suddenly an angel appeared.

Their revelation— Matthew 28:5-6
The faithful band of women were the first to see the proof of Jesus’ resurrection. The angel said, “He is not here; for He is risen. . . . Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (v. 6). They were then instructed to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Their response— Matthew 28:8
The women departed quickly to carry out the angel’s instructions. Though they were “afraid,” they “told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest” (Luke 24:5, 9). The disciples were skeptical at first, but ran to the tomb and saw proof of the women’s statement. The disciples left, but Mary Magdalene returned and was weeping by the tomb when Jesus appeared to her (John 20:11-18). This was His first appearance to anyone after His death and resurrection.

Their reward— Matthew 28:9-10
Soon after Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, He appeared to the other women on the road. They took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then He instructed them to have the disciples leave for Galilee where they would see Him.

Straight to Your Heart

Faithfulness is not optional. A group of women supported Jesus’ ministry for many months. They were faithful with their resources, steadfast at the cross, and prepared to fulfill their final act of service at the tomb. These women did not allow adversity to keep them from ministering to their Savior. 

Actions always trump good intentions. The women didn’t simply say they were devoted to Christ. They stayed when others fled. They used their resources to minister to Christ, both before and after His death. Having good intentions is easy, but intentions don’t yield results. Actions yield results. Like the women at Jesus’ tomb, be a woman of action and use your time and resources to minister to others.

RESPOND

Lord Jesus, sometimes I am so tired that I do not follow through on my good intentions. Help me look to You for strength and to find Your purpose in my tasks. Give me the energy to be a strong, diligent woman after Your own heart. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

Easter Sale – Shop our Easter collection and fill your heart & home with the biblical truths found in these encouraging resources. On sale for a limited time. Click here to view.

A Woman After God's Own Heart Bible—Today’s devotion is one of the many features in this Bible to help you grow in your faith:

Daily devotionals
150 biographies of women of the Bible
25 full-page topical reflections on life's challenges
400 brief whispers of wisdom for daily life 

REFLECT

How does your faithfulness compare to theirs? “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). 

Read Matthew 28:1-10 and Luke 23:55-24:12.

REMEMBER

Actions always trump good intentions.

Palm Sunday

[image error]Isaiah, one of the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, gave many predictions of the coming Messiah. This one is likely familiar to you, as it is often quoted during the Christmas season:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Though that is a well-known prophecy, there are many more that exemplify Jesus’ life and death. Isaiah uses the word servant several times to describe the nature of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He wrote, “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights!” and “Behold, My Servant… shall be exalted and extolled and be very high” (42:1; 52:13).

The Ultimate Servant

During this Easter season, our attention is especially drawn to Jesus’ servanthood. He was the son of God, yet He was the ultimate servant. Perhaps my favorite verse about our Lord is Matthew 20:28: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” One thing that touches my heart about this truth is that it is written in the book of Matthew—the Gospel that most exalts Jesus as Messiah, the King!

The Savior

Let us take time this weekend to exalt King Jesus, our Savior, just as the crowds did as He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday:

“The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” The King of Israel!’” (John 12:13)

Serving was a strong quality for King Jesus’—a priority and a way of life for Him. He spoke to this priority when He said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment” (22:37-38). Lov­ing and serving God first, is the most important thing a Christian can do.

As you consider the character quality of service, give praise to God that Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, came first as a lowly servant. Then open your heart and behold how the greatest man—and servant—who ever lived modeled what it means to serve and sacrifice.

RESPOND

Dear God, thank You for King Jesus! May I always be in awe and worship Him for His sacrifice. Thank You for saving me. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

The Bare Bones Bible Handbook by Jim George—a clear, practical, and fascinating guide for learning about the books of the Bible in short overviews.

Easter Prints—We’ve created three special prints to help you celebrate Easter! 

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REFLECT

As a believer in Christ, each and every day gives an opportunity to love the Lord with all your heart. As Easter approaches, take time to read the story of Jesus’ servanthood and sacrifice for you in Luke 22, 23, 24.

REMEMBER
Lov­ing and serving God first, is the most important thing a Christian can do.

The Lord’s Prayer

[image error](Parents, today’s devotion is from Jim’s newest book, A Boy’s Guide to Prayer. We pray it blesses you and your tween as you read it together!)

Just like you and me, Jesus’ disciples seemed to need help with praying. Wisely, they asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1). Jesus then gave them—and us—a model or sample prayer to pray. This prayer is usually referred to as the Lord’s Prayer.

Read it now in the verses below. Then answer the questions that guide you through an outline of the contents of this famous prayer. It’s in Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus began by saying, “Pray like this:”

9 Our Father in heaven, Your name is holy.
10 May Your holy nation come. What You want done,
may it be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us the bread we need today.
12 Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
13 Do not let us be tempted, but keep us from sin (nlv).

 

Prayer should be offered as an act of worship. How is God to be addressed (verse 9)? “Our ________________ in __________________…”

Prayer should be offered with great respect. What word describes God’s name (verse 9)? “…Your name is ____________.

Prayer should be offered with the future in mind. What event did God promise to establish in the future (verse 10)? “May Your ____________ ______________ come.”

Prayer should be offered selflessly. What should be the desire of your heart (verse 10)? “What You want done, may it be ____________ on _______________ as it is in __________________.”

Prayer should be offered for personal needs. What did Jesus say we should ask for (verse 11)? “Give us ________ _______________ we ____________ _____________.”

Prayer should be offered for spiritual needs. Write out the first four words in verse 12. “_______________ ______ _________ ____________…” As God has forgiven our sins, what should be our attitude toward those who hurt us (verse 12)? “…as we _________________ those _________ _________ _____________________ _______.”

Prayer should be about avoiding sin. Write out the first six words in verse 13. “_______ __________ _________ ______ ______ ________________…” Write out what else we should pray for about sin (verse 13). “…but ___________ _____ ___________ _______.”

The best way for you to learn how to pray is by praying. A lot of things are going on in your life at home, at school, and with your friends. So whatever is on your heart and mind is a good place to start talking to God. But this model that Jesus gave His disciples and us is also a pretty good way to start learning how to pray—in fact, it’s perfect!

RESPOND

Dear God, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to show me how I need to come to You in prayer with every worry, decision, and choice I make. I look forward to the many blessings that come from talking with You in prayer. Help me to become a young man after Your heart who prays faithfully…just like Jesus did. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

NEW RELEASES! A Girl’s Guide to Prayer by Elizabeth George and A Boy’s Guide to Prayer by Jim George—These wonderful resources will help your tween understand what prayer really is, how to pray effectively, and what they can pray for. 

Receive a free accompanying devotional with your purchase of these books!

REFLECT

Memorize the Lord’s Prayer with your family members. Recite it every evening before you eat dinner together.

REMEMBER

The best way for you to learn how to pray is by praying.

Ask, Seek, Knock

[image error](Parents, today’s devotion is material from Elizabeth’s newest book, A Girl’s Guide to Prayer. We pray it blesses you and your tween!)

Praying once is a good thing, but once is not enough. For instance, when you see your friends, you don’t just say “Hi” and keep on walking. No, you want to hug them and catch up on what’s happening in their lives. You want to talk about all kinds of things!

That’s how God desires for us to do with Him through prayer. Jesus described the process of ongoing prayer:

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).

In the verse above, underline every time God tells you to “keep on.”

In your own words, when God tells you to “keep on” doing something, what does it mean you should do? ___________________________________________________________

God created you, and He knows you. He loves you and wants to hear from you. One way you can let Him know you love Him too is to “keep on” praying. Keep on talking to Him and keep on asking Him for His help with everything in your life—both the good things and the bad.

Matthew 7:8 explains how this works: For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

In this verse, Jesus uses illustrations to describe how God answers your prayers. “…to everyone who knocks, the _________________ will be __________________. 

First Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Never stop praying.” So how often should you be praying.

I’m guessing you probably worry about L-O-T-S of things, right? Well, the Bible tells you what to do instead of worrying. Read Philippians 4:6 below and circle what you should not do. Then underline what you should do instead.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

Wow! Prayer is a blessing! Let’s be intentional to “keep on” praying about everything all the time.

RESPOND

Dear God, please give me greater faith and remind me to pray about everything. I want to keep on coming to You in prayer about everything. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

NEW RELEASES! A Girl’s Guide to Prayer by Elizabeth George and A Boy’s Guide to Prayer by Jim George—These wonderful resources will help your tween understand what prayer really is, how to pray effectively, and what they can pray for. [image error]

Art Prints – We’ve created special prints to help you remember trust!

REFLECT

Do you worry A L-O-T? Memorize Philippians 4:6 and repeat it every time you are tempted to worry.

 

REMEMBER

God created you, and He knows you. He loves you and wants to hear from you.