Scriptures: Joshua 1:9, Joshua 11:23, Psalms 27:1, Matthew 28:20, Ephesians 6:10

Conquering the World 

I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go. 

Joshua 1:9 (CEV) 

Your generation is stepping onto the paths of leadership in all areas. Your turn at the microphone is coming. Your invention and discovery will be revealed and used. Your world views will become the norm. 

How does that make you feel? Maybe a little like Joshua from the Bible. He had been Moses’s right-hand-man for decades. Now, God tells him to become the leader of Israel’s army, and to lead the fight against well-entrenched, warring nations. They could lose everything or gain everything, depending on their response to God’s commands. 

God commands Joshua to focus on him instead of negative thoughts and feelings and to decide to be strong—to be brave. 

God didn’t say things to Joshua to make him think too highly of his abilities. He didn’t say, “You can do it! You’re the smartest, most determined General around. The men under you are the biggest and strongest anywhere.” Instead, God told him to be brave. Why? Because God would always be with Joshua and the people. God would help them. And God is the biggest, smartest, strongest warfighter anywhere, any time. 

Unique challenges face your generation. You are stepping further into a technological age. You are creating a whole new world. But God has prepared you for this. And he will be with you. So be brave! 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Pick out words from today’s Scripture verse that are key to you. Doodle them in a journal or on some paper, and ask God how you can put them into action as you face situations in your life that require you to be brave. He is with you! 

INSPIRATION 

“I think your generation might be the most amazing generation I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen a more courageous generation. This generation is positioned to change the world like we’ve never seen.” 

—Tanita Maddox, Young Life leader 

Scriptures: Exodus 14:13-14, Exodus 14:24-25, Psalms 46:9-10, John 10:10, Galatians 4:7

Between an Army and an Ocean 

But Moses answered, “Don’t be afraid! Be brave, and you will see the Lord save you today. These Egyptians will never bother you again. The Lord will fight for you, and you won’t have to do a thing.” 

Exodus 14:13–14 (CEV) 

They broke free from slavery. The impossible happened. A helpless group of people under the merciless rule of a powerful nation was liberated. A people who had never tasted freedom were now able to freely serve the all-powerful, loving God. 

But bondage doesn’t break easily. The Israelites were probably just beginning to believe freedom was really happening when they heard the sound of horses’ hooves and chariot wheels. The people—children, elders, and all—were backed up against the sea by their enemies. There was nowhere to run or hide, even if they could. 

Have you been there? Have you broken free from an addiction, a bad habit, a relationship that was enslaving you? Did you have a few days of freedom, only to have the temptation roar back again, pulling you to the thing that was hurting you? 

As Moses looked at the helpless people, the fierce army, and the endless drowning waves, he turned to God. God’s first instruction: Don’t be afraid—don’t try to run away, don’t try to fight. Stay and trust. The next command was just as important: God said to take a step of faith into the impossible, overwhelming waves. And God parted the water so the Israelites could walk through on dry ground into freedom! 

As you look at your impossible problems, listen to the Lord. Be brave and stay when he tells you. Move when he says. Watch God win the battle for you! 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

What’s holding you and your friends in bondage? Write those challenges in a journal or on some paper. Then pray to ask God to help you find freedom. God will make a way for you! Write down any steps he tells you to take. With his help and strength, work to take those steps this week. 

INSPIRATION 

“One day you will tell your story of how you’ve overcome what you’re going through now, and it will become part of someone else’s survival guide.” 

—Toby Mac, singer and songwriter 

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 25:32-33, Leviticus 19:18, Joshua 1:7-8, Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:17-19

For the Hard Choices 

David told her: I praise the Lord God of Israel! He must have sent you to meet me today. And you should also be praised. Your good sense kept me from taking revenge and killing innocent people. 

1 Samuel 25:32–33 (CEV) 

Someone close to you acted foolishly. Now 400 fighting men are coming to wipe you out. What’s your move? 

While we will probably never face such a decision, some choices can feel like they are just as terrifying. We try to figure out what’s best. We worry and ask everyone for advice, lose sleep, and can’t concentrate. We wish we knew what God wanted us to do. 

In today’s Bible passage, Abigail didn’t have time to think. Her foolish husband had angered the warrior David and his 400 men by not granting David’s request for food. Unless she acted quickly, the men on her farm would be slaughtered and her place destroyed. 

Abigail was close to God. She was aware of God’s big plans for David’s life and that God would protect David and keep him safe. Knowing this helped her know what she had to do next. Knowing God and being close to him will always help us know what our next steps should be. 

Abigail gave David a gift of food as an apology for her husband’s foolish behavior, and he accepted it. She stepped out boldly, and David let go of his anger. They stopped the crisis. 

God gave Abigail wisdom to resolve a growing conflict. We, too, can rely on God to help us choose his ways and to set us on the right path for all decisions. 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

When trying to make a decision, consider some of the following questions. 

• Does this go against God’s Word; is it sinful? 
• Does God bring to mind any Bible verses when you pray or think about the issue? 
• Will this honor God? 
• What do your godly mentors, chaplains, pastors, good friends say about it? 
• Have you prayed about it? 
• Have you spent time listening to God? 
• Have you waited, patiently, for his answer? 

INSPIRATION 

“God doesn’t want people to do what they think is best: he wants them to do what he knows is best, and no amount of reasoning and intellectualizing will discover that.” 

—Henry Blackaby, pastor and author 

Scriptures: Ezekiel 36:26-27, Psalms 51:10, Jeremiah 24:7, Matthew 22:36-38, Hebrews 8:10

Heart Transplant 

I will take away your stubborn heart and give you a new heart and a desire to be faithful. You will have only pure thoughts, because I will put my Spirit in you and make you eager to obey my laws and teachings. 

Ezekiel 36:26–27 (CEV) 

Everywhere we look, people seem determined to rebel. They lie, cheat the system, look out only for themselves, fight, and bully others. The list of rebellious deeds goes on! 

What’s a Christian to do in all of this? Well, we can take a few tips from Ezekiel. God called him to be a prophet to his people, the Israelites. A prophet carries messages from God to people, telling them the things God wants them to know. The Israelites had rebelled so much that their punishment had cost them their country. Another nation took control over them and carried away their best people, including Ezekiel. 

As he prayed to God, he was given visions of what heaven and the future would look like. God spoke of a time when he would change the hearts of the people and give them his Spirit. The Spirit would give them the desire to do what God wants. 

Today’s world can feel like Israel during Ezekiel’s time. But just as God wanted them to obey him, we are called to do likewise and live differently than the rest of the world. Because of Jesus, we can have new hearts and have the Holy Spirit lead our lives. 

We can also pray for that to happen for others—those wrapped up in ungodly lives. The hardest heart, the most rebellious sinner, can be transformed into a new person by the power of Jesus. When anyone believes Jesus is the Son of God and repents of their sin, they can be made brand new. 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Who are you praying for to receive a “heart transplant”? Keep praying! You can pray for anyone, even someone you know who lives on the other side of the world. Pray for them every day this week! 

INSPIRATION 

“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.” 

–Blaise Pascal, French mathematician and Catholic writer 

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 15:22, 1 Samuel 15:23, Psalms 40:6, John 6:38, John 14:23-24

All-the-Way Obedience 

“Tell me,” Samuel said. “Does the Lord really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn’t want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him. 

1 Samuel 15:22 (CEV) 

It had already been a long, bloody day. King Saul and his men were on direct orders from God, as told through the prophet Samuel: wipe out the Amalekites. Kill everything (and that meant everything). Saul’s army swept through with a great victory, but now they came to the Amalekite king, and the herds of animals. 

We can imagine the debate: Kill the king? Better to have some fun with him first. And why kill the animals, too? You sure you heard right? What a waste! And a lot of work. We deserve some rewards. 

And so, King Saul caved and didn’t carry out God’s commands. When Samuel caught up with the army, he heard the sound of sheep and cattle and found the king in chains. They had done it mostly right, but didn’t fully obey God. Saul’s disobedience cost him the throne, and more importantly, his relationship with God. He spent the rest of his days without God’s presence. 

What commands are you half-obeying? What little lies are you telling God, your pastor or parents, and yourself? What excuses are you trying out: “I didn’t really know”; “It didn’t make sense;” “It was too hard”; “No one else was doing it.” 

Following God with our whole heart means we bravely obey no matter what others think, how we feel, or what makes sense. It is doing the hard things. The reward of being right with God is always worth it. 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Spend some time asking God to show you in what area of your life you are being disobedient or holding back from God’s control. Ask for forgiveness and help to not do it again. 

INSPIRATION 

“The will of God for your life is simply that you submit yourself to him each day and say, ‘Father, your will for today is mine. Your pleasure for today is mine. Your work for today is mine.’” 

—Kay Arthur, American writer and speaker 

Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 16:9, 1 Chronicles 16:11-12, Psalms 118:5, Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:6

Out of Control 

The Lord is constantly watching everyone, and he gives strength to those who faithfully obey him. But you have done a foolish thing, and your kingdom will never be at peace again. 

2 Chronicles 16:9 (CEV) 

Grades, money, sports, friends, parents . . . long is the list of things teens are trying to keep together. Everything going well? Then it’s a good day. Everything not going so well? Then your whole world may feel like it’s in danger of falling apart. It can leave you feeling out of control. 

King Asa knew the feeling. When he first inherited the throne as king of Judah, he kept a pretty tight ship. He ensured the people in his kingdom worshipped God. When a massive army threatened to attack Judah, Asa prayed, and God came through in an impossible victory. 

But later, when another king invaded Judah, Asa couldn’t sleep. He paced the halls. The solution to the problem alluded him. Maybe God didn’t care anymore. Maybe he was too slow. Asa quit trusting him. He had to grasp control. He needed money—much more money than he had. So, he took what was in God’s temple. Asa handed it over to another ruler to form an alliance, hoping to pressure the invading enemy. It worked. Asa won the battle. 

But he lost the war. By relying on his own strategy instead of turning to God, Asa missed using God’s solution. He lost the money, lost his relationship with God, and lost peace—for himself and his kingdom. 

What are you trying to control without God? Where have you lost your peace? Today, you can begin to trust God first in your life. Pray to him and ask him to help you do just that. 

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Are you trying to control any part of your life without God’s help? Prayerfully consider what you are trying to control. As you do, ask God to help you trust him to handle it. 

INSPIRATION 

“Nothing is a surprise to God; nothing is a setback to his plans; nothing can thwart his purposes; and nothing is beyond his control.” 

—Joni Eareckson Tada, American author and artist