» teenagers http://prayerforyouth.org Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:04:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 CONFUSION http://prayerforyouth.org/2009/10/05/confusion/ http://prayerforyouth.org/2009/10/05/confusion/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:15:14 +0000 Jordy http://prayerforyouth.org/?p=23 QuestionsToday we live in a world where there is much confusion! There is confusion about the economy, confusion about relationships; confusion about war & peace, the list goes on and on. Among teenagers, growing up in the mist of all these “confusing” circumstances, it is important to note that there should be NO confusion about who God is, and that he loves you very much. Yet, the more I talk with teenagers, the more I realize there is confusion, yes even among “church-going” teenagers.

My prayer today, is that, as you read this article, God stirs your heart and clears away any confusion about his love for you!

The scriptures tell us that “God is Love”. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. (1 John 4:16). Despite this truth, in the world today, there is still much confusion about what “love” really is. Many teenagers find it hard to believe that God is a loving God. Could this be mainly, because love has been defined in so many different ways in our world?

It is difficult to define “love” when we have a society where parents say they love one another, yet they get divorced; we have moms and dads that say they love their children, yet they are virtually absent from their lives; we have “church communities” that say they love people, yet they judge and condemn. No wonder, if we look to the world, there is confusion about what love is! However, if we look to God we can clearly define love.

God says love is everlasting – God will never leave you or forsake you. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deut. 31:8). We learn in God’s word that he promises to always stand by us. “ No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you”. (Joshua 1:5).

God’s love will never end and it cannot be measured. “ Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Rms 8: 39). God, through his love for you, made a plan for your life. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God has adopted you, you are never without a Father. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God”! (1 John 3:1).

This is the kind of love that will put to rest any confusion about what true love is. God is Love, and he loves you! You can depend on the love of God. Do not look to the world for love, look to and rely on God’s love. Spend time with God and you will come to know “love”.

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts/comments regarding popularity. Please share how this article relates to your life, feel free to ask questions and let’s dialogue (or, “talk”) together around God’s principles.

]]> http://prayerforyouth.org/2009/10/05/confusion/feed/ 32 Depression! http://prayerforyouth.org/2008/05/15/depression/ http://prayerforyouth.org/2008/05/15/depression/#comments Thu, 15 May 2008 14:50:45 +0000 Jordy http://prayerforyouth.org/?p=5 Depression is real God can helpHave you ever felt depressed? Many teenage girls have at some point expressed that they have felt depressed. By depressed I mean, great sadness, feeling like no one cares about them, feeling as if they are not important. Well, I have good news for you today! You do not have to be depressed anymore! You may be thinking: “easy for you to say”, you do not realize what is happening in my life! I may not know exactly what is happening in your life but I do know that God loves you. IF God is for you, then no weapon formed against you can hurt you. Depression can only take hold of you if YOU allow it to. You can change your thoughts, you can change your attitude, and you will start to feel better. If you stay focused on what God says about you, and not the circumstances surrounding you, depression will run far from you. Pay attention to the words that you are speaking during the day, and the thoughts you are allowing yourself to think about. Words and thoughts are powerful; they can tear you down or encourage you. Now, I know probably none of you reading this article will admit that you “talk to yourself”, but let’s assume you do: might it sound like this: I am ugly, I am too fat, I am too skinny, no one likes me, I am dumb, my family is weird? Sound familiar to anyone? Thoughts and words like that would depress anyone. Now try to replace those thoughts and words with statements God says about you: You are fearfully and wonderfully made, you are loved, you are forgiven, you belong to the family of God, and you are blessed and highly favored! What a difference words and thoughts can make in how you feel. Choose to agree with what God says about you and watch your life change.

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts/comments regarding this article. Please share how this article relates to your life, feel free to ask questions and let’s dialogue together around God’s principles.

Serving In God’s Love,
Lucy Ann

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