Hearing God Speak
By Lauren Blight, Age 14
“’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 a hope and a future.’”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Devotion:
Dani could feel the tears filling her eyes when she ran her finger down the list one more time. Her name wasn’t there, she didn’t make cheerleading. She stomped back to her car and drove home. She walked in the house and told her mom the bad news. Mrs. Johnson put her hand on Dani’s shoulder, “It’s okay, Dani, this means that God has something bigger planned for you.” Dani shrugged her mom’s hand off her shoulder and rolled her eyes. Dani ran up the stairs into her room, and plopped on her bed. “God, why didn’t I make cheerleading? I tried so hard and it’s my senior year,” Dani prayed. “I really wanted this.”
The next Monday at school, Dani watched as the girls who made the cheerleading squad laughed and talked about what a great cheerleading year this would be. She turned her chair away from the giggling group and then she noticed a flyer. The school had a program for girls who had problems at home. They were looking for someone to lead their Bible study. Dani felt something inside her telling her to check it out after school. She tried to shake the feeling and get back to being angry about cheerleading, but she could not get the thought out of her head.
After school, Dani went to the room listed on the flyer that she had seen during lunch and peeked in the door. “I’m sorry girls, but if we can’t find a leader, we can’t do the Bible study,” said the principal. Dani felt a tug at her heart as she watched the girls sink sadly into their seats. “Okay Lord - I get it,” and she pushed open the door and went inside.
Dani lead the girls Bible study three days a week. She cared about these girls and the problems they were having at home. She was able to help heal their broken hearts and bring them closer to God. If Dani had made the cheerleading squad, she would have missed out on the life-changing experience that God had planned for her all along.
Do you ever find yourself saying, “I really want this?” I say it all the time but I don’t always get what I want. Sometimes God has something bigger planned for us - something to work for His glory. We should put our wants aside and listen to what He has in store for us. You never know whose life it could change.
Dear Lord, thank You for the gifts you have given me. I pray that you would help me find the right way to use them. Please give me ears to hear exactly what you have planned for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Hi, My name is Lauren. I am a 14-year-old with a desire to influence my generation for Christ. You may have read the devotion I wrote last November about a teenager planning to have an abortion. Proverbs 31 Ministries wants to come alongside girls like me to mentor us and help reduce the alarming numbers of teenage pregnancies, self-mutilation, suicides and drug abuse threats facing our generation.
Proverbs 31 Ministries is launching a new website Radical Revolution for the Next Generation – featuring devotions written by teens for teens. They need your help to continue and expand their outreach efforts. Click here to find out how you can invest in the Next Generation with Proverbs 31 Ministries. For the sake of my generation, I pray that you will say, “yes.”
~ Lauren
PS. Your giving last year helped us add a Next Generation track at Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference in 2007. An attendee was so inspired by seeing young women at the conference that she is matching, dollar for dollar (up to $25,000), your financial gift to this important area of the ministry. She wrote to say, “The next generation is our hope. They are growing up into our future. They are going to make the difference in our world and in the Kingdom. We should do everything we can to equip and encourage them to be all they can be. It’s our responsibility!” So, I hope you’ll help us - your donation will be doubled today!
Reflection Points:
· How can I reach out and pour into the life of just one of today’s young women?
· What does God say to women about mentoring young women?
· Pray for Proverbs 31 Ministries to be able and equipped to change the lives of today’s teenage girls one heart at a time.
· Click here to find out how you can invest in the Next Generation.
Related Resources:
Radical Revolution website for Teens
For Such a Time as This by Lisa Ryan
Power Verses:
Psalm 33:11, “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” (NIV)
Proverbs 31:26, "When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.” (NLT)
Psalm 145:4, “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.” (NIV)
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org