With Beth Shriver
Dear Parents,
Peace for Parents of Teens is for parents with teens who experience struggles as they try to mature and discover their own identity in this world.
Each week has a topic from the Bible. Every day of the week there is a verse of encouragement, a quote and a prayer that you can pour over your child. Also a tie-in paragraph addresses some of the struggles teens are dealing with today. The questions personalize the verse and prayer, so find how to utilize these tools to best fit your approach.
Before you turn the page I want to tell you that no matter how you feel, you are a good parent. Any other kind wouldn't be reading these devotionals.
In Him,
Beth
WEEK 41-FRUITS
DAY 1-
I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate, they will not cling to me. Psalms 101:3
Ask Your Teen:
Think of something that was not good for you spiritually, that you used to really want. What caused you to not want it any more?
Discernment for a teen is key in understanding why certain things are taken away and others are given. The better they understand this the easier it may be to give these things up before they defile them and it is even harder to give away.
“You are remembered by the rules you break.”
Douglas MacArthur
Lord, let ___ listen to Godly counselors and be one that is teachable and recognize their own errors. Help them to grow from these experiences and become new in Your eyes so they in turn can help others with their spiritual growth.
DAY 2-
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:11
Ask Your Teen:
When is the last time you consciously made a choice that protected you from sin or from being hurt?
For a teen to make note of these times they felt protected can help during difficult times ahead. Remembering these will help keep them strong and ready when those temptations come again.
“One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.” Golda Meir
Lord, keep ___'s eyes on You and have ears to hear Your voice. Make them ready and willing to be open to the direction You are guiding them to and make them willing to do Your will.
DAY 3-
The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17
Ask Your Teen:
Would you describe your daily life as generally peaceful, inwardly quiet and confident regardless of what is going on around you? Do you consider yourself a righteous person? Why can you think of yourself as righteous and not be bragging?
For a teen to know how to go to that peace and quiet can keep them on the right path in the future. Having alone time to be fed Gods Word and be in prayer with him and knowing the signs to look for will keep them in tune with where they are at spiritually.
“You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.” Andrew Jackson
Lord, let ___ clearly hear the call You have for them and to know that they were created for a higher purpose. Keep them humbly by Your side at You guide and protect them through life's hurdles and teach them how to live a Godly life.
DAY 4-
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain on the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
John 15:4
Ask Your Teen:
Does this verse add pressure on you to “bear fruit”, or does it make you more relieved? Why?
For a teen to know they always have Christ with them to do what they must, will bring comfort. Being open to their spiritual gifts will make them more aware of what their actions should be and opportunities to look for.
“Are you green and growing or ripe and rotting?”
Ray Kroc
Lord, let ___ acknowledge that You unite their heart with Yours as they walk in Your truth. Lead them to their spiritual gifts and make it clear to them what they are to do with the gifts You have given them.
DAY 5-
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Ask Your Teen:
Which of these eight fruits is the biggest blessing for you? How would your life change if at the end of each day, you consciously thought of what happened that day to cause you to enjoy each one of these fruits?
Continue to encourage your teen to bear good fruit. Help them shower the blessings of this fruit on to others and let others see what God has given to them.
“Ability is a poor man's wealth.” John Wooden
Lord, deliver ___ from not being fruitful. Let them rise up boldly and acknowledge You when bearing fruit to others, keep them humble and kind as they demonstrate all they have to offer.
DAY 6-
For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. Ephesians 5:9
Ask Your Teen:
If you are saved and a child of God, when is it easy to be good, righteous and truthful?
To feel free in the Spirit is uplifting and life changing. Remind your teen what that feels like and in all the ways they are set free because of the love of Christ.
“Actions are the seeds of fate. Deeds grow into destiny.” Harry S. Truman
Lord, may ___ know the truth and for the truth set them free. Let them share the truth to others as they bear witness of You never changing love and forgiveness, let theirs be something others want to have.
DAY 7-
Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:11
Ask Your Teen:
Have you ever tried to be righteous without Jesus? How did it work?
Let your teen always know to go to God when things are not going their way. Don't let them learn to depend on other people and things that are a temporary fix, but teach them what is lasting.
“I am in politics because of the conflict between good and evil, and I believe that in the end good will triumph.” Margaret Thatcher
Lord, let ___ rest upon you with Your wisdom and might. Help them see what You alone can bring as no other can. Help them remember where their joy and peace comes from and to thank You.
WEEK 42-PERSERVENCE
DAY 1-
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Ask Your Teen:
What is most discouraging to you about doing the “work of the Lord”? How does this verse help you?
When things seem like too much and others are overwhelming your teen remind them that what they do is for a higher purpose.
“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
Albert Schweitzer
Lord, protect ___'s mind and shield them from the enemy.
DAY 2-
Test everything. Hold on to the good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Ask Your Teen:
What does this mean to “test everything”? How do you test things?
Teens explore and are curious, help them become curious of the Lord and His power.
“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neighbor enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt
Lord, do not let the evil one hold ___'s mind captive; help them resist sin and cleanse their mind.
DAY 2-
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father, who loved us and by his grace, gave us eternal encouragement and good hope. 2 Thessalonians 2:16
Ask Your Teen:
If God loves us no matter what and encourages us all the time, how do you explain the times you are discouraged?
It is hard for a teen to understand that pain leads to strength.
“In whatever direction you turn, you will see God coming to meet you. Noting is void of Him, He himself fills all his work.” Seneca The Younger
Lord, give ___ Your peace and guard their heart and mind in Christ.
DAY 3-
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3
Ask Your Teen:
When you have hardship, do you get discouraged? How can you not be discouraged when you have hardship?
Don't let your teen give into the evil one's tricks, keep them in the direction of Christ.
“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed.” Booker T. Washington
Lord, let ___ claim You when impure or negative thoughts torment the soul.
DAY 4-
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. Hebrew 6:11
Ask Your Teen:
It looks like God expects us to have it rough sometimes. Why do you suppose that is?
Keep your teen diligent so as to not step off the path.
“Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.” George S. Patton
Lord, transform ___'s mind and let them be anxious for nothing.
DAY 5-
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrew 12:1
Ask Your Teen:
It seems that the hardships we endure are harder when we carry sin with us. Why is it often hard to want to get rid of something that hinders and entangles us?
What hinders us the most can be both our strength and our weakness? Help your teen see how to make their strengths more powerful and turn their weakness into more strengths.
Lord, help ___ resist temptation, stamp it out and make them strong.
DAY 6-
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4
Ask Your Teen:
What in your life requires the most perseverance? Why do you suppose that is?
Help your teen know what they need the most perseverance for and to plan for and expect it.
“Physical strength can never permanently understand the impact of spiritual force.” Franklin Roosevelt
Lord, do not let ___ be broken down by evil where they are weak, but take charge of their spirit.
DAY 7-
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
Ask Your Teen:
What gives you the incentive to persevere?
Whatever is the “crown” in your teen's life, remind them of it when times get rough.
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” Henry Ford
Lord, help ___ to be repulsed by tempting situations and to reject them fully.
WEEK 43-PATIENCE
DAY 1-
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him, do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalms 37:7
Ask Your Teen:
What emotion comes most easily for you when you see other people “win” even though they didn't deserve it?
Don't let the evil ones of the world deceive your teen into their ways.
“The first duty of love is to listen.” Paul Tillich
Lord, teach ___ to be demonstrative of their display of love and demonstrate how we care for others.
DAY 2-
The end of a matter is better than its beginning and patience is better than pride. Ecclesiastes 7:8
Ask Your Teen:
How can this verse help you to be patient when things are happening that are unfair?
To give in when you have been wrong is a difficult thing especially for the prideful.
“Be of good courage, all is before you, and time passed in the difficult is never lost...What is required of us is that we live the difficult and learn to deal with it. In the difficult are the friendly forces, the hands that work on us.” Rainier Maria Rilke
Lord, help ___ to break through any hard-headedness and bring them into balance.
DAY 3-
It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:26
Ask Your Teen:
This is a good verse to remember when things are all falling apart and you don't have any control over it. When is the last time you felt this way?
To remember that we are working for the goal helps keep things in check along the way.
“There is nothing quite so valuable as work. That's why it is a good idea to leave some for tomorrow.”
Marian Dolliver
Lord, remind ___ that salvation is nearer than when they first believed and to cast off the works of darkness.
DAY 4-
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
Ask Your Teen:
It is really hard for most of us to be “patient in affliction”. How can the other two things in this verse help us with that?
These terms seem like opposites but they can compliment one another.
“The secret to success is constancy of purpose.”
Benjamin Disraeli
Lord, let ___ cast off the darkness and put on the armor of light.
DAY 5-
Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. I Colossians 13:4
Ask Your Teen:
This is true. Think of someone you truly love. Do you find it easier to be patient and kind and not envy or boast around this person? Why do you suppose that is?
Bring out the best relationships for your teen to model and create for themselves.
“Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.” Will Rogers
Lord, teach ___ to be warm, tender, compassionate, loving and adoring.
DAY 6-
In purity, understanding, patience and kindness, in the Holy Spirit in sincere love. 2 Corinthians 6:6
Ask Your Teen:
Why do you need the Holy Spirit to do all of these things?
To remember the Holy Spirit is like always having an ally.
“Family life is an existential classroom that lasts about eighteen years.” Gordon Macdonald
Lord, let ___ openly confess their errors and change habits of indifference.
DAY 7-
Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
Ask Your Teen:
Isn't it being a good testimony to make sure people know when you've done something good? In considering this verse, why or why not?
It is hard not to boast of good works or having great things but just to know what's been done can be enough.
“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.” Seneca
Lord, help ___ not to weaken and let the Holy Spirit transform them in the way they should go.
DAY 7
Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance, patience and joy. Colossians 1:11
Ask Your Teen:
Another reminder that we don't have to do all this ourselves. Do you find yourself trying harder to endure in your own strength, or do you remember to look to God for the strength to do this? Do you find it more satisfying to do it on your own—or do you really ever do it on your own?
To even have one of these attributes is an asset that can help along the way of life.
“The struggle of life is one of our greatest blessings. It makes us patient, sensitive and Godlike. It teaches us that although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” Helen Keller
Lord, restore what needs to be restored and protect ___ from disappointment and apathy.
WEEK 44-PARENTS
DAY 1-
Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant that may continue forever in your sight, for you O Lord, have blessed it, it will be blessed forever.
1 Chronicles 17:27
Ask Your Teen:
It was important for them to have their house blessed by God. What do you think it means to have God bless your house?
Think of what it means to have the Lord in your house and to be right there with you.
“The development of strong character must be emphasized and rewarded in the home.” Charles Stanley
Lord, close the door to anything that seeks to encroach upon ___.
DAY 2-
So the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Psalms 78:6
Ask Your Teen:
What do your parents do to keep your family “forever in God's sight”? Is it working for you?
For a teen to find time in the word and prayer is critical to continue on throughout generations.
“Every material goal, even if it is met, will pass away. But the heritage of children is timeless. Our children are our message to the future.” Billy Graham
Lord, help us to spend time together as a family and possess a vessel in sanctification and honor.
DAY 3-
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. Psalms 103:3
Ask Your Teen:
How do you read this? Is it using a father's compassion for his children as an example of how God has compassion on us?
Compassion is a good thing no matter how it is used or thought of.
“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” Nelson Mandela
Lord, let ___ understand the respect that comes from fear and give that respect to their parents.
DAY 4-
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Psalms 22:6
Ask Your Teen:
What family comes to your mind that would be an example of this? Is “training a child” not only teaching but also the method used in the teaching?
Being an example to a teen is sometimes the only way to get through to them.
“Home is the first school and the first church where we learn about loving God.” Ernestine Schumann-Heink
Lord, let us fulfill the vision You have for ___ and teach us how You want them to grow.
DAY 5-
Leave your orphans, I will protect their lives. Your widows too rest in me. Jeremiah 49:11
Ask Your Teen:
Do you think that God has special compassion for widows and orphans? Why do you think this could be true?
Help us not to forget about those most in need.
“We are truly loving when we help ourselves and others to be all we are meant to be. A loving life is a life where there is a balance about others to help them fulfill theirs.” Alexandra Stoddard
Lord, let ___ remember those who have less and reach out to them.
DAY 6-
Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
Ask Your Teen:
Sometimes learning results in exasperation for the learner as well as the teacher. When might this be the “bad” exasperation this verse talks about, and when might it be “good” exasperation which does not damage relationships? How can you tell the difference?
Family relationships can become strained during difficult times, learning from mistakes will hopefully relieve future frustration.
“As I contemplate the kind of future I want for children—my own and other people's—I believe we must look inward to God for guidance and strength and backward to draw on the values and legacies of our families, ancestors and communities.” Marian Wright Edelman
Lord, let ___ honor their father and abstain from exasperating him. And to listen to his ways and follow them.
DAY 7-
Endure hardship as discipline, God is treating you as sons. What son is not disciplined by his father?
Hebrews 12:7
Ask Your Teen:
When have you felt like you have been disciplined by God? Did you fight it?
For a teen to know when God is disciplining them might make the process easier.
“Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments.”
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
Lord, show ___ your guidance, however painful it may be, so that they can bring forth fruit.