Psalms 115:11

To have a thriving and successful marriage that stands the test of time, we need to understand why God designed marriage in the first place. To find that out, we must go back to the owner’s manual on marriage, the Bible, for help. This devotional looks at four reasons why God created marriage—and how following His playbook in your marriage can make all the difference.

Discipleship works against fear. As we obey God’s commands, we entrust ourselves to him. Like the students attending the schools founded by D. L. Moody in Northfield, MA, God’s people “are encouraged to test the meaning and value of the Bible’s teachings experimentally, by acting upon them, and living them out.” As we “test experimentally” the word of God, we will find that we will have fewer and fewer reasons to be afraid. You can get an expanded version of this plan at moodycenter.org/fear.

Surrender is giving up control and giving in to God’s control. It’s not a passive move but an active release. When you stop trying to make things happen your way and trust God, circumstances will work out according to His plan. This 10-day plan gives examples of biblical greats who surrendered what they couldn’t control, released it, and trusted God in the face of many uncertainties.

Teenagers today face unprecedented and complex challenges in their lives and relationships. Parents and youth leaders can offer valuable Christian guidance, but it’s in Scripture that we encounter the wisdom of Jesus, new and sufficient for that day’s difficulty and temptation. Join Paul David Tripp for a 10-day devotional journey adapted from New Morning Mercies for Teens. Designed to help teenagers deepen their trust in God, this study encourages them to rely on His grace daily, equipping them with biblical truth for whatever they face.