Seek FirstSample

Seek First, Stand Firm, Be Courageous

Living as young people in the 21st century can be hard. Life can feel overwhelming and stressful.

Living as a Christian young person can be even harder. We can so often feel like exiles - feeling like we don’t truly belong to the culture that we live in.

We see this theme in the book of Daniel. Chapter 1 opens with Daniel and his friends, exiled to Babylon, in a new land, with different cultures, away from family and friends. The leaders of Babylon try to pull the exiles further away from God by changing their names and encouraging them to live like the people of Babylon.

But Daniel says no. He holds his ground and chooses to stand firm in his faith, trusting that God will provide for them what is needed. And he did.

Daniel was firm, bold and courageous. Often, it can feel hard to do the same in our lives.

But we have someone who fights for us; Jesus. Jesus IS firm, bold and courageous; he fought a battle of sin and death on a cross, for us.

We’re told in Romans that, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by the same Spirit living within you.” (Romans 8:11 NLT)

So have confidence that the same spirit who lived within Jesus, lives within you, and God will give you courage and strength as you battle through life.

Questions

What encourages you to be firm, courageous and bold in faith?

What would it look like practically for you to stand firm, courageous and bold in faith?

Prayer

God, thank you for your love for me. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you that he defeated death and sin on the cross, and that he is always firm, courageous and bold. May you equip me to stand strong against the world, choosing to serve Jesus in everything I do. Amen.