Transformed – teen devotion – January 10, 2021
2020 was a tough year. As we look into the new year, what are some of the lessons we learn by looking back?
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Time well spent
How many things were canceled during 2020 for you?
Maybe you laughed out loud just now (or maybe you groaned) because TONS of things were canceled.
We learned this past year to expect things to change at a moment’s notice and that plans are not permanent.
It’s actually good we experienced this. Why? Because our lives can be canceled at a moment’s notice. We don’t know how long God plans for each of us to live on this planet.
Thankfully, we don’t have to wrestle with fear about this, because we know that for believers in Jesus, death is a tool God uses to bring us into heaven.
So, the question is, how do we use the time that we have?
Well, the verse for today is a prayer from Moses—the faithful leader who God used to bring the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. He knew a lot about how things do not always go as you planned.
He is asking God to remind us to have a good sense of urgency in our lives since we don’t know when they’ll end. When we sense that our earthly lives are urgent and won’t go on forever, suddenly our priorities change. We become wiser in how we spend our time.
Hopefully 2020 taught you about the things that matter most: Your connection to Jesus. Your connection to other believers. Growing in your faith. Worshiping God through everything you do. Using your talents and time to serve others. And, sharing Jesus with those who don’t know him.
Which of the things mentioned above do you want to spend more doing in 2021? What’s one small step you can take right now to make that happen?
Prayer: Lord, you are the only thing that has lasted and will last forever. You are eternal. My life on earth is not. Teach me each day to live with a good sense of urgency so that I might focus on the things that matter most to you. Amen.
