Swimming Upstream

Background Story: Psalm was written as prayers and praise from the heart from the writer to God.

Read Psalm 119: 9-16

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
¹⁰I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.
¹²Praise be to you, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
¹³With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
¹⁴I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
¹⁵I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
¹⁶I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

Big Idea: You can be a teen that walks with Jesus!

If you are living for God in today’s world, you are swimming upstream. Everyone is going one direction and you are swimming against the current. How can you get up each day and authentically live for Jesus at your high school, college, job, around your friends, in private, online, and everywhere in between?

David in Psalm 119 asked the same question and asked, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?”

1- Live According to God’s Word: Accept the truth that if you have decided to follow Jesus, you are now on a different path and that path can be lonely at times. When you feel lonely, seek friendship with Jesus. In his early years, David was often alone with God tending the sheep or fleeing from an enemy. Throughout Psalms, we see that David became a “man after God’s own heart” during those times. Check out Psalm 63, Psalm 23, Psalm 46, Psalm 139, Psalm 73:23-26, Psalm 119, and so many more. Never forget that these times in our life are really opportunities for greater intimacy with God.

2-Hide His Word in Your Heart: Satan loves to speak words of compromise to get us to doubt God’s heart for us and God’s word. He tried it with Jesus in the wilderness when he tempted Him (Luke 4:1-13), and Satan will continue to use this tactic in the life of the believer. The best way to defend this is the same way Jesus did in Luke 4 when He said back to Satan, “It is written.” We read and hide God’s word in our heart so that when temptation comes, we pull that word out and use it as a sword against Satan. (Ephesians 6:10-17)

3-Seek Community: Satan loves to attack us when we are alone and discouraged. Get involved in a small group, a Bible study, or in accountability with another believer. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Find fellow believers who have your back and can help you stand in the current!

Keep going dear brother or sister in Christ! Jesus is with you and is for you! Keep seeking Him and asking for the Holy Spirit to help you to stay strong and live for Jesus!

Bible Devotions for Teens