Linked UP Connect 21 Devotion - The Plug - 2024

prayer & fasting
y o u t h d e v o t i o n a l

Connect 21
FROM THE PLUG
Dear Reader,
Have you ever thought to yourself, “If God is real, then
why doesn’t He just reveal Himself? Why won’t He just
speak to us in a loud audible voice saying,
‘Hey, here I am! This is what I’m like!’?”
If God would just let us all see Him, then surely everyone
would believe. After all it’s really hard for mankind to
believe in someone they can’t see or touch.
Guess what? That is exactly what God did! He showed
Himself and spoke to us through Jesus Christ.
CONNECT 21 CALENDAR
January 8 - January 29
8:30 AM & 11:30 AM
SATURDAY
MORNING
PRAYER
JAN 13
JAN 20
JAN 27
SUNDAY
WORSHIP
SERVICE
JAN 14
JAN 21
JAN 28
COMMUNITY
BIBLE
STUDY
JAN 10
JAN 17
JAN 24
1

Table of Contents
05
Stay Connected
34
Don’t Worry
07
God is My Source
36
Salty Saints
11 Practice
the Patterms
14
17
The Lord
is With You
The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not want
39 Forgive
41 Love
43
You’re NOT Dirty,
You’re Clay
20
Trust is Key
46
Love is
First
22
Rock Solid
49
Presence & Power Over
Performance & Potential
25
52
Thanksgiving is
Ready S.E.T. Go
Everyday
Embracing Life’s Spiritual Gym
27
God’s Honor Through
56
Listen Linda
His Word
30
Coming Boldly
59
The King
to His Throne
of Liberty
32 Praying in Faith
2

checklist
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS
Keep track of your progress by bookmarking this page
and checking off your daily devotionals as you
complete them!
day 1
day 4
day 7
day 10
day 13
day 16
day 19
day 2
day 5
day 8
day 11
day 14
day 17
day 20
day 3
day 6
day 9
day 12
day 15
day 18
day 21
3

Prayer Model
A.C.T.S PRAYER MODEL
The A.C.T.S. prayer model is an excellent and effective way to
focus our hearts on who God is and what He has done for us
before we turn our hearts to ask Him for His continued
blessings.
Prayer is simply talking to God, and He is not concerned with
how many words we use when we pray or if we can
eloquently quote scripture. Use the A.C.T.S. acronym to enrich
your conversation with God.
Adoration
Focus directly on God, honoring Him for Who He is in our lives.
Confidence
Find out what His Will is for your life and pray the Word of God
confidently, believing all His promises.
Thanksgiving
Thank Him in advance for what you believed Him for in prayer.
Supplication
Pray for the specific needs of others and yourself.
Read the scriptures associated with each acronym and let
the verses inspire your thoughts to become His thoughts
(Isaiah 55:8-11). Praying scripture allows us to use God's Word
to gain more confidence and enjoyment in our prayer time.
4

“stay connected”
DAY 1
John 15:5 (NIV)
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me
and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you
can do nothing."
So, Jesus says, "I'm the vine; you're the branches." Imagine
that, a vine and its branches—totally connected, right?
That's us and Jesus. He's not some distant dude; He's our
life source, the reason we're thriving.
"Stay connected, and you'll bear fruit." Think of fruit like the
good stuff in your life—love, joy, kindness, all that jazz.
When we stick close to Jesus, we naturally bring out the
good fruits. It's like a life upgrade!
But here's the thing: "Without Him, we can't do squat." It's
not a downer; it's just truth. When we try to do life on our
own, it's like trying to charge your phone without plugging
it in. Nado, zilch , nothing
So, here's the takeaway for today: Stay connected to Jesus.
It's not about rules or obligations; it's about a rad
relationship that brings out the best in us. Let's be
branches that are always vibing with the vine, soaking up
the good stuff, and spreading his love wherever we go.
5

“stay connected”
DAY 1
1. How connected do you feel to Jesus in your daily life,
and where could you improve that connection?
2. Reflect on moments when you've experienced love, joy,
or kindness. How can staying close to Jesus enhance
these positive experiences?
3. In what areas are you trying to go it alone? How might
acknowledging your dependence on Jesus bring a
positive shift to those areas?
6

BRIAN
“god is my source”
DAY 2
Psalm 23 NLT
“The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord Forever.”
7

“god is my source”
DAY 2
God’s plan has always been for us to completely depend
on him to protect us, to provide for us, and be our source
for everything we need. When we recognize and depend
on Him as our source then we have an assurance from
God that what we need will be provided, and that
assurance in Him produces a peaceful rest for us.
It’s those times that we don’t depend on God as our
source that we find ourselves in despair. That’s what
happened to Adam and Eve in the garden. When they
were in the garden, and the serpent came, he convinced
them that they could be like God and would no longer
need to depend on Him as their source. Falling into that
deception separated from God, and that separation
caused them to become fearful and ashamed. They hid
from God in fear and covered themselves in shame. That
same temptation that caused Adam and Eve to become
deceived and to sin against God is running rampant in
our world today. Many people no longer acknowledge
God as the creator of all things. Instead they look to
other ideals, or even worse, themselves, as their own
source. This is a very dangerous trap that is easy to fall
into if we’re not careful and focused on remaining
humble before God and developing our understanding
of who He is.
8

“god is my source”
DAY 2
You may be having challenges in school or in your
family. Or things may be great in both of these areas of
your life. In either situation, God is with you. If you are in
a dark place, God says that he is with you and you don’t
have to be afraid (Ps. 23:4). When you’re in a very
peaceful or prosperous place it is because God is your
shepherd and has led you to that place of peace and
prosperity(Ps. 23:1-2). It is important that we always
acknowledge God, and look to God as our source of
peace, provision, and protection no matter where we
find ourselves. We do that by practicing gratitude for all
He has done for us, by reading His word so that we can
know who He is and all that He has promised us, and by
getting into His presence on a daily basis - focusing our
perspective on Him more than our daily life.
9

“GOD IS MY SOURCE”
DAY 2
1. In what ways have you seen God protect, provide, or
give you peace in your own life?
2. How do you think people become deceived into not
recognizing that God is their source?
3. How can you do a better job of focusing your attention
on God more than your own life?
10

BRIAN
"practice the patterns"
DAY 3
2 Timothy 1:13-14 NLT
“Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you
learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love
that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the
Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the
precious truth that has been entrusted to you.”
If you have ever watched a drummer, or any musician,
who plays really well, then you are watching a person
who has practiced the same patterns over and over until
they mastered those patterns. They can play those
patterns at very slow tempos and at very fast tempos.
They have spent time committing those patterns to
memory until they become like second nature.
That is how we need to treat the things of God - prayer,
study of the word, faith, love, giving, and many other
principles. We have to practice these patterns and
make them part of our everyday lives. Like musicians
who perform on stage, everyday that you wake up you
are on a stage - not performing, but living - and living
out the things of God should become like second nature.
11

"PRACTICE THE PATTERNS"
DAY 3
A musician who is well rehearsed can play an instrument
skillfully and confidently because they have spent time
practicing and preparing. That is how we need to be as
well - confident in our faith, and able to skillfully share
the word of God with others. How do we do this? Verse 14
tells that it is through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the Word of
God and in your prayer time. He will help you to
understand the scriptures and to boldly share the
Gospel with your peers, and pray for them.
When we don’t practice the patterns of prayer and Bible
study and depend on the Holy Spirit to empower us,
that’s when we find ourselves having a lack of
confidence. So we should be spending time in The Word,
and in prayer, and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us,
but also practicing depending on the power of the Holy
Spirit to empower us to live this life and to serve and
minister to others.
12

“PRACTICE THE PATTERNS”
DAY 3
1. In addition to prayer and studying the Word, what
additional patterns can you practice to be a better
disciple of Christ?
2. What areas do you need to depend on the Holy Spirit
to help you be better in?
3. How confident are you sharing the Gospel and praying
for others? How can you become more comfortable?
13

BRIAN
"THE LORD IS WITH YOU"
DAY 4
Judges 6:11-16 NKJV
“Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the
terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to
Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat
in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites.
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to
him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why
then has all this happened to us? And where are all His
miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not
the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has
forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the
Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in
this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the
hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” So he said
to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my
clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in
my father’s house.” And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will
be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one
man.”
Have you ever had someone that kept trying you, or a
situation that kept “beating” you up repeatedly. Well in
the Bible, the Israelites had a lot of people trying them.
You could even say that they got bullied a lot, but
because they were God’s chosen people, they triumphed
over all of their enemies in the end.
14

“the lord is with you”
DAY 4
That’s what we see about to happen in this passage.
God sent an angel to tell Gideon that he would be able
to defeat their enemy, the Midianites. It’s important to
note at the end of verse 11, the angel calls Gideon,
“mighty man of valor”. Also notice that before he calls
him that, he says, “The Lord is with you”. Notice again in
verse 16, The Lord says, “Surely I will be with you, and you
shall defeat the Midianites…”.
Much like the Israelites, we face many enemies in our
lives, and we may feel overwhelmed like Gideon was in
verse 15 - thinking that we don’t come from a strong
family or have a strong background. We may even feel
unequipped or unqualified to face certain challenges we
come up against. Maybe it’s that we don’t feel smart
enough, or pretty enough, or whatever limitations we see
in ourselves.
That’s the problem. When we look at ourselves we see
our limitations, but we should learn to see ourselves
based on what God has called us. And more importantly
than that, we should become more aware of the fact
that The Lord is with us. Any time that God told the
Israelites, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall
defeat….”, that is exactly what happened. They won
those battles every time. So we can depend on God just
like the Israelites did. You can defeat every battle in your
life because the The Lord is with you and has called you
Victorious!
15

“the lord is with you”
DAY 4
1. In what ways do you find yourself in this passage of
scripture?
2. What areas of your life do you need to begin to
change how you see yourself? How does God see you in
that area?
3. How can we know that The Lord is with us?
16

CALIYAH
"the lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want"
DAY 5
Psalm 23 NLT
“The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord Forever.”
17

CALIYAH
"the lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want"
DAY 5
We can believe that we can find safety in the arms of the
father, even in scary and unknown times in our walks.
Our greatest need is going before the Lord and asking
him to remind us who He is. In this scripture above we
see that is says God is our shepherd. Understanding
what that truly means is first identifying the qualities that
a shepherd holds.
Loves his sheep and develops a close, intimate
relationship with them so that they know his voice and
trust him.
Understands the needs of the sheep better than they do.
Understands what threatens sheep and what makes
them sick.
Works tirelessly to provide protection and security.
These are the same qualities that Jesus displays having
personal relationships with him. We can find that all of
our needs are supplied by the Lord, our shepherd and
that we can go to him about everything!
18

"the lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want"
DAY 5
1. What did you take away from this demo?
2. Have you identified any of these qualities with your
relationship with the Lord and if so which ones?
3. How do you think these qualities that Jesus holds will
impact your walk and relationship with Him?
19

CALIYAH
“trust is key”
DAY 6
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your
own understanding and he will direct your path.”
It is advised to us believers to trust in the Lord. It is within our
human nature that we will ultimately put our trust in
something or someone or even ourselves. Here Solomon tells
us to trust in the Lord Yahweh. With “all of our heart” when we
try to trust in something else and trust in God, we ultimately
fail at truly trusting in the Lord fully. With doing these things
that means also putting away Our own understanding and
instead trusting and leaning on God to guide us. With this we
will learn to honor and acknowledge God and we can
practice this by inviting the Lord into our everyday lives and
we can find that God will directs our paths.
20

“trust is key”
DAY 6
1. What did you take away from this demo?
2. What has been the most challenging part of trusting
God in all areas of your life?
3. Have you ever given something so big to God and He
blew your mind with the outcome and if so how did that
make you feel?
21

“rock solid”
DAY 7
Matthew 7: 24-29
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and
does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his
house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods
came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and
it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does
not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his
house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods
came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and
it fell. And great was its fall. And so it was, when Jesus
had ended these sayings, that the people were
astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one
having authority, and not as the scribes."
With so much authority Jesus makes it very clear about
how we are to respond to His teachings. When we
respond to them in ways that we make them a part of
our lives and we seek through Him to truly live by them,
we are like someone who builds their home on a
foundation that is sturdy and safe. When we only hear
the word of God but we don’t respond to it we are like
someone who builds their house on unstable sand. Think
about those two foundations and about how Jesus uses
this metaphor.
22

“Can they see God IN you?”
DAY 7
In that same breath, he is also discussing the constant
battle he sees between fulfilling the flesh and walking
with Christ. He is urging the Philippians to do whatever
they can, no matter the circumstances, to conduct
themselves in a manner that is WORTHY of the sacrifice
God made by giving us, Christ.
Although we are being watched by the world around us,
we should behave in this manner even if no one is
around to see it. We even must challenge ourselves to
walk in integrity despite the flaws within those claiming
to be “Kingdom kids.”
1. What did you take away from the scripture?
2. What are some of the things that you’re connected to
that is hindering a feel connection to the true vine?
23

“Can they see God IN you?”
DAY 7
3. What are some behaviors that you feel you need to
change to conduct yourself in a manner that is worthy of
this gospel?
Prayer
Father God, thank you for the ultimate sacrifice of Christ
Jesus and all that it represents in my life. Thank you for
repentance and the opportunity to continue to praise
your name. Father, may I open my eyes and realize that
you are always watching, and because of this, may I do
my best to always please you. Lord, I pray that I find
myself deep in the integrity that it takes to always
conduct myself in a manner worthy of your sacrifice. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.
24

CALIYAH
"thanksgiving is everyday"
DAY 8
1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all
circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
for you.”
There are many times and you possibly have
experienced it, where we think prayer has to look a
certain way or it has to be in a certain time frame, and it
doesn’t. Pray without ceasing means that prayer doesn’t
have to stop when we open our eyes or when we unfold
our hands- praying means to be in constant
communication with our father. Think of him like a best
friend that you can talk to on the phone for hours. The
time, place, voice doesn’t bring the significance of
prayer- the significance is just simply going to God
about absolutely everything throughout our day.
1. What did you take away from the scripture above?
25

“thanksgiving is everyday”
DAY 8
1. How do you think having this new perspective about
prayer will change your prayer life?
2. What is the most challenging thing when it comes to
prayer for you?
26

BJ
"god’s honor through his word"
DAY 9
John 8:48-55
"Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say
rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”49
Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My
Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own
glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most
assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall
never see death.” Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we
know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the
prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall
never taste death.’ Are You greater than our father
Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who
do You make Yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I
honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who
honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you
have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not
know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and
keep His word.”
Honor (verb): to regard with great respect.
In John 8 Jesus is challenged when explaining to the
Jews that He is the Messiah due to where he came from.
The Jews “claimed” to believe in God and the prophets of
the old, but that isn’t the same as taking heed in God’s
word.
27

"god’s honor through his word"
DAY 9
What gave Jesus the authority to defend his faith in God
when it came to his identity being challenged was God’s
word spoken over his life. God’s word was hidden in his
heart as a constant reminder of who he was called to
be. When we combat the lies/challenges of Satan and
others with the Word of God it’s equivalent to honoring
God and as a reward, he gives honor back to us.
1. What were your main takeaways from this devotional?
2. What are some scriptures you can keep that will bring
honor to God in your life?
28

"god’s honor through his word"
DAY 9
3. How has God given honor to you recently?
29

BJ
"coming boldly to his throne"
DAY 10
Hebrews 4:16
"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of
need."
Boldly (adverb):(of a person, action, or idea) showing an
ability to take risks; confident and courageous.
Most if not all of the book of Hebrews is centered around
the dominion that Jesus holds. What is so beautiful about
his dominion is that it was free given to us when Jesus
defeated death. That’s what gives us the authority to be
bold in our speech and in prayer. This requires talking to
God on a level deeper than the surface, getting rid of the
filter that we are so accustomed to having when it comes
to talk to God about the good the bad and the ugly. In the
tough conversations we have with God about our lives is
where we find our answers through his grace and mercy.
When you go into prayer, don’t be ashamed to show
him/tell him about what you’re struggling with but be bold
in your speech, ask for his help and his grace will be there
waiting for you to receive it.
30

"coming boldly to his throne"
DAY 10
1. How does this devotional apply to your life today?
2. What is something BIG that you want God to do in your life
that you’ve been too afraid to ask for?
3. Who in your life can you ask yo be in agreement with you
on what you are believing in God for?
31

“praying in faith”
BJ
DAY 11
James 1:5-8
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives
to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given
to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he
who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed
by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will
receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded
man, unstable in all his ways.”
James is the book of faith in action and the teachings of
James could have been introduced to us any clearer.
James (the brother of Jesus) gives us very practical
advice when it comes to trusting in God. Don’t doubt
what God can do, and stand firm in what you’re trusting
in God for. Simple as that! This is how prayer works, trust
that God hears what you are saying to him even if it
doesn’t feel that way. This requires blocking out the voice
of the enemy through speaking the word of God over it…
even in your prayers. Today I challenge you to look for
scripture that supports what you’re believing God for
and the next time you start to doubt God, use those
scriptures in your prayers replace to strengthen your
faith.
32

“praying in faith”
DAY 11
1. How does this devotional apply to your life?
2. How has your faith been tested? What did you do when it
was tested?
3. What scripture can you find that can be used in your
everyday life to strengthen your faith in God?
33

SHANIKA
“don’t worry”
DAY 12
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus.”
This Scripture confirms God does not want us to worry
about anything but pray about everything. He is your
friend, and he wants you to talk to Him about those
things that may be interrupting your peace, or
constantly on your mind. God is always wanting the best
for our lives, and He will grant us peace when we present
our requests to him. Each day we should focus our
hearts and minds on Christ Jesus, and we do this by
making our requests known to God.
1. Reflect on this past week and write down any worries
which may have interrupted your peace?
34

“don’t worry”
DAY 12
2. Present these worries to God. Ask God to guide your
heart and mind as you have been worried about.
3. Now “Thank God” and begin to Praise God and trust
peace has been granted over these areas.
35

BJ
“SALTY SAINTS”
DAY 13
Read Matthew 5:13-16... but before reading do the
following:
1. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand.
2. Read Slow and ensure you understand what you’re
reading. (If you don’t understand write the question
down)
3. Find something to take away from your reading
Matthew 5:13-16
“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be saltseasoning
that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If
you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?
You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the
garbage. Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be
light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not
a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as
public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you
don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?
I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you
there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open
house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to
others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this
generous Father in heaven.:
36

“SALTY SAINTS”
DAY 13
This verse lays it all out there as it relates to the true
purpose of the believer. You are here to be the salt, the
light and to lead others to the Father in heaven! What
does this scripture speak to you concerning the purpose
of a believer? What do you think it means to be the salt
of the earth and the light of God as this scripture says?
1. What did you take away from this scripture?
2. What are some things that can pull you away from
hearing and obeying Jesus’ teachings?
37

“SALTY SAINTS”
DAY 13
3. What are some other influences in your ear that you
may need to block out to really hear Him?
4. What is your prayer concerning these things
5. Did you have any questions about the scripture?
38

SHANIKA
“forgive”
DAY 14
Mark 11:25-26 NKJV
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything
against anyone forgive him, that your Father in heaven
may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you don’t
forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your
trespasses."
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and yet Jesus still
forgave. In fact, Jesus said, “Forgive them God for they
know not what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34). While you may
be faced with challenges, offended by others, hurt by
others, God forgives us and empowers us to forgive
others. Jesus regularly mentions the importance of
forgiveness through stories in the bible, called parables.
Remember the story of the Prodigal Son who misused his
inheritance and came back crawling to his father. The is
an example of forgiveness but also his brother’s struggle
to accept that forgiveness.
1. Reflect on anyone who has hurt you, offended you,
abandoned you, made you angry, etc.?
39

“FORGIVE”
DAY 14
2. Accept what has happened and show yourself
compassion.
3. Pray & ask God for forgiveness and make amends with
whomever you’re forgiving. Rejoice and Praise God for
the release of any bitterness, anger, frustration towards
this person.
40

SHANIKA
“love”
DAY 15
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful
or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is
not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”
Paul is writing to God’s church in Corinth, who were
called by God to be his own holy people. Paul is breaking
down how we should walk in love and defines what this
looks like. Like the blueprint of how we should live daily
and relate to each other. Our goal is to be imitators of
God, we serve God and to serve God is through Love.
This type of love always protects, always, trusts, always
hopes, and always persevere. This love never fails.
1. What are 2-3 areas in your life you can be patient and
kind.
41

“love”
DAY 15
2. This week, set a goal in those areas to apply patience
and kindness.
3. Capture and write down how this activity made you
feel, or if you face any challenges with applying patience
and kindness in these areas.
42

KENYA
“you’re not dirty, you’re clay”
DAY 16
Isaiah 64:8
“And, yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay,
and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.”
You ever thought of all the mistakes that you have made
and felt like there was nothing else God could do with
you? You ever felt broken and or like all hopes was lost?
There have been so many times you dropped the ball,
people turned their backs on you, they gave up on you,
you even gave up on yourself. You are not your mistakes;
you are not a sum total of all the negative things that
have occurred in your life! God is the ultimate potter,
and you are his clay!
Look to God who is the master of everything. You have
access to the person who can do ANYTHING, with
EVERYTHING. Remember that he promised to complete
his work in you and to open your eyes to all that he is
doing. Sometimes things get hard, just like that lump of
clay, it is really hard at the beginning of the process. Life
and circumstances happen, but God continues to work
on it, he keeps maneuvering and manipulating the clay
in his hands, molding it, smoothing it, carefully keeping
his eye on it to make sure nothing is missing, out of
place or lacking, until it looks like it should!
43

“you’re not dirty, you’re clay”
DAY 16
Over time, during our experiences with God we turn out
and look like how we are supposed. The sweetest thing
about this, is he doesn’t throw us away when we have a
cracked edge, we are broken or have to be started over.
He works with us, softens us and works with us until we
become his masterpiece. But the only way this can
happen is if we surrender! Our part in this, is that we
have to stop resisting, being tough, running and being
hard. No longer resisting is how he knows that we are
ready for whatever he has for us, it gets easier for him to
mold us, and if I’m honest, it starts to get easier for us to,
things just begin to flow. It is easier for us to hear him,
listen to him and move when he says. He wants a
surrendered heart and for you to trust and put all things
in his hands to take care of, casting the whole of your
cares on him because he cares for you.
We at times don’t think we are much or have much to
offer and lack the ability to see ourselves as God sees us.
But God has the ability to see what we can not see,
which is why we need to stick close to him, surrender
and submit to him.
Let your prayer be, “God make me more like you. Help me
to surrender and strive daily to be more like you, God
have your way, make me more like you!”
44

“you’re not dirty, you’re clay”
DAY 16
Let God mold you, smooth away your rough edges, put
your broken pieces back together again. ANYTHING can
become something in the right hands, the potter’s hand!
Just one touch from him can change EVERYTHING!
1. What mistake or hurt have you made and continued to
carry?
2. What haven’t you surrendered to God? Search your heart
and give it to him!
3. Name 3 things that you are going to trust God with
wholeheartedly and not take back from him. Attach a
scripture to each one to help you state grounded in it!
45

WALT
"Love is first"
DAY 17
Mark 12:29-31
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is
this…You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,
all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The
second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as
yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Jesus was asked what is the first or most important
commandment of all? His response was to love Him
(God) first with everything you have, then to love people
the way you love yourself. How is it even possible to love
God with all that you have AND to love yourself? Didn’t I
just give all of my love to God?
I’ve come to learn that loving ourselves as humans is
quite easy and somewhat unavoidable. When I’m not
loving God with all that I have, I tend to be selfish,
prideful and inconsiderate of others. I want all the
attention and I’m more concerned about my desires for
me than God’s desires for me. My behavior is focused on
pleasing me.
46

WALT
"Love is first"
DAY 17
But when I love God with all that I have, He gets the best
of me. I give Him my heart over social media, the person
I like or even gaming. I love Him with my mind and soul
by spending time in His Word and having frequent
conversations with Him more than I look to google or
somebody who I think knows the answer to my situation. I
love Him with all my strength by being thankful at all
times and praising Him even when it doesn’t look cool or
I don’t feel like it.
It’s in loving Him that we truly love ourselves because we
were made in God’s image. And no one has the power or
desire for us to be well more than God does! It’s only
through God’s love that we are able to love our neighbor
past ourselves. It becomes a love that wants the best for
them just as we want for ourselves.
1. Recall an occasion and action when you loved
yourself God’s way versus your way
47

"Love is first"
DAY 17
2. God calls us to love Him with everything we have. What
is an area in your life where you can love Him more?
3. How are you loving the people around you like you
love yourself?
48

AMBER
"presence & power over
performance and potential"
DAY 18
Can you remember a time when you didn’t know how to
do something that you can do with your eyes closed (or
with only one eye open) today? For instance, there was a
time we could not tie your shoes. Our parents had to
help as we watched and learned the pattern of steps to
tie those shoes on our own. That’s a simple example but
it’s relatable to almost everything we learn to do in life.
First we couldn’t, then we could. Another example might
be a sin we used to consistently commit before we
received Christ. Before the grace and power of Holy
Spirit, we didn’t have the strength to overcome that evil.
But thank God we do now!
As we continue to age, this same process of learning
and development will continue. Walking and growing
with God is a spiritual journey that continues for our
entire life. Today, you may play an instrument, or
participate in a sport, or volunteer somewhere that
allows you to use your God-given talents. It’s likely you
are growing and getting better, demonstrating potential
that may even surprise you at times. That’s great! What
can also happen once we become proficient at
something is we can begin to feel like it’s us doing it; that
it’s us, in our own power making it happen. We stop
seeking God as much and our thanksgiving for success
in that area can become less and less.
49

"presence & power over
performance and potential"
DAY 18
Self-reliance, along with the stress and pride it breeds,
sets in and we stop seeing the results we used to see or
we begin experiencing a lot less joy in that area of our
lives.
Galatians 3:3 warns us about this so we can stay ahead
of this temptation. Our entire life on this earth is a
developmental ground for the Heavenly eternity set
before us. God will continue to grow and mature us, even
in areas where we feel like we’ve reached our pinnacle.
Remember, God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts
and His ways are higher than our ways. So, keep thanking
Him and seeking Him for grace to abound in every area
of your life— those where you’re aware of your growth
opportunities along with those you feel you’ve mastered.
Stay curious, open, and grateful—He’s not finished with
you yet!
50

"presence & power over
performance and potential"
DAY 18
1. Read Galatians 3:3- What’s an area in your life where
things are going well or you’re performing well and
notice you’re not seeking God and thanking Him as
much as you could?
2. Read Philippians 1:6- Paul talks about the “good work.”
What is the “good work” that was started within you and
how do you see Him continuing that good work in your
daily life?
51

AMBER
"ready s.e.t. go - embracing
life’s spiritual gym"
DAY 19
At times, life throws us curve balls that may seem like
towering walls, signaling that we don’t have what it takes
to scale that wall. We can be tempted to believe the lies
that we're not cut out for success, or we’re on the wrong
path, or that something’s just off about us. Whether it's a
clash with a friend, a challenge in a team, or a task that's
beyond our current skill set, stress and anxiety often
pounce on these moments of vulnerability. In a world
where quick fixes are a scroll or click away, we're
tempted to look for the easiest escape. We turn to
search engines, seek peer perspectives in group chats,
or lose hours on social media with TikTok and Instagram,
hoping for a quick fix. Or perhaps we opt for a game of
hide and seek with our issues, wishing they'd simply
disappear. These earthly strategies might grant us
momentary ease, but let’s face it, they just can’t give us
the peace and wisdom we truly long for. Thankfully, the
Spirit reminds us of a heavenly approach, where not just
answers but lasting grace and fortitude are found.
Getting S.E.T. (Strength, Endurance, and Trust in God)
52

"ready s.e.t. go - embracing
life’s spiritual gym"
DAY 19
Imagine obstacles as spiritual gym equipment. At first,
you might think, “Doesn't God see my struggle? Can't He
just text me the solution?” But here's the thing: God
knows you're set for victory. The challenges? They're your
spiritual workout routine to build you up. So when
opposition hits, especially as we strive to live out our
purpose, remember Jesus' words in John 16:33, "Take
heart! I have overcome the world." That’s our cue that in
the face of trials, we’re more than conquerors.
God has designed you for success, not just in your tasks
but in experiencing lasting joy while you do them. That's
the goal, to be S.E.T. for every assignment embracing the
“workout” with every challenge on our path.
53

"ready s.e.t. go - embracing
life’s spiritual gym"
DAY 19
1. Strength in Scripture: Read James 1:2-4. What personal
meaning does this passage hold for you? How does it
redefine your understanding of challenges?
2. Endurance through Trust: Reflect on Proverbs 3:5-6.
What worries normally send your heart racing? How can
pausing to seek God's guidance, immersing yourself in
scripture, and finding quiet time equip you to face
similar situations in the future?
54

"ready s.e.t. go - embracing
life’s spiritual gym"
DAY 19
3. Trust in Triumph: Read and reflect on John 16:33. How
does this promise reshape your view of life's hurdles and
your interaction with the world? Share your thoughts with
a friend.
55

"LISTEN LINDA"
DAY 20
Read Luke 9:28-36... but before reading do the
following:
1. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand.
2. Read Slow and ensure you understand what you’re
reading. (If you don’t understand write the question
down)
3. Find something to take away from your reading
Luke 9:28-36
“Now it came to pass, about eight days after these
sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went
up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the
appearance of His face was altered, and His
robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men
talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who
appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He
was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and
those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they
were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men
who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were
parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is
good for us to be here; and let us make
three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one
for Elijah-”
56

"LISTEN LINDA"
DAY 20
—not knowing what he said.
While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed
them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a
voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son.
Hear Him!” When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found
alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any
of the things they had seen.”
Can you imagine this moment? Try to imagine it as you read!
Jesus’ face being altered, Moses and Elijah appearing before
God, it had to be a site to see! In this powerful moment, God
affirms Jesus as His Son and as The One who we should
listen to even above the great Moses and Elijah. If God that
Father wants us to listen to Jesus above even them, how
much more important is it to listen to Him above other
people and things in our lives?
1. What did you take away from this scripture?
57

"LISTEN LINDA"
DAY 20
2. What are some things that can pull you away from
hearing and obeying Jesus’ teaching? What are some
other influences in your ear that you may need to block
out to really hear Him?
3. What is your prayer concerning these things?
4. Did you have any questions about the scripture?
58

ELIZA
"the king of liberty"
DAY 21
Luke 4:18-21 BSB
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to
proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the
blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the
Lord’s favor.” Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the
attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the
synagogue were fixed on
Jesus is the King of liberty. We can only find true and lasting
freedom in Him. Here, He quotes Isaiah who wrote about
Jesus' decades before He came. Jesus declares that the
liberty that the prophet Isaiah spoke about, is now here! If
there is ANYTHING in your life that is making you feel heavy,
stuck, and enslaved, Jesus wants to set you free from it.
What is crazy is that some of us do not even realize that we
are enslaved. We have fallen in love with the things that are
ruining our lives and we end up rejecting true freedom in
Christ for false freedom in the world. The Holy Spirit can
search our hearts, The Spirit can show us where we still need
the Liberation King to set us free if we would only be willing
to genuinely ask Him.
59

"THE KING OF LIBERTY"
DAY 21
1. Where do you still need freedom? What are the things
that enslave you, even if they are things you enjoy?
2. Are you willing to invite Jesus’ power of freedom to
truly give you the liberty that He wants you to have?
What would you have to let go of to allow Him to do so?
3. What would your life be like if you walked in the
freedom Jesus came to give?
60

prayer & fasting
Y O U T H D E V O T I O N A L
@theplug.ym