Be Careful What You Put Out There

 

Ephesians 5:15 (NIV) says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,” In this verse, the Apostle Paul is telling us to pay attention to how we live our lives. As young people, we are told things like, “You can do anything you want to do…” or “You can become whoever you want to become…” Those statements can make us feel more confident, but we also have to understand what God says in His Word. As believers in Jesus Christ, we can’t just do whatever we want to do. We have to think about the choices we make and ask ourselves if those choices are pleasing to God.

Galatians 6:7 (NIV) says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” This teaches us that the choices we make have consequences.  We have to be mindful of what we put out into the world—how we speak, how we behave, and how we treat other people. Even the little things we do matter because our actions can have good or bad consequences.

It’s just like if you get angry because someone did something to you that you didn’t like, and then you, in return, do something to pay them back for the wrong they did to you. You are making it worse for yourself because what you put out there has a consequence. Even something like gossiping to your friends about someone or making fun of a person’s disability. Those are negative behaviors, and God is never pleased when we do things like that.

Obadiah 1:15 (NIV) says, “The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.” 

This verse means that when we do things that God does not approve of, there are consequences for our actions.

So, take this as a warning to be careful about the things you do because we represent God, and our bodies are His temples. When people know that you are a child of God, they pay attention to how you act and how you treat others. If you are always acting out of spite or trying to get back at someone, they might think that other Christians behave the same way. We have to remember that our actions don't just affect us, but they can also affect how others see God. He is always watching, and we should do our best to live in a way that pleases Him. We won't always get everything right, but as we grow in our relationship with God, we should also be growing in how we treat others.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Be Careful What You Put Out There”, written foraheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Learning to Grow in God

 

James 1:22 (NIV) says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

As Christians, we can go through different stages in our relationship with God, and in some of those stages, it’s like we’re standing still instead of moving with Him. We stop growing in the spiritual ways He tells us to, and a lot of the times, we don't even notice it. We get used to a certain routine and start to feel comfortable, and that’s what we need to watch out for—becoming too comfortable. It’s during those times that we can get off track and lose our motivation to learn more about God.

2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

This verse reminds us that we should continually seek God because doing so helps us grow closer to Him and brings honor to His magnificent glory.

I myself have been a little still in my relationship with God. I haven't been desiring Him like I used to, and I've gotten distracted by watching TikTok and doing all sorts of other things. Even when I did read my Bible, I would rush through it just so I could get back to what I was doing. I'm sure we can all relate to this somehow because worldly things can be so addictive.

But we need to learn to reach for God's hand and recognize when we've started ignoring Him. We must continue growing spiritually, walking with God, and trusting Him. We should also be careful to avoid the enemy's traps because Jesus Christ is coming back, and we must be prepared.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Learning to Grow in God”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

God Forgives but There’s Still a Price

1 John 1:9 (NIV) says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

God forgives us for our sins because He has an overwhelming amount of grace. He loves us so much, and He wants us to live according to what He says. That is one of the major reasons why He has given us the Bible, His Word, so we can live our best lives.

Living our best lives is not based on our standards or what we think is best. It is based on what God knows is best.

He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross so that we could receive forgiveness for our sins and be saved from eternal death. This is the free gift of salvation that He’s given us. Ephesians 2:8 (NLT) says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” This is so awesome! Because of everything God has accomplished through Jesus Christ, we can have a relationship with Him. But this doesn’t mean we can do wrong things and not expect there to be consequences.

A mistake that many people make is thinking that God’s forgiveness is a free pass for doing the wrong things. It doesn’t work like that. Galatians 6:7 (NLT) tells us that God is very just. That means He never does anything wrong. This verse also tells us, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” So whatever sin we commit, it can come with a price to pay. God loves us, but our actions can have consequences.

For example, let’s say you sin by getting angry and cursing someone out. You realize that you were wrong, and you ask God for forgiveness with an honest heart. Our Heavenly Father will forgive you. But even though God forgives you, the person you cursed out may still be hurt by what you said, and there may be consequences for your actions. This shows us that God’s Word works exactly as He said. When we do the wrong things, there can still be a price to pay.

This may seem unfair to you, but you have to understand that God is just, and there are consequences for the things we do. God’s forgiveness does not mean that our actions no longer matter.

In conclusion, the next time you sin and ask God for forgiveness, don’t be surprised if you still have to face the consequences of your actions. Don’t blame God for the results of choices you made. Remember, God’s forgiveness does not mean we get to escape every consequence of our actions. We should never think we know better than God or question His wisdom. Instead, we should learn from our mistakes and try to do what is right.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“God Forgives but There’s Still a Price”, written foraheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Trust God When Something Doesn’t Feel Right

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” 

Whether it's something at school, an activity you're attending, or another situation you find yourself in, there may be times when you're in a place or environment that doesn't feel right to you. Maybe you can't explain why you feel uncomfortable, but something about the situation doesn't sit well with you. Sometimes, we brush those feelings off because we don't want to seem different, make a big deal out of something, or leave when everyone else is staying. But it's important to pay attention when something doesn't feel right.

You may wonder why this matters. Well, God can guide us in different ways, and one way He helps us is through the Holy Spirit who lives in those who belong to Christ. Sometimes, you may sense that you need to be cautious about a situation or that it's time to step away. That doesn't mean every uncomfortable feeling is a message from God. Sometimes we feel nervous because we're doing something new or unfamiliar. That's why we need to pray, use wisdom, and pay attention to what's happening around us. We can also talk to an adult we trust because sometimes they can help us understand the situation better.

For example, just a few days ago, I was riding around in a town in my state, stopping at different stores. While we were there, I started having this strange feeling that made me want to leave. I couldn't quite explain it, but I remember thinking, “Maybe God is trying to tell me it's time to go.” I felt uneasy, and I couldn't quite explain, but when we left that area, I began to feel more at ease. The experience reminded me of why it's important to pay attention when something doesn't feel right. And we should always pray for God's guidance, and use wisdom about what to do next.

Hebrews 11:8 (NIV) says, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”

This verse shows us that Abraham trusted God enough to obey Him, even though he didn't know what was ahead of him. He had to trust God's direction without having all the answers. We can learn from Abraham's example because there may be times when God directs us to make a change, walk away from a situation, or reconsider a relationship. We may not always understand why we need to make a particular decision, but we can pray for wisdom, look at the situation honestly, and seek guidance from God's Word and trusted adults who can help us make wise choices.

In conclusion, don't ignore a situation that makes you feel unsafe or raises concerns. Ask God for wisdom and direction, and remember that you don't have to stay somewhere just because other people expect you to. Learning to recognize when it's time to step away from a person, place, or situation can help protect you from harm. As you learn to trust God and follow His direction, you are also learning to walk by faith and grow in your relationship with Him.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Trust God When Something Doesn’t Feel Right”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our 

My Plans Verses God’s Plans

 

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

When I was in school today, we were talking about what we wanted to be when we became adults. My immediate answer was to be an engineer because I like to build things. But it also had me thinking about what God wants me to do with my life, and if He and I have the same plans.

The truth is that just because we want to do something, it doesn’t mean God is going to shift whatever plans He has for us. We might have our whole future figured out in our heads. We can picture where we want to go, what kind of job we want, how much money we want to make, and even what we think our lives should look like. But God knows things about our future that we don’t know yet.

Isaiah 55:8–9 (NIV) says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This is because God knows the absolute best-case scenario for us. So even if what you see is a big successful path with no downsides, God can see that there are plenty of holes for you to fall in. He can see where that path leads years from now, while we can only see what looks good to us today. Sometimes God might even lead us away from something we really wanted, and at first, we might not understand why.

Psalm 32:8 (NIV) says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make plans or think about our future. I still think being an engineer would be pretty cool. But I also have to leave room for God to show me what He created me to do. My plans are based on what I know right now. God’s plans are based on everything He already knows.

So when you think about your future, it’s okay to dream and make plans. Just don’t hold onto those plans so tightly that you won’t let God change them. Sometimes the path God chooses might not look like the one you imagined, but He can see the whole road. We can’t.

 

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“My Plans Verses God’s Plans”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!