Day 1 – BEWARE OF BAD INFLUENCES

Read 1 Corinthians 15:33. What does bad company do?
As a kid, your parents choose a lot of things for you. They choose where you live. They choose where you go to school and what you are allowed to do. One of the choices you have is your friends. Of course your parents can help you and they can limit your time with certain people, but when you are at school your friends are your choice. The choice of your friends is a very important decision because friends influence you. Beware of people who can influence you to give into your sinful desires. You want friends who encourage your walk with Jesus.

Day 2 – BEWARE OF PLACES THAT CAN INFLUENCE YOU

Read Psalm 1:1. Why does this verse say a person is blessed?
Why do you think you are blessed to not spend all your time with people who love sin?
All people sin. Even your friends who follow Jesus will make mistakes. You want to beware of people who love to sin. These people enjoy living life their own way and don’t want to follow God. You do not want to treat these people bad. You don’t need to avoid these people at school. You might be on sports teams with them or the teacher might pair you up with someone like this in a class. That is completely fine! God is not talking about avoiding them. They can be friends, but just not the kind that you spend all your time with. You also need to beware of going to places where there are not good influences. Often times these places promote sin and bad choices. Right now at your age, your parents protect you from going to those places. As you grow up, you will have more freedom where you go and don’t go. It’s good to know now that you can put yourself in bad situations and be influenced by the people there.
What are some places you know you should not be at your age?
Why do your parents not want you to be there? Can you be influenced by anyone there?

Day 3 – OBEY YOUR PARENTS

Read Ephesians 6:1-3
What does this verse say for you to do?
God has asked your parents to teach you how to live life and protect you from things that can keep you from being you. Your parents have lived life a lot longer than you and understand what the world is like. They don’t know all the specific challenges you will face, but they know how to prepare you to live life. It might be hard to understand why they say “no” just like it’s hard to understand why God says “no.” But God has put your parents in charge to help you become you. What are some things your parents have taught you? Say thank you to your parents.

Day 4 – HAVE GOOD FRIENDS

Read Ecclesiastes 4:10. What can a good friend do for you?
God wants you to have friends. He knows that a good friend will help you become more like Him. He will use your friends to encourage you in your adventure to find your identity in Christ. God knows you will make mistakes and He will use your friends to help get you back on your feet. Beware of trying to live life on your own without any help from others. If you always have people encouraging you, it will be easier to get back on your feet when you fall. Do you have a friend who has helped you when you did wrong?
Do you have a friend who helped you when something bad happened?

Day 5 – GOOD FRIENDS CHALLENGE YOU

Read Proverbs 13:20. If you walk with good friends you will become what?
The president of the United States doesn’t run the country on his own. He has a group of people to help him do his job as president. When something happens, the president is in charge of the decision but rallies with all of his chosen advisors to help him be wise when he makes the decision. He relies on their knowledge and experience to help him. You are in charge of making decisions for your life, but if you have great friends they can help you make wise ones. God uses people in different ways and teaches people different things at different times. A good friend can help you in something he or she has already experienced or learned from God. If you live your life with great friends who follow Jesus, God will give you His wisdom through them to help you become who He wants you to be!