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You’re sitting at home, and it seems like there is absolutely nothing to do! Your friends can’t come over, your brother is at a birthday party, your sister is at church camp, you’ve finished your homework and chores. And you’re not in the mood to play a game or watch a movie.
Suddenly, out of your mouth comes a huge sigh and those two dreadful words—I’m bored!
Being bored is...well...boring! Did you know there’s a secret to never being bored? It’s this: Make a list of “Five Things I Want to Do.” You can list goals or dreams, hobbies, books you’d like to read, something new you’d love to know about or learn to do. Then file away that list and pull it out the next time the temptation to say, “I’m bored!” begins to creep over you.
God has big plans for your life—and...well, His plans are never boring! What can you do with a free afternoon? You could work on writing a book, complete with your own illustrations. You could write to a missionary or a pen pal. You could design and make your own jewelry. You could even work on a personal Bible study that’s just for you. You choose!
Time is a treasure. It’s a gift from God. And He wants you to value each day and use your time well. Your parents and responsibilities determine much of how your time is spent. But anything beyond that is your free time. The better you use it, the greater the rewards will be later. Maybe God is growing something special in your life—and He’s giving You free time to develop those gifts and talents. Choose to use it—not waste it.
RESPOND
Lord, teach me the value of using my free time well, using it wisely. Whatever it is I do with my schedule, I want it to glorify You. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES 
A Young Woman After God’s Own Heart–Learn how to grow close to God, get along with your family and friends, and make the right kinds of choices, and prepare for the future! Add the accompanying Devotional for only $5!
REFLECT
Make a list of “Five Things I Want to Do.” Under your list, write out what you need to accomplish your goals. It may be gathering material items like paper and scissors, or asking your mom for her help in using the oven to bake a cake, or borrowing your brother’s guitar to learn a new song.
REMEMBER
Time is a treasure. It’s a gift from God. And He wants you to value each day and use your time well.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
When something difficult happens in your life, are you ever tempted to ask, “What good could come out of this?” The event looks like a disaster. It feels like a disaster. Therefore, we quickly conclude, it is a disaster! But God did not forget His people who were suffering in Babylon. And, my friend, He won’t forget you!
Too many times in the past I’ve told others “I’m fine” in order to hide my pain and sorrows from them. The truth is, my thoughts pulled me down so far that, in private, tears regularly streamed down my face. Are you constantly thinking negative thoughts? Being a woman after God’s own heart is all about “minding your mind.”
As a young mother, I endeavored to “train a child in the way he should go,” so that “when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). A decade later, however, I wasn’t reaping the results I had expected. Angrily, I said to God, “But this isn’t the way it was supposed to be! This isn’t the way it went for this family here or that family over there. And this isn’t the way it was supposed to be for my family!”