S — Scripture
James 4:1–2  “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but do not have, so you kill. You covet, but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

O — Observation
James asks a question — “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” — and then answers it himself. The fights on the outside come from something on the inside: “your desires that battle within you.” There’s the thing everybody can see... and then there’s the thing underneath it.

That’s true for you, too. When a friend leaves you on read or your teacher calls you out in front of the class, and it bugs you all day, the thing that happened usually isn’t the whole story. Underneath, one of seven questions just felt like it got a “no.” Today’s step is to Catch It — to pause when the alarm goes off and notice what’s really going on underneath.

A — Application
Think About It

• When was the last time something small bothered you way more than it should have?
• Looking at that moment, what do you think was going on underneath?

Do This
Flip to the back page of this devotional and read through the seven questions. Circle the one that feels loudest for you right now (maybe two). Then, today, the next time the alarm goes off, pause for five seconds and ask: “What question of mine just felt like it got a ‘no’?” and “What am I about to do to get the ‘yes’ back?”

P — Prayer
God, I don’t always know why things get to me the way they do. Help me catch it when the alarm goes off, and show me what’s really going on underneath. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

S — Scripture
Romans 5:8  “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

O — Observation
God didn’t wait until you had your life together. “While we were still sinners,” Jesus went to the cross for you. He died to pay for your sins so that you don’t have to be forever separated from God. Am I loved? The cross already settled it.
That same love answers two more questions. Am I safe? Nothing in all creation can separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:38–39). Am I secure? Your Father knows exactly what you need and will take care of you (Philippians 4:19). So when you feel the scramble — trying to keep everybody happy, or always picturing the worst — flip it: “In Christ, I am loved. I am safe. I am cared for.”

(If “Am I safe?” feels real because you’re honestly not safe at home or somewhere else, that’s not a scramble — please tell a trusted adult.)

A — Application
Think About It

• Which of these three questions — safe, secure, loved — feels loudest for you right now?
• What does your scramble usually look like when that question gets rattled?

Do This
On your back page, write a flip beside “Am I safe?”, “Am I secure?”, and “Am I loved?” — like “In Christ, I am loved — Romans 5:8.”

P — Prayer
Jesus, thank You for loving me before I did anything to earn it. When I start scrambling, remind me that nothing can separate me from Your love, and that You know exactly what I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

S — Scripture
Ephesians 1:4–5 (NLT)  “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.”

O — Observation
Read that last line again: “This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.” Before the world was even made, God chose you — and He didn’t just pick you for a team. He adopted you into His family. Am I wanted? Yes.

And He didn’t adopt you just to sit around. Do I have a purpose? You are God’s handiwork, created to do good things He planned for you (Ephesians 2:10). So when your friends make plans without you, or you feel like you don’t matter, flip it: “In Christ, I am chosen, wanted, and made on purpose.”

A — Application
Think About It

• When was the last time you felt left out or like you didn’t matter? What did you do next?
• Have you ever changed how you act just to fit in? What was that like?

Do This
The next time you feel left out today, catch it — then flip it: “In Christ, I am chosen and wanted.” Write your flips beside “Am I wanted?” and “Do I have a purpose?” on your back page.

P — Prayer
God, thank You for choosing me and wanting me in Your family before the world was even made, and for making me on purpose. Help me remember that when I feel left out. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

S — Scripture
Romans 8:1  “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

O — Observation
“Condemnation” is a courtroom word — it means the final verdict is “guilty.” But for those who belong to Jesus, there is no condemnation. Am I good enough? Your place with God was never based on your performance. It is based entirely on what God did for you.

Am I successful? Jesus already won the biggest victory for you (1 Corinthians 15:57) — who you are isn’t decided by a test score, a game, or a tryout. So when you get corrected or lose, catch the scramble — getting defensive, beating yourself up, needing to win at everything. You can still own it when you’re wrong and grow. But flip it: “In Christ, I am not condemned, and I already have the victory.”

A — Application
Think About It

• How do you usually react when you get corrected or lose — get defensive, beat yourself up, or something else?
• What’s the difference between learning from a mistake and letting it decide who you are?

Do This
The next time you mess up or lose today, catch it, then flip it: “In Christ, I am not condemned.” Write your flips beside “Am I successful?” and “Am I good enough?” on your back page.

P — Prayer
God, thank You that my place with You doesn’t depend on how well I perform. Help me learn from my mistakes without letting them tell me who I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

S — Scripture
James 4:1–2  “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but do not have, so you kill. You covet, but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

O — Observation
Same verse as Day 1. This time, look closely at the last line: “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” Who have you been asking to give you your “yes” this week? Your friends? Your grades? Your coach? Your followers? Nobody can give you a “yes” all the time.

Look back over this week: Catch It, Flip It. None of it was about pretending things don’t bother you. It was about noticing the question underneath, and then going to God for the answer instead of scrambling for everyone else’s. That’s what it means to live FROM God’s yes.

A — Application
Think About It

• Looking back at this week — Catch It, Flip It — which step was harder for you, and why?
• Who or what have you been asking to give you a “yes” that only God can really give?

Do This
Go to your back page. Make sure your loudest question is circled and your flip is written beside it, with the verse. Then make it your lock screen, tape it to your mirror, or put it where you’ll see it every morning. Finish this sentence out loud: “This week, when the alarm goes off, I will catch it — my question is _______ — and flip it: in Christ, I am ________.”

P — Prayer
God, thank You that I don’t have to scramble for a “yes” from everyone around me. You’ve already given me Yours. Help me keep catching it and flipping it, every single day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

S — Scripture
2 Corinthians 1:3–4  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

O — Observation
Try this: count how many times the word “comfort” shows up in these two verses. Five! The Apostle Paul really wants you to get this. And look at the two names he gives God — “the Father of compassion” and “the God of all comfort.” That’s what God is like when you’re going through something hard. Not annoyed. Not far away. Close.

Now notice the phrase “in all our troubles.” Not just the small stuff or the things you handled well. Like, you moved to a new school. You’ve been left out by the friend group. God’s comfort is for all of it — even the parts that still hurt.

A — Application
Think About It

• What’s a hard thing you’ve been through where you really needed comfort? Who helped you?
• When you’re going through something hard, do you picture God as close to you or far away? Why do you think that is?

Do This
Tell God about one hard thing you’ve been through — out loud, in your head, or written down. You don’t need the right words. Just be honest, and ask Him for His comfort.

P — Prayer
God, thank You that You’re the God of all comfort — not some comfort, all of it. Help me believe You’re close to me in the hard stuff, not far away. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

S — Scripture
Romans 8:1  “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

O — Observation
Last week you circled the question that feels loudest for you and flipped it into an “In Christ, I am…” statement. This verse is the flip for “Am I good enough?” — and look at two words in it. “Now” means God’s answer isn’t waiting until you finally get your act together. And “in Christ” means it’s based on what Jesus did, not on how well you perform.

That’s why your flip isn’t just positive thinking. You’re not making up a “yes” to feel better — you’re receiving the “yes” God already gave you in Jesus. And here’s the thing: you can’t give away a “yes” you’ve never received. So before you try to help anybody else this week, start by letting God answer your question first — every single morning.

A — Application
Think About It

• What’s usually the first thing you look at in the morning? What does it tell you about who you are?
• Which “In Christ, I am…” flip on the back page of this devotional do you most need to hear right now?

Do This
Tomorrow morning — and every morning this week — before you check your phone or do anything else, read your “In Christ, I am…” flip out loud, with the verse underneath it. Didn’t make one last week? Turn to the back page and make it today.

P — Prayer
God, thank You that I don’t have to earn Your “yes.” Help me receive it every morning before I go looking for it anywhere else. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

S — Scripture
Galatians 6:2, 5  “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ… for each one should carry their own load.”

O — Observation
Wait — carry each other’s burdens, but carry your own load? Isn’t that a contradiction? Not really. The Apostle Paul uses two different words. A “burden” is like a boulder — a crushing weight that’s too heavy for anyone to carry alone. A “load” is like a backpack — the everyday gear you’re supposed to carry yourself.

Your question is part of your backpack. For example, your friends and family should love you — we all need each other. But when you give them the final say over who you are, you’re trying to hand them your backpack. And when they miss it, it turns into a fight: “You KNOW I hate being left out!” Redirecting means carrying your question straight to God first.

But if you’re carrying a boulder — something way too heavy, or something that makes you feel unsafe — that’s exactly what trusted adults are there for. Telling someone your burden isn’t dumping on them. It’s doing exactly what this verse says.

A — Application
Think About It

• Who do you most often expect to give you a “yes” — a best friend, your parents, a teacher? What happens when they miss it?
• What’s something in your life that’s a backpack thing — and is there anything that feels more like a boulder?

Do This
The next time you start to scramble today, pause and pray in your head, “God, this is my question — what do You say about me?” before you text, snap, or shut down. And if you’re carrying a boulder, tell a trusted adult this week. Your small group leader is a great place to start.

P — Prayer
God, I’ve been asking other people to carry what only You can answer. Help me bring my question to You first — and give me the courage to tell a trusted adult when something is too heavy for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

S — Scripture
2 Corinthians 12:9  “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

O — Observation
The Apostle Paul had something painful in his life he called a “thorn in my flesh.” He begged God three times to take it away. But God gave him a different answer: “My grace is sufficient for you.” God didn’t just patch up the weak spot — He showed up right in the middle of it.

Here’s something you might not have noticed: your question has made you really good at something. It’s almost like a spidey sense or super power. If your question is “Am I wanted?” you can spot the kid who feels left out from across the room. If it’s “Am I good enough?” you can tell when somebody’s embarrassed before they say a word. If it’s “Do I have a purpose?” you know what it feels like to wonder if your life matters.

That’s what Chelsea was talking about with the kids she notices in Children’s Ministry. The place where you’ve felt the most “no” can become the place God uses you to help somebody else hear His “yes.” So today: find your person.

A — Application
Think About It

• What has your question made you really good at noticing in other people?
• Who might be your person this week — somebody who seems to be asking the same question you ask?

Do This
Do one thing on purpose for your person today. Invite the kid on the fringe to sit with you. Be the calm friend for somebody having a rough week. Really listen without checking your phone. Help somebody with something they’re struggling with. Tell somebody specifically what you see in them. Keep it small enough that you’ll actually do it.

P — Prayer
God, thank You that You don’t waste the hard stuff. Open my eyes today to the person who’s asking the same question I ask, and help me be a little bit of Your “yes” for them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

S — Scripture
2 Corinthians 1:3–4  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

O — Observation
Same verse as Day 1. But this time, look for two little words: “so that.” God comforts you “so that” you can comfort somebody else. The comfort He gives you was never meant to stop with you — it’s meant to keep going.

Look back over this week: Receive It, Redirect It, Give It. Underneath your reactions, there’s a question. Underneath your question, there’s God’s “yes.” And underneath God’s “yes,” there’s a gift He’s been building in you the whole time. That’s the whole point: What God settles in you, He can use through you.

A — Application
Think About It

• Looking back at this whole week — Receive It, Redirect It, Give It — which step do you most want to keep practicing?
• Who did God bring to mind as your person this week? What happened when you did something for them?

Do This
Finish this sentence in writing: “This week, I received God’s “yes” — in Christ, I am ________ — I redirected my question to Him first, and I gave it to ________ by ________.” Say it out loud once today — to God, and if you can, to someone you trust.

P — Prayer
God, thank You that Your comfort and Your “yes” never run out. Keep settling my question in You, and keep using me to help other people hear Your “yes.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Circle the question that feels loudest for you. Then write your “In Christ, I am…” flip on the line, with the verse underneath it. Read it out loud every morning this week. Haven’t taken the assessment yet? Find your question and gift at primalquestion.typeform.com.

• Am I safe?   In Christ, I am safe — nothing can separate me from God’s love. (Romans 8:38–39)
• Am I secure?   In Christ, I am secure — my Father knows exactly what I need. (Philippians 4:19)
• Am I loved?   In Christ, I am loved — the cross settled it. (Romans 5:8)
• Am I wanted?   In Christ, I am wanted — chosen and adopted into God’s family. (Ephesians 1:4–5)
• Am I successful?   In Christ, I have the victory — Jesus already won it for me. (1 Corinthians 15:57)
• Am I good enough?   In Christ, I am not condemned. (Romans 8:1)
• Do I have a purpose?   In Christ, I am God’s handiwork, created to do good things He planned for me. (Ephesians 2:10)

My flip:
In Christ, I am ___________________________________
Verse: ________________________________________