At YTHCON, you heard God move, speak and challenge you. But, that wasn’t the finish line.. it was the starting point! In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul tells us to fight the good fight of faith and take hold of the eternal life God has given us. That kind of faith is active, bold and strong - especially when life feels chaotic.
This devotional is designed to help you continue growing after YTHCON. You can work through it on your own, taking time to listen and respond to God personally - but faith also grows stronger in community. Grab a few friends, talk it through together, pray for one another and encourage each other to take the next step.
Over the next five days, you’ll learn how to listen for God’s voice, hold on to truth, step out in obedience, stand strong when things get hard and live out your faith with courage and boldness.
God still wants to speak and He’s inviting you to Take Hold.
DEVO
YTHCON 2026 was unreal. God did something real in your heart. You felt it. That hunger for more of Him? That wasn’t random — that was God calling you deeper. Conference moments are powerful. The lights, the worship, being surrounded by people chasing after God — it all builds faith.
But once we’re back home, back at school, back to normal life… that’s when it really matters. So how do we hold onto what God started? We spend time with Him. Not just on Sundays. Not just at events. Every day.
Think about it — you can’t build a strong friendship with someone you never talk to. The same is true with God. The more time you spend with Him — praying, worshiping, reading your Bible — the more you’ll recognize His voice.
And here’s the cool part: He does speak back. Sometimes through Scripture, worship and bible reading. What started at conference doesn’t have to fade. It can grow. But growth happens daily. Stay close. Stay hungry. Keep showing up. God’s not done with you.
SCRIPTURE
1 Samuel 3:1–10
QUESTIONS
1. What are some “noises” in your life that make it hard to hear God clearly?
2. When was a time you felt God prompting you to do something, but you hesitated?
CHALLENGE / ACTION
Today, make the habit of setting aside 10 quiet minutes a day with no phone, no music and no distractions. Begin by praying: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Write down anything God brings to mind and journal what you heard & what that means to you.
One way to prepare your heart and mind for prayer is by worshipping. Here is River Valley AGES worship playlist you can listen to: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Y44hdG7tljyluN4wv9j5h?si=3pjZR6qDRR2y1gEqTvlBoA
DEVO
After YTHCON, it’s easy to feel spiritually fired up, but then real life hits again. Voices return. People may label you with the same names. Fear tries to creep back in, and old lies try to sprout up again. That’s why this week isn’t just about hearing something powerful; it’s about believing what God says is true. The enemy loves to distort your identity. He’ll tell you, “You’re not enough.” “You’re too far gone.” “You’re alone.” “You’ll never change.” “This is just who you are, and that’s okay.” “Everything is going to be the same, just like it was before YTHCON.”
These are ALL lies, and God speaks something stronger.
In John 8:31-32, Jesus doesn’t say freedom comes from feelings. Or an emotional moment at the altar. Freedom comes from TRUTH! Truth is found in His Word.
The world will try to name you by your mistakes. Your anxiety will try to define you by your fear. People may label you by what they see
God calls you: Loved. Chosen. Forgiven. Made new. His.
The question is: Will you take hold of that? Will you take hold of the Truth of God’s word?
YTHCON was a moment, but God’s truth is a foundation. Don’t just hear what He says. Hold to it. Believe it. Live from it.
SCRIPTURE
John 8:31–32 (NIV)
QUESTIONS
1. What lies or labels have been hardest for you to shake lately?
2. What does God’s Word say that directly challenges those lies?
3. Are you living more from what you feel or what God has spoken?
CHALLENGE / ACTION
Today, write down one truth God says about you from Scripture (example: I am God’s child, John 1:12). Then pray: “Lord, help me take hold of Your truth over every lie.” Carry it with you today. Speak it when fear rises. This week, take hold of your identity in Christ. Taking hold begins with believing what God says is true.
DEVO
After We’re officially at the halfway point of this devo — so let’s pause for a second. Over the last few days, we’ve learned how to slow down and actually listen to the still, strong voice of the Lord. We then learned how to receive the truth of how God sees us, how He speaks about us and to us. They weren’t just meant to make you feel good. These last two days were meant to empower you as you received this truth from Scripture! Now, as we head into the last few days of our devo, we are turning the page and learning how to take action from what we have received.
As we head into these final days, we’re shifting from just receiving… to responding. Because when you hear from God and truly understand who you are as His child, it does something in you. It pushes you forward. It gives you courage. It challenges you to take the next step.
And that next step comes down to one simple (but not always easy) word:
Obedience.
Obedience is the natural response when God speaks.
Think about Noah (Genesis 6). God warned him about a flood that had never happened before. That probably sounded crazy. But Noah obeyed — and because of that obedience, humanity and every species of animal were preserved.
Or Gideon (Judges 6–8). He didn’t feel ready. He didn’t feel strong. But every time God spoke, Gideon chose to obey — and that obedience led to victory over the Midianites. Here’s the truth: God will speak to you, too. Sometimes what He asks might feel uncomfortable. It might not make total sense at first.
But without obedience, we risk missing out on seeing God’s power, His provision and His faithfulness in our lives.
Our prayer for you is this: that obedience wouldn’t just be a “maybe” or a “someday” response. That it would become your immediate yes. And that you would allow the Lord to MOVE through you as you step out in obedience.
SCRIPTURE
Judges 7
1 Samuel 15:22
Hebrews 5:8
QUESTIONS
1. Looking at Gideon’s story in Judges 7, God intentionally reduced his army from 32,000 down to just 300 men before the battle. Why do you think God chose to work through such a small, seemingly weak group rather than a large, powerful army? How does this connect to times in your own life when God has asked you to obey Him in a way that feels risky, abnormal or like you’re outnumbered?
2. 1 Samuel 15:22 says, “To obey is better than sacrifice,” and Hebrews 5:8 shows that even Jesus, “learned obedience from what he suffered.” What does this teach us about the connection between obedience and trust in God? Share a situation where choosing obedience (even when it was hard or didn’t make sense) led to seeing more of God’s power, provision or faithfulness in your life—or where not obeying caused you to miss out.
CHALLENGE / ACTION
Take time today or tomorrow to quietly ask God one specific question: “Lord, what is one step of obedience you’re calling me to right now?” (It could be forgiving someone, sharing your faith, stepping away from a habit, serving in a new way or something else He’s been speaking.) Write it down clearly, pray for courage and then take that step within the next three days - no matter how small or “abnormal” it feels!
DEVO
Fight the good fight. Keep going. Don’t stop. You are a warrior in God’s army. Keep advancing. There will be days, and even seasons, where it feels like everything is against you, but through Christ, you have the victory. Remember that truth! What the enemy will try to do to get you off track is attack you with fear and intimidation and distractions. At times, this might feel like a fog that blocks your ability to see clearly. Don’t let this temporary fog stop you from the plans that God has for you! Keep fighting the good fight!
Think about it like this: a fog that is one hundred feet deep and covers seven city blocks, when reduced to its essence, would barely fill a single cup of water. However, when it’s spread across 60 billion droplets, it can feel far more intense and powerful than it really is. Don’t let the fog of this life, the distractions of the world or the fear from the enemy stop you from living the victorious and powerful life that God has destined you for! The enemy is defeated, and the problems of this world are nothing compared to the power that we have in Christ! Fight the good fight!
SCRIPTURE
Hebrews 13:6
1 Timothy 6:12
QUESTIONS
1. What are current fears, distractions or worries in your life that feel like a fog that is clouding your vision for your life? What does God’s Word say in response to each of those fears?
2. How do Hebrews 13:6 and 1 Timothy 6:12 give you strength and perspective to persevere and fight the good fight?
CHALLENGE / ACTION
1. Memorize Hebrews 13:6 and 1 Timothy 6:12. Use these verses to wage war in the spiritual realm!
2. What is one thing that God has placed on your heart to do to contend for your generation? (Sharing your faith, leading a Bible club, raising money for kingdom builders, inviting a friend to YTH, etc.) What would be the next step of obedience to take right now? Write down a plan of action and do the next step today to keep moving forward!
DEVO
Fight YTHCON was powerful. The worship was loud. Faith was stirred. And God reminded us that following Him is worth everything. But here’s the truth: the real test of your faith doesn’t happen in a room full of believers.
It happens when you walk back into everyday life. Your school hallways. Your home. Your friend group.
Jesus calls His followers “the light of the world.” That means when you said yes to Him, you didn’t just receive forgiveness — you received an assignment.
Faith isn’t meant to stay hidden. It’s not just for church services or conferences. Faith is meant to be lived out boldly, consistently, and visibly wherever God has placed you.
Taking hold of your faith means choosing to represent Jesus daily — not perfectly, but intentionally.
When you choose kindness instead of gossip, you shine. When you choose courage instead of staying silent, you shine. When you choose obedience instead of compromise, you shine.
That’s what it looks like to carry the light.
You don’t have to preach a sermon every day. Your life can be the message. The way you love. The way you forgive. The way you stand firm when it would be easier to blend in.
YTHCON may be over, but your mission isn’t.
Now it’s time to live it out.
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 5:14-16
QUESTIONS
1. Where do you find it hardest to live out your faith - school, home or with friends? Why?
2. What do you think Jesus means when He says we are “the light of the world”?
CHALLENGE / ACTION
1.Take time to journal and take an honest assessment of how well you live to represent Christ to those in your life. Are you active or passive in your faith? Do you live boldly or do you conceal your faith? After you’ve taken an honest assessment of this area of your life, ask yourself “why” and then write down who you want to be.
2. Ask God today: “Who can I represent You to today?” - Look for one intentional opportunity to live out your faith through your words, attitude or actions.