In Rise Above, a book of devotions, teen surfing star Bethany Hamilton shares with young girls her courage and enthusiasm for God, inspiring them to face life head on and stand strong in their faith. Bethany Hamilton is a source of inspiration to millions. In 2003, while surfing, she lost her left arm to a 14-foot tiger shark. With resilience and tenacity, Bethany returned to the water a month later, and within two years won her first national title. Her unbelievably positive attitude fascinated the world, resulting in an autobiography that was later adapted into the film Soul Surfer. Her courage and talent led to her induction into the Surfer’s Hall of Fame in 2017. Bethany and her husband, Adam Dirks, are also involved in charities such as Friends of Bethany, a foundation she and her family created to support amputees and youth. In addition, Bethany authored Body and Soul to encourage others toward confidence and fitness. Her new documentary Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable brings her passions together, showcasing her world-class surfing and love for life as well as her message of female empowerment and never giving up. Doris Rikkers is a freelance writer and editor who has written many bestselling children’s books and Bibles. Although she loves the ocean, she lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, surrounded by her books, her flower gardens, and her family and friends. Rise Above a 90 day devotional By Bethany Hamilton, Doris Rikkers ZONDERVAN Copyright © 2007 Bethany Hamilton All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-310-74559-4 Contents About Bethany, 9, 1 Big Plans Ahead, 10, 2 Rock Solid Foundation, 12, 3 Faithful Friends, 14, 4 Who? Me?, 16, 5 No Fear, 18, 6 Close to Paradise, 20, 7 Being Creative, 22, 8 Music to My Ears, 24, 9 Caring for Others, 26, 10 Winning and Losing, 28, 11 A Prayer for Help, 30, 12 Passion Fruit, 32, 13 Morning Wake Up, 34, 14 Waiting for My Prince, 36, 15 Walking on Water, 38, 16 Never Too Young, 40, 17 Keep Focused, 42, 18 God's Beautiful Creation, 44, 19 Talent Show, 46, 20 What Should I Wear?, 48, 21 Keep Smiling!, 50, 22 What's Your Story?, 52, 23 Every Place Is an Adventure, 54, 24 Taking the Blame, 56, 25 A Winning Prayer, 58, 26 Twisting the Facts, 60, 27 Doing the Impossible, 62, 28 I Believe, 64, 29 Mirror Images, 66, 30 Outpouring of Aloha, 68, 31 Lasting Happiness, 70, 32 God, Tired? Not!, 72, 33 Service Center, 74, 34 What a Thrill!, 76, 35 For This I'm Thankful, 78, 36 Our Own Personal Cheerleader, 80, 37 We've Got Trouble, 82, 38 Dream a Little Dream, 84, 39 Getting an A for Attitude, 86, 40 Raindrops Keep Falling, 88, 41 How Strong Is God?, 90, 42 Popularity Isn't All That, 92, 43 Shine On, 94, 44 And You Are?, 96, 45 Take Time for God, 98, 46 Why Me?, 100, 47 Teeming Millions, 102, 48 Lots of Little Presents, 104, 49 Lots of Courage, 106, 50 Don't Just Believe It ... Do It!, 108, 51 Jesus Is My Every Day, 110, 52 Don't Stress Out!, 112, 53 Running from God, 114, 54 Looking at the Inside, 116, 55 Oh, Yes You Can, 118, 56 The Best of Friends, 120, 57 Being a Winner, 122, 58 Living Temples, 124, 59 Speak Up, 126, 60 It's a Bummer, 128, 61 Sweet Sleeping, 130, 62 Good to the Finish, 132, 63 Something to Brag About, 134, 64 The Problem Fixer, 136, 65 Brain Food: No Junk Allowed, 138, 66 The Guilt Dumpster, 140, 67 Laugh a Lot, 142, 68 The Body Machine, 144, 69 A Day to Rejoice, 146, 70 Obeying Parents, 148, 71 A Special Kind of Kindness, 150, 72 Being Responsible, 152, 73 Faith for Now, 154, 74 Willing Worship, 156, 75 Like Talking to a Friend, 158, 76 Giving Back to God, 160, 77 No More Pity Party, 162, 78 Stuff Happens, 164, 79 Extra Helpers, 166, 80 Everything Sings Praise, 168, 81 Super Joy, 170, 82 Mouth Checkup, 172, 83 A Rainbow of Promises, 174, 84 Mixed Messages, 176, 85 Sticking Out, 178, 86 Let's Be Honest, 180, 87 We've Got the Power, 182, 88 Armor of God, 184, 89 Getting to Know You, 186, 90 Into the Future, 188, CHAPTER 1 Devotion 1 Big Plans Ahead On that October morning of the shark attack, everyone around me (including me!) feared that my plans for being a professional surfer were over. Who had ever heard of a surfer with one arm? How would I paddle out? How would I get up on the board? How would I balance? All the hopes and dreams about surfing that I'd had since I was little seemed to be gone. But you know what? God had plans for me. He had bigger plans than I could have ever imagined. Before the attack, I might have become a surfer and been well-known in the surfing crowd. I might have had my picture on several surfing magazines. But now God is able to use me in a different way, above and beyond all that I could ever ask or think. He's doing things in my life that I could never have dreamed of before the attack. He's helping me to rise above it all. God has big plans for your life too. The purpose he has for your life is different th