God Takes Care of Me (First Steps Devotions) (8 page)

Dear God, sometimes I get angry when people are mean to me.
I want to get even with them. Help me remember that You will punish those who
do wrong. I want to leave it in Your hands.

Have you ever done something that caused trouble for you and
other people?

What happened?

Jonah was a prophet. He spoke messages from God. One day God
told Jonah to go to Nineveh. But Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh. He did
not like the people there.

Instead of taking a ship to Nineveh, Jonah took a ship to
Tarshish. Soon a big storm started rocking the ship. The men on the ship were
scared. Jonah knew what caused the storm. He had disobeyed God.

“What should we do with you to make the sea calm down?” the
men asked Jonah. Jonah knew what to do. “Throw me into me sea,” he told them.
So the men threw Jonah into the sea. But Jonah did not drown. God provided a
big fish to swallow him. Jonah disobeyed God. But God took care of Jonah. He
had a fish swallow Jonah and keep him safe.

When has God taken care of you when you had a problem?

Do you think God would take care of you if you caused a
problem by disobeying Him? Why? Why not?

Dear God, thank You for always taking care of me, even when
I cause my problems. Thank You for always being there to catch me when I fall.

When have you gotten a reward or privilege because you
obeyed?

Does your class at school get special privileges if everyone
is good? Why?

Elizabeth and her husband, Zechariah, had always obeyed God.
But they did not have any children. That made them very sad.

One day an angel appeared to Zechariah. The angel scared
him. “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah!” the angel said. “Your wife Elizabeth will
have a son, and you must name him John.” But Zechariah did not believe the
angel. Because of that, Zechariah was not able to speak until the baby was
born. Elizabeth believed she would have her baby boy. She named him John.

Elizabeth’s baby had an important job. His job was to tell
people that Jesus was coming. He helped people get ready to meet Jesus.
Elizabeth’s baby became John the Baptist.

Elizabeth believed God. She obeyed God. And God gave her
something wonderful—a baby.

Do you obey God? Why?

Do you think God rewards people who obey Him? Why? How?

Dear God, help me to obey You. I want to be the kind of
person that You want to reward. I want to be a good child of Yours.

Have you ever missed out on some fun because you were not
willing to do something?

What was it? What was it that you were not willing to do?

Mary was very happy. She was about to be married. She had a
long life of exciting things ahead of her. Then one night an angel appeared to
Mary. And her life changed forever.

“Don’t be afraid!” the angel said to her. “God is pleased
with you, and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus.”

Mary loved God. If God wanted her to give birth to God’s
Son, she was willing!

Mary turned to the angel. “I am the Lord’s servant!” she
said. “Let it happen as you have said.”

Mary was willing to be used by God. She would be special
forever.

Would you be willing to do what God asked? Why? Why not?

If He asked you to do something that did not make sense,
would you do it? Why? Why not?

Dear God, I want to serve You. I am willing to do what You
want me to do.

Do you feel unimportant sometimes? Why?

What would make you feel more important?

Nobody paid much attention to the shepherds. They just
watched the sheep. But they were important to God.

When Jesus was born, angels were sent to announce His birth.
Who do you think they announced the message to first? The shepherds.

At first the shepherds were afraid. But an angel said to
them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone
happy. This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is
Christ the Lord.”

The shepherds then went to see Jesus. He was lying in a
manger. After the shepherds saw Jesus, they told everyone what the angel had
told them. The shepherds spread the message about Jesus. They were important
after all.

Do you think you are important to God? Why? Why not?

Do you think one person is more important than someone else
in God’s eyes?

Dear God, sometimes I do not feel important. Help me always
to remember that I am important to You.

Can people know what you are thinking if you do not tell
them?

Do they know what you are going to say before you say it?
How do they know that?

Jesus was very popular. Many people wanted to see Him. One
day Jesus was teaching in a house. Four men came to the house carrying a man
lying on a mat. The man was paralyzed. His friends wanted Jesus to heal him.
But so many people were there that the men could not get into the house to see
Jesus. So they climbed up to the roof. Then the men made a hole in the roof and
lowered the man to Jesus.

“My friend, your sins are forgiven,” Jesus said to him.
“Pick up your mat and walk home.”

The man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out! Jesus
knew the man wanted to be healed. But He also knew the man needed to have his
sins forgiven. Jesus knew what the man needed, even more than he did!

Do you think God knows what you need better than you do?
Why?

Do you think God knows what you want before you ask Him? Why

Dear God, thank You for watching over me. Thank You for
knowing what I need before I ask You.

Is it ever too late to solve a problem?

Name a time you waited until the last possible moment to ask
your parents for help. Did they help you?

A leader of the synagogue, Jairus, came to see Jesus one
day. “My daughter is about to die!” he told Jesus. “Please come and touch her, so
she will get well and live.” “Don’t worry,” Jesus told him. “Just have faith.”

When Jesus arrived at the house, everyone was crying. The
girl had just died. She was only 12 years old. “Why are you crying and carrying
on like this?” Jesus said. “The child is not dead. She is just asleep.”

Everyone laughed at Jesus. They did not understand what He
meant. Jesus told everyone to leave. Then He took the little girl by the hand
and said, “Little girl, get up!” The girl opened her eyes and sat up. Jesus
called her parents and told them to give her something to eat.