Day 1
Faith Fact:
I love God and others.
Faith Verse:
Psalm 37:23
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Question of the Day:
Do I really put God first in my life?
Read:
Exodus 19:1–2; 20:1–6; Matthew 22:37–38
We may not literally worship false gods or idols like the people in the Bible and in other cultures. However, that doesn’t mean we aren’t making gods or idols out of other things and people in our lives. We have to look at our priorities and how we spend our time to see who or what is really first in our lives. If loving God is the most important commandment, we need to take that seriously and show Him that through our thoughts and actions.
Think about it:
Question 1. On what mountain did God give Moses the Ten Commandments?
Answer 1. Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1–2)
Question 2. Which is the first of the Ten Commandments?
Answer 2. “You must not have any other god but me.” (Exodus 20:3)
Question 3. Which of the Ten Commandments prohibits the worshipping of idols?
Answer 3. “You shall not make for yourself an idol of any kind.” (Exodus 20:4)
Question 4. In which book and chapter of the Bible do we find the first record of the Ten Commandments?
Answer 4. Exodus 20
Question 5. What is the greatest commandment?
Answer 5. To love God with “all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37–38)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•What do you do first thing in the morning? What is the first thing you think about?
•What is the last thing you do before going to sleep?
•How do you spend your time? Do your actions and thoughts put God first in your life?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for loving me. Help me to prioritize my time with You and fix my thoughts on You every day. Amen.
I love God and others.
Faith Verse:
Psalm 37:23
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Question of the Day:
Do I really put God first in my life?
Read:
Exodus 19:1–2; 20:1–6; Matthew 22:37–38
We may not literally worship false gods or idols like the people in the Bible and in other cultures. However, that doesn’t mean we aren’t making gods or idols out of other things and people in our lives. We have to look at our priorities and how we spend our time to see who or what is really first in our lives. If loving God is the most important commandment, we need to take that seriously and show Him that through our thoughts and actions.
Think about it:
Question 1. On what mountain did God give Moses the Ten Commandments?
Answer 1. Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1–2)
Question 2. Which is the first of the Ten Commandments?
Answer 2. “You must not have any other god but me.” (Exodus 20:3)
Question 3. Which of the Ten Commandments prohibits the worshipping of idols?
Answer 3. “You shall not make for yourself an idol of any kind.” (Exodus 20:4)
Question 4. In which book and chapter of the Bible do we find the first record of the Ten Commandments?
Answer 4. Exodus 20
Question 5. What is the greatest commandment?
Answer 5. To love God with “all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37–38)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•What do you do first thing in the morning? What is the first thing you think about?
•What is the last thing you do before going to sleep?
•How do you spend your time? Do your actions and thoughts put God first in your life?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for loving me. Help me to prioritize my time with You and fix my thoughts on You every day. Amen.
Day 2
Faith Fact:
I love God and others.
Faith Verse:
Psalm 37:23
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Question of the Day:
Do I show my parents I love them?
Read:
Exodus 20:12; John 14:15; 15:13
Think about a typical day in your home. Your parents or guardians do so much to show you they love you and care about you. They provide you with clothes, food, everything you need, and certainly some things you don’t need as well. They provide you with a home to live in and a bed to sleep in. They take you to school, work hard all day, help you with homework, make you dinner, and tuck you into bed. Think about the way you treat your parents and how you talk to them. God has commanded us to love our parents by honoring them. Honor means to regard with great respect. We should show our parents we love them by respecting them and obeying them even if we don’t always agree with their rules.
Think about it:
Question 1. What does Exodus 20:12 say we should do to show our parents we love them?
Answer 1. Honor them. (Exodus 20:12)
Question 2. What did Paul call “the first commandment with a promise”?
Answer 2. Honor your father and mother. (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2–3)
Question 3. What does God tell us will happen if we honor our father and mother?
Answer 3. You will live a long, full life. (Exodus 20:12)
Question 4. How did Jesus say we may show our love for Him?
Answer 4. “If you love me, obey my commandments. (John 14:15)
Question 5. What did Jesus say was the greatest display of love?
Answer 5. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Do you honor your parents by respecting them?
•Do your thoughts, words, and actions honor your parents? Why or why not?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for giving me parents [guardians] who love me and take care of my needs. Help me to honor them with everything I say and do. Amen.
I love God and others.
Faith Verse:
Psalm 37:23
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Question of the Day:
Do I show my parents I love them?
Read:
Exodus 20:12; John 14:15; 15:13
Think about a typical day in your home. Your parents or guardians do so much to show you they love you and care about you. They provide you with clothes, food, everything you need, and certainly some things you don’t need as well. They provide you with a home to live in and a bed to sleep in. They take you to school, work hard all day, help you with homework, make you dinner, and tuck you into bed. Think about the way you treat your parents and how you talk to them. God has commanded us to love our parents by honoring them. Honor means to regard with great respect. We should show our parents we love them by respecting them and obeying them even if we don’t always agree with their rules.
Think about it:
Question 1. What does Exodus 20:12 say we should do to show our parents we love them?
Answer 1. Honor them. (Exodus 20:12)
Question 2. What did Paul call “the first commandment with a promise”?
Answer 2. Honor your father and mother. (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2–3)
Question 3. What does God tell us will happen if we honor our father and mother?
Answer 3. You will live a long, full life. (Exodus 20:12)
Question 4. How did Jesus say we may show our love for Him?
Answer 4. “If you love me, obey my commandments. (John 14:15)
Question 5. What did Jesus say was the greatest display of love?
Answer 5. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Do you honor your parents by respecting them?
•Do your thoughts, words, and actions honor your parents? Why or why not?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for giving me parents [guardians] who love me and take care of my needs. Help me to honor them with everything I say and do. Amen.
Day 3
Faith Fact:
I love God and others.
Faith Verse:
Psalm 37:23
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Question of the Day:
Do my actions show others I love them?
Read:
Exodus 20:15–16; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31
Think about a time when you had something stolen from you or were lied to. How did that make you feel? Tell someone about a time you were lied to or had something stolen from you. We would never expect a friend or someone who cares about us to treat us that way, but sometimes it happens. We can say we love others or that they are our friends, but our actions should always line up with what we say. You may have heard the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.” That saying is true.
Think about what your actions are saying before you do them.
Think about it:
Question 1. Which of the Ten Commandments protects our right to own possessions?
Answer 1. “You must not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)
Question 2. Which of the Ten Commandments prohibits telling lies about someone?
Answer 2. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)
Question 3. What did Jesus say was the second most important commandment?
Answer 3. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)
Question 4. What does the Bible mean when it says you must not testify falsely against your neighbor?
Answer 4. Don’t lie. (Exodus 20:16)
Question 5. Who is your neighbor?
Answer 5. Everyone (Exodus 20:16)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Do your actions line up with what you say? Why or why not?
•Do you want to be friends with someone who lies to you or steals from you?
•What are some positive actions we can do to show others we love them?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for giving me the ability to love others with my actions. Help my words to be truthful and my actions to show Your love to others. Amen.
I love God and others.
Faith Verse:
Psalm 37:23
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Question of the Day:
Do my actions show others I love them?
Read:
Exodus 20:15–16; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31
Think about a time when you had something stolen from you or were lied to. How did that make you feel? Tell someone about a time you were lied to or had something stolen from you. We would never expect a friend or someone who cares about us to treat us that way, but sometimes it happens. We can say we love others or that they are our friends, but our actions should always line up with what we say. You may have heard the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.” That saying is true.
Think about what your actions are saying before you do them.
Think about it:
Question 1. Which of the Ten Commandments protects our right to own possessions?
Answer 1. “You must not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)
Question 2. Which of the Ten Commandments prohibits telling lies about someone?
Answer 2. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)
Question 3. What did Jesus say was the second most important commandment?
Answer 3. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)
Question 4. What does the Bible mean when it says you must not testify falsely against your neighbor?
Answer 4. Don’t lie. (Exodus 20:16)
Question 5. Who is your neighbor?
Answer 5. Everyone (Exodus 20:16)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Do your actions line up with what you say? Why or why not?
•Do you want to be friends with someone who lies to you or steals from you?
•What are some positive actions we can do to show others we love them?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for giving me the ability to love others with my actions. Help my words to be truthful and my actions to show Your love to others. Amen.
Day 4
Faith Fact:
I love God and others.
Faith Verse:
Psalm 37:23
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Question of the Day:
Do my thoughts show others I love them?
Read:
Exodus 20:17; Philippians 4:8
Think about your thoughts. That’s a funny statement, but our thoughts are really important. We may believe that as long as we don’t say something it’s okay, but over time our thoughts turn into words and actions. Think about a time when your friend got something you really wanted. Did you become so jealous that you wanted to take the thing your friend had? That’s called coveting. Coveting can turn into lying, cheating, stealing, and hurting others if we don’t turn our thoughts over to God.
Think about it:
Question 1. Which of the Ten Commandments forbids certain desires?
Answer 1. “You must not covet … anything else that belongs to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:17)
Question 2. What does Exodus 20:17 say we should not covet?
Answer 2. Your neighbor’s house, wife, servants, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to them. (Exodus 20:17)
Question 3. What are some things you should fix your thoughts on according to Philippians 4:8?
Answer 3. What is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Do you compare yourself to others a lot?
•Do you get jealous of what other people have and wish it was yours?
•What is something positive you could think about?
•How can your thoughts become a problem?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for giving me an amazing mind that has the ability to think. Help me to fill my mind and heart with positive thoughts that build up others instead of tearing them down. Amen.
I love God and others.
Faith Verse:
Psalm 37:23
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Question of the Day:
Do my thoughts show others I love them?
Read:
Exodus 20:17; Philippians 4:8
Think about your thoughts. That’s a funny statement, but our thoughts are really important. We may believe that as long as we don’t say something it’s okay, but over time our thoughts turn into words and actions. Think about a time when your friend got something you really wanted. Did you become so jealous that you wanted to take the thing your friend had? That’s called coveting. Coveting can turn into lying, cheating, stealing, and hurting others if we don’t turn our thoughts over to God.
Think about it:
Question 1. Which of the Ten Commandments forbids certain desires?
Answer 1. “You must not covet … anything else that belongs to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:17)
Question 2. What does Exodus 20:17 say we should not covet?
Answer 2. Your neighbor’s house, wife, servants, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to them. (Exodus 20:17)
Question 3. What are some things you should fix your thoughts on according to Philippians 4:8?
Answer 3. What is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Do you compare yourself to others a lot?
•Do you get jealous of what other people have and wish it was yours?
•What is something positive you could think about?
•How can your thoughts become a problem?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for giving me an amazing mind that has the ability to think. Help me to fill my mind and heart with positive thoughts that build up others instead of tearing them down. Amen.