Day 1
Faith Fact:
With God, I can be brave.
Faith Verse:
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Question of the Day:
Have you ever faced a BIG problem?
Read:
1 Samuel 17:1–10
In these verses, the Israelites were facing a really big problem. They were literally facing a giant who wanted to fight them, but none of them were big enough or strong enough to defeat him. At least that is what they thought. The Israelites were a lot like us. We look at what we can see with our eyes or reach out and touch with our own hands. When you look in the mirror, you might see someone who is too small, weak, young, or scared to face your problems. God doesn’t see us the way we see ourselves when we look in the mirror.
First Samuel 16:7 says, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Goliath, the giant, looked like he was too big of an enemy for the Israelites to defeat, but God saw the situation differently. Your problems might look too big for you to handle, but they will never be too big for God!
Think about it:
Question 1. Who were the Israelites at war against?
Answer 1. The Philistines (1 Samuel 17:1, 3)
Question 2. Who was the king of Israel that gathered the Israelite troops?
Answer 2. Saul (1 Samuel 17:2)
Question 3. Where did Saul and the Israelites gather for the battle?
Answer 3. The Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:2)
Question 4. Who challenged the Israelites to a fight?
Answer 4. A giant named Goliath (1 Samuel 17:8)
Question 5. When Goliath saw the entire army of Israel on the battlefield, what did he ask to fight instead?
Answer 5. One man (1 Samuel 17:8)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Have you ever faced a really big problem? What was it?
•How do you see yourself when you look in the mirror?
•How does God see you?
Pray about ItGod, thank You for helping me have the courage to face big problems. Help me to see myself and my situations through Your eyes instead of my own. Amen.
With God, I can be brave.
Faith Verse:
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Question of the Day:
Have you ever faced a BIG problem?
Read:
1 Samuel 17:1–10
In these verses, the Israelites were facing a really big problem. They were literally facing a giant who wanted to fight them, but none of them were big enough or strong enough to defeat him. At least that is what they thought. The Israelites were a lot like us. We look at what we can see with our eyes or reach out and touch with our own hands. When you look in the mirror, you might see someone who is too small, weak, young, or scared to face your problems. God doesn’t see us the way we see ourselves when we look in the mirror.
First Samuel 16:7 says, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Goliath, the giant, looked like he was too big of an enemy for the Israelites to defeat, but God saw the situation differently. Your problems might look too big for you to handle, but they will never be too big for God!
Think about it:
Question 1. Who were the Israelites at war against?
Answer 1. The Philistines (1 Samuel 17:1, 3)
Question 2. Who was the king of Israel that gathered the Israelite troops?
Answer 2. Saul (1 Samuel 17:2)
Question 3. Where did Saul and the Israelites gather for the battle?
Answer 3. The Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:2)
Question 4. Who challenged the Israelites to a fight?
Answer 4. A giant named Goliath (1 Samuel 17:8)
Question 5. When Goliath saw the entire army of Israel on the battlefield, what did he ask to fight instead?
Answer 5. One man (1 Samuel 17:8)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Have you ever faced a really big problem? What was it?
•How do you see yourself when you look in the mirror?
•How does God see you?
Pray about ItGod, thank You for helping me have the courage to face big problems. Help me to see myself and my situations through Your eyes instead of my own. Amen.
Day 2
Faith Fact:
With God, I can be brave.
Faith Verse:
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Question of the Day:
How do you react when a big problem comes your way?
Read:
1 Samuel 17:11–25
Think about big problems you have faced in your life in the past. Name some of them. Maybe you had to move away from your home, school, or church and make all new friends. Maybe you faced a bully at your school or in your neighborhood who was always making fun of you. Maybe someone in your family got really sick and died. It might be something completely different, but those are all some really big problems. It can be overwhelming to face those problems and know how to react in the moment.
Remember how you reacted to those big problems. Maybe there were times when you faced them head-on, and other times when you ran away from the situation. Don’t feel too bad if your first reaction is to run away from your problems. The Israelites had the same reaction when they heard Goliath challenge them to a fight. None of them wanted to face him because he was a really big guy. They didn’t think they could possibly win against him, but they were wrong. David saw that it wasn’t a fair fight, but he knew that Goliath was the weaker opponent. Instead of running away like the rest of the Israelites, he had a different reaction because he knew God was fighting for him.
Think about it:
Question 1. What did the Israelites do when Goliath came out and challenged them?
Answer 1. They ran away in fright. (1 Samuel 17:24)
Question 2. How did the Israelites react to Goliath’s challenge?
Answer 2. They were dismayed and terrified. (1 Samuel 17:11)
Question 3. Who was David’s father?
Answer 3. Jesse (1 Samuel 17:12)
Question 4. How many days did Goliath come out to challenge the Israelites?
Answer 4. Forty days (1 Samuel 17:16)
Question 5. Why did David come to the Israelite camp?
Answer 5. To deliver some food to his brothers (1 Samuel 17:17–18)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Do you think the Israelites reacted well to Goliath’s challenge? Why or why not?
•Do you think you would have reacted the same way if you were there?
•How do you react to big problems?
•How can you change the way you react to big problems?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for understanding and forgiving me when I don’t react the right way to the problems I face. Please help me to be brave enough to face the big problems in my life with Your help. Amen.
With God, I can be brave.
Faith Verse:
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Question of the Day:
How do you react when a big problem comes your way?
Read:
1 Samuel 17:11–25
Think about big problems you have faced in your life in the past. Name some of them. Maybe you had to move away from your home, school, or church and make all new friends. Maybe you faced a bully at your school or in your neighborhood who was always making fun of you. Maybe someone in your family got really sick and died. It might be something completely different, but those are all some really big problems. It can be overwhelming to face those problems and know how to react in the moment.
Remember how you reacted to those big problems. Maybe there were times when you faced them head-on, and other times when you ran away from the situation. Don’t feel too bad if your first reaction is to run away from your problems. The Israelites had the same reaction when they heard Goliath challenge them to a fight. None of them wanted to face him because he was a really big guy. They didn’t think they could possibly win against him, but they were wrong. David saw that it wasn’t a fair fight, but he knew that Goliath was the weaker opponent. Instead of running away like the rest of the Israelites, he had a different reaction because he knew God was fighting for him.
Think about it:
Question 1. What did the Israelites do when Goliath came out and challenged them?
Answer 1. They ran away in fright. (1 Samuel 17:24)
Question 2. How did the Israelites react to Goliath’s challenge?
Answer 2. They were dismayed and terrified. (1 Samuel 17:11)
Question 3. Who was David’s father?
Answer 3. Jesse (1 Samuel 17:12)
Question 4. How many days did Goliath come out to challenge the Israelites?
Answer 4. Forty days (1 Samuel 17:16)
Question 5. Why did David come to the Israelite camp?
Answer 5. To deliver some food to his brothers (1 Samuel 17:17–18)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Do you think the Israelites reacted well to Goliath’s challenge? Why or why not?
•Do you think you would have reacted the same way if you were there?
•How do you react to big problems?
•How can you change the way you react to big problems?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for understanding and forgiving me when I don’t react the right way to the problems I face. Please help me to be brave enough to face the big problems in my life with Your help. Amen.
Day 3
Faith Fact:
With God, I can be brave.
Faith Verse:
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Question of the Day:
Have you ever been jealous of someone?
Read:
Ruth 4:22; 1 Samuel 17:26–30
Jealousy is a sneaky thing that can creep in when we least expect it. It’s easy to find ourselves jealous of a sibling, friend, or celebrity. Maybe they have a better house, more money, nicer clothes, or just have more confidence in themselves. In this case, Eliab, David’s oldest brother, didn’t want David hanging around the Israelite army’s camp.
He had heard that David had been asking around the camp about Goliath’s challenge. Can you imagine your younger brother or sister being willing to stand up to a bully who you had run away from? Eliab was the oldest of eight brothers, and David was the youngest. Eliab wanted David to go home, but David wasn’t planning on it.
In life, there may be people that we feel jealous of or they cause us to feel insecure about who we are. We can’t allow our jealousy to turn to anger like it did for Eliab. God has a specific plan and purpose for each of us. Don’t get caught up in jealousy over what God has chosen to give to someone else. Keep your eyes and thoughts focused on God and His plan for your life.
Think about it:
Question 1. What descendant of Ruth became king of Israel?
Answer 1. David (Ruth 4:22)
Question 2. What was David asking around the camp about?
Answer 2. He asked who Goliath was and what would be given to the man who defeats him. (1 Samuel 17:26)
Question 3. Who was upset with David?
Answer 3. His oldest brother, Eliab (1 Samuel 17:28)
Question 4. Why was Eliab angry at David?
Answer 4. He didn’t want him at the army’s camp and thought he only came down to watch the battle. (1 Samuel 17:28)
Question 5. How did David respond to Eliab?
Answer 5. “What have I done now? I was only asking a question!” (1 Samuel 17:29)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Why do you think Eliab was jealous of David?
•Can you relate more to Eliab or to David? Why?
•Have you ever allowed jealousy to creep in? How did it make you act?
•Do you like to be around someone who is jealous of you? Why or why not?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for having a unique plan and purpose for my life. Help me to focus on You and the gifts You have given to me instead of comparing myself to others around me. Amen.
With God, I can be brave.
Faith Verse:
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Question of the Day:
Have you ever been jealous of someone?
Read:
Ruth 4:22; 1 Samuel 17:26–30
Jealousy is a sneaky thing that can creep in when we least expect it. It’s easy to find ourselves jealous of a sibling, friend, or celebrity. Maybe they have a better house, more money, nicer clothes, or just have more confidence in themselves. In this case, Eliab, David’s oldest brother, didn’t want David hanging around the Israelite army’s camp.
He had heard that David had been asking around the camp about Goliath’s challenge. Can you imagine your younger brother or sister being willing to stand up to a bully who you had run away from? Eliab was the oldest of eight brothers, and David was the youngest. Eliab wanted David to go home, but David wasn’t planning on it.
In life, there may be people that we feel jealous of or they cause us to feel insecure about who we are. We can’t allow our jealousy to turn to anger like it did for Eliab. God has a specific plan and purpose for each of us. Don’t get caught up in jealousy over what God has chosen to give to someone else. Keep your eyes and thoughts focused on God and His plan for your life.
Think about it:
Question 1. What descendant of Ruth became king of Israel?
Answer 1. David (Ruth 4:22)
Question 2. What was David asking around the camp about?
Answer 2. He asked who Goliath was and what would be given to the man who defeats him. (1 Samuel 17:26)
Question 3. Who was upset with David?
Answer 3. His oldest brother, Eliab (1 Samuel 17:28)
Question 4. Why was Eliab angry at David?
Answer 4. He didn’t want him at the army’s camp and thought he only came down to watch the battle. (1 Samuel 17:28)
Question 5. How did David respond to Eliab?
Answer 5. “What have I done now? I was only asking a question!” (1 Samuel 17:29)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Why do you think Eliab was jealous of David?
•Can you relate more to Eliab or to David? Why?
•Have you ever allowed jealousy to creep in? How did it make you act?
•Do you like to be around someone who is jealous of you? Why or why not?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for having a unique plan and purpose for my life. Help me to focus on You and the gifts You have given to me instead of comparing myself to others around me. Amen.
Day 4
Faith Fact:
With God, I can be brave.
Faith Verse:
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Question of the Day:
How has God prepared you for what you are facing right now?
Read:
1 Samuel 17:23, 32–51
Do you know how to ride a bike? If not, are you learning to ride a bike? It’s a process. We don’t start on a full-size adult bicycle and ride it perfectly the first time. We start on a kids’ bike with training wheels. After building confidence with that bike, the training wheels come off. Then, our parents don’t just let us ride that first time without training wheels alone. They stay by our side while we wobble, learning to balance on just two wheels. Then, when they are confident about us riding without training wheels, maybe our parents would let us ride outside alone or with our friends.
Just like parents prepare kids for riding bicycles slowly over time, God uses a process to prepare us for what we are going to face in our future. In our Bible reading today, we read that God prepared David for facing the giant by helping him defeat a lion and a bear when he was taking care of the sheep. David knew that God had been with him and had helped him defeat those smaller enemies. So, he knew that God would be with him to help him defeat a much bigger enemy—Goliath.
Think about it:
Question 1. Who volunteered to fight Goliath?
Answer 1. David (1 Samuel 17:32)
Question 2. Why did Saul not believe that David could defeat Goliath?
Answer 2. David was young and Goliath had been a warrior from his youth. (1 Samuel 17:33)
Question 3. What enemies had David fought while protecting sheep that prepared him to fight Goliath?
Answer 3. He fought a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:34–36)
Question 4. What did David choose to bring with him into battle instead of the kings armor and weapons?
Answer 4. His staff, five smooth stones, and his sling (1 Samuel 17:40)
Question 5. What giant did David kill?
Answer 5. Goliath (1 Samuel 17:23)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•What have your parents done for you in the past to prepare you for what you are facing right now?
•What has God done for you in the past to prepare you for what you are facing right now?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for preparing me and giving me everything I need to face the problems I have today. Please help me to remember that You are with me and that You have equipped me to fight my battles each day. Amen.
With God, I can be brave.
Faith Verse:
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Question of the Day:
How has God prepared you for what you are facing right now?
Read:
1 Samuel 17:23, 32–51
Do you know how to ride a bike? If not, are you learning to ride a bike? It’s a process. We don’t start on a full-size adult bicycle and ride it perfectly the first time. We start on a kids’ bike with training wheels. After building confidence with that bike, the training wheels come off. Then, our parents don’t just let us ride that first time without training wheels alone. They stay by our side while we wobble, learning to balance on just two wheels. Then, when they are confident about us riding without training wheels, maybe our parents would let us ride outside alone or with our friends.
Just like parents prepare kids for riding bicycles slowly over time, God uses a process to prepare us for what we are going to face in our future. In our Bible reading today, we read that God prepared David for facing the giant by helping him defeat a lion and a bear when he was taking care of the sheep. David knew that God had been with him and had helped him defeat those smaller enemies. So, he knew that God would be with him to help him defeat a much bigger enemy—Goliath.
Think about it:
Question 1. Who volunteered to fight Goliath?
Answer 1. David (1 Samuel 17:32)
Question 2. Why did Saul not believe that David could defeat Goliath?
Answer 2. David was young and Goliath had been a warrior from his youth. (1 Samuel 17:33)
Question 3. What enemies had David fought while protecting sheep that prepared him to fight Goliath?
Answer 3. He fought a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:34–36)
Question 4. What did David choose to bring with him into battle instead of the kings armor and weapons?
Answer 4. His staff, five smooth stones, and his sling (1 Samuel 17:40)
Question 5. What giant did David kill?
Answer 5. Goliath (1 Samuel 17:23)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•What have your parents done for you in the past to prepare you for what you are facing right now?
•What has God done for you in the past to prepare you for what you are facing right now?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for preparing me and giving me everything I need to face the problems I have today. Please help me to remember that You are with me and that You have equipped me to fight my battles each day. Amen.