Day 1
Faith Fact:
God listens when I pray.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
Does God listen to me?
Read:
James 5:13–18
When we pray, it’s important to trust that God is actually listening. But sometimes it can be tough. Sometimes Christians go through times when we wonder if God is really listening. In those times, we can keep our faith strong by reminding ourselves of what the Bible says. In today’s Bible reading, James wrote about many ways prayer can help. He reminded us about the prophet Elijah and how God really does listen to people’s prayers.
Because we’re important to God and He loves us, we can trust that He will hear and answer when we pray. Keep praying and seeking God through every situation you go through. Prayer will cause your relationship with Him to grow and help you understand His will for your life more each day.
Think about it:
Question 1. What can we read to remind ourselves that God listens?
Answer 1. The Bible
Question 2. What did James say to do when you go through hard times?
Answer 2. Pray (James 5:13)
Question 3. If you’re sick, who can you go to for prayer?
Answer 3. The leaders in your church (James 5:14)
Question 4. How did James describe the prayer of a person who is in a right relationship with God?
Answer 4. Those prayers have power and produce results. (James 5:16)
Question 5. What did James point out about Elijah that can help us trust that God is listening to our prayers?
Answer 5. Like us, Elijah was human. And if God listened to Elijah, then He can also listen to us. (James 5:17)
Talk about It:
•When it feels like God doesn’t hear you, what can you do?
•Who are some leaders in your church that you could ask to pray for you when you need it?
•How does it make you feel to know that God answered Elijah in a big way even though he was just a normal person?
Pray about it:
Father God, thank You for loving me enough to listen to what I have to say. I know You listen even when I don’t always feel it. Help me to never forget how important I am to You and that You care about me. Amen.
God listens when I pray.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
Does God listen to me?
Read:
James 5:13–18
When we pray, it’s important to trust that God is actually listening. But sometimes it can be tough. Sometimes Christians go through times when we wonder if God is really listening. In those times, we can keep our faith strong by reminding ourselves of what the Bible says. In today’s Bible reading, James wrote about many ways prayer can help. He reminded us about the prophet Elijah and how God really does listen to people’s prayers.
Because we’re important to God and He loves us, we can trust that He will hear and answer when we pray. Keep praying and seeking God through every situation you go through. Prayer will cause your relationship with Him to grow and help you understand His will for your life more each day.
Think about it:
Question 1. What can we read to remind ourselves that God listens?
Answer 1. The Bible
Question 2. What did James say to do when you go through hard times?
Answer 2. Pray (James 5:13)
Question 3. If you’re sick, who can you go to for prayer?
Answer 3. The leaders in your church (James 5:14)
Question 4. How did James describe the prayer of a person who is in a right relationship with God?
Answer 4. Those prayers have power and produce results. (James 5:16)
Question 5. What did James point out about Elijah that can help us trust that God is listening to our prayers?
Answer 5. Like us, Elijah was human. And if God listened to Elijah, then He can also listen to us. (James 5:17)
Talk about It:
•When it feels like God doesn’t hear you, what can you do?
•Who are some leaders in your church that you could ask to pray for you when you need it?
•How does it make you feel to know that God answered Elijah in a big way even though he was just a normal person?
Pray about it:
Father God, thank You for loving me enough to listen to what I have to say. I know You listen even when I don’t always feel it. Help me to never forget how important I am to You and that You care about me. Amen.
Day 2
Faith Fact:
God listens when I pray.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
Does God answer prayers?
Read:
1 John 5:13–15
Does God answer our prayers? That’s a question Christians have struggled to understand for a long time. Sometimes, God responds quickly when we pray, giving us just what we need when we ask. But at other times, we wait and wait, as our problems continue. We feel like our prayers aren’t being answered.
God does answer prayer, but His answers may not be what we would choose or at the time we would want. Sometimes, we may not see the answer in our lifetime. And sometimes the answer is no when we ask for things that aren’t part of His plan. Does God answer our prayers? Yes. But God is God, and His answers always follow His perfect plan and purpose, not ours. He knows what is best, and our prayers should be full of trust in Him and His will.
Think about it:
Question 1. Does God always answer our prayers right away?
Answer 1. No. Sometimes answers may take a long time.
Question 2. Who was John writing to in today’s Bible reading?
Answer 2. Those who believe in Jesus, the Son of God (1 John 5:13)
Question 3. How can we be sure that God will hear our requests?
Answer 3. We should pray for things that please Him. (1 John 5:14)
Question 4. God’s answers to our prayers show us what?
Answer 4. His perfect plans for us
Question 5. How does God answer when we ask Him for the right things?
Answer 5. He gives us what we ask for. (1 John 5:14–15)
Talk about It:
•How does it make you feel to know that God answers prayers?
•Why do you think God makes us wait sometimes for His answer?
•Do you have a prayer that you’re still waiting on an answer for?
Pray about It:
Father God, thank You for caring enough about me to hear and answer my prayers. Help me to believe and not doubt as I bring my needs to You. Amen.
God listens when I pray.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
Does God answer prayers?
Read:
1 John 5:13–15
Does God answer our prayers? That’s a question Christians have struggled to understand for a long time. Sometimes, God responds quickly when we pray, giving us just what we need when we ask. But at other times, we wait and wait, as our problems continue. We feel like our prayers aren’t being answered.
God does answer prayer, but His answers may not be what we would choose or at the time we would want. Sometimes, we may not see the answer in our lifetime. And sometimes the answer is no when we ask for things that aren’t part of His plan. Does God answer our prayers? Yes. But God is God, and His answers always follow His perfect plan and purpose, not ours. He knows what is best, and our prayers should be full of trust in Him and His will.
Think about it:
Question 1. Does God always answer our prayers right away?
Answer 1. No. Sometimes answers may take a long time.
Question 2. Who was John writing to in today’s Bible reading?
Answer 2. Those who believe in Jesus, the Son of God (1 John 5:13)
Question 3. How can we be sure that God will hear our requests?
Answer 3. We should pray for things that please Him. (1 John 5:14)
Question 4. God’s answers to our prayers show us what?
Answer 4. His perfect plans for us
Question 5. How does God answer when we ask Him for the right things?
Answer 5. He gives us what we ask for. (1 John 5:14–15)
Talk about It:
•How does it make you feel to know that God answers prayers?
•Why do you think God makes us wait sometimes for His answer?
•Do you have a prayer that you’re still waiting on an answer for?
Pray about It:
Father God, thank You for caring enough about me to hear and answer my prayers. Help me to believe and not doubt as I bring my needs to You. Amen.
Day 3
Faith Fact:
God listens when I pray.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
How should I pray?
Read:
Luke 11:1–4
Prayer is a conversation with God. Since we have never seen God, sometimes we wonder what to say to God when we pray. Jesus gave us a great example of how to pray in Luke 11. We often call this the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus did not say to use only these words, but to use this prayer as an example as we pray in our own way to God.
This prayer shows us the importance of honoring God and trusting for His will to be done in our life. We also see how to ask for things including forgiveness. It finishes with a prayer to show us how to keep ourselves from evil so we can continue to grow in our relationship with God.
Think about it:
Question 1. Why did Jesus teach His followers how pray?
Answer 1. Because His disciplese asked Him to teach them to pray, just as John the Baptist taught his disciples (Luke 11:1)
Question 2. Who did Jesus pray to?
Answer 2. God, the Father (Luke 11:2)
Question 3. Should we ask God for the things we need to live?
Answer 3. Yes. Jesus’ prayer for food shows that God wants to take care of what we need to live. (Luke 11:3)
Question 4. When we ask God to forgive us, what should we do for others?
Answer 4. We have to forgive those who have done wrong to us just as God forgives the wrong things we’ve done. (Luke 11:4)
Question 5. How can prayer help us choose to do good things?
Answer 5. We can ask God for help when we’re tempted to do wrong things. (Luke 11:4)
Talk about It:
•How can calling God “Father” change your ideas about prayer?
•What are the different elements you see in this prayer?
•What’s something in Jesus’ prayer that you can add to your prayers?
Pray about It:
Father God, You are a holy God and I love You. May Your plan happen in my life. Provide for my family’s need. Please help me to forgive anyone who has done wrong to me. Forgive me also Lord. Help me to make the right choices today in all I do. Amen.
God listens when I pray.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
How should I pray?
Read:
Luke 11:1–4
Prayer is a conversation with God. Since we have never seen God, sometimes we wonder what to say to God when we pray. Jesus gave us a great example of how to pray in Luke 11. We often call this the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus did not say to use only these words, but to use this prayer as an example as we pray in our own way to God.
This prayer shows us the importance of honoring God and trusting for His will to be done in our life. We also see how to ask for things including forgiveness. It finishes with a prayer to show us how to keep ourselves from evil so we can continue to grow in our relationship with God.
Think about it:
Question 1. Why did Jesus teach His followers how pray?
Answer 1. Because His disciplese asked Him to teach them to pray, just as John the Baptist taught his disciples (Luke 11:1)
Question 2. Who did Jesus pray to?
Answer 2. God, the Father (Luke 11:2)
Question 3. Should we ask God for the things we need to live?
Answer 3. Yes. Jesus’ prayer for food shows that God wants to take care of what we need to live. (Luke 11:3)
Question 4. When we ask God to forgive us, what should we do for others?
Answer 4. We have to forgive those who have done wrong to us just as God forgives the wrong things we’ve done. (Luke 11:4)
Question 5. How can prayer help us choose to do good things?
Answer 5. We can ask God for help when we’re tempted to do wrong things. (Luke 11:4)
Talk about It:
•How can calling God “Father” change your ideas about prayer?
•What are the different elements you see in this prayer?
•What’s something in Jesus’ prayer that you can add to your prayers?
Pray about It:
Father God, You are a holy God and I love You. May Your plan happen in my life. Provide for my family’s need. Please help me to forgive anyone who has done wrong to me. Forgive me also Lord. Help me to make the right choices today in all I do. Amen.
Day 4
Faith Fact:
God listens when I pray.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
How do I hear from God?
Read:
John 14:23–26
Since He created the world, God has wanted a close relationship with people. In the Garden of Eden, God walked and talked with Adam and Eve directly. He spoke to the prophets and priests of the Old Testament in different ways. To people in first-century Palestine, He spoke through Jesus His Son. Today He still speaks to us. Although God is not limited in the ways He speaks to us, He usually communicates with us through the Bible, His written Word, through the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit in our heart, and through the voice of trusted Christian leaders.
As we wait to hear from God, we can be sure that He is leading and guiding us on His path. Prayer is not just us talking to God, but it is also allowing Him to talk to us and help us grow in Him.
Think about it:
Question 1. How do we know that God talks to people?
Answer 1. The Bible tells us about many times He spoke to people throughout history.
Question 2. In John 14:23, how did Jesus say we can show Him love?
Answer 2. By doing the things He has said (John 14:23)
Question 3. Whose words did Jesus say He spoke?
Answer 3. God, the Father (John 14:24)
Question 4. What did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would help us remember?
Answer 4. The things that Jesus had said (John 14:26)
Question 5. What are some ways we can hear from God?
Answer 5. Answers may vary, but can include things like prayer, the Bible, the Holy Spirit speaking, and trusted Christian leaders.
Talk about It:
•What are some ways that you believe God has spoken to you?
•When we talk to God, how can removing distractions help us listen?
•How can spending time listening for the Holy Spirit to speak help you in the future?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for speaking to me. Please help me to listen. As I read and pray, please continue to show me Your perfect plan. Amen.
God listens when I pray.
Faith Verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
Question of the Day:
How do I hear from God?
Read:
John 14:23–26
Since He created the world, God has wanted a close relationship with people. In the Garden of Eden, God walked and talked with Adam and Eve directly. He spoke to the prophets and priests of the Old Testament in different ways. To people in first-century Palestine, He spoke through Jesus His Son. Today He still speaks to us. Although God is not limited in the ways He speaks to us, He usually communicates with us through the Bible, His written Word, through the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit in our heart, and through the voice of trusted Christian leaders.
As we wait to hear from God, we can be sure that He is leading and guiding us on His path. Prayer is not just us talking to God, but it is also allowing Him to talk to us and help us grow in Him.
Think about it:
Question 1. How do we know that God talks to people?
Answer 1. The Bible tells us about many times He spoke to people throughout history.
Question 2. In John 14:23, how did Jesus say we can show Him love?
Answer 2. By doing the things He has said (John 14:23)
Question 3. Whose words did Jesus say He spoke?
Answer 3. God, the Father (John 14:24)
Question 4. What did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would help us remember?
Answer 4. The things that Jesus had said (John 14:26)
Question 5. What are some ways we can hear from God?
Answer 5. Answers may vary, but can include things like prayer, the Bible, the Holy Spirit speaking, and trusted Christian leaders.
Talk about It:
•What are some ways that you believe God has spoken to you?
•When we talk to God, how can removing distractions help us listen?
•How can spending time listening for the Holy Spirit to speak help you in the future?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for speaking to me. Please help me to listen. As I read and pray, please continue to show me Your perfect plan. Amen.