Day 1
Faith Fact:
I can trust God.
Faith Verse:
"God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Question of the day:
Is it hard to wait for God's promise?
Read:
Genesis 17:17, 21; 18:1-15; 21:1-7
Waiting for Christmas morning might be the hardest thing ever. For weeks, we see reminders of Christmas everywhere—in the stores we visit, the commercials we see on television, the houses we see decorated with lights, and the Christmas music we hear everywhere. For months, the excitement is building. Even though it might feel like it takes forever for Christmas Day to arrive, we all know that finally it will be time—time for the songs, time for the presents, time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Now imagine if someone had an amazing gift for you and they kept telling you it was going to come, but you didn’t know when or where or even how it was going to get to you. Would that drive you crazy? You might even give up on waiting. That’s how Sarah felt in today’s Bible reading. She didn’t believe what she had heard. But Sarah had overlooked one important thing. It was God who had made the promise to her. When God gives us a promise, it might take longer than we want and it might feel like we are waiting forever. But, we can have faith and trust that He will do what He has said He will do. As we discover God’s faithfulness in today’s Bible reading, look for the answers to these questions.
Question 1. What promise did God give to Abraham and Sarah?
Answer 1. In about a year, Sarah would have a son. (Genesis 18:10, 14)
Question 2. What did Sarah do when God told her she was going to have a baby?
Answer 2. She laughed (Genesis 17:10–12)
Question 3. What was the name of the son born to Abraham and Sarah?
Answer 3. Isaac (Genesis 21:1–3)
Question 4. Why did Sarah not believe the promise?
Answer 4. Because she was old in age (Genesis 18:12)
Question 5. How old were Abraham and Sarah when Isaac was born?
Answer 5. Abraham was one hundred and Sarah was ninety years old. (Genesis 17:17, 21; 21:1–5)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•How does it feel to wait for things?
•What can you do while you are waiting to show that you trust God?
•What is a promise God has made to you?
Pray about It:
God, please help me to trust Your promises and to believe that You will do everything you have promised. I will trust You, even while I’m waiting. Amen.
I can trust God.
Faith Verse:
"God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Question of the day:
Is it hard to wait for God's promise?
Read:
Genesis 17:17, 21; 18:1-15; 21:1-7
Waiting for Christmas morning might be the hardest thing ever. For weeks, we see reminders of Christmas everywhere—in the stores we visit, the commercials we see on television, the houses we see decorated with lights, and the Christmas music we hear everywhere. For months, the excitement is building. Even though it might feel like it takes forever for Christmas Day to arrive, we all know that finally it will be time—time for the songs, time for the presents, time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Now imagine if someone had an amazing gift for you and they kept telling you it was going to come, but you didn’t know when or where or even how it was going to get to you. Would that drive you crazy? You might even give up on waiting. That’s how Sarah felt in today’s Bible reading. She didn’t believe what she had heard. But Sarah had overlooked one important thing. It was God who had made the promise to her. When God gives us a promise, it might take longer than we want and it might feel like we are waiting forever. But, we can have faith and trust that He will do what He has said He will do. As we discover God’s faithfulness in today’s Bible reading, look for the answers to these questions.
Question 1. What promise did God give to Abraham and Sarah?
Answer 1. In about a year, Sarah would have a son. (Genesis 18:10, 14)
Question 2. What did Sarah do when God told her she was going to have a baby?
Answer 2. She laughed (Genesis 17:10–12)
Question 3. What was the name of the son born to Abraham and Sarah?
Answer 3. Isaac (Genesis 21:1–3)
Question 4. Why did Sarah not believe the promise?
Answer 4. Because she was old in age (Genesis 18:12)
Question 5. How old were Abraham and Sarah when Isaac was born?
Answer 5. Abraham was one hundred and Sarah was ninety years old. (Genesis 17:17, 21; 21:1–5)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•How does it feel to wait for things?
•What can you do while you are waiting to show that you trust God?
•What is a promise God has made to you?
Pray about It:
God, please help me to trust Your promises and to believe that You will do everything you have promised. I will trust You, even while I’m waiting. Amen.
Day 2
Faith Fact:
I can trust God.
Faith Verse:
"God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Question of the day:
How do you obey God when He asks you to do something hard?
Read:
Genesis 12:3; 22:1–18
Think about your favorite thing. Your favorite thing might be a toy or a book you can’t stop reading. It might even be a special piece of jewelry or a signed sports jersey. You’re probably really careful about the way you treat it and you keep it in a spot where you won’t lose it or it won’t get broken. It might even be something that you only use on special days. This could even be something that you worked a really long time to save enough money to buy it.
Now imagine if someone asked you to get rid of that thing. How hard would that be? Would you argue with them and tell them all the reasons you need to keep it? Would you run away and hide it? Would you hold on to it and tell them no?
Abraham was faced with a very difficult thing to do. God had told him to do something that was very hard, but Abraham trusted that God had a plan. He trusted that God loved him, and that He would make everything work out for the best. Abraham chose to obey God even though it was a really hard thing to do, and in doing so, he passed this test of faith! Take a few minutes to look back at today’s Bible reading and find the answers to these questions.
Question 1. What was God testing in Abraham?
Answer 1. Abraham’s faith (Genesis 22:1)
Question 2. What did God tell Abraham to do?
Answer 2. Go to Moriah and sacrifice his son Isaac. (Genesis 22:2)
Question 3. When Isaac asked what the sacrifice would be, what did Abraham say that God would provide?
Answer 3. “God will provide a sheep.” (Genesis 22:8)
Question 4. What did God provide for Abraham to sacrifice?
Answer 4. A ram, a male sheep, for the sacrifice (Genesis 22:13)
Question 5. What promise did God make to Abraham?
Answer 5. God promised Abraham that through his seed [descendant] all the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Have you ever faced a situation when it was hard to obey?
•How can you trust God even when it’s hard?
Pray about It:
God, obeying isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s hard to do the things You tell me to do. I might be scared of what other people will think or say. I need Your help. I want to be full of faith and trust that Your plans are always good. Help me to always obey You. Amen.
I can trust God.
Faith Verse:
"God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Question of the day:
How do you obey God when He asks you to do something hard?
Read:
Genesis 12:3; 22:1–18
Think about your favorite thing. Your favorite thing might be a toy or a book you can’t stop reading. It might even be a special piece of jewelry or a signed sports jersey. You’re probably really careful about the way you treat it and you keep it in a spot where you won’t lose it or it won’t get broken. It might even be something that you only use on special days. This could even be something that you worked a really long time to save enough money to buy it.
Now imagine if someone asked you to get rid of that thing. How hard would that be? Would you argue with them and tell them all the reasons you need to keep it? Would you run away and hide it? Would you hold on to it and tell them no?
Abraham was faced with a very difficult thing to do. God had told him to do something that was very hard, but Abraham trusted that God had a plan. He trusted that God loved him, and that He would make everything work out for the best. Abraham chose to obey God even though it was a really hard thing to do, and in doing so, he passed this test of faith! Take a few minutes to look back at today’s Bible reading and find the answers to these questions.
Question 1. What was God testing in Abraham?
Answer 1. Abraham’s faith (Genesis 22:1)
Question 2. What did God tell Abraham to do?
Answer 2. Go to Moriah and sacrifice his son Isaac. (Genesis 22:2)
Question 3. When Isaac asked what the sacrifice would be, what did Abraham say that God would provide?
Answer 3. “God will provide a sheep.” (Genesis 22:8)
Question 4. What did God provide for Abraham to sacrifice?
Answer 4. A ram, a male sheep, for the sacrifice (Genesis 22:13)
Question 5. What promise did God make to Abraham?
Answer 5. God promised Abraham that through his seed [descendant] all the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•Have you ever faced a situation when it was hard to obey?
•How can you trust God even when it’s hard?
Pray about It:
God, obeying isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s hard to do the things You tell me to do. I might be scared of what other people will think or say. I need Your help. I want to be full of faith and trust that Your plans are always good. Help me to always obey You. Amen.
Day 3
Faith Fact:
I can trust God.
Faith Verse:
"God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Question of the day:
Is it hard to trust God?
Read:
Genesis 18:1–15; 21:1–7; 22:1–18
Has anyone every promised you something? It could be something big or something small. Maybe they told you they would do something for you or take you somewhere fun. But when it was time to go, they forgot or couldn’t do it anymore. They broke their promise. How did that make you feel? You may have felt disappointed or like they had lied to you. You had your hopes up, you had trusted them, and they let you down.
Have you ever made a promise to someone? Maybe it was even a serious promise. You know the kind—a “pinky promise.” It might have been to a friend at school, or even to your mom or dad. Maybe you promised that they could have your toy if they beat you in a game. You might have promised that you’d clean your room if your parents let you stay up a little bit later.
What would happen if you didn’t keep your promise? The next time you made them a promise, they wouldn’t believe you. A promise is only as good as our willingness to do what we have promised. If you don’t hold up your end, it’s just a wishful story.
It’s a very good thing that God always keeps His promises to us. It might take longer than we would like or require us to do some crazy things along the way, but His promises are always true. Throughout Abraham’s life, he learned that God always keeps His promises. Let’s look back at this passage of the Bible reading again and see what it was like for Abraham to trust God.
Question 1. What promises did God make to Abraham and Sarah?
Answer 1. Sarah would have a son, and their descendants would be more than the stars in the sky and sand on the shore. (Genesis 18:10; 22:17)
Question 2. When did God’s promise of a son come true?
Answer 2. At the exact time God said it would. (Genesis 21:2)
Question 3. What did Abraham name the place where God provided the ram?
Answer 3. Yahweh-Yireh, which means “the Lord will provide.” This shows us that Abraham trusted God, even when it was hard. (Genesis 22:14)
Question 4. How did Sarah feel after Isaac was born?
Answer 4. She was happy and filled with joy. It was hard to believe that she could have a baby at her age, but she knew this would bring joy to her and others. They would laugh with her. (Genesis 21:6–7)
Question 5. Did Abraham trust God before he saw the ram?
Answer 5. Yes! He knew that God would provide for him. He told Isaac “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8, 13)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•What is the hardest part about trusting?
•How do we know we can trust God?
•What can we do to help others know they can trust us?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for Your promises in my life. Thank You for the Bible that teaches me that I can always trust You. Help me to be more like You. Help me to be someone that others can trust. I love You. Amen.
I can trust God.
Faith Verse:
"God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Question of the day:
Is it hard to trust God?
Read:
Genesis 18:1–15; 21:1–7; 22:1–18
Has anyone every promised you something? It could be something big or something small. Maybe they told you they would do something for you or take you somewhere fun. But when it was time to go, they forgot or couldn’t do it anymore. They broke their promise. How did that make you feel? You may have felt disappointed or like they had lied to you. You had your hopes up, you had trusted them, and they let you down.
Have you ever made a promise to someone? Maybe it was even a serious promise. You know the kind—a “pinky promise.” It might have been to a friend at school, or even to your mom or dad. Maybe you promised that they could have your toy if they beat you in a game. You might have promised that you’d clean your room if your parents let you stay up a little bit later.
What would happen if you didn’t keep your promise? The next time you made them a promise, they wouldn’t believe you. A promise is only as good as our willingness to do what we have promised. If you don’t hold up your end, it’s just a wishful story.
It’s a very good thing that God always keeps His promises to us. It might take longer than we would like or require us to do some crazy things along the way, but His promises are always true. Throughout Abraham’s life, he learned that God always keeps His promises. Let’s look back at this passage of the Bible reading again and see what it was like for Abraham to trust God.
Question 1. What promises did God make to Abraham and Sarah?
Answer 1. Sarah would have a son, and their descendants would be more than the stars in the sky and sand on the shore. (Genesis 18:10; 22:17)
Question 2. When did God’s promise of a son come true?
Answer 2. At the exact time God said it would. (Genesis 21:2)
Question 3. What did Abraham name the place where God provided the ram?
Answer 3. Yahweh-Yireh, which means “the Lord will provide.” This shows us that Abraham trusted God, even when it was hard. (Genesis 22:14)
Question 4. How did Sarah feel after Isaac was born?
Answer 4. She was happy and filled with joy. It was hard to believe that she could have a baby at her age, but she knew this would bring joy to her and others. They would laugh with her. (Genesis 21:6–7)
Question 5. Did Abraham trust God before he saw the ram?
Answer 5. Yes! He knew that God would provide for him. He told Isaac “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8, 13)
Talk about It:
•What did today’s devotion make you think about?
•What is the hardest part about trusting?
•How do we know we can trust God?
•What can we do to help others know they can trust us?
Pray about It:
God, thank You for Your promises in my life. Thank You for the Bible that teaches me that I can always trust You. Help me to be more like You. Help me to be someone that others can trust. I love You. Amen.
Day 4
Faith Fact:
I can trust God.
Faith Verse:
"God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Question of the day:
Do others always understand what God is asking you to do?
Read:
Proverbs 3:5–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Have you ever looked at a picture from really close up? If you haven’t, grab a picture and put it so it’s touching your nose. Now try to look at everything in that picture. It’s impossible! Some things even look a little blurry. When it’s that close to our face, we can’t see everything in the picture. But when we pull the picture back we can start to see other things we couldn’t see before. The further away we move the picture, the more we can see.
We can only see a moment in our lives, the very minute we are in. We know what has happened in the past, but we don’t know for sure what will happen tomorrow, next week, or even in the next five minutes. There’s only One who can see everything that has ever happened and ever will—God. He sees everything. He is everywhere all the time. He’s the only One not bound by space or time or anything. When God tells us to do something, it may not always make sense to us. But we can trust God because He sees everything. Our verses today help us understand that. As you read them, think about these questions and look for the answers.
Question 1. How can we determine God’s will for our lives?
Answer 1. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5–6)
Question 2. What do we mean when we say that God is omniscient?
Answer 2. God is all-wise and all-knowing.
Question 3. What do we mean when we say that God is omnipresent?
Answer 3. God is everywhere at the same time.
Question 4. How can we trust that God will do what He says He will?
Answer 4. 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
Question 5. What should we do when we don’t understand why God is telling us to do something?
Answer 5. Trust Him. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
Talk about It:
Pray about It:
God, I’m so glad I don’t have to know all the answers because You know everything. Help me to trust You to take care of everything in my life. Even when I don’t understand, I will trust You because You are faithful. Amen.
I can trust God.
Faith Verse:
"God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Question of the day:
Do others always understand what God is asking you to do?
Read:
Proverbs 3:5–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Have you ever looked at a picture from really close up? If you haven’t, grab a picture and put it so it’s touching your nose. Now try to look at everything in that picture. It’s impossible! Some things even look a little blurry. When it’s that close to our face, we can’t see everything in the picture. But when we pull the picture back we can start to see other things we couldn’t see before. The further away we move the picture, the more we can see.
We can only see a moment in our lives, the very minute we are in. We know what has happened in the past, but we don’t know for sure what will happen tomorrow, next week, or even in the next five minutes. There’s only One who can see everything that has ever happened and ever will—God. He sees everything. He is everywhere all the time. He’s the only One not bound by space or time or anything. When God tells us to do something, it may not always make sense to us. But we can trust God because He sees everything. Our verses today help us understand that. As you read them, think about these questions and look for the answers.
Question 1. How can we determine God’s will for our lives?
Answer 1. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5–6)
Question 2. What do we mean when we say that God is omniscient?
Answer 2. God is all-wise and all-knowing.
Question 3. What do we mean when we say that God is omnipresent?
Answer 3. God is everywhere at the same time.
Question 4. How can we trust that God will do what He says He will?
Answer 4. 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
Question 5. What should we do when we don’t understand why God is telling us to do something?
Answer 5. Trust Him. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
Talk about It:
- What did today’s devotion make you think about?
- How does it feel to know that we can always trust God?
- Has there ever been a time that God has asked you to do something that others didn’t understand?
- What’s one way you can trust God this week?
Pray about It:
God, I’m so glad I don’t have to know all the answers because You know everything. Help me to trust You to take care of everything in my life. Even when I don’t understand, I will trust You because You are faithful. Amen.