Day 1
Faith Fact
I can talk to God.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Question of the day:
How can I talk to God when I've made a mistake?
Read:
Read: Luke 15:8–10
This is how God feels about us. He knows that we have all messed up and sinned. We have all walked away from what He desires for us. However, because He loves us, and because we are so valuable to Him, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on a cross to ensure that we could have a relationship with Him. No matter how far we feel like we’ve strayed or how bad we think we’ve messed up and sinned, He wants us to come and talk with Him about it and ask Him to help us!
Talk About It:
Question 1. What is something that was lost that you spent a long time looking for?
Answer 1. Answers will vary.
Question 2. How did you feel when you found the item that had been lost?
Answer 2. Answers may vary.
Question 3. How is God like the woman in today’s Scripture passage?
Answer 3. Answers may vary.
Question 4. What is the connection between how hard you search for a lost item and how important that item is to you?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
Question 5. How does coming to God after we’ve messed up help us grow closer to Him?
Answer 5. Answers will vary.
Prayer:
God, thank You that I can come and talk with You even when I’ve messed up. Help me to always to be quick to turn to You and to come back to You when I’ve sinned. Thank you for always being willing to forgive me and help me live for You. Amen.
I can talk to God.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Question of the day:
How can I talk to God when I've made a mistake?
Read:
Read: Luke 15:8–10
This is how God feels about us. He knows that we have all messed up and sinned. We have all walked away from what He desires for us. However, because He loves us, and because we are so valuable to Him, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on a cross to ensure that we could have a relationship with Him. No matter how far we feel like we’ve strayed or how bad we think we’ve messed up and sinned, He wants us to come and talk with Him about it and ask Him to help us!
Talk About It:
Question 1. What is something that was lost that you spent a long time looking for?
Answer 1. Answers will vary.
Question 2. How did you feel when you found the item that had been lost?
Answer 2. Answers may vary.
Question 3. How is God like the woman in today’s Scripture passage?
Answer 3. Answers may vary.
Question 4. What is the connection between how hard you search for a lost item and how important that item is to you?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
Question 5. How does coming to God after we’ve messed up help us grow closer to Him?
Answer 5. Answers will vary.
Prayer:
God, thank You that I can come and talk with You even when I’ve messed up. Help me to always to be quick to turn to You and to come back to You when I’ve sinned. Thank you for always being willing to forgive me and help me live for You. Amen.
Day 2
Faith Fact
I can talk to God.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Question of the day:
How should I talk to God?
Read:
Read: Matthew 6:5–8
Can you imagine what it would be like if you were required to speak with big fancy words every time you wanted to talk to an adult? What would happen if you didn’t know the right words? Or what do you think it would sound like if you spoke only in one monotone voice like a robot when you tried to talk to them? It wouldn’t allow for a whole lot of real conversation, right?
When we talk with God, He wants us to be ourself. We don’t have to use memorized prayers or big fancy words. We shouldn’t try to impress others when we pray, and we shouldn’t say words that are memorized without actually meaning what we’re saying. God wants us to talk to Him with our own words, and say exactly what we’re thinking and feeling, in a respectful way. He sees us and knows us and simply wants us to come to Him because He loves us and desires a relationship with us.
Talk About It:
Question 1. How do these verses describe the way hypocrites pray?
Answer 1. They love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. (Matthew 6:5)
Question 2. Why do you think verse 7 says not to “babble on and on”?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
Question 3. What kind of prayer does this passage say that God the Father rewards?
Answer 3. Private prayer (Matthew 6:6)
Question 4. Why do you think God wants real and personal conversations with you instead of fancy words you don’t understand or memorized prayers you don’t mean?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
Question 5. How do you feel about being able to go to God just as you are?
Answer 5. Answers may vary.
Prayer:
God, thank You for seeing me, knowing me, and loving me. I come to You just as I am. Help me to always have real and personal conversations with You so that our relationship can always be growing. Amen.
I can talk to God.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Question of the day:
How should I talk to God?
Read:
Read: Matthew 6:5–8
Can you imagine what it would be like if you were required to speak with big fancy words every time you wanted to talk to an adult? What would happen if you didn’t know the right words? Or what do you think it would sound like if you spoke only in one monotone voice like a robot when you tried to talk to them? It wouldn’t allow for a whole lot of real conversation, right?
When we talk with God, He wants us to be ourself. We don’t have to use memorized prayers or big fancy words. We shouldn’t try to impress others when we pray, and we shouldn’t say words that are memorized without actually meaning what we’re saying. God wants us to talk to Him with our own words, and say exactly what we’re thinking and feeling, in a respectful way. He sees us and knows us and simply wants us to come to Him because He loves us and desires a relationship with us.
Talk About It:
Question 1. How do these verses describe the way hypocrites pray?
Answer 1. They love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. (Matthew 6:5)
Question 2. Why do you think verse 7 says not to “babble on and on”?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
Question 3. What kind of prayer does this passage say that God the Father rewards?
Answer 3. Private prayer (Matthew 6:6)
Question 4. Why do you think God wants real and personal conversations with you instead of fancy words you don’t understand or memorized prayers you don’t mean?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
Question 5. How do you feel about being able to go to God just as you are?
Answer 5. Answers may vary.
Prayer:
God, thank You for seeing me, knowing me, and loving me. I come to You just as I am. Help me to always have real and personal conversations with You so that our relationship can always be growing. Amen.
Day 3
Faith Fact
I can talk to God.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Question of the day:
Why should I take my needs to God?
Read:
Read: James 5:13–16
Do you know that when you pray, you are talking with the one and only living God? Do you know that when you pray, you are talking with the only One who has power over everything in the universe? He is the One who has power to heal, power to forgive, and power over everything. When we have a relationship with God, when we pray and rely on Him, He uses His power to help us because we are His children.
Because He is the God who desires a relationship with us, we can go to Him at any time with any need that we have. This doesn’t mean that we should just go to God with a big wish list of everything we want, like a new car and a million dollars, and assume He will give us everything. It does mean though, that because He loves us, He wants us to come to Him with our needs, in faith, and trust Him to take care of us. When we pray, God responds and things that would otherwise be impossible can happen as a result of our prayer.
Talk About It:
Question 1. What do these verses say to do when you’re sick or going through hard times?
Answer 1. Pray and ask for prayer (James 5:13–14)
Question 2. How does James 5:14 describe one way to pray for the sick?
Answer 2. “Call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14)
Question 3. What’s different about praying to the one and only God instead or someone or something else?
Answer 3. God exists. He cares and He has power to help.
Question 4. How does knowing that you can talk with God about everything, including your problems, make you feel?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
Question 5. What situations are you or someone you know facing that you want to talk with God about?
Answer 5. Answer will vary.
Prayer:
God, thank You that You have all power and all authority and yet You still desire a relationship with me. Help me to be faithful to come to You every day. Amen.
I can talk to God.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Question of the day:
Why should I take my needs to God?
Read:
Read: James 5:13–16
Do you know that when you pray, you are talking with the one and only living God? Do you know that when you pray, you are talking with the only One who has power over everything in the universe? He is the One who has power to heal, power to forgive, and power over everything. When we have a relationship with God, when we pray and rely on Him, He uses His power to help us because we are His children.
Because He is the God who desires a relationship with us, we can go to Him at any time with any need that we have. This doesn’t mean that we should just go to God with a big wish list of everything we want, like a new car and a million dollars, and assume He will give us everything. It does mean though, that because He loves us, He wants us to come to Him with our needs, in faith, and trust Him to take care of us. When we pray, God responds and things that would otherwise be impossible can happen as a result of our prayer.
Talk About It:
Question 1. What do these verses say to do when you’re sick or going through hard times?
Answer 1. Pray and ask for prayer (James 5:13–14)
Question 2. How does James 5:14 describe one way to pray for the sick?
Answer 2. “Call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14)
Question 3. What’s different about praying to the one and only God instead or someone or something else?
Answer 3. God exists. He cares and He has power to help.
Question 4. How does knowing that you can talk with God about everything, including your problems, make you feel?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
Question 5. What situations are you or someone you know facing that you want to talk with God about?
Answer 5. Answer will vary.
Prayer:
God, thank You that You have all power and all authority and yet You still desire a relationship with me. Help me to be faithful to come to You every day. Amen.
Day 4
Faith Fact
I can talk to God.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Question of the day:
How close should my relationship with God be?
Read:
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Take a moment and place two fingers on the side of your neck where you can feel your pulse. Your pulse is your heart beating, pumping blood throughout your body. It’s constant and it’s absolutely vital for living. Without your heart beating, you could not live. There’s no way to separate your heart beating and you from living.
God wants His relationship with you to be as consistent as your pulse. Conversations with God should be as easy as breathing, as easy as your heart pumping blood. They should be a natural part of who we are and what we do. God wants you to be so close to Him and in such a deep, personal relationship with Him, that you wouldn’t feel right if His presence were taken away. As we grow closer to God, we begin to understand more of who He is and how He works. We begin to walk confidently in every situation we face, and we can be joyful and thankful no matter how difficult the circumstance because we’ve come to rely on God in every part of our life. We know that He will be with us through our difficulties.
Talk About It:
Question 1. What do these verses say is God’s will for those who belong to Christ Jesus?
Answer 1. God’s will is that we are to be thankful in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Question 2. What is something that you don’t think you could live without?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
Question 3. How does your answer to Question 2 compare to trying to live without a relationship with God?
Answer 3. Answers will vary.
Question 4. How can having a relationship with God help us be joyful and thankful in all circumstances?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
Question 5. How can you “never stop praying”?
Answer 5. Answers will vary.
Prayer:
God, thank You for loving me the way You do. Help me to always be pursuing You, every day of my life. There’s nothing else in this life that I want, except You. Amen.
I can talk to God.
Faith Verse
Matthew 6:33
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
Question of the day:
How close should my relationship with God be?
Read:
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Take a moment and place two fingers on the side of your neck where you can feel your pulse. Your pulse is your heart beating, pumping blood throughout your body. It’s constant and it’s absolutely vital for living. Without your heart beating, you could not live. There’s no way to separate your heart beating and you from living.
God wants His relationship with you to be as consistent as your pulse. Conversations with God should be as easy as breathing, as easy as your heart pumping blood. They should be a natural part of who we are and what we do. God wants you to be so close to Him and in such a deep, personal relationship with Him, that you wouldn’t feel right if His presence were taken away. As we grow closer to God, we begin to understand more of who He is and how He works. We begin to walk confidently in every situation we face, and we can be joyful and thankful no matter how difficult the circumstance because we’ve come to rely on God in every part of our life. We know that He will be with us through our difficulties.
Talk About It:
Question 1. What do these verses say is God’s will for those who belong to Christ Jesus?
Answer 1. God’s will is that we are to be thankful in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Question 2. What is something that you don’t think you could live without?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
Question 3. How does your answer to Question 2 compare to trying to live without a relationship with God?
Answer 3. Answers will vary.
Question 4. How can having a relationship with God help us be joyful and thankful in all circumstances?
Answer 4. Answers may vary.
Question 5. How can you “never stop praying”?
Answer 5. Answers will vary.
Prayer:
God, thank You for loving me the way You do. Help me to always be pursuing You, every day of my life. There’s nothing else in this life that I want, except You. Amen.