Today's devotional guide for families with small children is based the December 19 piece on page 24 of the Wake Up to Joy booklet. From now on the devotions are based on Bible stories that lead up to Jesus being born.
Light three candles.
Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you
for always hearing me
when I pray.
Help me to wait
for your answer.
Read this Bible thought from Luke 1:14.
Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.
You will have joy!
You will be glad!
You can trust God.
Tell your child this Bible story from Luke 1:5-25.
Zechariah was an old man. He worked in God's temple - a place that was kind of like an old church. He and his wife Elizabeth had always wanted a child of their own, but they never had any babies.
One day, when Zechariah was working in the temple, an angel came and said, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and everyone will be happy when he is born."
But Zechariah couldn't believe it. He said, "How can I know if you are telling the truth? I can't believe what you are saying." The angel said: "I am the Angel Gabriel, and God has sent me to tell you this news. Since you can't believe what I say, you won't be able to say anything until all these things come true."
And that's what happened! Zechariah went home and he couldn't say a word. But his wife did have a baby later on. And Zechariah, who couldn't say anything, finally believed God. He asked for something to write on and he wrote "His name is John!" Everything the angel said came true!
God gives us wonderful promises, but sometimes it's hard to believe them. So God gives us stories like the one of Zechariah so we can believe and trust.
Talk to your child about other times it's hard to believe God. Maybe about a time when someone was sick and was waiting to get well and then finally did recover.
Then say:
God promises to make everything wonderful in the end. Sometimes it takes a long time, but the time will come when everything is good. If it doesn't happen here on earth, it will happen in heaven.
Jesus came to die for our sins so someday we can go there and see angels and be with everyone who trusts him. I can't wait!
Feel free to add other thoughts or stories.
Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you
for always hearing me
when I pray.
Help me to wait
for your answer.
Add your own thoughts and prayers.
Read this Bible thought from Luke 1:14.
Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.
You will have joy!
You will be glad!
You can trust God.
Put out the candles.
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