Do you know how to pray? Prayer is an integral part of being a Christian. It’s how you connect to God, an avenue where you and God meet. Think of prayer as a playground where you go to play and have fun with friends. But in this context, God is your friend that wants to play (connect with you) with you.
Apart from prayer helping you to connect to God, it also enables you to draw strength from God. Praying is also how you display your faith in Him to release His power into your situations.
What happens when you don’t know how to pray? You’re in church and all the adults are praying and you don’t how to join in. Maybe you have the urge to pray and don’t know what to say. There’s a picture in your mind but you don’t know the right words to use to release this picture.
News flash! I can bet you that your parents or all those adults at church were once like you too. They didn’t become prayer warriors in a day. They went through a process. Even the disciples of Jesus asked Him to teach them how to pray –
“…Lord, please teach us to pray, too” Luke11:1. ICB.
They asked because they wanted to know how to pray. There was a desire. Do you have that same desire? Be like the followers of Christ ask God for help to pray just like the disciples did.
Asking for help is not bad. Even Jesus encourages us to keep asking –
“Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will be open” Matthew 7:7 ICB.
Here is another translation
Ask in faith – “So I tell you to ask for things in prayer. And if you believe that you have received those things, then they will be yours”. Mark 11:24. ICB.
Obedience is also important. As you ask (to be taught how to pray) and receive, say the words as the Holy Spirit drops them in your heart. Don’t hold back.
In this episode we continue learning how children can hear from God, and today, we would be starting with the story of Ehiz.
Ehiz didn’t like how his brothers treated him. They always teased him about his love for reading and studying. They called him names like “effico”, “bookworm” and more. He wished he could just tell them what was on his mind. They weren’t that perfect too. He knew their flaws too and what they did in secret.
At church, he learnt about forgiveness. The Sunday school teacher used the story of Joseph to explain how to forgive. Through this he knew what God was saying, for this is a way that children can hear from God.
But that was going to be hard for Ehiz. So, he approached the teacher and told him about what he was facing at home. The teacher explained the reason why he had to forgive his brothers just like Joseph did.
By the time they were through, Ehiz learnt why he had to forgive and how to do so. It was a relief to him. He wasn’t going to continue in unforgiveness towards his brothers. He had heard God; children can hear from God!
When you speak to other believers about an issue, you get more knowledge. They help you to understand what you are feeling, why it is wrong or right, and what to do about it. When the believer is older than you, you get to hear about their or other people’s experiences on issues like yours.
So, find a believer like yourself and share your fears or issues with them. This is one way that children can hear from God.
God speaks to everyone including children. Everyone can hear from God – that includes you! Remember the story of little Samuel in the bible, who later became a strong prophet that ministered to the Israelites and anointed kings?
Our heavenly father wants to speak to us and He does so in different ways. One of such way is through His word- the bible. The bible is the only place where all of God’s words reside.
Reading the bible is one of the ways you can hear from God. When you read about what God did, how He did it, and who He did it for, you get to know more about God.
Maybe you are facing a situation and don’t know how to go about it, read the bible: that is one way to hear from God. God will speak to you through a verse or chapter. He will direct you to a book where someone just like you, faced the same dilemma you are in.
When you read through, you will learn how the person resolved it with God’s help; that way God can help you resolve yours too. This is one of the ways you can hear from God .
Heb 4:12 KJV For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The bible says His words are living. They are alive, quick, and sharp. Always speaking. See it as God speaking directly to you.
God bless you as you read, and thereby hear from God, Amen.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your word that is forever living and true. Let your words speak to me daily, in Jesus name. Amen.
Action plan: When next you think God is speaking to you or have a problem, pray and ask God to use His words to speak to you. Then incline your ears to hear from God.
Declaration (children): The Lord speaks to me through his word. My ears are opened to God’s word.
“Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are” is still a valid saying; one which you must pay attention to if you must succeed in life. So today we will continue with our series on warning signals to watch out for in friendships. Here is another signal.
2. When you hope and pray your parents or guardians don’t find out where you have been. Friends that corrupt mostly advise you to give a false account of your whereabouts to parents or guardians. In other words, they tell you to lie.
For instance, they encourage you to buy a skimpy outfit which you know your parents won’t allow on you. They teach you how to hide it at home. Show me your friend. Is he/she like this? Even when your parents find out about the skimpy dress and forbid you to wear it, these kind of friends will again teach you how to sneak it out of the house for a party or an outing which you know will keep you late outside. Once more, they tell you what lie to tell to your parents.
Another way is you come home late from school and lie that you were at the library, studying for a test or exam. All the while you were playing football with friends or watching a PG movie at one of your friend’s house. They, of course, told you to say that. Show me your friend!
You hope and pray your parents don’t find out or catch your lie.
You need to let go of such friends because they are gradually helping you to become a liar. The bible tells us that the devil is the father of all liars. How can a child of God be friends with the children of the devil? You need to end your friendship with friends that teach you to lie. Show me your friend.
John 8:44 (NKJV) You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
One downside of this is that, once your parents find out the truth, they won’t trust you anymore. They won’t believe anything you say again even when you are saying the truth.
So, check your friends again, and remember the saying: Show me your friend, and I will tell you who you are.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, help me with good friends. I don’t want friends that will teach me to lie, I want friends that will help me grow to know you more. Amen.
Action point: Stop being friends with anyone who encourages you to tell a lie, especially to your parents.
Dear child, friends can be signposts guiding and directing you towards God or a river between you two.
They affect your walk with God either in a good or bad way, as well as your relationship with your parents.
There are certain signals to watch out for when choosing friends. Even if you are friends with some people right now, use these signals to assess your friendships.
Dear child, note also that these signals do not mean you have to be hateful or snobbish towards people you shouldn’t be friends with. It’s not a license for you to declare them bad or otherwise.
These signs are just a guide steering you towards wisdom.
One signpost to watch for is
1. Pretense:
Dear child, do you have friends that you have to pretend to like what they do, where they go, what they say – basically, everything about them?
This is a warning sign. You are not supposed to pretend to like your friends and they shouldn’t do so too. A healthy friendship is one where both parties have true feelings for each other and can tell the truth.
There is no restriction on the truth. No fear of a reprisal attack or any attack whatsoever when the truth is spoken. The truth here is spoken in love and not to hate or judge.
Dear child, you pretend to like them because you want to feel among them. You know they smoke, yet you want to be friends with them knowing fully well the health risks of smoking, forgetting also that your parents won’t be happy with you if they get to know. Maybe you just don’t care if your parents find out.
You know, also, that God hates sin and says He dwells in our bodies. He wants us to keep our bodies pure and holy for Him.
“Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Lord?’
By joining them, you’re turning your back on both God and your parents; the two most important relationships you should cherish.
Dear child, friends are good but gaining friends at the expense of losing a right standing with God and your parents is not advisable. The thing is, friends can abandon you anytime, but God and your parents can’t because you are their responsibility.
Ask yourself today, do I pretend to like my friends?
Home feels like wildfire is ravaging through it. You are always at loggerheads with our parents and the house can’t seem to contain all of you.
Quick questions for you-
How many of these bush-fires are you causing?
How many rules did you break?
What could be happening now if you had just listened and obeyed the instructions of your parents?
It takes two to tango and a coin definitely has two sides. Don’t totally blame them for the heat in the house. They couldn’t have decided to make the house uncomfortable for you. You think they are because you are not having your way, you want your parents to be fine with your behavior and just keep quiet.
Check yourself very well and see where you did wrong. Find your faults, make amends, and see if the temperature won’t go down at home. See if the house won’t be large enough for everyone, Including you.
Prov. 2:1 “my child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and instructions.” CEVUK.
Be the peace you want to see at home.
Finally, remember God’s command about obeying your parents and the benefits of doing so. Take it to heart and practice it.
“Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice.” James 1:22 GNT
God bless you richly as you honor your parents. Amen.
Prayer: Father, help me to scrutinize my ways and make changes in all the areas I need to. Help me.be the peace I want to see and enjoy at home, in Jesus name. Amen.
Action point: Scrutinize your words, actions, thoughts today, and see where your faults lie. When you find them, speak about them to your parents and ask for their help.
Declaration: My children are well behaved. They do not make the home uncomfortable for anyone. They do not set the home on fire by their actions and inactions.
Another good way to take care of your parents is by truly listening to them when they are speaking to you. Don’t be too quick to talk back, interrupt, grumble, or be rude to them. When you keep quiet and listen to them, you get to hear what they are saying, and what they want you to do.
Listening is also a way of showing that you care about them and their feelings. That you understand what they are going through. It’s hard enough being parents to you and your siblings, juggling work, church, the home and so many other parts of their lives.
Give them room to breathe by just hearing them out. That’s a way to take care of your parents. You think they are old fashioned or country bumpkins? They were once teenagers like you and understand you more than you know or can imagine.
After they finish speaking, then you can speak and tell them what you feel. That is honour, and that is a way to take care of your parents. And by the way, every parent loves to hear their children air their views.
Also learn to apologize, if you have to, and mean it. It’s also another way to take care of your parents.
This way, you get to listen and they get to listen to you too. Both parties have a win-win situation.
“My child, guard my sayings; store my commandments with you.” Proverbs 7:1 LEB
Prayer: God, please teach me to listen so I can understand what my parents are communicating to me concerning my actions.and words. Ask God to give you the grace to take care of your parents. Amen.
Action plan: The next time your parents are talking to you about something you did wrong, listen and don’t argue. Apologize when you should and need to.
Declaration: My children are good listeners. They don’t speak back to me. They are very cooperative.
We started out discussing this topic yesterday – on the ways we can take care of our parents. We will continue in that light today. Dear child, you have to understand that your parents are the guardians God has appointed over you, here on Earth. They are responsible for you and will give an account of their guardianship over you to God.
Help make their work easy by obeying them. Their actions are meant for your safety – physically, mentally, academically, and spiritually. They are working hard at giving you the life that God wants for you. That is what they are doing! They are not there to do you evil. Your parents do care for you and are making efforts to take care of you
Therefore, do not jeopardize the efforts of your parents and your future by not listening and following their instructions. See what the Bible says in the book of Proverbs:
Prov.4:20 ” my child, listen carefully to everything I say.”
By following the rules and instructions, you will grow into a humble and loving person. These rules and instructions, also, will help you discover, develop, and put to maximum use your God-given talents and potentials.
Your parents were put in your life for a reason – to teach you all about God and why He created you. God didn’t make a mistake by giving you to them.
Prayer: Pray for your parents: Lord, I declare I’m a good child. I make training easy for my parents. I want them to give a good account of me to you, Jesus name. Amen.
Action point: Be conscious of your actions towards your parents.
Declaration: My children are supportive. They love, value, and appreciate every work I do.
You should learn to take care of your parents. Yes, your parents! The two people that certainly know how to drive you mad. Adults with a boatload of rules, commands, and restrictions. They tell you to clean your room, wash dishes, sweep floors, don’t watch TV, and then say it’s their house and their rules.
They were never teenagers, right? One day they just ballooned into adults straight from infancy. What do they know about being a teenager? They are not nice, right?
Relax. Your parents love you very much and want the best for you. That’s why they put up all the restrictions and laws. Sure, it drives you nuts, but it still doesn’t change the fact that it’s for your own good. So you should learn to care of your parents.
They want to build you into a person with a well-balanced personality, character, and mindset. Their actions help you steer off some life issues that could mar your chances of living a very productive and peaceful life.
So, the next time Mummy or daddy says to you “wash your clothes often”, know that it’s for your own good. They don’t want you to be a dirty person. When your clothes reek of sweat and are dirty, people will not want to associate with you and you could get teased or mocked at school by your mates. This could affect your self-esteem, making you withdraw from others. You see that? So you parents love you, and so you should take care of your parents.
Even the Bible encourages us to keep clean as it portrays the state of our hearts before God.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Wash and make yourselves clean. Isaiah 1:16 NIV.
Again the Bible tells you to obey and honor your parents that it might be well with you. This also translates to taking care of your parents.
Ephesians 6:2-3 GW “Honor your father and mother, that everything may go well for you, and you may have a long life on earth.” This is an important commandment with a promise.
God bless you well as you do so. Amen.
Prayer: Almighty Father, help me to honor my parents by listening and obeying them. Help me to understand that all they do is for my own good. Amen.
Action Plan: Take time to appreciate God for your parents and seek to understand them, and seek to take care of your parents.
Declaration: My children are full of gratitude. They know and value us as their parents.
Words have power! The power of words can be readily seen in the story of creation, and in our lives too. Let’s look at a brief story of Amaka. Amaka scanned the sea of faces about her as she made her way to the assembly ground. It was her first day at the new school. She put on her best smile as the students passed her, hoping for a familiar face.
“Lord, let me find just one person that I know,” she prayed.
Suddenly someone in a hurry rushed past her and she fell to the ground. She looked at her bleeding knees and felt an ache around her ankle. How was she going to use the power of words?
“This was going to be hard,” she told herself as she got up.
“I hate this school!” she blurted out. “Why did mom even pick it for me?”
The bible makes us understand the immense power of our words. The power of words is real; see what the Scriptures say –
Prov. 13:2 “Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys his life.” (GNB)
This verse cautions us to watch what we say as our words are so powerful to create what we say. Our words can make or break us. What we say is what we see and become. The words you speak have an impact on your life.
The more you keep complaining about a situation, the more it worsens; that’s the power of words. Rather, choose to say positive words about it. You don’t deny that there is a problem, but you choose to look at it through positive lenses.
Use words that show you believe the situation will get better and won’t last forever. You have to keep believing that and let your actions show you believe. Learn to use the power of words to your advantage.
Amaka could have said “I am grateful that my parents are giving me an education. I will meet and make nice, God-fearing friends here. Things will work out well for me.”
This way, she’s is not focusing on what she doesn’t like about the school but rather, choosing to believe that she won’t find it rough there.
Finally, she could have just prayed about it to God. Prayer, also, is how you can exercise the power of words.
So, when next you feel like complaining about a situation or someone, remember to choose your words wisely.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your grace that helps me speak wisely. I will continually speak positive, pleasant, and life-giving words as from today. In Jesus name. Amen.
Action plan: What areas have you been speaking negatively about? Write as many as you can remember or know. Start to speak positively about them.
It is important that our children learn how to give. Let’s start by looking at that Scripture in Psalms that talks about how we have been wonderfully made.
Ps 139:14, KJV I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
The bible tells us that we are wonderfully and beautifully made by God. Can you imagine yourself as beautiful and wonderful? Do you see yourself as ordinary? Do you see yourself as someone with no talent or gift, with nothing to give or share with others?
God couldn’t have made you so beautiful and wonderful then leave you empty. No. You are a masterpiece from the Creator’s hands, so you must learn how to give. Even the stones He created give praise to His name when you admire them. When you look at the rainbow in the sky and smile, you are praising God
Your Creator didn’t create you without something to give. No one should complain that they have nothing to give. You have something to give. It could be a thing or an action.
You have a lot to give, children. More than you can ever imagine. You could give out your clothes if you’ve outgrown them, your toys, shoes, or books. Do you know that your smile could be a gift to someone who is down and just needs someone to notice and smile at them? You should learn how to give.
Your time is also a gift you can give to teach a friend or classmate who is struggling to understand lessons at school.
Praying for others is another thing you can give. You can pray for your parents, guardians, friends, siblings, pastor, teachers, neighbours, classmates, and so on.
Helping your parents or guardians at home is another good way to use your time; therefore learn how to give by helping your parents.
Whatever it is you plan to give to others, ensure you tell your parents or guardians.
God bless you as you give. Amen.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for how you made me. I am glad that I have more than I give. Teach me new ways to give to others. I learn how to give. Enable me to be a giver, to the glory of your name, Amen.
Declaration: My children learn to give. They do not withhold more than necessary.
Can there be stress in children? Now stress is a daily part of our lives. We can’t hide from it but can only find ways to minimize its effects on us. A little stress though is good for us.
1 Sam 3:8 (KJV ) And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
Children also experience stress. There can be stress in children – it could be a bully at school, a harsh teacher, or even an uncomfortable classroom. At home, it could be rifts between siblings, parental discord, or the death of a family member or friend.
Older children often are able to identify something that is bothering them, unlike younger ones who have not acquired the capacity to do so.
Children don’t and can’t manage stress the way adults do. It shows through their words, actions, and behaviours. There you must learn how to identify stress in children so you can help them.
Little Samuel heard God calling to him but didn’t know what to do. He ran to Eli every time he heard God’s voice asking if the old priest was the one calling him. Eli identified that it was God calling little Samuel. He then told Samuel what to say when next he heard the voice.
The bible doesn’t record that Samuel experienced any stress but it was a situation that was new to him. He couldn’t process it and went to the only person he knew that could help. And Eli was able to help him. Older adults can therefore help manage stress in children.
Parents must be observant to notice any change in their children. Children won’t tell you what is disturbing them immediately, even when you ask. Only by observing can a parent find out. Parents must give total attention to children when they are speaking.
Declaration: My children are not stressed. They learn to speak out. They are surrounded daily by the right people.
Prayer (parent): Lord, help me to be truly observant about my child(ren). Help me to notice the changes in them no matter how subtle they may be. Help me to identify stress in children. Amen.
PrayerChild: I will speak out when I have an issue bothering me. I will ask for help.
As children, we must always seek to do what is right – as we relate with our family, our friends, our teachers, etc. This is a good character to have.
Romans 12:7 ‘Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone’ (NIV)
‘Look! It’s Dele’. Tunji pointed out to Seyi as they walked home from school. ‘He’s alone. Now you can do whatever you want to him” Tunji urged, his eyes gleaming with vengeance.
Dele had stumbled into Seyi on purpose earlier today at school during lunch break. Seyi’s whole lunch had spilled over his white shirt. This earned him a huge reprimand from the teacher. And his mom was still going to do so too at home. Would Seyi do what is right? If you were in Seyi’s shoes, what will you do?
Tunji was right, this was the perfect opportunity to pay Dele back. He remembered what he had learned from the devotional this morning. He remembered the verse in the Bible.
Ephesians 4:32 ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another. Forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
‘No, I won’t do anything to him he shrugged his shoulders, also remembering that he had to do what is right.
‘Are you serious?’ asked a dumbfounded Tunji. ‘He bullies you all the time’.
‘My mom read today in the devotional that Jesus said I don’t have to be mean to him also’. He gave Dele a wide smile and waved as they passed him.
‘Did you just smile and wave at him?’ Tunji asked, his eyes huge as lemons. He didn’t understand this ‘do what is right’ thing.
‘Yeah, I did. Said a happy Seyi. He felt good as he walked on. ‘I am going to pray for him instead’.
People will always hurt us no matter how good we are to them or others. Being obedient to Jesus is not to hurt people back when they hurt us. Learn to do do what is right.
Declaration: I learn to forgive. I will not pay evil with evil.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I want to obey you by not hurting anybody that has hurt me. In your mighty name, I pray. Amen.
The blood of Jesus is the foundation of the victory that God has given to us as His children. It is by the blood that we live. We must therefore learn how to appropriate the Blood over our children.
1 John1:7 ESV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
The blood of the Lamb of God is very important in our lives. We should therefore teach our children about the efficacy of that blood – the blood of our Messiah.
What are some of the things that the Blood of the Lamb does for us? Everything! Yes, the Blood does everything. But we will just be outlining some here. The blood of Jesus cleanses from all sins. This means that the eternal blood of the Son of God makes us clean, regardless of how stained we might have been as a result of past errors. What a beautiful experience that is – to be made a totally new creature.
The blood of Jesus nullifies every finished work of the devil. This means that in areas the devil might want to play a smart one on us, we have the blood to speak for and defend us
Through the blood of our Saviour, we have been redeemed and made whole.
As Christians, you should learn to declare that “the blood of the Son of God speaks life and better things over my children.”
Prayers: Lord, let your blood speak for my children now and always. The blood of the Lamb speaks over their lives and they exercise the authority of whom they are in Christ Jesus.
Action Plan: Parents, pray and teach your children about the importance of the blood of Jesus.
Your parents are given to you by God. It’s not a mistake that you are their child. God expects you to obey your parents at all times. One of the reasons behind this is that they know and see things you don’t.
Your parents are guardians over you, and it will do you a lot of good if you can start seeing them like that. They have been entrusted with taking care of you here on earth; and understand that they will give an account of how well they did so to God. Therefore do all within your power to help them to make their work easy and to give God a great account of how they did their best. Obey your parents – that’s one of the ways to make their work easy.
The bible verse that speaks about obeying your parents is found in Colossians three and verse twenty. It reads:
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
That was not a suggestion from God; it was a command. This is what God has commanded; therefore God loves it when you are obedient to your parents in everything. Remember that pleasing God is a sign of obedience. Remember also that if you love God, you will always seek to do what pleases Him. And what better way to please God than to do whatever He says. Therefore, as a child be obedient to God even as it concerns your relationship with your parents.
May the grace to obey your parents be upon you always. Amen.
Prayer: Father, thank you for my parents. May I be an obedient child to them. Amen.
Action point: Ensure you listen to and obey your parents.
Declaration: I am an obedient child. I obey my parents in all things.
The way you day turns out can be determined by how you start it. The question now is: Do you know the most appropriate way to start your day as a child?
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Psalms 5:3, KJV
When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? What do you do first? Do you reach first for your phone or the television’s remote? Or join your family for morning devotion?
God wants to be the first person you speak to and spend time with every morning. You do this by praying immediately you wake up. That is how to start your day. Begin with praises and thank Him for another day. Move on to committing your day to him. Thank Him for your family members, ask Him for protection and provision. Tell him anything that is on your mind.
Regularly doing this helps you develop closeness with God and He will bless you for it.
So, tomorrow morning, when you wake up, start to talk to God immediately. Start your day that way; He is waiting to hear your voice.
Prayer: Dear Father, I want to start my day with you before anything else. Guide me as to how to pray to you when we meet at the place of prayer. Thank you.
Action plan: prepare the night before for your morning time with God. Tell your parents or siblings about your new decision of how you desire to start your day. Ask for their help to wake you up early. You can also set your alarm to the time you want to start praying.
Joshua and God also had their own adventures together! As we continue this series, we will be looking at the life of Joshua today.
After the death of Moses, the Israelites needed a new leader.
After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them- to give to the Israelites. (Joshua 1:1-2 NIV)
Moses died before he got to the Promised Land and God needed to fulfill His promise to Abraham. So, God chose Joshua to continue from where Moses had stopped. Since he had been an aide to Moses, he was the best fit for the job of leading the descendants of Jacob to the promised land. And so it became Joshua and God.
Joshua also fought many wars to win land for his kinsmen. God also showed and used His great power during this period. Through praise, he had the wall of Jericho fall down so that the Israelites could defeat the people of Jericho. The Jordan also parted for the Israelites to walk through it just like the Red Sea, in the time of Moses. The sun stood still so the Israelites could win their fight against the Amorites (chapter 10) and victories over many more battles. It was in Joshua’s time that each tribe of Israel received their portion of the land promised them by God. This is part of the adventures of Joshua and God.
God was with Joshua just like He was with Moses. He did everything He promised. He gave provision and protection as always. On any adventure, God always watches over His children.
Moses and God had their adventures too. Let’s start from the beginning. The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Push, “When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. (Exodus 1:15-17 NIV)
Pharaoh passed this law during the birth of Moses. Through Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, the Israelites had settled in Egypt (read Gen. 37-50). This order was made out of fear the Israelites in their large numbers might harm the Egyptians. But, thank God for the midwives that refused to feared God more.
Raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in his palace and when the time came for God to set His people free, Moses’ adventure began.
First he ran away from the palace because of a crime he committed, then he had the burning bush experience, meeting with God for the first time
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. (Exo. 3:4-6 NIV)
God used Moses to get the Israelites out of Egypt. It was one adventure that witnessed the absolute and miraculous power of God. The plague, eating the Passover meal, parting of the Red Sea, the sun standing still, manna from heaven, water from the rock and many battles fought along the way. All these and more happened on this God and Moses Adventure.
God protected and provided for the Israelites throughout their journey to the promised land.
Jacob ran away from home after stealing his brother, Esau’s, blessing from their father, Isaac. It was while he was resting, on his way to his uncle, Laban, that He had an encounter with God. Jacob’s adventures with God began.
He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying…” (Gen. 28:12-13 NIV)
If you read further down to verse 15, you will see that God was pretty much telling Jacob the same thing He had told Abraham. And Jacob too had a change of name like his grandfather. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. Adventures with God is interesting, as we are seeing.
Even when Jacob was cheated by his uncle, Laban, God still ensured that Jacob ran into no losses. God made Esau forgive Jacob for stealing his blessings. Jacob had 12 sons born to him. These sons formed the 12 tribes of Israel. From one of the tribes, Judah, Jesus Christ was born.
Jacob had some trying events on his adventure with God. He lost his wives, heartbroken when he thought Joseph was dead, fleeing from Laban and more.
Throughout the journey, God did all He promised to do for Jacob. He never compromised once. Again, on adventures with God, God always does what He promises to do.
An adventure is filled with many electrifying, great and interesting moments. There will be periods when the fun reaches sky-high and totally takes your breath away. And moments when you think this has got to be the coolest thing you have ever seen or experienced in your life. Much like how some cool people in the bible felt when they took an adventure with God.
Did I just hear you ask if God likes an adventure? He definitely does. What did you think happened during creation? God was on an adventure- He was creating experiences, things, animals, trees, people, the sun, moon and much more.
What if God had called you when He was about to create the world? How would you have felt if you were there when He was creating the world? How would you have reacted when He created the animals? If you were there, what would you have done? When you saw the sun and moon, how would you feel? What questions would you have asked Him? How would you feel on that adventure with God?
On the first day, when He created light, would you have asked Him why? When He rested on the seventh day, would you have asked Him why? And even asked Him, why He stopped at seven?
Going on an adventure with God can never be uneventful or boring. It definitely will be full of fascinating events, people and situations. Or what do you think?
In our new series we will look at adventures with God and how it turned out for the people that followed God.
May the Lord take you on adventures with Him. Amen.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for your love for adventure. As I read about some of them, help me to appreciate your mighty power. Adventure with God is my lot In Jesus’ name, amen.
Action point: Put on your power of imagination as the journey begins tomorrow.
