“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

Devotion based on 1 Samuel 17:47

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What an unlikely hero! If you had to guess who would win this one-on-one battle, who would you pick? A nine-foot-tall giant soldier, covered in armor, trained for war since he was a kid . . . or a teenage shepherd boy with no armor and no sword? Sounds like an easy choice, right? The Philistines laughed, and the Israelites shook with fear. Back then, battles were sometimes settled by sending out just one warrior from each side to fight. Whichever warrior won; his army won the whole battle! And humanly speaking, there was no way that David—young, untrained, and mostly unarmed—could take down the mighty Goliath.

But here’s the thing—we’re not just speaking humanly.

Even though David was the one stepping onto the battlefield, he knew he wasn’t really the champion of Israel. He told Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty!” David knew God was the real warrior fighting for his people. Now, let’s ask again: Goliath or God—who do you think would win? The answer is obvious for anyone who has faith. No one can stand against the Lord when he fights for his people, even if he chooses an unexpected hero!

And guess what? We were in a battle too.

On our own, we didn’t stand a chance against the devil, the world, and our own sin. We were trapped—stuck in sin and death, separated from God. But remember, we’re not just speaking humanly! The Lord still fights for his people. He stepped out of heaven and into our world as the most unlikely hero of all—a tiny baby in Bethlehem, a man baptized in the Jordan River, God hanging on a cross, and finally, Jesus walking out of the tomb—alive again!

Because of his victory, we are free. Free from sin. Free from death. Free to live as God’s children. The enemy doesn’t stand a chance, because this battle belongs to the Lord—and that Lord is on your side in Jesus, our Giant Slayer!

Lord Jesus, you have defeated all the enemies that stood against us. Thank you for your perfect victory! Give us comfort and peace, knowing that your power is always at work for us, through us, and in us. In your name, we pray. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

Devotion based on Luke 4:1-2

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Still dripping from the waters of his baptism, the Holy Spirit hurled Jesus into the wilderness—not for rest and relaxation, but to go toe-to-toe with the old evil foe. For forty days, he wandered in the desert with nothing to eat. And then, the devil came with his temptations.

It’s a simple thought that worms into our minds and then spreads like wildfire: “Can you really trust God?” The devil wanted Jesus to doubt God’s words. At his baptism, God had declared, “You are my Son, whom I love!” But now, the devil whispered, “Are you sure? You don’t look like God’s Son. You’re weak, hungry, and all alone. If God really loved you, wouldn’t he take better care of you?”

That’s exactly how the devil works! He used this same method with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and he does the same to us today. He sneaks thoughts into our minds that spread like wildfire: “Can you really trust what God says?” He tempts us to chase short-term pleasures instead of trusting God’s long-term plan. He tells us, “Go ahead, take what you want. You deserve it!” He convinces us to be greedy, selfish, and impatient. And let’s be honest, we’ve all fallen for his tricks more times than we’d like to admit.

That’s why this gospel reading is so amazing! It’s not just a “how-to” guide for defeating temptation. It’s about Jesus, our champion. He didn’t just come to show us how to be strong—he came to be strong for us. He left behind the glory, power, and praise of heaven to live a life of perfect humility and obedience. Where Adam, Eve, and every person in history have failed, Jesus was perfectly victorious.

And here’s the best part: Jesus gives that victory to you. He didn’t just fight the battle against the devil—he fought for you. By God’s undeserved love and the Holy Spirit’s power, his victory is now yours!

So, the next time you feel tempted, remember: Jesus already won. Trust him. When you fail (and we all do), turn to him for forgiveness. He is always ready to love, restore, and strengthen you!

Lord Jesus, you defeated the devil and his temptations for us. Help us trust in your perfect strength when we face temptations. Forgive us when we fail and restore to us the joy of your salvation. In your name, we pray. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.

Devotion based on Luke 18:9-14

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Imagine you and your best friend are hiking up a huge mountain. The view is amazing, but then—you come to a super dangerous, narrow path along the edge of a cliff! You both move slowly, trying to be careful. But suddenly—one of you slips!

You’re hanging off the edge, gripping onto the rocky cliff for dear life. Your hands are getting tired. You know you can’t hold on much longer. Then, you see your friend reaching out a hand and saying, “Grab on! I’ll pull you up!”

But instead of taking the help, you think, “I can do it on my own. I’m strong enough!” You keep trying to pull yourself up, but no matter how hard you try, you just can’t do it.

Sometimes, we think we can do things all by ourselves. We might feel like we’re smarter, stronger, or better than others. And while it’s great to know our strengths, thinking we’re better than other people can lead to pride, which is a big problem.

That’s what happened in today’s Bible story. The Pharisee thought he was better than everyone else, including the tax collector. He believed he was good enough to get into heaven on his own. But here’s the truth—he wasn’t! Just like the man hanging off the cliff, he needed help.

The tax collector, on the other hand, knew he had messed up. He didn’t try to act like he was better than others. Instead, he asked God for mercy. And that’s exactly what God gave him!

The same is true for us. No matter how hard we try, we can’t save ourselves. But guess what? Jesus can! He’s reaching out his hand to us, ready to pull us up. All we have to do is trust him!

Dear God, sometimes we try to do things all on our own, but we know we need you. Thank you for sending Jesus to save us when we couldn’t save ourselves. Help us to trust in you and not in our own strength. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? . . . Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.”

Devotion based on 2 Samuel 12:7-9,13

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever played hide and seek? It’s fun when you find the perfect hiding spot, and no one can see you! But imagine playing hide and seek against God—do you think you could win? No way! God sees everything and knows everything. That’s exactly what Adam and Eve learned when they tried to hide from him after they sinned. Spoiler alert: It didn’t work!

In today’s lesson, King David made a big mistake—he sinned. But instead of admitting what he did, he tried to cover it up by making more bad choices. He thought he could keep it a secret from the people around him. But there was one BIG problem—he couldn’t hide from God!

Because God loved David, he didn’t let him stay stuck in his sin. God sent the prophet Nathan to talk to David and help him see his mistake. When Nathan told him the truth, David finally stopped hiding and admitted his sin. And do you know what happened next? God forgave him—right away!

Sometimes, we might think we’re “off the hook” if we don’t get caught doing something wrong. But hiding sin never really works—it can make us feel guilty, and it hurts our relationship with God. That’s why it’s so important to be honest, confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness. And when we do, God is always ready to forgive us, just like he forgave David!

So, instead of trying to hide, let’s thank God for putting people like Nathan in our lives—people who help us do what’s right. Most of all, let’s remember that Jesus already paid for all our sins on the cross so that we can be forgiven and live forever with him in heaven!

Dear God, I’m sorry for the times I’ve disobeyed you and hurt others. Thank you for loving me, forgiving me, and always being there for me. Help me to be honest about my mistakes and trust in Jesus for forgiveness. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Devotion based on Luke 9:28-36

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Do you know the story of The Wizard of Oz? Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion were SO excited to meet the great and powerful Wizard! They thought he could fix all their problems. But—uh-oh! —when they peeked behind the curtain, they realized he wasn’t really a powerful wizard at all. He was just a regular guy using tricks and props!

Now, in Jesus’ time, people had lots of ideas about who he was, too. Some thought he was just a man from Nazareth. Others said he was a great teacher. But Jesus’ disciples knew the truth—he was the Savior! They saw his miracles and listened to his powerful words.

One day, Jesus gave three of his disciples—Peter, James, and John—a huge surprise. He took them up a mountain, and suddenly—BOOM! Jesus changed right before their eyes! His clothes shined as bright as lightning! And guess what? Moses and Elijah, two famous prophets from the Old Testament, showed up and talked with him. Then, a voice from heaven—God the Father—spoke: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him!” Wow! What an incredible moment!

Jesus didn’t always show his full power while he was on earth. Most of the time, he kept it hidden because he had a job to do—he had to suffer and die to take away our sins. But after three days, he showed his greatest power of all—he rose from the dead! And because of that, we can live forever in heaven with him.

Sometimes, we might wish we could see Jesus’ power like Peter, James, and John did. But guess what? We can! Every time we read the Bible, go to church, or hear about Jesus, we see his power at work in our hearts. His Word reminds us that he is our Savior, and through him, we have life forever!

Dear Jesus, you are the Son of God! Thank you for suffering, dying, and rising again for us. Help us to listen to your Word and always remember how amazing you are. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

Devotion based on Luke 6:27-32

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Imagine what you would do in these two scenarios as you are walking out of the door for school.

Scenario 1: A parent says, “Make sure to be nice to your best friend and to listen to your favorite teacher.”

In the first scenario you would probably respond, “Sounds good, and I love you mom.” In the second scenario you might respond, “No way! They don’t deserve it.”

In our reading for today Jesus calls us to do good to others even if they don’t deserve it. This message is so impactful from Jesus because he didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk. Throughout his life he never sinned once even though he was tempted in every way. He loved his enemies, yet they put him to death on a cross where he paid for the sins of the whole world. Then three days later he rose from the dead and declared victory over sin, death, and the devil. This is what we call grace. Grace is God’s undeserved love for all people. And for you.

That gives us a completely new perspective on how we treat other people regardless of how they treat us. Jesus was willing to sacrifice his own life for us even though we are unlovable. He overcame evil with good. We can show grace to others even when they hurt us or mock us. We can love our enemies because God first loved us.

Our sinful nature will always want to treat people how they deserve to be treated. But through Christ working in us, we start to see they are no different than us. They need Jesus too. Then we can show them grace and offer a glimpse into the love of our heavenly Father!

Dear Lord Jesus, you always loved all people including your enemies. Forgive us for the times we have not shown love to others but have been more concerned about giving them what they deserve. You showed us amazing grace when you died for us to save us from our sins. We ask that you guide us to share your grace with our friends and enemies. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Devotion based on Romans 12:14-19

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Being different can be difficult. When a classmate trips and falls, do you join in laughing with everyone else? It is much easier to just go with the flow and fall in line, isn’t it? In our reading for today, God calls us to be radically different from the rest of the world. He guides us to be children of light in contrast to a world of darkness.

Here’s an example. The world says, “Don’t be a loser. Winning is the only thing that matters.” To get ahead, the world says it’s okay to talk down about others in order to make you look better. A person is considered a pushover if they don’t try to get ahead at the expense of someone else.

What a contrast God’s Word gives us! God directs us to bless those who hurt us. To be humble and to live in peace and harmony with one another. Not just with those who are our friends but especially with our enemies. To leave revenge in God’s hands and to avoid repaying evil with evil. God urges us to be different.

Here’s a question for you: How can we act in the way God wants us to when it is so hard? Is it by digging deep inside of ourselves? Think about how the sun and moon work together. The moon does not produce its own light source. Rather it reflects the light from the sun. In the same way, we reflect the faith the Holy Spirit works in our hearts so that now we reflect the love of Jesus out into the world. To both friendly and not-so-friendly people alike.

Why does God want us to be different? It is our way to show our gratitude and thanks to God for all he has done for us. As we live lives full of grace, forgiveness, and humility, it might lead those who hate us to ask why we live that way. Then you can tell them how God has transformed your life in Jesus!

Young Christians, be different! Let your light shine!

Holy Spirit, we thank you for working faith in our hearts and leading us to live God-pleasing lives. Help us to be nice to others even when they are unkind to us. May we not only be kind in our actions, but may we use our words to tell others about their Savior. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Devotion based on Genesis 45:4-8

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Take a moment and type into a search engine the words “crown tapestry front / back” and see the pictures. Depending on what side of the tapestry you are looking at, it may look like a complete mess or a beautiful design. The same is true about life depending on what you are experiencing at the moment.

As an overconfident teenager, Joseph couldn’t have imagined the messiness that would soon enter his life. In an ugly display of jealousy and hatred, Joseph’s brothers sold him to slave traders who were heading to Egypt. Alone and afraid, Joseph found himself in a land far away from everyone he loved. Even worse, he was thrown in prison for something he didn’t do.

Fast forward some years later. Joseph was out of prison and serving Pharoah as a high ranking official. Then something unexpected happened. His own brothers arrived one day in Egypt looking for food. This could have been Joseph’s moment to get revenge on his brothers. He had the power to put them in prison or even have them put to death.

Instead, he did something incredible. He forgave them. Even though Joseph’s life at times seemed like a mess, God let him see the other side of the tapestry. God used the evil actions of his brothers to help save Joseph’s family. With his high position of power, he moved his entire family to Egypt where they would have plenty of food and land so they would live and not die. God displayed to Joseph how he overcomes evil with good. This motivated Joseph to do the same for his brothers.

Like the backside of a tapestry that looks like a mess, we are often led to doubt and question why God allows challenging and difficult times into our lives. We may even want to seek revenge and hold grudges against those who wrong us. The story of Joseph is a good reminder for us as God’s children that God works all things for the good of those who love him. Inspired by God’s undeserved love and his forgiveness to us, we forgive others even when it is hard. We pray and ask God each day to give us the courage and strength to overcome evil with good.

Dear heavenly Father, you are truly an all-knowing and all-powerful God who works all things for our good. Most importantly you sent your Son to forgive us for our sins. Help us to follow his example by forgiving others so that we might overcome evil with good. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.

Devotion based on Luke 6:20-23

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

My teacher used to do something when many of us were fighting to be first. We would line up at the door to go to lunch or recess and many of us would be pushing and elbowing to be the first one in line and out the door. She would see our fighting to be first and say, “Turn around!” We all had to turn around in line, and she would then walk to the back of the line and lead the class out the other door starting with the kid who was in the back. Then all of us who were pushing and shoving to be first ended up at the back of the line.

Jesus came into our world to turn everything around. We have ideas about what is good and what is bad. We believe it is bad to be sad or poor. It is bad to be insulted or excluded. On the other hand, it is good to be rich and well fed. It is good to laugh and have everyone speak well of you. Jesus turns our thinking around. What we think is good and bad in life is not always what Jesus says is good and bad.

Are you sad right now or feel like you don’t have enough? Jesus reminds you that he will turn all things around. Do you feel like you have everything you need? Jesus reminds you that nothing in this life is forever. He can turn it around in ways you may never have thought of.

Ultimately, God promises to turn everything around when he returns to take us to heaven. Though our sin gives us every reason to be sad and death makes us all poor, God promises a great turn around as he brings us to the joys of heaven. In this place we will never be hungry or hurting but will laugh and find all our comfort forever. It will be the greatest turnaround . . . ever!

Savior of all, you promise to turn everything around. Especially when life is hard, remind us of your power to save and promise of a perfect life with you forever. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

“A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever gotten a thorn or wood splinter in your finger? Did a parent try to dig it out for you? Ouch! Splinters aren’t a lot of fun and can hurt a lot!

Josie knew her upcoming surgery in the hospital wasn’t going to be fun and even a little painful. Her friends and family showed her as much love as they could. Her classmates wrote her a card before the surgery. Her family spent the night before watching her favorite movie and eating her favorite foods. When she arrived at the hospital some very nice nurses came and made sure she was comfortable and gave her a heated blanket. After surgery, her family took her out for ice-cream, and she got a triple scoop.

Today’s devotion talks about thorns and pain. We don’t know what the apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. Maybe it was something that hurt his body. Maybe it was something that hurt his mind or soul. Regardless, it was a chance for the power of Christ to rest upon him. If imperfect friends and family can show their love to someone who is experiencing difficulty, how much better can a perfect and mighty God show his love and power when someone is experiencing difficulty.

The apostle Paul saw his weakness as strength because it was a chance for the power of Christ to work. He even went so far as to boast in his weakness! When we experience “weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions”—bad stuff—may we see them as moments for the power of Christ to rest upon us.

Remember this: when we are weak, then we are strong. Christ-strong.

Gracious Lord, we thank you for being strong when we are weak. Help us to see the power of Christ resting upon us that like Paul, we would even boast in our weakness. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above