Category: Knowing God

God Will Not Forsake You

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

We learn from this passage to have confidence that God will always be with us. When I was little, I would get scared when a loud thunderstorm came through at night. However, I always prayed to God because I knew that He would hear me. Even if the storm was bad enough to kill me, I knew God would take me to His home where no storms and nothing bad would ever hurt me.

God loves His children and will never leave them. Though we may have to face bullies in school, sadness and disappointment when something does not happen the way we wanted, or loneliness, God is always there with us to give us strength and to listen as we open our hearts to Him in prayer.

When we pray, we should tell God all of the things that we are happy and sad about. We should ask Him to help us with problems and to help other people do what is right. God wants us to talk with Him and to share our feelings with Him. God can help us, and He is always ready to listen.

A favorite story of mine is in 2 Kings 6:15-17. The king of Syria was mad because every time he took his army to fight Israel, the king of Israel would move his army away before they arrived. The king of Syria thought someone in his army was telling the king of Israel where he was going to attack. One of the Syrians told the king that it was
Elisha, the prophet, who warned Israel.

The king of Syria went by night and surrounded the city where Elisha was staying. The next morning, Elisha’s servant woke up and saw the Syrian army all around the city. He was very scared. He asked Elisha what they should do. Elisha was not scared.

Elisha said, “Fear not, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and God allowed Elisha’s servant to see the great army of God, full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. Although Elisha’s servant did not see God’s army before, it was there.

Like Elisha’s servant, we cannot see God or know for sure what He is doing, but we have His promise that He will never, ever leave us or turn His back on us. God does not lie so we can trust that He is always with us, helping us.

What Can Young People Do To Grow Spiritually?

Do Your Bible Lesson: 

One of the most important things you can do is to make sure your Bible class lesson is done.

You might wonder who cares if your lesson is done or not. Well, your teacher cares! Students who have done their lessons tend to have better comments and questions than those who did nothing to prepare for the class. You are able to learn more about the Bible story and add to the knowledge you gained from your home study.

When you do your lesson its shows that you care about God’s word and learning how to please Him.  God’s word is able to help us with so many things in life. However, if you do not know  the Bible, it cannot help you at all.

Be sure to prepare your lesson at least a day before class so you can have time to think about what you studied.  Maybe you can study it with your parents.

Nightly Devotional: 

In Psalm 63:6, David said that he thought about God when he went to sleep.  We should begin and end each day thinking about God.

A good way to think about God before going to bed is to meet as a family and study the Bible.  The lesson does not have to be long, five or ten minutes is usually good. Spend time discussing a story or passage from the Bible.  Study the life of Jesus or study through the whole Bible.

Our family used to study one story the whole week.  At the end of the week, the older children could tell the story. You might want to sing a song like the “Books of the Bible” or the Apostles. Conclude this special period with prayers to God.  In our family each of the children says their prayers out loud.

This is a special way to close the day as a family.  Ask your family to study with you before bedtime.

Do Barber’s Exist

Author Unknown

A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut. He began to have a good conversation with thPhoto by CraigPJ/www.sxc.hue barber who attended him. They talked about many things and various subjects, including the existence of God. The barber said: “Look man, I don’t believe that God exists.”

“Why do you say that?” asked the customer.

“Well, it’s so easy, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God exists, there would be no suffering or pain. I can’t think of loving a God who permits all of these things.”

The customer thought for a moment, but he didn’t respond because he did not want to start an argument. The barber finished his job, and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barber shop, the customer saw a man in the street with long hair and a long beard. It had been a long time since he had his hair cut, and he looked dirty and unkempt. The customer entered the barber shop again and said to the barber, “You know what? Barbers do not exist.”

”How can you say they don’t exist?” asked the surprised barber. “I am here, and I am a barber. Why I just worked on you!”
“No!” the customer exclaimed. “Barbers don’t exist, because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man outside.”

“Ah, barbers do exist; what happens is that people do not come to me.”

“Exactly!” agreed the customer. “That’s the point! God does exist. What happens is people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him. That’s why there’ s so much pain and suffering in the world.”

“Where God Ain’t” (Poem)

Author Unknown

He was just a little boy, out on a week’s first day.
He was headed home from Sunday school and dawdling on the way.
He scuffed his shoes into the grass; he found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod and blew out all the “filler.”
A bird’s nest in a tree overhead, so wisely placed on high.
Was just another wonder that caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zigzag course and hailed him from the lawn;
Asked him where he’d been that day and what was going on.
“I’ve been to Bible school,” he said and turned a piece of sod.
He picked up a wiggly worm replying, “I’ve learned a lot of God.”

“M’m very fine way,” the neighbor said, “for a boy to spend his time.
If you can tell me where God is, I’ll give you a brand new dime.”
Quick as a flash the answer came; nor were his accents faint.
“I’ll give you a dollar, mister, if you can tell me where God ain’t.”

Becoming the Right Person

Many times when people think of a child of God, they think of what a person can and cannot do. For example, children of God should not use filthy language, tell lies, or do other bad things.

God did not make rules without reason. We must not think that He just wants to see if we will do the things that He commands and avoid the things that He forbids. God’s rules will help us to become the right kind of people. Every day, through the choices we make, we are becoming more like Jesus or more like the devil.

For example, when we lie, we become more like the devil because he is the father of lies. When we tell the truth, we are more like Jesus because He tells the truth and is truth.

Those who use bad language and tell dirty jokes become like the devil because they are breaking God’s commands (Colossians 3:8; Ephesians 5:4). They are using their tongues to dishonor God. Those who speak good, clean, and pure things become more like Jesus because their words build people up and honor God.

When your parents, Bible class teachers, or other godly adults try to teach you right things to do, remember that they are not telling you these things just to make you obey them or make themselves feel important, they are trying to help you become the right kind of person. They are trying to help you become like Jesus.

Decide today that you want to be like Jesus. Study your Bible and listen to your parents, teachers, and preacher as they tell you how God’s children should act.

In prayer, ask God to help you become more like Jesus and to have the courage to be like Jesus when other people are pressuring you to be like the devil.

Finally, spend time with people who want to be like Jesus so you can encourage one another to do what is right.