Your name has been called, you are running to the field and it is your turn to show what you are made of. It is your turn to prove that you are a good baseball player. Your team is down by 1, bases are loaded, 2 outs. It is all up to you. Your coach has called you off the bench and here is your game on moment. Throughout life we experiences these moments where there is no more preparation, no more studying, no more practice, no more trials. It is now time to perform. Game On. Our skills and abilities are challenged. When we are under pressure, our faith is tested too. When it comes to our confidence in God and who He says He is, life circumstances create “game on” moments. Daniel is a guy from the Old Testament who faced some very difficult circumstances in life. In the midst of those circumstances his faith didn’t just survive, it flourished. One of the reasons his faith flourished is because at the foundation of his faith, he knew the Word of God. Not just knew where he could go and look up what it says in Exodus about the Passover or Deuteronomy to reread the 10 commandments or Leviticus to read the different laws and what to do if you get mold in your tent. He knew it to the degree that when he was placed in King Nebuchadnezzar’s elite training program that the food given to this group of men would have gone against what God had commanded the Israelites. Daniel’s faith in God and knowing following God’s laws on what foods to eat was more important to him than finding favor with king Nebuchadnezzar and his officials. So here is Daniel in a Game On moment. So when we are in Game on moments, do you know what God’s Word says so you can stand strong on the foundation of your faith? It is important to read the Bible and it can seem like a daunting task. The words can be big, names unpronounceable, language confusing. But we shouldn’t let those things stop us from diving into God’s Word. Here are 3 steps to help us in our personal devotion time.
Step 1: Get a Bible. Seems simple enough, but if you do not have your own Bible, let me know and I would be happy to help you acquire your own.
Step 2: Pick a Place. Pick a physical place to read, your bedroom, your basement, outside. Somewhere you can go and not be distracted by tv, radio, cell phones, facebook, instagram, little siblings. Also pick a place to read in the Bible. If you aren’t sure where to start, try Psalms, or John.
Step 3: Ask Questions. As you are reading the passage ask yourself what does this passage say and try to put it in your own words. If you are just reading a verse try putting that verse in your own words. If you are reading a whole chapter try summarizing the chapter. Then once you know what it says, ask yourself what does this passage say to me? How can you apply what you just heard. If a passage doesn’t make sense, write it down and ask someone you trust (pastor, youth group leader, parent, grandparent, or maybe older sibling) to explain it to you.
Challenge for you and your family this week: Start in Psalms and read together using the questions in step 3. You can do it on your own and then ask your parent or ask your child what they have learned each day over dinner. Continue the conversation!
Vida & Encounter 