Family Devotional
Psalms for Kids
In this 4-lesson series we explore the modern message behind the ancient songs of the Old Testament.
Praise God Everyday | Psalm 34
Imagine winning an awesome prize, getting a brand-new video game, or scoring the game-winning goal in soccer. You’d probably want to jump up and down, cheer, and tell everyone you know about it! When something super cool happens, shouting out your excitement comes naturally. But did you know we have something even better than a new toy or a sports win to cheer about every single day?
That big reason to cheer is God! Praise is really just a fancy word for telling God how awesome He is and how much we love Him. God is bigger, stronger, and more loving than anything else in the entire world. Even when we have a bad day or things don’t go our way, God never changes. He is always good, and He wants us to make praising Him a daily habit!
Psalm 34:1 I will praise the Lord at all times.
Praising God isn’t just something we do for a few minutes at church on Sunday. You can praise God anywhere—while you’re eating breakfast, riding the bus, or playing at recess! It’s as simple as thanking Him for the sunny weather, singing along to a worship song, or whispering a quick “Thank you, God!” when you’re having fun with your friends.
Here’s a life hack for your heart: whenever you feel sad, bored, or upset, try switching your focus to praise. Ask yourself, “What is one awesome thing God has done for me today?” When you start counting your blessings, your whole attitude shifts to joy. Let’s make it our daily mission to show Jesus’ love by giving Him the praise He deserves all week long!
Talk About It
- What is the absolute coolest or most exciting thing that has happened to you this week?
- What is our main Bible verse for today, and where can you find it in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was something that always made you jump up and down with excitement?
- When you’re having a super tough day at school or with your siblings, why is it sometimes hard to praise God, and how can Jesus help you do it anyway?
- What is one practical way your family can pause and praise God together every day this week?
God Can See The Future
Have you ever played a game with your eyes blindfolded, like trying to pin the tail on the donkey or walk across a room without bumping into anything? It can feel pretty scary when you can’t see what’s right in front of you! Wondering about the future—like moving to a new grade, trying a new sport, or wondering what you’ll be when you grow up—can sometimes feel just like walking in the dark with a blindfold on.
The good news is that you don’t have to worry about what’s coming next, because God is never walking in the dark! God knows every single detail about tomorrow, next week, and fifty years from now. He isn’t surprised by anything that happens in your life. Because God has the future completely in His hands, we can rest easy knowing He is in control and working everything out for our good.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Trusting God with your future starts right now in your everyday life. When you feel nervous about a big test, a new school year, or a hard decision, you don’t have to let worry win. You can use a quick mental life hack: whenever you start feeling scared about what might happen tomorrow, pause and remind yourself, “God is already there, and He loves me!”
Instead of trying to figure out every single step on your own, talk to Jesus in prayer and ask Him to help you trust His big plan. When we rely on His wisdom every day, we can face any new challenge with total confidence. Let’s make it our mission this week to stop worrying about the future and start showing Jesus’ love by trusting Him with every step we take!
Talk About It
- If you could travel into the future ten years from now, what dream job do you hope you’ll have?
- What is our main Bible verse for today, and where can you find it in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, what did you think your life was going to look like when you grew up, and how did God’s actual plan turn out?
- When you start feeling super worried about something coming up at school or in sports, why is it sometimes hard to trust God, and how can Jesus help you feel peaceful?
- What is one specific fear or worry about the future that your family can hand over to God in prayer together tonight?
Give Thanks | Psalm 100
Have you ever had one of those mornings where everything seems to go wrong? Maybe you spilled milk on your favorite shirt, lost your homework, or your favorite toy broke. When bad stuff happens, it is super easy to get grumpy and start complaining to everyone around you!
When we only focus on what goes wrong or what we don’t have, grumpiness takes over our whole day. But God has a much better way for us to live! He wants us to kick out the bad attitudes and fill our hearts with gratitude instead. Being thankful isn’t just something we do once a year at Thanksgiving—it’s a choice we can make every single day because God is so good to us.
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.
So, how can we be thankful when things aren’t going our way? You can try a simple mental life hack: whenever you catch yourself complaining about something, stop and name two things you are grateful for! If you’re annoyed about doing chores, you can thank God for a house to live in and a family that loves you. Shifting your focus off yourself and onto God’s goodness changes your entire heart.
You can also show thankfulness by saying “thank you” to your parents, teachers, and friends when they help you out, or by singing out loud to God when you’re at church. Thankfulness is like a superpower that turns grumpy days into joyful ones. Let’s make it our mission this week to show Jesus’ love by ditching the complaints and having a thankful heart everywhere we go!
Talk About It
- If you had to pick your absolute favorite meal in the whole world to eat on Thanksgiving, what would it be?
- What is our main Bible verse for today, and where can you find it in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was something silly or small that would easily put you in a grumpy mood?
- When you are super frustrated with a sibling or classmate, why is it hard to be thankful, and how can Jesus help you change your attitude?
- What is one practical way your family can pause every day this week to share three things you are thankful to God for?
How God Pursues You | Psalm 139
Have you ever played a game of hide-and-seek where you found the absolute best hiding spot? Maybe you squeezed under a bed, hid behind a tall pile of blankets, or tucked into a dark closet, holding your breath while waiting for the seeker to find you. Being hidden can be super fun in a game, but sometimes in real life, it can feel like nobody truly notices or understands the real you.
The amazing truth is that you can never be hidden from God, and He never stops seeking a relationship with you! God isn’t just looking for you like a game; He pursues you because He loves you so much. He knows every single detail about your life—your favorite food, the silly things that make you laugh, and even the stuff that makes you feel scared or sad inside. God created the real you, and He wants to be close to you every single day!
Psalm 139:1 Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
Knowing that God pursues you changes how you live your everyday life. When you feel lonely at recess, left out by friends, or like nobody is listening to you, you don’t have to hide away or pretend to be someone else. Instead of trying to impress other people to fit in, you can remember that the Creator of the universe already knows you completely and loves you just the way you are.
Here is a great mental life hack for your week: whenever you start feeling invisible or alone, pause and whisper, “God knows me, God sees me, and God loves me!” When you remember how close God is to you, it gives you the confidence to be yourself and share that same big love with the people around you. Let’s make it our mission this week to live with joy, knowing that God is pursuing our hearts every step of the way!
Talk About It
- What is the ultimate, best hiding spot you have ever used in a game of hide-and-seek?
- What is our main Bible verse for today, and where can you find it in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was a time you felt left out or hidden, and how did you handle it?
- When you are feeling lonely or misunderstood by your classmates or siblings, why is it hard to remember that God is close to you, and how can Jesus help?
- What is one specific way your family can remind each other this week that God knows, sees, and loves every single one of you?
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