God Takes Care of Me (First Steps Devotions) (11 page)

What do you do when you really want something?

Do you ask only once? Or do you keep asking until you get
it? Why?

One day Jesus went into a town and entered a house. He did
not want anyone to know where He was. Jesus wanted to be alone.

A woman found out where Jesus was. She ran into the house
and bowed down before Jesus. “Have pity on me!” she said. She told Him mat her
daughter was very sick.

“I was only sent to help the people of Israel!” Jesus told
her. “It isn’t right to take food away from children and feed it to the dogs.”

“That’s true,” the woman told Him, “but even dogs get the
crumbs that fall from their owner’s table.” “Dear woman,” Jesus said, amazed,
“you really do have a lot of faith, and you will be given what you want.”

She got up and went home. Her daughter was well. The woman
did not give up. And Jesus helped her.

How many times do you ask God for something? Why?

Would you ever argue with God? Why? Why not?

Dear God, sometimes there are things I want. Help me to want
what You know is best for me. I will not stop praying even when You do not seem
to answer my prayers right away.

Has someone ever showed you something important? What was
it?

How did it make you feel? Why?

One day Jesus, Peter, James, and John went up on a high
mountain. Jesus’ face started to shine like the sun. His clothes became bright
white, too. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
The disciples were amazed.

Just as that was happening, a bright cloud came right over
where they were standing. A voice came out of the cloud: “This is my own dear
Son, and I am pleased with him.”

Peter, James, and John were scared. They fell down on the
ground.

“Get up,” Jesus said. “Don’t be afraid!”

“It is good for us to be here!” Peter said. Peter, James,
and John would remember that day the rest of their lives.

Name a time God showed you something important. What was it?

Why was it important?

Why do you think God shared it with you?

Dear God, thank You for showing me special things. Thank You
most of all for showing me Your love.

Think of a time when something happened later than
—— wanted it to happen.

What did you do?

One day Jesus heard that Lazarus was very sick. Jesus loved
Lazarus very much. Everyone expected Jesus to go to Lazarus right away. But
Jesus waited two more days before He went to see him. “His sickness will bring
glory to God and his Son,” Jesus said.

By the time Jesus went to see him, Lazarus had died. When
Martha, Lazarus’s sister, saw Jesus coming, she went out to meet Him. “Lord, if
you had been here,” she said, “my brother would not have died.”

“Your brother will live again!” Jesus told her.

They took Jesus to the cave where Lazarus was buried.
“Lazarus, come out!” Jesus called. Lazarus, wrapped in grave-clothes, came out
of the cave. He was alive! Many more people believed in Jesus. Lazarus died so
people could see that Jesus was God’s Son.

What has God done that did not make any sense to you?

Did you understand later why God did it?

Why do you think we do not always understand God’s actions?

Dear God, I do not always understand why You do the things
You do. But I know You always have a reason for everything You do. Help me to
let You do things Your way.

Do you always thank people when they do nice things for you?
Why?

Do you ever forget to say, “Thank you”? How do you think
that makes people feel?

People with leprosy were very sick. Other people did not
want to be around them because they were afraid they might become sick, too. So
the people with leprosy were forced to live apart from others.

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. One day He walked through
a village. Some men with leprosy saw Him with His disciples.

“Jesus,” they shouted, “have pity on us!” Jesus looked over
at them. They were standing far away from Him.

“Go,” Jesus said, “show yourselves to the priests.” All ten
men ran as fast as they could. As they went, they were healed.

When he saw that he was well again, one man stopped and ran
back to Jesus. He thanked Jesus for healing him.

“Get up and go,” Jesus told him. “Your faith has made you
well.” Jesus was glad the man came back to thank Him

What was the last thing God did for you?

Did you thank Him? If not, why not?

Think of one thing God has done that you have not thanked
Him for.

Thank Him for it today.

Dear God, You do so many things to help me. Thank You for
all You do for me. I love You

Have you ever been lost? What happened?

Did someone find you? How?

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. But Zacchaeus had a problem.
Many people were always with Jesus. And Zacchaeus was short. He could not see
over all the people. Zacchaeus could not get close enough to see Jesus.

Zacchaeus had an idea. He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed
a tree. He was higher than everyone. He could see Jesus! Jesus saw him, too.

“Zacchaeus, hurry down!” Jesus called to him. “I want to
stay with you today.”

Zacchaeus hurried down from the tree. Jesus wanted to stay
at his house! “Today you and your family have been saved,” Jesus said. Jesus
found Zacchaeus. And He saved him.

How did Jesus find you?

Do you know someone who did not believe in Jesus and then
became a Christian?

What did God do to help that person believe?

Did He seek him or her out?

Dear God, thank You for finding me. Please help lots of
people I know come to know You.

What is the nicest thing anyone ever did for you?

Did you pay that person back? Why? How?

Mary wanted to do something for Jesus. So she opened a
bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet. Then Mary wiped His
feet dry with her hair. The smell of perfume filled the entire house.

Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, was upset, “Why such a
waste? We could have sold this perfume and given the money to the poor!” he
said.

“Leave her alone!” Jesus said. “She has done a beautiful
thing for me. Wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will
remember what she has done. And they will tell others.”

Jesus made sure people would remember Mary.

Has God ever paid you back for something you did for Him?

What was it?

How did God pay you back?

Dear God, I know I can never pay You back for what You have
done for me. But I want to serve You.