God Takes Care of Me (First Steps Devotions) (10 page)

When was the first time you were really scared? Why?

Was there someone who could help you? Who?

Why did you think that person could help you?

Jesus was very tired. He had been teaching people all day.

When it was night, Jesus said to the disciples, “Let’s cross
the lake.”

They got in the boat, and Jesus found a pillow. Soon He was
sound asleep. Then a storm came. The waves went higher and higher. The boat
started filling up with water. The disciples got scared. They looked for Jesus,
He was asleep in the back of the boat.

“Don’t you care that we’re about to drown?” they asked Him.
Jesus got up. He shouted to the wind and waves to be still. The wind slowed
down. The waves stopped. The disciples were amazed. They said, “Who is this?
Even the winds and the waves obey Him!”

The disciples were scared, but Jesus took care of them. All
they had to do was ask.

Name someone you trust.

Why do you trust that person? Do you trust God? Why?

How does that make you feel when you are scared?

Dear God, I trust You. I know You will take care of me. Help
me to put more faith in You. Help me to trust You more.

Name a person you depend on.

Why do you depend on this person? Why do you trust him or
her?

People were excited to see Jesus. They had been waiting a
long time. Crowds pressed all around Him.

A woman was there who had been sick for 12 years. She had
spent all her money on doctor bills, but she was still sick. She wanted Jesus
to heal her, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well,” she said to
herself.

The woman came up behind Jesus and touched His clothes. As
soon as she touched them, she became well.

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Then He turned around and saw
the woman. She knelt down before Jesus and explained why she touched Him.
“Don’t worry!” Jesus told her. “You are now well because of your faith.”

She believed in Jesus, and He made her well.

Name a time you trusted God to take care of you. What
happened?

What is something you could trust God for today?

Dear God, I have faith in You. I know You can take care of
me. I want to trust You more

Do you know someone who can do anything? Who?

Why do you think this person can do anything?

Jesus had just helped a lot of people. He had healed a woman
who had been sick for 12 years, and He had brought a little girl back to life.
People wanted to be near Jesus. They wanted Him to teach them about God and
heal them.

Two blind men called out to Jesus: “Have pity on us!” They
wanted Jesus to help them see again. Jesus walked up to the two blind men: “Do
you believe that I can make you well?” “Yes, Lord,” they answered.

Jesus reached out His hands and touched their eyes. “Because
of your faith, you will be healed,” He said to them. As soon as Jesus said
that, the men could see. They believed in Jesus, and He healed them.

Do you believe God can help you? Why?

What can you do to show God you believe in Him?

Dear God, I believe in You. I want to show You I have faith
in You. I want to allow You to take care of me.

Have you ever been really hungry? How did you feel?

What did you do?

Jesus wanted to be alone, lie took a boat across the lake to
a place where no one lived. But the people followed Him.

When Jesus saw all the people, He felt sorry for them. Many
of them were sick. Jesus healed them. Then He taught them about God.

Jesus’ disciples said to Him, “Let the crowds leave, so they
can go to the villages and buy some food.”

“They don’t have to leave,” Jesus told them. “Why don’t you
give them something to eat?” “We have only five small loaves of bread and two
fish,” the disciples told Jesus.

The disciples brought the food to Jesus. Jesus took the food
and blessed it. Then He gave it to the disciples to pass out to the people. All
the people ate until they could not eat any more.

Jesus took care of the hungry people. He gave them food to
eat. They were not hungry anymore.

Do you think God cares when you are hungry? Why? Why not?

Do you think God gives you food to eat when you need it?

Dear God, thank You for taking care of me. Thank You for
making sure I have food to eat and keeping me from going hungry.

When was the last time you helped your mom or dad? Did they
need your help?

Have your parents or teacher let you help them when they did
not need your help? Why?

Jesus called the disciples together. He had something to
tell them. Jesus was sending the disciples out in groups of two. They were
going to tell people about Jesus. They were even going to heal the sick people.

Jesus did not
need
me
disciples’ help. He
let
the
disciples help Him. He wanted them to have the same joy of helping people that
He had.

“As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at
hand,’“ Jesus told them.

The disciples had seen Jesus do these things. Now it was
their turn. Jesus gave them the power to help people. Jesus lets us help
people, too, just like the disciples.

When was the last time you helped someone?

How did it make you feel? Why?

Dear God, thank You for letting me help people. Thank You
for letting me serve You. I know You don’t need my help. But I’m glad You let
me help You.

Have you ever been in real danger? What happened?

What did you do to get saved?

Jesus had helped people all day. It was late, so He sent the
people home. Then He told the disciples to get in the boat and go to the other
side of the lake. Jesus was finally alone.

Very early in the morning the winds started blowing. The
waves blew the disciples back and forth in their boat. Jesus came out to see
them, walking on the water! When the disciples saw Him, they were scared. They
thought it ‘was a ghost. “I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid,” Jesus called back.

Peter got out of the boat and started walking on me water
toward Jesus. Then he looked around and saw the waves and the wind. He began to
sink. “Lord, save me!” Peter yelled. Jesus held out His hand and pulled Peter
out of the water. Jesus saved Peter. All Peter had to do was ask.

What is the first thing you should do when you find yourself
in danger? Why?

Do you think God can help you? Why? How?

Dear God, sometimes I see danger and get scared. Help me to
ask You for help first.