Questions and Answers...

The Conversation...

Lord bless our youth and children today. God help them to see you as Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides for them and their needs. Whether their request be for answers to questions, food, clothing, directions, guidance, protection, or a relationship with you; Lord let them see that you are there and you have the answers. As provider Lord, let them know that they can trust you for the answers to the issues and questions they have in life. Let them see that you will never leave or forsake them. Show them that you take your relationship with them seriously and you know whats best for them. Lord show them you, as you continue to give them grace and mercy. Let your angels encamp around them and protect them wherever they go. 

In Jesus name. Amen. 

The Affirmation...

I DECLARE that I will ask God for big things in my life. I will pray bold prayers and expect big and believe big. I will ask God to bring to pass those hidden dreams that are deep in my heart. If certain promises don’t look like they will happen, I will not be intimidated and give up. I will pray with boldness, expecting God to show Himself strong, knowing that nothing is too difficult for Him. This is my declaration.

The Resource...The Word

​Vacation Cancellation
Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 31:1-6
The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you.   Deuteronomy 31:6

A MAN HAD a dream one night. In his dream he stood before the throne of God in heaven. The man crossed his arms on his chest and spoke to God. “God,” he said, “I feel like giving up. Sometimes being a Christian is just too hard, and I don’t feel like doing it anymore. It gets discouraging, you know? Isn’t there some way for me to just get a ‘vacation’ from being a Christian?” God nodded his head. “I see,” he said. “And while you’re on this vacation, would you like me to still cause the sun to rise every morning? Would you like me to still place a song in the throat of every bird? Would you like me to keep your heart beating? Would you like me to open your eyes from sleep and give you another day of life? “Would you like me to still listen to your prayers and soothe your hurts? Would you like me to still forgive your sins and keep your soul in the palm of my hand? Would you like me to still send the sun to bed at night and give you the moon and stars to decorate your night sky? Would you like me to close your eyes in sleep and fill your lungs with breath even while you sleep? Or are you suggesting that I go on vacation, too?”

The man swallowed hard before speaking. “Uh, you know,” he answered God in his dream, “I… I… I’ve ch-changed my mind. I’ve decided I don’t need a ‘vacation’ after all!”

Most of us feel like that man from time to time. We may be tired of doing our chores. Or tired of doing a certain job. Or tired of making right choices. We may even get tired sometimes of being Christians.
But at times like those, we need to remember that God commands us to persevere. We need to remind ourselves that God commands perseverance because God values perseverance. And we need to understand that God values perseverance because he perseveres for us, day after day, moment after moment.
That’s why perseverance is right—because God perseveres. He promises never to fail us or forsake us. And because he will always keep going for us, we should learn to persevere in the things we do.

REFLECT: Do you think God has ever given up on you? Why or why not? Do you think God ever will give up on you? Why or why not? How does it make you feel to know that God perseveres for you? Are you glad? uninterested? grateful? sorry? sad? hopeful? something else?
ACT: On a sheet of paper, make a list of the things God does for you every day. (You can start with the things listed in the paragraphs above.) Place that list on your desk or bedside table to remind you of God’s perseverance.
PRAY: “God, thank you for all the things you do for me every day. I know that you’ll never give up on me. Please help me to learn to persevere like you.”

​© 2016 Josh McDowell Ministry. All rights reserved. No part of these Materials may be changed in any way or reproduced in any form without written permission from Josh McDowell Ministry, 2001 West Plano Parkway, Suite 2400, Plano, TX 75075. www.Josh.org.+1 972 907 1000. Used by Permission

The Sound...