Kids Bible Devotional for April 18, 2024
Listen Here
Focus Verse
Proverbs 2:8-9 For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. (NKJV)
Jump Start
"In two miles, take Exit 332B toward Right Way Avenue." [in GPS voice]
Back before GPS, and even before the Internet, people used paper maps to plan a long-distance trip. These maps were huge. You’d have thought you needed an Engineering degree just to fold them back correctly. But they were necessary for a driver to manually map the route. Then, they had to be extra careful as they got close to their turn offs. There was no robotic voice prompting them which lane to stay in or how far their exits were.
I have to admit, the voice-activated GPS navigator is a thousand times better than the paper maps. And, if you take a wrong turn, it re-routes the directions you need to take to get back on course. Don’t you wish that living for God was like that?
In many ways, the Bible is a roadmap for how to live our lives. We also listen for that still, small voice from God who speaks into our spirit when making decisions. And, if we happen to get off track, it’s amazing how God can navigate us back on His path through prayer and wise counsel. The trick is to be vigilant by paying attention to God’s leading.
Today's Devotion
Cynthia jumped from the truck and yanked her backpack from the truck bed. “Come on, Dad. Let’s get to hiking. We’re burning daylight.”
“Hold up, Cynthia,” her father said. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We need to check the map first that the Park Ranger gave us at the entrance.”
“Maps are for babies,” Cynthia retorted. She pointed to a wooden sign engraved with the words, Miner’s Pass on it. A painted arrow directed her toward a dirt path that disappeared into the forest beyond. “There’s the entrance right there. All the trails are already marked.”
“What color is the arrow?” Cynthia’s father asked.
“Red,” she replied. “Why?”
“According to the map, red is for experienced hikers. That path, in particular, requires climbing gear about halfway up.”
“Climbing gear?” she asked.
“Yep. Since neither of us are experienced climbers, nor did we bring any climbing gear, we need to take Falls Creek Trail.” He motioned to a trail sign further down the parking lot marked with a yellow arrow. “That’s the trail for beginners.”
“Oh,” Cynthia glanced over at the sign. “Yeah, maybe we need that map after all. Good thinking, Dad.”
Wrap Up
The Bible says that God knows the way that we take. If we get in too much of a hurry, we may get off the path He has prepared for our lives. Then we could find ourselves in a situation we’re not prepared for.
Even if the right way seems the hard way, we can be assured that God will see us through. Don’t you want to follow God’s plan? If so, pray that you allow God to have His way in your life.