Trail Life Troop
NC-613
Devotional – God’s Direction
Opening
- Compasses and maps give us directions. God also gives us direction. Let’s see how.
- Read, or someone read the Teaching verse. FYI: The memory verse is further down
Nehemiah 9:12 By day God led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.
Devotional
Big picture Cloud by day, fire by night.
- Nehemiah is talking about what God did for the Israelites during their Exodus out of Egypt.
- This can be found in the book of Exodus Chapters 13 & 14. You might want to read about it. It’s incredible.
- God protected the Israelites and led them like a compass and lamp, through the wilderness for 40 years.
- God created a pillar of cloud by day to hide them from their enemies and to guide them.
- God created a pillar of fire by night to guide them with His light and frighten their enemies.
- Q: Could you imagine seeing a huge pillar of cloud and fire? That must have been amazing!
- We forget the Israelites had no idea where God was leading them, but they trusted God to lead them.
- Q: Would you follow a pillar of cloud and fire, if you were lost in the woods?
- (Tell the boys about a time when God led you through something and provide for your needs).
- We’ve been learning about compasses and maps. Like a compass that shows you what direction to go, so does the Bible. The Bible is the best direction-giver for your life. If you are physically lost in the woods a compass is your best friend. But, if you are lost spiritually and do not know what direction to go in life, then the Bible is your best friend.
- God may not create a pillar of cloud and fire to direct you like He did for the Israelites, but He will speak to you and give you directions if you just ask Him. The Bible says so.
- Matt 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
- And, Luke 19:10 says, “Jesus came to seek and to save the Lost.”
- So, we can trust that God will provide us direction, even when we feel lost without any hope.
Memory Verse #1
Ask if anybody knows it yet and can say it? Read it together 2X Consider having a memory verse pamphlet for kids take home.
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
Topical Questions
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Do you see the connection between the teaching verse and memory verse?
God’s directional light. The Israelites didn’t fear with the cloud and fire protecting them. Psalm 27:1 speaks about fear too. -
Isn’t it interesting the Bible speaks about being lost and found, and now you learned about compasses?
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Is there any area that we could pray for God’s leading today?
Closing Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You guide us and protect us just like the Israelites. God, help us to ask You for directions when we are lost and have no hope. Help us to be strong and courageous. Help us to use our new compass skills wisely and we hope and pray we never have to do so in an emergency, but now we are prepared and ready. We thank you for teaching us these cool skills. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen!
