Trail Life Troop
NC-613
Devotional – Protection
Opening
- Today we learned the history of weapons of war, but the oldest and best protection is God!
- Read, or someone read the Teaching verse. FYI: The memory verse is further down
1 Samuel 17:47 It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s.
Devotional
Big picture Trust in God. His protection never fails.
- Q: Does anyone remember the Old Testament story of David and Goliath?
Give a quick overview of the story found in 1 Samuel 17. Highlight contrast between Goliath’s armor/weapons vs David’s. Focus on what those in the story could see, not on the real unseen spiritual battle going on. - Q: What weapon did David use to kill Goliath? What weapons and armor did Goliath have?
- Q: How big was David? (Same as any teenager). How big was Goliath? (12’ tall and over 500 lbs)
- Q: Did David have any other protection with him besides his sling and stones?
- Yes! David had God with him. He knew the battle with Goliath was really God’s battle.
- None of the other Israelites that day, not even King Saul, trusted that God would protect them. All they saw was a fearsome giant standing in front of them. They didn’t see God there, but David did!
- Look at 1 Sam 17:37. God had saved David again and again, and David trusts God will protect him again from Goliath. David has such great faith! He is a wonderful example for us to follow in our faith.
- The Bible tells us over and over that God loves us and protects us. That doesn’t mean we should test God by doing silly things that could hurt us, but like David, if you truly trust in God, God will protect you, too, just like David.
- And, the Bible tells us again and again that God saved the Israelites. They were His people. Now, Christians are God’s people because God has opened a way through Jesus’ death and resurrection for us to be His people, too.
- So, if God saved David and God saved the Israelites, do you think He will protect you, too? Of course, He will! You are a child of God. God loves you so much He sent Jesus to die for you.
- If you truly trust in Jesus, God will always protect you. His protection never fails!
- Ancient weapons and even modern weapons today eventually rust, break, or fail. But God never fails!
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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Is it easy to trust in something that you cannot see?
The teaching verse shows us that David saw what was unseen. He saw God when others didn’t. The Bible tells us to walk by faith, not by sight. Had David made his decision to fight Goliath only by what he saw, he never would have had the courage to fight his giant, Goliath. -
What “giants” in your life are you afraid of? It may not be a real giant like Goliath, but it may be real.
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Have you given those fears over to God for His protection? God never fails!
Closing Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for protecting us. Though we do not see You, we know You are always near. Help us to have faith and trust in Your protection, even when things look scary or overwhelming, like a Goliath. Help us to give those scary things to You. Thank you, God for never failing us. Thank you, God for loving us so much that You sent Your son to die for our sins. In Jesus’ name we pray these prayer requests. Amen!
