See previous devotionals for tips as to how to open up your devotional time in prayer, etc.
For this devotional, I do encourage you to read the story of Noah from a Children’s Bible if you are able. Otherwise choose several passages to read, so that the main parts of the story are shared: There was great evil in the land, but Noah found favor with God. Noah obediently made the Ark as God instructed. When it was time, Noah & his family, plus two of every kind of animal entered the ark & God shut the door after them. They were safe on the ark during a flood that brought destruction & changed the world forever. After the rain stopped they remained in the ark until the waters subsided. When they got off of the ark, they worshipped the Lord. The Lord instructed them to be fruitful & multiply, filling the earth. And then made a covenant to never again cut off all people & animals or destroy the earth with a flood. He then gave the rainbow as a sign of the covenant.
Scripture Focus: Genesis 6-9
Verse Highlight: Genesis 6:8 “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”
Introduction Questions: What does it mean to be good? to have integrity? (Adjust the wording of the question depending on the age of your kids.) Can you think of someone you know (or know of) that you would consider a man/woman of “integrity”? What about them makes you say that?
Discussion: In The Message version of the Bible, the beginning of the story of Noah reads like this: “GOD saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. GOD was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. GOD said, “I’ll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I’m sorry I made them. But Noah was different. GOD liked what he saw in Noah. This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” (Genesis 6:1-10)
It is hard to imagine a world like this. In fact, let’s not even try. We know that evil is in the world. But, instead of looking at the evil, let’s look at something else: Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. He walked with God. The Lord looked at Him and smiled.
Do you know that we get to live like that, too?
Psalm 5:12 says, “Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
When we put our faith in Jesus, we become righteous. That means that we have God’s favor around us all the time, like a shield. Do you know what a shield is for? It’s used for protection. Also, shields were often decorated to identify people individually, or recognize them as a part of a military unit.* If we apply this to this verse, then the Lord’s favor protects us & also identifies us! It is part of who we are as His children, His friends, His family! What affect do you think that this has on our lives?
God’s grace and goodness is with us. It surrounds us and tells others who we are and whose we are! Since this is true, we don’t ever need to be afraid of darkness or evil! Because no evil can overcome the goodness of God! So, instead of worrying, we get to celebrate. And that is what we are going to do right now.
Closing Activity: As a family, make a list of the ways you have seen God’s favor on your lives. Make sure to include “small” things, too! Then, pray out loud together, each taking a turn to thank the Lord for a specific way His kindness has been shown to them. This is also a good time to give any specific worries or fears to the Lord and replace them with confidence in His protection and Presence in your life.
Bonus Activity: Take paper or perhaps a paper grocery bag & cut it into the shape of a shield. Then, make a “family crest of God’s favor”. Let each person add something to the design / help to decorate it. Then hang it up someplace this week to remind you that God’s favor is with you!
*More information on shields can be found here: https://www.mylineage.com/family-coat-of-arms-explanation/