This 8-day devotional, designed especially for parents to read with your children ages 3-7, takes readers on a journey through the lives of courageous warriors of the faith. Each day highlights a different heroic follower of Jesus, teaching children how they can grow in bravery by trusting God and following these bold examples.
ABS Armed Services Ministry
Day 1
Scriptures: Psalms 34:9, Psalms 23:1, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Philippians 4:19, Isaiah 58:11
Through the Hard Times
Honor the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honors the Lord will ever be in need.
Psalm 34:9 (CEV)
Two hundred years ago, a little girl named Amanda had to work on a farm along with her family. Her father had to work on a different farm far away from them. Life was very hard for them. Every day, they prayed things would change. Amanda’s daddy worked extra hard to earn money to support his family. Finally, he made enough to bring them back together into a home where they could live together. Their prayers were answered! God protected them and helped them.
Amanda grew up and started teaching and preaching all over the world about Jesus! Many times in her life, she didn’t have enough money or didn’t know how she would make it through, but she knew that God could do the impossible. She prayed and did what God said, and he took care of her.
And he will do the same for you!
What is your family praying and working for? How do you need God to help you? Pray to him today and ask him. He is listening!
HERO TRAINING
What is something you could use God’s help with? Can you draw a picture of it? When you are finished drawing it, pray to God and ask him for his help.
GOD’S WONDERFUL WORLD
The Northern Elephant Seal spends most of its life traveling. It goes further than almost all other animals on Earth! (Maybe they even traveled farther than Amanda did for Jesus. That’s really far!)
Day 2
Scriptures: Philippians 1:6, Psalms 40:5, 1 Corinthians 1:7-8, Isaiah 55:10-11, Philippians 1:9-10
God’s Great Plan
God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns
Philippians 1:6 (CEV)
Shhh! Zhang Boli had to be quiet! He was hiding. Zhang and his friends had told the government of China they wanted more freedom. But that made the rulers angry, so they hurt a lot of people and put others in jail. In China, you can’t say bad things about the government.
So, Zhang ran for his life! He barely escaped. When he got far away into the country, an old woman helped hide him. She asked him to do something for her. She couldn’t read, but she had part of the Bible that someone had written out, and she wanted him to read it out loud. This was a secret, too, because the Chinese government didn’t want anyone to own a Bible or be a Christian. But when Zhang read the words in the old woman’s Bible, he believed them and turned to Jesus.
Later, God helped Zhang get safely to America. He is a pastor now, and he helps other people learn about Jesus. He thanks God for hiding him with that woman. God has a great plan for him, and he has a great plan for you, too!
HERO TRAINING
Zhang’s life changed when he heard the Bible read out loud. The Word of God is powerful! Ask your mom, dad, or older sibling to read the words of this week’s verse out loud. Repeat it after them. Thank God for his great plan for your life!
GOD’S WONDERFUL WORLD
The North Chinese Leopard lives in the mountains of China, near Russia. God kept Zhang Boli safe from them, too!
Day 3
Scriptures: Isaiah 58:6, Psalms 147:11, Matthew 25:40, Proverbs 14:31, 1 John 3:17
Right With God
I’ll tell you what it really means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of prisoners who are bound unjustly. Free those who are abused!
Isaiah 58:6 (CEV)
Angelina Grimké had a problem. She was born a long time ago when people thought it was okay to own slaves and force them to do hard work for no pay. Her family and friends all owned slaves, but Angelina knew in her heart that God did not like it. What would you have done?
When Angelina was old enough, she decided to make God happy instead of her family and friends. She showed God she loved him by obeying him. She talked to everyone about how bad it is to hurt other people. She spoke to big crowds, and she wrote lots of letters and books against slavery. Some people were so angry they threatened to hurt her. But still she bravely said she would rather obey God.
God took care of Angelina. And just before she died, she got to see a change to the laws in America that made people free their slaves!
Have your friends ever wanted you to do something God says is wrong? Remember it’s always better to obey God. Even if everybody is mad at you, God will be pleased.
HERO TRAINING
How can you make decisions that please God? Think about it, and ask Jesus to help you today!
GOD’S WONDERFUL WORLD
Angelina used her voice to save people from slavery. Many animals use their sounds to warn each other, too. A squirrel makes a lot of noise to warn other squirrels if a predator is in the area.
Day 4
Scriptures: Psalms 103:3-5, Psalms 103:9-10, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Isaiah 58:11, Ephesians 3:20-21
God Provides
The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.
Psalm 103:3-5 (CEV)
“What are we going to do, Mr. Müller? We’re hungry!” cried the children.
George Müller looked at the group of poor orphans. Before they came to live at Müllers’ house, many of them had lived on the streets where they had to steal food in order to eat. Now, even here, sometimes they didn’t have anything for supper.
Mr. Müller stole things as a kid too, but just because he thought it was fun. When he grew up, he gave his life to Jesus and God changed his heart. God told him to open a home for orphans. Mr. Müller and his wife took care of them. People gave them money to help the children.
But sometimes the money ran out. Did they steal again to have food? No, Mr. Müller taught them to pray instead. They asked God for everything they needed, and he gave it to them! God sent people with food or money at just the right time. The Müllers took care of thousands of orphans this way!
Are there things you need? Pray to God and watch how he makes miracles happen!
HERO TRAINING
What did you have for breakfast today? Draw it on a piece of paper and thank God for each bite!
GOD’S WONDERFUL WORLD
There is a bird nicknamed the “Camp Robber.” It is famous for stealing food from people who are outside having a picnic!
Day 5
Scriptures: Psalms 51:10, Psalms 51:1-2, Matthew 16:24-25, Ezekiel 18:31-32, Colossians 2:13-14
Needing a New Heart
Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again.
Psalm 51:10 (CEV)
Nicky Cruz wanted to be bad. He thought if he was the meanest, scariest person, everyone would be afraid of him and then they wouldn’t hurt him. He was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New York City when he was 15. He joined a tough street gang. He often fought and hurt people.
One day, a pastor told Nicky about Jesus. Nicky didn’t understand. It scared him to think about God, so he beat up the man. But the pastor kept coming back.
When Nicky’s best friend died in a fight, Nicky knew he had to change. He needed new thoughts and a new heart. But how could someone like him ever be different?
Again, the pastor told him all about Jesus. If Nicky would ask for forgiveness and let Jesus control his life, God would give him a new heart.
Nicky prayed, and God changed everything. Nicky didn’t want to be bad anymore. God helped him love people and teach them about Jesus. And God can help you, too. He can give you a new heart filled with love for him and others!
HERO TRAINING
Draw a heart on a piece of paper and write your name in it. Pray to God asking him to help you love him and do good. Then decorate this heart and make it beautiful!
GOD’S WONDERFUL WORLD
An octopus has three hearts! (Go ahead and count them!)
Day 6
Scriptures: Psalms 40:3, Psalms 103:10, Matthew 16:25-26, Isaiah 43:25, John 12:24-25
Trading Anger for Joy
…and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you. Many will see this, and they will honor and trust you, the Lord God.
Psalm 40:3 (CEV)
Betty Olsen was always angry. She was so angry people didn’t want to be around her. Why was she so mad? Maybe because her mom died and she had to go to school in Africa, which was so far from her home in America.
Betty wanted to be a missionary—to help others and tell them about Jesus—but people questioned why she was always angry. Finally, a pastor helped her. After a lot of praying and reading the Bible, Betty found the joy that comes only from God.
Betty went to work in a hospital in Vietnam. Sadly, a war was going on and Betty was captured by the enemies. She was treated terribly by the guards. Do you think she got angry at them? Maybe a bit, but she held her temper. People said she was kind even to the guards!
That’s what God can do! He can change an angry person and help them to find a deep joy that changes the way they feel, act, and see life. Do you want that kind of joy today?
HERO TRAINING
Today’s Bible verse talks about singing a new song to God. Do you ever sing to God? Maybe at church or Sunday School… but how about in your everyday life at home? When you are playing outside? When you are cleaning your room? You can sing to God anywhere! Sing a new song to God from your heart today. He will be so glad to hear it!
GOD’S WONDERFUL WORLD
The brown thrasher bird knows the most songs to sing—about one thousand of them! How many songs do you know?
Day 7
Scriptures: Psalms 34:6, Psalms 28:8, Psalms 33:17-18, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Philippians 4:19
When God is on Your Side
I was a nobody, but I prayed, and the Lord saved me from all my troubles.
Psalm 34:6 (CEV)
“Will you help me?” the little girl’s eyes pleaded. Preena had escaped from some bad people, ran away as far as she could through the night, and hid in a church.
This was a long time ago, in a country far away called India. Amy Carmichael, a woman from Ireland, was working at the church. Amy had left her home and family to teach people about Jesus.
When Amy met Preena, she helped keep her safe. She did the same for more children. Amy rescued as many as she could, even disguising herself to find them.
These kids were treated like nobodies. They had no money or power. They needed Amy’s help, and Amy needed the Lord’s help. Every day she prayed for everything she needed—food, clothing, and safety—and God gave them all of it. No one knows how many hundreds of children God helped Amy save.
Amy did this dangerous work because she loved Jesus and people. She saw miracles happen when she obeyed God and asked for his help. Just imagine what amazing things God can help you do for others!
HERO TRAINING
Find a map online and ask your parents to show you Ireland, where Amy was from, and India, where she traveled to tell people about Jesus. Then, pray that God will use you to tell people about Jesus, too, and help them wherever you are!
GOD’S WONDERFUL WORLD
Peacocks live in the wild in India, like turkeys do in America.
Day 8
Scriptures: Psalms 42:8, Psalms 37:4, Psalms 145:19, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 3:20-21
Flying for God
Every day, you are kind, and at night you give me a song as my prayer to you, the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8 (CEV)
When Elizabeth Greene was young, she loved two things: Jesus and flying. She gave her life to God and wanted to tell people everywhere about him. She saved up her money so when she was 16 years old, she could take lessons to learn to fly airplanes.
Oh, how she loved being in the sky! The first time she flew by herself at night, she was bursting with happiness. Over and over in her mind she repeated today’s verse. She felt God’s love in giving her this gift of flying.
Elizabeth went into the Air Force during World War II and learned a lot more about airplanes. After the war, she helped start a new group of missionary pilots. She flew around the world bringing missionaries and their supplies to far-off places where people needed to hear about Jesus. Being able to use her love of flying for Jesus and helping others know about him was the best life she could have imagined.
What do you love to do? You can use it to serve Jesus, too! Pray about how God can help you do that today.
HERO TRAINING
What do you want to do when you grow up and who do you know who does it? Ask your parents to set up a time to call them this week so you can learn more about their job!
GOD’S WONDERFUL WORLD
When the Wright Brothers were designing the first airplane, they studied how turkey vultures soar in the air. This helped them learn how to make airplanes fly.