Today’s Reading:
Read Philemon; Colossians
It’s the season of making lists! Today instead of making a list of all of the things you might want to see under your tree this year, make a list of all of the people you can pray for this season! Spend some time as a family praying for friends and family who might be going through challenging times this holiday season.
Every time Paul wrote a letter, he opened it up by telling the person or group of people he was writing to how he prayed for them. Paul spent time lifting up the needs of his fellow believers and he wanted them to know that.
Paul’s letter to Philemon began with telling Philemon that he always thanked God when he mentioned Philemon in his prayers. He was grateful for the way Philemon showed love to others and how he showed his faith in God.
Paul’s letter to the Colossians also started with a prayer of thanksgiving. (Colossians 1:3-9) Paul thanked God for the Colossians but also asked God to help them grow in their wisdom and knowledge of who Jesus was and what He had done for them.
Application/Prayer:
Challenge each member of your family to choose one person who they will pray for during the Advent Season. Pray for that person each day. Make a card or write a letter that you can share with that person to let them know they are being prayed for. The gift of prayer you give someone is a sweet gift that will mean so much to them!
December Memory Verse:
I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
Using the daily reading prompts from George H. Guthrie’s Read the Bible for Life, here’s how to use this devotional:
- Bring your Bible! Your kids need to see that everything you are reading to them or learning about comes from an actual Bible!
- Each day starts with a reading prompt. Read the selection as a family. If your kids are readers, encourage them to read along with you.
- After you’ve read the passage, read the short devotional thought that goes along with each passage.
- Prayer and application are important any time we read God’s word! After each devotional, there is a challenge to help apply what your family has read that day.
- There is a reading for six days of the week. The last reading of the week is a Gospel Conversation Prompt to help you connect the reading from the week with God’s plan for salvation.
Other Resources:
December memory verse coloring sheet