Today’s Reading:
Read Isaiah 36-37; Psalm 76
Remember King Hezekiah? He was the King of Judah who was faithful to God. He was pointing the people back to following God the way Moses had instructed them to. He had restored temple worship and removed the false idols. He was following God’s plan for the Israelites. Today we read that even though King Hezekiah was being faithful to God, Judah still had enemies who did not follow God and who wanted to fight them and take them over.
The King of Assyria, the nation that had taken over Israel (the Northern Kingdom) threatened the people of Juday. Not only did he threaten them, but he also told the people that God would not save them. When King Hezekiah heard this, he was very upset. Instead of acting in anger and attacking the Assyrian king, Hezekiah went to God first. He went to the temple to pray and ask God for help. He also sent for Isaiah. Isaiah had been faithful to give the people God’s message and to let the people know what God’s plan for them was so Hezekiah knew he could trust Isaiah.
Isaiah told the King that God was going to deliver Judah and that He would protect them. King Hezekiah had to trust in God to do what He said he would do. The nation of Assyria was very powerful and it seemed like they could easily overtake Judah. King Hezekiah had to remember that nothing was too difficult for God!
Application/Prayer:
Are you facing a situation that seems hard? It is difficult to always trust that God can do the impossible, isn’t it? The good news is, even though it may be difficult, we can trust that it’s true! Ask God to help you see how He is moving and working in your life. Remember to thank Him for loving you and taking care of you.
July Memory Verse:
“Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.”
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:
July memory verse coloring sheet
July Fill-in the blank activity