Monday, December 17, 2012

Advent Family Devotions December 17, 2012

Deliver Us From Evil



Opening Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank You for the protection that You have always given us from the evils of this world. Help us to remember that You will continue to protect us.

Scripture:  Psalm 59:1

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil.


Meditation:

     Sometimes people can be very mean. Because they are angry, because they are stronger, because they can get away with it, they try to hurt others. Sometimes we are even tempted to push, shove, slap, or hit someone.  God doesn't like this and commands us not to hurt others but to help them.

     What can we do when others are trying to hurt us?  One thing we can do is get help from our parents or a teacher.  They can usually stop that bad things that others are doing.  But another important thing that we can always do is pray to God for His protection and help.

     King David was a man who had a lot of enemies in his life who were always trying to hurt him. He often prayed to God for His help and protection. One of the most famous stories of his life was when he fought the giant Goliath.  That day he said, "The LORD will deliver you into my hand" (1 Samuel 17.46).

     When we are afraid of evil people, one of the most important things we can do is to pray for God to help us and protect us.

For Discussion:
1.  Talk about a time when you were afraid of a mean person.

2.  How did God help?

Closing Prayer:  Dear Jesus, at Your birth the angels  said, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased" (Luke 2.14).  Continue to bring us that peace and to protect us from evil. Amen.


Hymn:  "Children of the Heavenly Father"

Click here for melody.

Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

   

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