A LITGen Special Edition Devo:
A Note For Parents:
Each devotional is designed to be read aloud to your child. The language is simple, visual, and interactive. Pause at the questions and let your child respond freely. There are no wrong answers. The goal is not comprehension of theology but the planting of a seed that God made them for something wonderful. Each day includes a simple activity to make the idea tangible for little hands and big imaginations.
Day 1: God Sees Inside
Read Together:
Ezekiel 37:1-3
Devotional:
Have you ever seen a flower that looked pretty on the outside but when you touched it, it was dry and crinkly?
Sometimes things can look okay on the outside but feel different on the inside.
God knows the difference. God took His friend Ezekiel to a big valley. In that valley there were lots and lots of bones. Dry bones. They used to be people who were alive. But now they were just dry and quiet.
God showed Ezekiel those bones because He had a plan. He wanted to do something amazing. But first He needed Ezekiel to really see what was there.
God is like that with us too. He always sees what is really going on inside of us. Even when we feel quiet or sad or empty inside, God sees it and He has a plan.
You never have to hide how you feel from God. He already knows and He loves you anyway.
Talk About It:
"Can you tell me about a time you felt sad or quiet inside? Did you know God could see that and still loved you?"
Simple Activity: Draw a picture of a flower together. On the outside make it look pretty. On the inside write or draw something that represents how we sometimes feel on the inside, like tired, sad, or empty. Then draw the sun shining on it and talk about how God's love is like sunshine that helps things come alive again.
Devotional:
Have you ever seen a flower that looked pretty on the outside but when you touched it, it was dry and crinkly?
Sometimes things can look okay on the outside but feel different on the inside.
God knows the difference. God took His friend Ezekiel to a big valley. In that valley there were lots and lots of bones. Dry bones. They used to be people who were alive. But now they were just dry and quiet.
God showed Ezekiel those bones because He had a plan. He wanted to do something amazing. But first He needed Ezekiel to really see what was there.
God is like that with us too. He always sees what is really going on inside of us. Even when we feel quiet or sad or empty inside, God sees it and He has a plan.
You never have to hide how you feel from God. He already knows and He loves you anyway.
Talk About It:
"Can you tell me about a time you felt sad or quiet inside? Did you know God could see that and still loved you?"
Simple Activity: Draw a picture of a flower together. On the outside make it look pretty. On the inside write or draw something that represents how we sometimes feel on the inside, like tired, sad, or empty. Then draw the sun shining on it and talk about how God's love is like sunshine that helps things come alive again.
Day 2: You Were Made for Something Amazing
Read Together:
Ezekiel 37:11-14
Devotional:
Have you ever built something with blocks and then it fell down?
Maybe you worked really hard on it. Maybe it looked so good. And then, crash.
That is kind of how God's people felt in our story. They said everything is gone and we have no hope.
But here is the most important thing.
God did not agree with them.
Just because something falls down does not mean it is finished. Just because something feels broken does not mean it cannot be fixed.
God looked at those dry bones and saw something nobody else could see. He saw what they were built for.
And God looks at you the same way.
When you feel sad. When things feel hard. When you feel like you cannot do anything right, God sees what He made you for. And what He made you for is something so wonderful.
He made you to be filled with His breath. His life. His love.
The valley was not the end of the story. And your hard days are not the end of your story either.
Talk About It:
"What do you think God made you for? What makes you feel most alive and happy?"
Simple Activity: Build something together with blocks or pillows. Let it fall down. Then build it back up together and talk about how God always helps us get back up and makes us even better than before.
Devotional:
Have you ever built something with blocks and then it fell down?
Maybe you worked really hard on it. Maybe it looked so good. And then, crash.
That is kind of how God's people felt in our story. They said everything is gone and we have no hope.
But here is the most important thing.
God did not agree with them.
Just because something falls down does not mean it is finished. Just because something feels broken does not mean it cannot be fixed.
God looked at those dry bones and saw something nobody else could see. He saw what they were built for.
And God looks at you the same way.
When you feel sad. When things feel hard. When you feel like you cannot do anything right, God sees what He made you for. And what He made you for is something so wonderful.
He made you to be filled with His breath. His life. His love.
The valley was not the end of the story. And your hard days are not the end of your story either.
Talk About It:
"What do you think God made you for? What makes you feel most alive and happy?"
Simple Activity: Build something together with blocks or pillows. Let it fall down. Then build it back up together and talk about how God always helps us get back up and makes us even better than before.
Day 3: Words are Powerful
Read Together: Ezekiel 37:4-6
Devotional:
Did you know that words are powerful?
When someone says "I love you" it makes your heart feel warm right?
When someone says something mean it can make your heart feel sad.
Words do things.
God told His friend Ezekiel to do something really really strange. He said, talk to the bones.
Can you imagine? Talking to bones!
But Ezekiel obeyed God. He said exactly what God told him to say. And something amazing happened. The bones started moving!
The words worked!
God wants us to know that when we say what He says, amazing things can happen. When we feel scared we can say "God is with me." When we feel sad we can say "God loves me." When things feel impossible we can say "God can do anything."
Those words are like seeds. And when we plant them something begins to grow.
Talk About It:
"What is one thing you can say when you feel scared or sad? Let's practice saying it together right now."
Simple Activity: Write three simple declarations on sticky notes together:
Devotional:
Did you know that words are powerful?
When someone says "I love you" it makes your heart feel warm right?
When someone says something mean it can make your heart feel sad.
Words do things.
God told His friend Ezekiel to do something really really strange. He said, talk to the bones.
Can you imagine? Talking to bones!
But Ezekiel obeyed God. He said exactly what God told him to say. And something amazing happened. The bones started moving!
The words worked!
God wants us to know that when we say what He says, amazing things can happen. When we feel scared we can say "God is with me." When we feel sad we can say "God loves me." When things feel impossible we can say "God can do anything."
Those words are like seeds. And when we plant them something begins to grow.
Talk About It:
"What is one thing you can say when you feel scared or sad? Let's practice saying it together right now."
Simple Activity: Write three simple declarations on sticky notes together:
- "God loves me"
- "God is with me"
- "God made me for great things"
Day 4: Almost Isn't Finished
Read Together:
Ezekiel 37:7-10
Devotional:
Have you ever been doing a puzzle and got almost all the pieces in but one piece was still missing?
It looks almost finished. But almost finished is not the same as finished right?
In our story today something amazing happened. The bones started coming together. The body started forming. Legs and arms and skin all appeared.
It looked finished.
But God said, not yet. Something is still missing.
Breath.
Without breath the body was still just bones with skin on it. It looked alive but it was not alive yet.
That is why God did not stop. He kept going until the breath came in. And when the breath came in, everything came to life!
God never stops at almost. He always finishes what He starts.
And He is not finished with you yet either. He keeps working on you and filling you up until you have everything He made you to have.
Talk About It:
"Can you think of something you started but did not finish? How did it feel when you finally finished it?"
Simple Activity: Do a simple puzzle together. When you get to the last piece, pause before putting it in. Talk about how that last piece is like the breath of God. It is what makes everything complete. Then put the last piece in together and celebrate!
Devotional:
Have you ever been doing a puzzle and got almost all the pieces in but one piece was still missing?
It looks almost finished. But almost finished is not the same as finished right?
In our story today something amazing happened. The bones started coming together. The body started forming. Legs and arms and skin all appeared.
It looked finished.
But God said, not yet. Something is still missing.
Breath.
Without breath the body was still just bones with skin on it. It looked alive but it was not alive yet.
That is why God did not stop. He kept going until the breath came in. And when the breath came in, everything came to life!
God never stops at almost. He always finishes what He starts.
And He is not finished with you yet either. He keeps working on you and filling you up until you have everything He made you to have.
Talk About It:
"Can you think of something you started but did not finish? How did it feel when you finally finished it?"
Simple Activity: Do a simple puzzle together. When you get to the last piece, pause before putting it in. Talk about how that last piece is like the breath of God. It is what makes everything complete. Then put the last piece in together and celebrate!
Day 5: You Were Built for Breath
Read Together:
Acts 2:1-4
Devotional:
Remember our story about the dry bones?
God breathed on them and they came alive. A whole valley full of dry bones stood up and became a great big army!
Well, something even more amazing happened a long time after that.
Jesus went back to heaven. And He promised His friends that He would send someone to be with them. A helper. A comforter. God's very own Spirit.
And one day, while all of Jesus' friends were together in a room, something happened.
A sound like a big rushing wind filled the whole house.
And God's Spirit, His breath, filled every single one of them.
They went from scared and hiding to brave and bold.
Because that is what God's breath does.
It changes everything.
And you know what? That same breath, God's Holy Spirit, wants to live inside of you.
You were built for it. You were made for it. God designed you to be filled with His life, His love, and His power.
Talk About It:
"Did you know God's Spirit wants to live inside you? How does that make you feel?"
Simple Activity: Blow bubbles together. Watch them float and shine. Talk about how God's breath is even more beautiful and powerful than bubbles. When His Spirit fills us we become like lights that shine for everyone to see.
Devotional:
Remember our story about the dry bones?
God breathed on them and they came alive. A whole valley full of dry bones stood up and became a great big army!
Well, something even more amazing happened a long time after that.
Jesus went back to heaven. And He promised His friends that He would send someone to be with them. A helper. A comforter. God's very own Spirit.
And one day, while all of Jesus' friends were together in a room, something happened.
A sound like a big rushing wind filled the whole house.
And God's Spirit, His breath, filled every single one of them.
They went from scared and hiding to brave and bold.
Because that is what God's breath does.
It changes everything.
And you know what? That same breath, God's Holy Spirit, wants to live inside of you.
You were built for it. You were made for it. God designed you to be filled with His life, His love, and His power.
Talk About It:
"Did you know God's Spirit wants to live inside you? How does that make you feel?"
Simple Activity: Blow bubbles together. Watch them float and shine. Talk about how God's breath is even more beautiful and powerful than bubbles. When His Spirit fills us we become like lights that shine for everyone to see.