Kid’s Prayer Devotional July & August Dear Nova Kid, Did you know that our church is getting ready for some exciting changes? We want our campus to be even more welcoming to visitors and members of our community, and so we want to do things like build a brand new playground. You are an important part of Nova's family, and we want you to take responsibility for the building project, just like the adults in the church. If you trust in Jesus, then you are his disciple. This devotional booklet you are holding is a tool that our writing team has created to help you to grow as a disciple. Each day you will read some Bible verses with thoughts and questions to think about and discuss with your family, and also a short prayer that you can use to begin your own prayers. Now I want to tell you a secret: kids are usually way better than parents at remembering to read the Bible and pray. You can help your parents grow as Jesus' disciples by reminding them to discuss the devotional booklet with you each night before bed or at another time of day that is convenient. Thanks for being part of the Nova family! Amy Martin, Open Campaign Prayer Chair Open Eyes July 17 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." (John 4:34-38) Can you picture your friends, family members, neighbors or classmates like plants standing in the field, waiting for the farmer to pick them? It’s kind of funny, isn’t it? But Jesus wants us to know that some of the people around us are ready to hear about God’s free gift of eternal life, and it is up to us to tell them about it. When Jesus told his disciples to open their eyes, he meant that they should open their spiritual eyes, or what we sometimes call the eyes of the heart. Are the eyes of your heart open? Lord, help the eyes of my heart to be open so that I can see my friends and family the way you see them. --Amy Martin Open witness July 18 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:2-6) Think of three of friends who don’t know Jesus. What are their names? The best way to be their best friend is to pray for them that they would one day know Jesus. Every time you see them, pray for them and watch to see what God does in their lives! God, lead (insert the name of my friend) to know Jesus as their Savior. --Dean Mayeda Open campus July 19 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15) Pop! The lights go black! I’m caught outside in the dark! I take a step and hear Crash! I stand still, afraid to move. Finally, the clouds move, the full moon lights up my backyard, and I find my way safely home. Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, Jesus wants each of us to reflect His Light in all we do so people around us can find Him! Today, ask yourself, “Am I reflecting Jesus’ Light?” Jesus, help me to shine your light to people I meet today. --Rick D’Amico Open hands July 20 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) The reason God made us and blesses us is because He is very happy and He wants to share His happiness with us. And God wants us to act that way towards other people. That’s why Jesus said that it is even better to give than to receive. We spread our happiness to others when we joyfully give to them. The cool thing is that we can even bring joy to God by cheerfully giving money to His Kingdom. In your mind, what does a cheerful giver look like? Why should we give cheerfully? What are some ways we can give to God’s Kingdom? Dear LORD, thank you for loving us and taking care of us. You have given us so much, including your Only Son. Help us to love people and to learn how to give with a cheerful heart. We love you LORD. Amen --Dave Martin Open heaven July 21 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." (Malachi 3:10) You can’t outgive God. As you give freely to Him, He will give even more back to you. God even says to test and see if this is true. But why does God want our money? He wants us to be people who love to make other people happy (including Him) by giving cheerfully and generously. Why do your parents like to receive gifts from you? Because your gift shows your love. The more effort and money you put into the gift, the more love it shows. So give generously to God, knowing that He has already given many good gifts to you and will continue to do so. God, help me to be a cheerful and generous giver, just like you. --Dave Martin Open ears July 24 "Without prophetic vision people run wild, but blessed are those who follow God's teachings.” (Proverbs 29:18) Have you ever played Follow-the-Leader? If you are not the leader, are you allowed to make up your own moves? What if everyone suddenly stopped following the leader and started running wildly around? It might be fun, but you would no longer be playing the same game. God gives leaders to the church so they can listen to him and share the ideas God gives them with everyone else. Are you happy to listen to your leaders at church, or do your heart and mind sometimes like to “run wild”? Lord, help my heart and mind to happily follow the leaders you have given to Nova. --Amy Martin Open mind July 25 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. (Acts 9:10-19) Later in the book of Acts, we learn that Saul’s name is changed to Paul. He is the same person who wrote books of the Bible and told lots of people about Jesus. But in this story, Paul doesn’t really know Jesus yet, so God chooses someone to go and help him. Ananias knows Jesus. Even though he is afraid, Ananias listens to God and goes to pray for Paul and teaches him more about Jesus. God can also use you to tell others about Jesus. And who knows, maybe one of those people will end up being a missionary like Paul! Lord, help me to be brave like Ananias and tell people about who you are.