Evidence of God
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Psalm 139: 7-8
One of the most foundational things we can teach our children is an awareness of God in every situation and place they find themselves. This week, we offer two simple ways to build into this practice of finding God in our homes and in our world.
Devotion 1: God at Home
For this devotion, have some sheets of origami paper ready along with your Bible. If you don’t have actual origami paper, make some by folding a top corner down so the upper edge meets the side edge of the sheet, then cut off the excess paper of the bottom–you should have a nice square sheet now!
Read Psalm 139:7-8 and then challenge your children to walk through your house or apartment and talk about what part or area of that room reminds you of God’s presence. Maybe the window, perhaps a bookshelf or a couch?
Go back to the origami paper and make some paper birds to place in each room of your house as reminders of God with you in each space. Here’s a simple link to some instructions on how do make these. Let your children get creative with where they place them and notice them throughout each day as way to remind them that God is indeed with them in all places.
Devotion 2: God in our world
Take a short outing with your children: it can be for a walk in your neighborhood, time at a park, at the beach or in a forest. Bring a small bag for each person and maybe a pad with something to draw with. You can also bring some of your origami paper birds and some string with you.
Before you start your time out, let your children know that you are going to stop a few times to pause of be aware of God with you and you can remember this by either taking something that reminds you of Him or by drawing something that helps you remember this feeling of God with you. You can also hang some paper birds on trees if you want to leave a reminder of God being with you!
As you go, pause 3-4 times and do just that. Ask God to show Himself to you through what you see, what you hear or what you feel. You can also read Psalm 139:7-8 again each time. Let children take a few minutes to find items to place in their bags or stop and draw each time, then continue. Help them hang some of the paper birds if they want to and acknowledge God with them while they do it.
After you’re done with your outing, take a few minutes to review what you each did and how God showed Himself to you. Thank Him that He is always with us and the incredible ways we can find evidence of this truth.
We hope these simple practices are fun and a wonderful opportunity to connect as a family over the beauty and wonder that awareness of God can produce in our lives. May you each be reminded everyday of His faithfulness and goodness.