Trust God for Strength Each Day

Keys for Kids Daily Devotional for December 3, 2006
TITLE: What a Bird
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 40:28-31
THE STORY FOR TODAY:
Alex and Jessie were having a great time on a week-long visit to their grandparents' home. The ground was covered with snow, and the kids would play outside for hours-building snow forts, sliding down the long hill, and tramping through the woods. Then they'd come in and sip hot chocolate in front of the fire.
"Come for a walk with us, Grandpa," they coaxed one day.
Grandpa smiled. "I was just thinking of doing that," he said.
Soon they were off down the road, laughing and talking and occasionally throwing snowballs at each other. Suddenly Grandpa stopped. "Don't move," he said softly. "Look over there!" Alex and Jessie looked in the direction Grandpa was pointing. They saw a huge bird sitting on the branch of a tree. "It's an eagle," Grandpa told them.
"Cool!" Jessie grinned. "We've seen eagles in a zoo, but never out in the open."
Suddenly, with a powerful flap of its wings, the eagle took off over the tree tops. "Look at it go!" exclaimed Alex. "That's one strong bird!"
"It certainly is," agreed Grandpa. With a twinkle in his eye, he added, "You can be strong like that, too."
Alex laughed. "Think so?" he asked. He grinned at his sister. "I don't think Jessie could ever be that strong," he teased her.
Grandpa smiled and quoted a Bible verse. "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles."
Jessie frowned. "I've heard that verse in church, Grandpa," she said. "I'm not sure what it means, but I know it doesn't mean we can fly up in the air."
"That's true," agreed Grandpa, "but the verse gives a picture-a magnificent picture-of the strength God offers us. To 'wait on the Lord' means to trust Him with our lives each day. When we do that, He supplies the strength we need, especially when we face difficult situations."
"And girls can wait on the Lord just as well as boys can, right, Grandpa?" asked Jessie.
Grandpa nodded and smiled. "Absolutely right," he agreed.
MEMORY VERSE:
HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you realize that God can give you strength for each day's activities? Do you live in a tough home situation? Is it hard for you to make friends? Do you have problems at school? Do you need help in witnessing, doing chores, or in some other daily activity? Trust the Lord to help you. He promises to give the strength you need. The next time you see a picture of an eagle, think of God's promise. Then trust Him to help with each situation you face.
THE KEY: Trust God for strength each day