Daniel was faithful to make time to pray even when his life was at stake because of it. How is your prayer life? James 5:16 tells us that the “effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”Take time today to pray about something that needs to be accomplished in your life.
HIGHLIGHTS from the Weekend…
This week your child learned that God wants us to pray only to Him and that He hears and answers our prayers. Daniel was a servant of the king. He was such a great servant that the king planned to set him over the entire kingdom. This angered the other leaders. They tried to find grounds to file charges against Daniel, but could not because he was trustworthy and not corrupt. They knew Daniel worshiped God and prayed to Him at least three times a day, so they devised a plan and asked the king to throw anyone into the lions’ den who did not worship the king. The king made the decree. Even though Daniel knew about the decree, he still went home, got on his knees and prayed, thanking God, just as he had always done before. The men told the king what Daniel was doing and the king was upset.He loved Daniel and did not want him to die in the lions’ den. Since it was the law, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den. The next morning Daniel was still alive, and the king was relieved. Daniel told him that God had sent an angel to close the lions’ mouths. The king was overjoyed and had the men who had accused Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. He issued a new decree telling the people to “fear and reverence the God of Daniel.” (Daniel 6)
Teaching Truth:
- God is our Rescuer
- Only God should be worshipped
Memory Verse
"Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 (NASB)
3 Activities that Help Us Learn This Week's Teaching Truths:
1. Lion Puppet
Help your child make a lion sock puppet. It can be as simple or elaborate as you choose. You can draw the face and hair with a marker, or use yarn and “wiggly eyes.” Talk about how scared Daniel might have been when he had to spend the night with several lions…. not just one! Have your child wear the sock puppet while you retell the story. Every time he hears the word pray or prayer have him quickly close the lion’s mouth. Remind him that God sent an angel to close the mouths of the lions to protect Daniel. Talk with your child about Daniel and how he trusted God using these questions.
- Did Daniel pray to God only when he was afraid or in trouble?
- Did Daniel care more about what the people thought, or about what God thought about him?
- What other men still worshiped God and chose Him over others, even when they knew it might mean death?
- Who shut the lions’ mouths?
- Because Daniel was brave and trusted God, what new law did the king make after Daniel was out of the lions’ den?
2. Lion's Mane
Make a lion’s mane using a paper plate and some construction paper. Cut a circle in the middle of the paper plate the size of your child’s face. Help your child cut stripes of yellow, orange and brown construction paper about an inch wide and six inches long. Using a pencil have your child wrap one end of the strip of paper around it a few times and then take the pencil out, so the paper becomes curly. Do this again until all the strips of paper are curly. Take the other end of the strips and glue them around the outside of the paper plate so it looks like the hair on a lion’s mane. Have your child hold up the plate to his face and pretend to be a lion.
3. Lion's Den
Drape a large dark sheet over a table or several chairs. Have your child go under the table and pretend to be in a lion’s den. You can join him inside, and have him hold up the lion’s mane from the previous activity and roar like a lion. Tell your child that God rescued Daniel from the lions.
Pray
Pray a short, simple prayer thanking God for being our Rescuer. Reflect on the ways He has rescued you and thank Him specifically for each one.