This resource is designed to allow your family to have time in God’s Word BEFORE your children attend church. Because God’s plan is for parents to be the primary spiritual nurturers of their children’s faith, we want YOU to be the one to introduce this part of The Big God Story to them.

Blessing

Did You Know?

For more information about blessing your child see the Blessing section in HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource.

Teachable Moments

For additional support in spiritual parenting and to learn more about creating transforming environments in your home, be sure to pick up HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource from your church or download at HomeFrontMag.com. You can also access the HomeFront app for your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

After reading Scripture, discuss the following together:

Remember Verse for the environment of

God Changes Hearts

Part of The Big God Story

Just for Fun

Younger Kids

Older Kids

2.8

1 Samuel 24—25 While David waits to become king, he faces many challenges. And though he faces some of those challenges confidently, he also encounters some difficult times. So God puts people like Abigail in David’s life to help change his heart before he can make a bad choice. God uses Abigail to change David’s heart so he doesn’t sin. God still changes hearts today!

• WhilehidingtheincavesatEnGedi,DavidhadanopportunitytokillSaul,buthechosetolethimlive.

• DavidreturnedtoworkasashepherdandtookcareofNabal’sflock.

• DavidgotsoangrywithNabalthathewantedtokillNabal.

• GodusedAbigail,Nabal’swife,tochangeDavid’sheartandpreventhimfromsinning.

•Whydidn’tDavidhurtSaulinthecave?

•HowdidGoduseAbigailinDavid’slife?

•WhatareasofyourlifemightGodwanttochange?

RemindyourchildrenthatwhenweenterintoarelationshipwithGod,wereceivetheHolySpirit,

whohasthepowertochangeourhearts.

Yourchild’scircleofinfluenceisconstantlyexpanding.Besuretoencouragepositivefriendshipsandspeaktohimoftenaboutbeingapositiveinfluenceinthelivesofthosearoundhim.

Yourchildmayincreasinglylooktooutsideinfluencestohelpdirectherchoices.RemindherthatGodhasgivenustheBibleandtheHolySpirittohelpusmakerightchoices.

date:

Cutaheartoutofapieceofpaper.Showthehearttoyour

childrenandaskthemwhatitrepresents.SharethatDavid

askedGodtosearchhisheartforanythingthatdidn’t

pleaseHim,saying,“Searchme,OGod,andknowmyheart;

testmeandknowmyanxiousthoughts.Seeifthereisany

offensivewayinme,andleadmeinthewayeverlasting”

(Psalm139:23–24).ReadtogetherthestoryaboutDavid

andAbigailin1 Samuel 25:1–39.Askyourkidsiftheysee

howGodusedAbigailtochangeDavid’sheart.Thenpray

together,thankingGodthatHelovesusenoughtoshowus

ourheartsandchangethemwhenwesubmittoHim.

©2013DavidCCook.TruResourcesaredevelopedinpartnershipwithROCKHARBORChurchandanationalnetworkoffamilyandchildren’sministryleaders.Allrightsreserved.

A blessing to pray over your child:

“(Insertnameofthechild), may God, who has the power to change hearts, open the eyes of your heart. May you know the hope and the plans He has for your life. May you experience the power that comes from believing in Him.”

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

KNOWING