Preparing for the Fast: God Is with Us

Connect

Make a list of about five to ten superheroes that you know. Beside their names, write their superpowers. Then, depending on what their power is and what you know about them, rank them according to who you think is the greatest (#1 being the greatest).

Now, what if we asked superhero #8 if he or she would be willing to swap powers with superhero #1? Do you think this superhero would agree? Most likely yes, because that would mean giving up lesser powers and acquiring new and greater powers.

But what if you asked superhero #1 if he or she would be willing to make the swap and become superhero #8? Do you think this superhero would agree? Most likely not, because that would mean giving up mighty powers in exchange for weaker ones. Right?

It’s the same for all of us. If we were given a choice, no one would be willing to become something or someone that we perceive to be of lower or lesser ability than us.

But did you know that someone willingly did something like that?

Read the Word

Before the world began, there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through him. Nothing was made without him. . . . The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his glory—the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace and truth. JOHN 1:1–3, 14 (ICB)

Most of us are familiar with the phrase “God is with us.” But do you actually believe this? Do you actually know this to be true? God is not a God who is somewhere out there on the fringes of the universe, not involved in our lives. In fact, He has been and still is very much with us, here and now. God has been there since the beginning of everything. The Bible tells us He created all things and you will not see anything that has not been created by God. From the huge planets in the solar system down to the tiniest species—bacteria, amoeba, or any organism unseen to our naked eyes, and even to species that have yet to be discovered by man—all were created by God!

When He created us, He did not leave us to just be. In the Bible, we see His presence in the Old Testament, working through the lives of different men and women. But the best evidence of His presence with us is when He came to earth as a man, Jesus Christ. Can you imagine that?

God, the most powerful of all, came to earth as a baby, who couldn’t do anything except depend on other humans to care for Him and feed Him. He did all of this so He could be with us and save us, because He loves us. (We will learn more about His love later this week.)

Huddle

Parents to Kids

4–6 years old  

• Is God in heaven or here with us on earth?   
• Can He be in heaven and here with us at the same time?

7–12 years old  

• Do you believe God is truly with you even if you don’t see Him? Why?   
• How does knowing that God is with you help you get through tough times?

Kids to Parents   

• Have you ever seen or felt God’s presence? How do you know He is with us?   
• Why is it important to know and believe God is with us?

Even if we have not seen God, we know that He is here with us. We see evidence of it all around us—the sun rises every morning, the moon comes up every night, seasons change, and trees and plants grow. There is much more evidence, but the most enduring one is Jesus Christ, who lived a human life on earth and went through every human emotion. He knows how it is to be human. Today, even if we do not physically see Him, God is with us through the Holy Spirit, who guides and comforts us and leads us to know God more. Truly He is with us!

As we pray and fast this season, may we know God more in different ways.

Pray

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to come live here on earth many, many years ago. Thank You that He is still with us now. Help us to understand this truth and to believe in it. Help us to see Your presence in our lives and to know and love You more. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Discover

Did you know that about 700 years before His birth, God already told the prophet Isaiah about Jesus? In Isaiah 7:14 (NIV), it says:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

It has always been part of God’s plan to be with us by sending Jesus to come! Isn’t that amazing? Let us always carry this truth with us!