INTRODUCTION

AN ANGEL APPEARS TO JOSEPH

Bible Point:

Trust God’s plans.

Key Verse:

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Big Picture:

Rely on the plans that God has for you.

An Angel Appears to Joseph

Isaiah 7:13-14 | Matthew 1:18-25

Sometimes it’s hard to picture what it really means to follow God’s will. You might hear stories of people doing huge, extreme things for their faith, and it can make you wonder if following God always has to mean being uncomfortable or giving up everything you like. The truth is, many teens struggle to believe that God would actually want them to do things they enjoy. But one of the clearest signs of God’s plans for your life is the good and right things you already love doing.

GROWING IN TRUTH

DAILY CHALLENGE

Choose one or more of these Daily Challenges to do this week.

• What’s something you need to trust God for right now? Write it down as a prayer, and pray it every morning or night. Add to it as you discover where God’s leading you each day, and thank God for leading you.

• Talk to a trusted Christian adult or friend. Ask how they see God working in your life right now, and what plans God might be trying to show you.

• Share with a friend how you’re trusting in God right now. Let your friend know that God has plans for them, too. Pray for God’s plan for your friend as well, and ask if you can pray with them after you share.

FAITH JOURNAL

What are some ways God communicates his will and plans to you?

TALK WITH YOUR FAMILY

Ask your family these questions:

• Why is it so important to know God’s will or plan for our lives?

• How vital is it that we follow God’s will and plan for our lives?

Read Romans 12:1–2 with your family, and discuss the following questions:

• How can we offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices?

• How can this help us know and follow God’s will?

Have family members write down some things they would like to know about God’s plans for them. After about five minutes, have family members share what they wrote. Then have family members pray aloud for one another to hear God speaking to them about his plans. Ask family members to share anything they think God is telling them and to keep praying over the next few weeks if they didn’t hear God during this activity.