To listen to today’s activity, click here!

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Psalms 37:7.

This verse helps us to stop and ask God to help before we react or respond to something that has happened. It reminds us that He is always with us and wants to help!

For today, we are going to move our bodies while exercising our brains.

We are going to pick one motion such as clapping your hands, doing a jumping jack, or even touching your toes and do it each time you say a word in the verse. So you could do hops, you hop as you say, “Be-still-before-the-Lord-and-wait-patiently-for-him. Psalm 37:7” Then choose another motion and do it again! 

The goal for today is to repeat the verse 5 times to 5 different motions!

Ready, GO!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

James was writing to the early church when he wrote this letter. He is telling them that if any of them lacks wisdom, then they should ask God. God loves to give his children gifts because God is a father who is generous and loves us deeply. He isn’t a father who holds back when people ask. He wants what is best for us. And not only does He give abundantly, He delights in giving to His children.

Many of us ask God for things but doubt He will provide, or we feel bad for asking because we think it is too much. However, there is nothing too much for God and James encourages us to ask. You might be stressed about school and need to ask God for peace and comfort as you start back up after Christmas. There may be tension in your family with the holiday season and you need to ask God for His hand over you. Whatever you need, ask for His help. He loves to provide and watch over us. 

What is one thing you need to ask God for during this Christmas season? 

Knowing that God loves to provide for His children, how does that make you feel?

Think of a friend of yours, write their name down and pray for them during this season. Pray that they too would seek God and the wisdom He provides.

“Grant us wisdom to discern Your will as our longings take shape.”

James 1:5 (ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 

The season of Advent calls us to a posture of active waiting - not merely sitting idle, but diligently seeking God's will for our lives. Picture the wise men out in the fields, their eyes fixed upon the star, carefully discerning its movement across the night sky. They didn't just observe; they followed. They didn't just wait; they pursued. Their journey teaches us that wisdom and discernment are active companions on our spiritual path.

The book of Proverbs reminds us that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (Proverbs 9:10). This sacred wisdom begins with reverence - a holy awe of God that transforms how we see everything else. Like a compass pointing true north, this reverence orients all our desires and decisions toward God's perfect will. Think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who responded to the angel's extraordinary announcement with both wonder and wisdom. She pondered these things in her heart, weighing the magnitude of God's calling against the customs of her culture, the whispers of her heart against the wisdom of the Spirit. Her example teaches us that discernment often requires deep reflection and courageous trust.

As we navigate our days, we too must learn to distinguish between the flickering lights of temporal pleasures and the steady flame of God's eternal purpose. Our world is full of voices competing for our attention, each promising fulfillment and satisfaction. Yet true wisdom knows the difference between the lasting and the fleeting, between the holy and the merely good.

Consider the shepherds in the fields, suddenly confronted with heaven's glory. They had to discern whether to stay with their flocks - their livelihood and responsibility - or to seek out this promised child. Their decision to go to Bethlehem reminds us that wisdom sometimes calls us to let go of our careful plans to embrace God's surprising invitations. Christ invites us to examine our longings closely. Are they shaped by the world's expectations or by the hope that only resides in Him? Do they reflect our own limited understanding or God's expansive vision? Like a master artisan working with clay, the Holy Spirit wants to shape our desires until they reflect the very heart of God.

This transformative work requires both surrender and engagement as we actively seek wisdom through prayer, Scripture, and community, while simultaneously releasing our grip on our own understanding. It's a holy balancing act - we work diligently to discern God's will, yet ultimately trust that He is the one who grants wisdom "generously to all without reproach" (James 1:5).

Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following questions:

James 1:5 (ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 

• What competing voices might you need to quiet in order to hear God's direction more clearly? Where might God be inviting you to trust His wisdom over your own understanding?