SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN: “Sharpening The Axe”

*DAILY BREAD – A DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN*

EASTERN NIGERIA UNION CONFERENCE CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

*THEME* : I WILL GO

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Topic: Sharpening the Axe

_Early the next morning, Jesus woke and left the house while it was still dark. He went to a place to be alone and pray. Mark 1:35_

Once upon a time there was a very strong woodcutter who asked for a job from a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the working conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought down 18 trees! “Congratulations,” the boss said. “Carry on that way!”. Very motivated with the boss’s words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees.
The third day he tried even harder but could bring 10 trees only. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees. “I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. “When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked. “Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. “I have been very busy trying to cut more trees for you” he said.
Is your life like that woodcutter? So busy that you don’t take time to “sharpen your axe”? In today’s world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy than ever. Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay sharp? If we don’t take time to “sharpen our axe”, then we will all become dull and lose our effectiveness. There’s nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But it doesn’t mean that we get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life, like, spending time with those you love, taking time to read and learn, to stop and smell the roses so to speak, to exercise our bodies and minds, to care for personal life, and of course most importantly….to connect with your best friend, Lord and Savior!
Jesus went to a solitary place…all alone. He prayed. He sought His father’s directions, and then He accomplished His Father’s will….to go to all people in all of the towns. If He had not prayed, He would not have known it was time to move on.
If it was important for Jesus to do this, I think we should as well! So, my challenge for you today is to spend time with the Lord. Quiet, focused, alone time with your Lord and Savior. Jesus did that often!
Find a regularly scheduled solitary place and time…all alone with Jesus. Use the time to pray, to talk and listen to the Lord, to thank Him. Seek His plans and directions for you. Ask for His Peace, strength, purpose, direction, and changes that you need to make….so that you can be the best “you” that you can be. And then make those changes needed to follow His lead in your life… accomplish all that he has equipped you to accomplish…to His Glory!

*Song*
I will early seek the Savior,
I will learn of Him each day;
I will follow in His footsteps,
I will walk the narrow way.

Refrain
For He loves me, yes, He loves me,
Jesus loves me, this I know.
Jesus loves me, died to save me,
This is why I love Him so.

*Prayer*
Lord Jesus, teach me to follow in your footsteps that you may accomplish your plans for my life. Amen