Seventh-Day Adventist Devotional For Children: “Trust Not Yourself”

*DAILY BREAD – A DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN*

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries

*THEME: I WILL GO*

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

*Topic: Trust not your yourself*

_The Spirit of the Lord entered Samson with great power. Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands. For him it was as easy as tearing apart a young goat. But Samson did not tell his father or mother what he had done” Judges 14:6__

Many assume that Samson was strong because he never cut his hair. That somehow it was his hair that gave him special powers. But the Bible makes it clear that the real source of this strength was God’s Spirit. It was when “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily” that he could kill a lion with his bare hands. He killed Philistines (Judges 15:14-15) and men of Ashkelon because of the Spirit.
Samson seemed to think that he was strong because of his hair (Judges 15:16). But, after Delilah cut his hair, he lost his strength because “the LORD had departed from him.” In his final act, Samson had strength for one moment, but it was God who gave him that strength (Judges 16:20-28). In fact, his hair was a symbol of his commitment to obey God and trust Him.
All of us can be tempted to trust in our own resources and abilities, our relationships and our appearances. Like Samson, we can rely on ourselves and trust in our appearance. But we need to remember to depend on God’s Spirit for everything in our lives: every idea, every skill, every resource. Samson was only powerful when he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord. He used whatever tool was available to accomplish God’s purposes. (Foxes tails, jawbone of a donkey, etc.) It wasn’t the tool that was important; it was God’s power through the Holy Spirit.
Like Samson, we need to realize that the key to our lives is being used by His Spirit. It is when we surrender our lives to His Spirit that He can use us mightily. It is through His Spirit that we have wisdom and understanding, joy and peace, power and authority.
God wants to use all of us that belong to Him. He gives us the power of the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us. We do not have to know everything, or have fancy words for God to use us. If we let Him, he will use us just as we are right now. Do not make the mistake of trusting in your own abilities, talents, or resources. Be filled with the Spirit. Learn to be sensitive to God’s Spirit, depending on Him in every situation you face.

*Song*
Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit,
Bathe my trembling heart and brow;
Fill me with Thy hallowed presence,
Come, O come and fill me now.

*Refrain*
Fill me now, fill me now,
Jesus, come and fill me now.
Fill me with Thy hallowed presence,
Come, O come and fill me now.

*Prayer*
Father, forgive me for trusting in myself and my resources and abilities. I surrender my life to You. Whatever it takes, Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit and any gifting you would be pleased to give me. Empower me to serve You in Jesus’ name. Amen