Two-Minute Devotionals: Teaching Kids Compassion and Confidence

My kids and I love doing “two-minute devotions” around the breakfast table before school. While they are eating breakfast, I grab my Bible and we all discuss a scripture for a few minutes. We don’t do these devotions every day, but when we do, we all leave for school and work more focused on God, and more connected to each other. I try to keep these devotions super simple, limited to one scripture and one basic thought that we can all carry with us throughout the day.

Here are three two-minute devotions on the topics of confidence and compassion:

1. The Eye in the Sky

Are your kids having trouble with something—friend problems, test anxiety, a situation at school they don’t know how to handle? Encourage them with 2 Chronicles 16:9: “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” What an encouragement! What an image! I can almost picture God putting big binoculars on, stationing himself high in the sky, and scanning the earth to spot all the people who love him and need his help. And then when he finds them—in their classrooms, in their homes, on the playground—he gives them strength and wisdom to help them serve him, do right, and find joy. With younger kids, you can have a lot of fun with this idea: Where are some of the places you want God to watch over you during the day? Do you think God sees you when you eat your snack? Put on your socks? Spill your juice? Share with a friend? When my kids and I discussed this passage, they all left for school walking tall and smiling big, confident that God’s eyes were upon them.

Finish Strong

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

Gabriela "Gaby" Andersen-Schiess ran in the women’s marathon in the 1984 Olympics. Twenty minutes after the winner, Joan Benoit, crossed the finish line, Gaby staggered into the stadium. The crowd gasped in horror and disbelief when they saw her. Something was evidently wrong—badly wrong.

Gaby’s body was twisted, her left arm hung limp, and her right leg was seized. Realizing that she was in the throes of heat exhaustion, the medical personnel started out on the track to offer her assistance. To everyone’s dismay, she waved them off, knowing that if they touched her, she would be disqualified from the race—a race that seemed impossible for her to finish.

After an excruciating 5 minute 44 second final lap, she fell across the finish line and received medical help. Thankfully within a couple of hours, she was revived and doing well.

The apostle Paul was fond of racing metaphors when he spoke of the need to persevere in our faith and commitment to Jesus, no matter what difficulties we may face—physically, emotionally, spiritually.