Freedom Week Parent Devo 2026 Day 1

Freedom Week is an incredible week!  We are praying for God to do a great and fresh work in the lives of every single junior high student who attends this year.  We have more students attending this year than we did last year, so we know that God is ready to do something amazing!  Our desire is for God to do something amazing in your life this week as well.  We know that it may feel life-giving just not having a junior high student in your house for a few days, but we also know that this may be a hard week for you as you deal with missing your student.  We want you to take a deep breath and just be in the moment.  We want this time to be a time of refreshment, sharpening, and encouragement this week.  Commit to the Lord right now that you’re going to make this time alone with Him a priority over the next several days and let’s see what God does in your heart and life.

The students will be looking at Psalm 139 this week.  It may feel a little weird, but we want to read the last few verses of Psalm 139 to start off our week together.  Psalm 139:23-24- “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  We love the honesty of this prayer, so we want you to start your time off this morning by praying it out loud.  Go ahead and read those verses again out loud as a prayer to God.

“Know my heart.”  “Test my anxious thoughts.”  “See if there is any offensive way in me.”  These are very vulnerable prayers.  Chances are that when you prayed and meant those things, there were probably some things that came to your mind.  Maybe you’ve had an attitude of negativity or an attitude of selfishness lately.  Maybe you’re bitter and are holding a grudge toward another person.  Have you been anxious about things?  Are you worried about things?

Matthew 6:31-34- “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

When you prayed those words in Psalm 139, did any offensive ways come to mind?  Have you been speaking in a way that’s offensive?  Have you done things that could be considered offensive?  This is the real stuff.  This is authenticity with the God who created you and loves you.  As challenging as the prayers we have prayed today have been, we love that the verse ends with encouragement.  The Psalmist asks for God to lead him in the way everlasting.  Let’s start this week off by asking God to lead us.  Let’s follow His lead this week.  His way leads to life, peace, hope, purpose, and fulfillment- - and it always will.  It’s everlasting.  We’re excited to journey alongside you this week.  It’s going to be a good one.

We’re In Your Corner-

The Student Ministry Staff Team