How do you feel today?

Lesson Learned:  God gave us our emotions, and we can pray to Him when we are upset or angry or even happy.

Materials Needed: none

Nehemiah 2:1-6
 ¹ In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, ² so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

   I was very much afraid, ³ but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

 ⁴ The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

   Then I prayed to the God of heaven, ⁵ and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

 ⁶ Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

Talking Points:  Everyone feels angry or sad or happy or fearful at some time.  God gave us these different emotions, or feelings.  When we feel angry or sad or fearful, we can pray to God, like Nehemiah did, to give us courage or make us feel better.

Questions:  How was Nehemiah feeling when we went to talk to the king?  How do you feel today? 

Make different faces at the child, happy faces, sad faces, mad faces, excited faces, etc. and have the child tell you what kind of face it is.

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you’re happy and you know it, shout hurrah!

If you’re happy and you know it, do all 3.