Shout It Out! – March 31, 2025

Read: Isaiah 12:1-6

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” . . . Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Isaiah 12:1-2,5-6

Shout It Out!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There’s something super special about hearing kids sing to God. When kids sing, they have so much joy and energy, and you can hear them from miles away! It’s one thing when they sing in church or at home, but it’s even more fun when they just can’t help but sing God’s praises out loud, even in public!

In today’s Bible reading, the prophet Isaiah shares a song of praise for God’s love and forgiveness. In verse one, Isaiah talks about how God was angry. Why was God angry? It was because of the people’s sins. Sin is when we do things he really doesn’t like. It’s not what he created us for. So, how is this reading a “song of praise” if God was angry? The praise comes because God saved the people from their sins.

Even though we mess up sometimes, God still loves us. Because of his love, mercy, and grace, he has saved us from our sins. Jesus died on the cross to take away all the wrong things we’ve done. Now, we can say sorry when we mess up and thank God for all the amazing things he has done for us.

The people in the Old Testament sang praises for God saving them from Egypt. In the New Testament, people sang praises for Jesus’ miracles, death, and coming back to life. Today, we can sing praises for all the things Jesus has done for us too! We can shout out, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation!” (Isaiah 12:2).

So, “Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy . . . for great is the Holy One . . .” (Isaiah 12:5-6). Be brave and bold, just like little kids who aren’t afraid to sing loud and proud. The world needs to hear the good news about Jesus, and it’s too good to keep to ourselves. Jesus is the best news ever, so let’s shout it out!

Closing Prayer:

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 576)

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What’s your favorite song to sing about Jesus?
• Can you think of something amazing that God has done?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why do you think God is upset about sin?
• Can you remember a time when you told someone about Jesus who didn’t know him?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Do you feel it’s harder to talk about Jesus to others now that you’re older? Why or why not?
• Are there any Jesus songs you used to sing when you were younger that you really liked? What makes you still want to sing it?