“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~ Jeremiah 29:11

That passage has always been one of my favorite Bible verses and I believe that it’s never too soon to speak those words into the lives of our children.  They need to know that God has purpose for them and that He’s gifted them to make a difference.  They also need to know that it’s okay to dream big and see where those gifts can take them.  Indeed, God has plans for them!

(I was given complimentary copies of these two products for review purposes.
This post contains affiliate links; please see disclosure for details.)

When I learned that Zondervan has new books to get kids thinking about those plans, you better believe that I was thrilled to have the chance to review a couple of them!

The Plans I Have for You

The Plans I Have for You Devotional and The Plans I Have for You Journal are a part of a new series from Zondervan that encourages kids to think about how God is working in their lives today and how that plays into God’s plans for them in the future.  Written by children’s author Amy Parker and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, the series is encouraging, thought-provoking, and visually stunning.

Also worth noting, the devotional and journal are perfect to use together, but would also be fine to use individually. They definitely have greater impact together though.  The journal takes the scriptures and messages from the devotional readings and helps kids to apply those messages to their lives.

The Plans I Have for You Devotional

The 90-day devotional is fully illustrated and targeted to kids from eight to twelve years-old.  It could be enjoyed by younger kids, though, especially with a parent’s help. My favorite things about the devotional are the incredible illustrations and that daily readings aren’t overwhelming in length or concept.

My son loves that the devotional readings have different formats.  (Side note: the devotionals he’s read in the past have the same basic structure each day: scriptures to read, thoughts about the passage, close with a prayer.) According to him, not knowing what to expect each day made it fun and kept him curious.

When I first flipped through The Plans I Have for You Devotional, I knew this would be a great devotional pick for both of my kids, not just my nine year-old son.  I could’ve easily let him use it on his own, but I also knew that it would be a wonderful way to introduce devotional times to my four year-old daughter.

We did that by incorporating it into our homeschool lunch routine.  My oldest and I took turns reading the daily entry aloud and used it to direct our conversation each day during lunch.  It was a huge blessing to hear both of them share their thoughts on each day’s reading and even spend time praying together.  God was definitely working in their hearts through this devotional!

(If you follow along on Instagram, you may have even caught a glimpse at this daily reading >>> Trust in the Lord)

The Plans I Have for You Journal

As for The Plans I Have for You Journal, it’s also targeted to older kids and does an excellent job in prompting kids to explore their gifts and how they can be used for God.

The Plans I Have for You Journal isn’t just a notebook that matches the devotional.  It’s so much more: it helps with scriptural understanding and encourages life application, all while giving kids a creative outlet for reflection.  It’s truly fantastic!  Why didn’t they make this kind of thing when I was a kid?  I would’ve loved this journal!

The sight of my son curled up in his room with this journal in his lap and pen in hand makes my heart smile.  In fact, when I see the action figures, LEGOs, and art supplies that surround him as he spends this time with God, I find myself in awe of this whole parenting gig.  Knowing that the plans God has for me are intricately connected to the plans God has for him is humbling and exciting at the same time.

Bottom Line: The Plans I Have for You Devotional and The Plans I Have for You Journal have been incredible additions to our daily routines and I absolutely recommend both for anyone looking for devotional books for kids.  I’m so grateful for the truth packed into these pages and the way it’s impacted my kids.  This series is a blessing!

Where to Purchase and Connect

You can purchase all of the items from The Plans I Have for You family from Amazon by clicking the image below, but you can also purchase through Zondervan directly by clicking the following two links: Zondervan’s The Plans I Have for You Devotional and Zondervan’s The Plans I Have for You Journal.

You can connect with Amy Parker through her website, amyparkerbooks.com, and through social media: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram.  You’ll also want to check out all of the great offerings from ZonderKidz, publisher of The Plans I Have for You and many other fantastic resources for Christian kids and parents.  You can find them at zondervan.com/children and on social media: Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / YouTube.