Here is a fun Family Devotional to accompany the movie Moana

In the movie Moana, there are many excellent themes to discuss with your children. Watch this movie together and then use the tools below to have a short devotional.

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether…For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:1-4, 13-14

Moana spends the primary part of the movie trying to return the heart of Te Fiti to her so that the world can grow and flourish once more. She does this against many odds and with the help of some fun sidekicks. In the final push to return the heart, she encounters a monster called Ta Ka. Ta Ka is made of lava and lava rock to create a menacing presence. However, Moana realizes that Ta Ka is what has happened to Te Fiti now that she has lost her heart. Moana looks at her, calls her to herself, and says, “I have crossed the horizon to find you. I know your name. They have stolen the heart from inside you…This is not who you are. I know who you are.” Just like Te Fiti/Ta Ka, we are not who we are meant to be because our heart is broken by sin.

We become a shadow of the person God has made us to be when we allow sin and mistakes to define our choices and our behavior. When we allow those bad choices to change our hearts. But God knows us. He knows you. He knows you at your deepest part and He loves you anyway. In fact, He crossed Heaven and Earth to reach you through His Son, Jesus. Jesus calls you to Himself to find wholeness and to be changed from the inside out.

He looks at you and says, “I know your name. I know who you truly are.” He knows that sin has broken you and He wants to guide you back. If we will let go of the choices and mistakes of the past, allowing God full reign to change and heal our hearts, we can become whole. We can grow into a person after God’s own heart. We can become more like Christ.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139:23-24

Discussion Questions:

1. How does it feel to know that God knows everything about you?

2. What are the areas of your life/heart that you might wish God did not know about?

3. God loves you wherever you are and wants relationship with you. Take this moment to share the Gospel with your children and consider memorizing John 3:16 as a family.