We don’t need a theology degree to lead well. We don’t even need all the answers. We need to show up for the spiritual growth of our children, and the best way we can do that is by developing regular habits of family devotional time. Here are five quick tips our family is using for a devotional time, and your family can too, not matter busy your days look.
There is no greater job as a Christian parent than leading your child to the Word of God.
We might hesitate because we feel we aren’t qualified. We think we don’t know enough, or worst case, we believe that it’s the job of the church and not the job of the parent.
I didn’t grow up in a family that talked about the Bible or God. There was definitely no family devotional time. I had no example set for what it should look like.
But one day, as my family sat around the table and opened the Bible together, read the passage, and I asked questions from my devotional book, suddenly we were having deep discussion about spiritual things. I was amazed at the questions and conversation that took place with my elementary-aged kids.
Parents are the trainers God has placed in the lives of their children.
There is something in us as parents that wants more for our kids, and if we are gospel-following parents, we want more for our children spiritually. Scripture gives clear directives to us as parents, “train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
There is a race in front of us. It is a race that we cannot physically see. It is a race for their minds, souls, and hearts. The things of the world are in the race as well, so who will get there first?
How to Equip Your Children for a Race Well Run
What we choose to teach in our homes is the first line of defense.
So it begs the question, how on earth do we do that? How do we train them well in the midst of all the other things vying for their time. How do we reach their hearts before the world does?
Here are five quick tips our family is using for a devotional time, and your family can too, not matter busy your days look.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages
1. Decide if It’s Important
Don’t turn away just yet. That statement hurts me as much as it may hurt you. Like most things, we will put first what is important enough to take priority. We do it whether we admit it or not. We make time for what we feel is important. Is discipling your children important to you? If so, then we must make the time.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
2. Choose a Time Most or All of Your Family Is in the Same Place
I know this can be hard to do for most families, but whether it is at the dinner table every night or right before bed, gather the family together for the purpose of opening God’s Word together.
3. Use a Children’s Bible or Devotional if You Need Help
There are many great family devotions out there, we are currently using one from Charles Stanley alongside our storybook Bible. Both of these work across all ages and give us things to talk about together as a family.
4. Pray Together
We are paving the way for our children, we are training them. When we pray together over things that are happening in the world, in our families, with our friends or things that are simply on their hearts, we are teaching them to take things to God first and foremost.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
5. Be Faithful in the Little Things
The little things being your kids. Be faithful to disciple them and lead them to know Christ, teaching them the gospel.
While it may at times feel like an impossible task, it is worth the investment that you are making in your family and the lives of your children. You will begin to see the fruit and watch them grow in Christ. “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
As we are teaching them to grow spiritually and leading them to God’s Word, the greatest thing we can do is lead by example. When they see us read our Bibles daily it will be a witness to them. It will be something they will carry with them.
When they see we are faithful, they will be reminded to also be faithful. When we show up for their spiritual lives and teach them the way to go they will hold fast to the truth that is being sewn into their hearts.
Leading our families spiritually starts with our spiritual walk first.
We don’t need a theology degree to lead well. We don’t even need all the answers. We need to show up for the spiritual growth of our children, and the best way we can do that is by developing regular habits of family devotional time. The time is for prayer, reading the Word, and teaching them how to bring their burdens to God. There is no one better to lead them than you.
Michelle Rabon is helping women be disciples who make disciples. Michelle has her MDiv in Ministry to Women from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently serving as Women’s Ministry Director in her local church. She is also the author of Holy Mess. When she is not writing or teaching, she enjoys reading, being close to the ocean, and drinking a lot of coffee. You can connect with Michelle at www.michellerabon.com
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