How to begin your own family devotions
UNDERSTAND YOUR PURPOSE
- Family devotions are intended to facilitate heart-level spiritual growth. They are not just about getting more knowledge into your head (or the heads of your kids). So your goal in devotions should never be to teach your kids to be perfect little theologians, having all the answers to every questoion, or applying religious formulas for a happy day/life.
- Family devotions are about relationship - between each member of your family and God. Your family devotionals are for the purpose of pointing every one of you, every day, toward God and His purpose for your lives.
That can be done at breakfast, before bed, after dinner - or all of the above. You pick and be consistent.
SOME FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTS
1. Be real
- From your real-life experience (no fakers allowed). You need to demonstrate what an authentic relationship with God looks like, warts, mistakes, and all.
- Be who you are. Don't get over enthused about family devotions just because you want your kids to be excited. Be who you are and let God lead you in the enthusiasm part.
2. Use your Bible
- When you pick up the scriptures, your demonstrating that there's something of value between the covers of that book.
- Makes the scriptures an authority to your kids, not just an irrelevant old book.
3. Be flexible
- Stuff will happen. Phones will ring, burps will happen in the midst of prayers, readers will mispronounce words as they read the scriptures. Roll with it. God is sovereign over all those things and will use them
- Relax.
4. Trust God to use every effort.
Remember that God is in control, and He wants your family close to Him, more than you want them close to Him. He'll handle it. You need to let Him lead.
Next podcast - Doing family devotions when small children are in the mix
Carey does speaking on this and other topics. You can find out more here.
Music used by permission of Adam Rey at www.HeyReyGuitar.com