Making God’s Word Part of Family Life 

One of the greatest treasures God entrusts to any man or woman is a child. And no one can quite replace a parent in the life of a child. What are you doing to help your child to know God and His Word? 

Relate God’s Word to Your Family’s Everyday Activities 

To the alert Christian parent, there are endless opportunities to teach God’s truths to children in daily life. In Deuteronomy, God commands parents to incorporate His Word into their daily thinking, speaking, and living, from morning until bedtime. 

Try singing hymns or choruses as you wash dishes. Talk about the things of the Lord as you take the children to and from church or school. When you go for a walk, admire the wonders of God’s Creation and praise Him together. Let children see your faith in God in your responses to day-to-day happenings—a dented fender, a financial crisis, a job promotion, a serious illness.  

Remember, as you answer the many questions children ask each day, as you talk to them about the day‘s events, as you show them how to behave at home, at school, and at play—you are teaching them patterns of thinking, speaking, and acting. Pray that your teaching will always be according to the Word of God.  

Plan Structured Times of Bible Teaching for the Family 

In addition to the informal instruction you may do throughout the day, be sure to set aside definite times to study God’s Word together as a family. When children are small, the best time to gather the family is often in the early evening just before they go to bed. As children become older, they have various time commitments in the evening and the best time could be before or after the evening meal. Whatever time you choose for your family, schedule it regularly and ask God to help you keep to it.  

Keep it short. Many a family worship time has become tedious to children and difficult to maintain because it becomes drawn out. While every family is different, ten to fifteen minutes is a good average worship time length.  Be sensitive to little ones with short attention spans and teens facing hours of homework. Bible reading and prayer are essential. You can add a variety of other elements such as songs, memorization, missionary stories, fun object lessons according to the time available and the particular needs of your family.  

Know that family devotions are not just a box to check off on a list of “this what good Christian families do.” Having family devotions is a way to introduce your children to Christ and potentially lead them to trust in Him as their own Savior from sin. They are also a way to encourage the young believers who are in your home—and believers are to encourage and strengthen each other no matter what their ages. 

You might like to use a devotional book such as the Every Day with God series available through CEFPress.com.