As the year winds down we start to think of goals for the following year.
Exercise more, be kind to strangers, pay down debt, plan summer vacation, kick a bad habit, etc.
Reality check:
Many of us NEVER stick to these goals.
We start well. We have good intentions. Rarely do we follow through on these goals in the long term. Some people DO reach their goals. What makes these people the rare 1% goal keepers?
A Plan
Dedication
Discipline
Commitment
Do it daily even when you don’t feel like it.
If you’re a mom or a dad who wants your child to grow up to have a relationship with Jesus there is one important goal we can’t neglect:
Devotions with Kids
This topic has been on my heart for a long time and the Lord impressed it upon my heart to write this.
We all know the verse:
“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6 NKJV
We know it. We can quote it. But do we do it?
Sharing from personal experience:
HAVING DEVOTIONS WITH KIDS IS HARD
Is going to get ice cream hard? No
Is hanging out at the park hard? No
Eating dinner together? Sometimes hard
Devotions are hard because they have eternal value.
Why are they hard practically?
Kids have short attention spans
Parents are short on patience
We have other “stuff” to do
We have places to go people to see etc.
Over the years, in our family we decided to read a short devotion at night with Olivia. She would begin to yawn or seem “checked out” We still read to her, talked about it and then prayed together.
For this year 6th grade, we changed the routine and now have morning devotion and prayer at the breakfast table and then prayer at night. I’m sharing this because it’s important for everyone to learn what works for their own family and for each child.
When we read at night...it was really hard. We were tired, our child was tired and frankly we began to get grumpy.
Are you even listening?
Are you falling asleep?
What did we just talk about?
Let’s pray. To be honest, devotions can feel rushed because you know they have short attention spans and you “gotta” do it but you’re exhausted.
My encouragement: DON’T give up!!!!
Our family decided to switch devotions to the morning because we realized everyone was pretty much checked out at night because Olivia gets home late from dance practice.
Now again, practically speaking, Olivia and Chuck are reading through a few verses every morning in the Gospel of Luke. I’m in the kitchen making lunches and breakfast. Yes I would love to stop what I’m doing and sit with them, but most days I’m listening but also doing “mom stuff” again, we don’t have to be rigid...the Bible says
““Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 7 NKJV
For me, as mom, I talk about the Bible, what God is teaching me, (I also ask Olivia what God is teaching her) in the car... we have so many great devotions and talks in the car, or at bedtime, or in the morning when she comes to me and sees me in the WORD.
The point is this:
Some devotions with children are very structured- like Olivia and Chuck’s weekday morning devotions, but other times, it’s more fluid and comes at various points in the day.
If we treat Jesus and His Word as a “have to” like a chore such as throwing our the trash, it’s not going to be as fruitful compared to if we treat Opening His Word as a “get to” and the delight of our hearts.
These same principles can apply to nieces, nephews, or anyone else who comes into your home.
Reading God’s Word should be both fun and important at the same time.
Kids want you to be “real” with them...
Also, like anything in life it takes practice.
For example:
Whenever we see or hear a paramedic or car accident, we stop our conversation and pray over the situation. I do this in the car.
The other day Olivia initiated the prayer on her own and I was blown away
“She’s getting it!” I realized...
Same goes with arrow prayers.
I always remind her we don’t need to be long winded in our prayers we can pray with our eyes open and lift up an arrow prayer to God for help on a test, help with the kid that acts mean at school, or for God to help someone hurting, even the homeless person you see on a bench.
Olivia mentioned to me that she says “arrow prayers” and I blessed God-
“She’s getting it!” I realized...
Talking with God and doing devotions with children is not a once a day thing-
IT’S A LIFESTYLE
And lives aren’t changed over night...they are changed day by day moment by moment..Little by Little.
Friends- maybe you’re reading this and realize you haven’t been spending time in Gods Word with your child as you should.
Please don’t feel condemned. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, guide you, and put it in your heart to WANT TO read with your child.
Yes, on one hand devotions are a habit, but it’s also a key part of staying close to Jesus and abiding in Him, to bear much fruit.
(John 14)
Use the new living translation or NASB translation to help your kids understand.
If your kids seem distracted or bored, don’t give up! God is working and eventually they will get it and want to learn more about God.
Merry CHRISTmas, Happy New Year and May the LORD help us as families to seek His kingdom first every day!
