When life gets busy, it can be easy to allow family devotions to fall by the wayside. But regular family devotions offer numerous benefits for both children and parents. Devoting several hours per week provides a foundation of biblical values that will stay with your child throughout life. If you are short on time, commit to ten minutes per day. Here are three reasons why family devotions should be part of your day.
It also allows for meaningful, intentional time together as a family unit. Family devotions help children develop healthy spiritual habits. Consistent participation in family devotions teaches children the importance of regularly studying Scripture and praying and laying the groundwork for personal devotional practices as they grow. We have just what you need.
God’s Word for Families is a wholly Apostolic discipleship tool designed to help your entire family grow in relationship with God and each other. By exploring a biblical passage from Sunday to Saturday, daily ten-minute activities use a variety of teaching styles to engage family members to hear God’s voice. Tap in to God’s plan for your family by committing to daily discipleship with God’s Word for Families.
To see a weekly overview of God’s Word for Families, click here.
2. Bible reading and prayer nurture spiritual growth in children.
Studying and discussing Scripture instill biblical principles in children from a young age, laying a foundation for their faith.
- Model prayer by praying aloud. Then give your children a chance to pray aloud as well. Remind children that prayer is talking to God and listening as well.
- Reading Scripture. We can be unsure about how to present Scripture to children. We’ve made it easy in God’s Word for Families with discussion points, truths about Scripture, fun facts, and a “Did You Know?” section.
If you’d like some guidance to help children learn to pray aloud, use Colleen Clabaugh’s I Can Pray Like That? in conjunction with God’s Word for Families. Each page is filled with fun activities for kids’ prayer time. It includes hands-on activities that will entice children to pray.
3. Family devotions help children to quietly reflect and to hear God’s voice.
The classical biblical story of Samuel is confirmation God ministers and speaks to children. In I Samuel 3, Eli recognized the hand of the Lord on Samuel. Eli instructed and trained Samuel in the ways of the Lord, in hearing the voice of the Lord, and responding accordingly. God wants to speak to children.
In 7 Essentials of Kid’s Prayer by Angie Clark, you will be challenged to discover how God has and still does work through children.
- A word from the Lord came to the young girl who was one of Naaman’s maids and a major miracle resulted.
- A prophetic dream came to young Joseph that ultimately had eternal impact.
- The endless kingdom of David had its beginning when he was a young man, just a “stripling” (I Samuel 17).
This book is a primer for adults to teach essentials of prayer, teaching children to delight in the Lord. It is recorded in Scripture that Jesus cleared space for children. He still welcomes children. We should too. Learn how in 7 Essentials of Kid’s Prayer.
Resources and Links
God’s Word for Families – God’s Word for Families is a wholly Apostolic discipleship tool designed to help your entire family grow in relationship with God and each other. By exploring a biblical passage from Sunday to Saturday, daily ten-minute activities use a variety of teaching styles to engage family members to hear God’s voice. Tap in to God’s plan for your family by committing to daily discipleship with God’s Word for Families.
I Can Pray Like That? – A fun, creative way for kids to pray and journal during their devotion time. The journal is filled with fun and unique ideas and topics that is sure to make prayer time something every child looks forward to.
7 Essentias of Kid’s Prayer – This book encompasses both the dynamic and practical elements that keep the prayer wheels turning. Find out how to train children to hear God’s voice, stay full of the Holy Spirit, worship with power, pray the Word, put Kingdom priorities first, respond to the needs of others, and stay protected.