August 10

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To the Family that Has NO TIME for Family Devotions

By Anna Joy

August 10, 2016


Do you feel like you have no time for family devotions? 

On a recent survey, many of you told me that your biggest struggle with family devotions is a lack of time.

Believe me, I totally get this!

Our schedules are so packed that we often feel like we don’t have time to breathe. When we do get an extra 10 minutes in our day, we either collapse in a semi-comatose state watching T.V. or scrolling through facebook, or we put it into hyper-drive and try to get a little more work done.

Do you feel like you have no time for family devotions? Family devotions doesn't have to take a lot of time, especially when you follow these 5 easy steps.| Path Through the Narrow Gate.com

But, I want to ask you: What is the most important thing that you did today? What is the most important thing on your to-do list tomorrow? Stop for a moment and think about it.

And, by important, I mean IMPORTANT – as in, what would you be happy that you did today if you were to die tomorrow?

As a Christian parent, I believe that introducing my kids to God and His plan of salvation through the pages of the His Holy Word is one of the most IMPORTANT things that I could possibly spend my time doing.

Teaching my kids about God is way more important than carting my kids around to sporting events.

It’s way more important than working at my job.

It’s way more important than keeping my house clean and the laundry folded.

And, when I think about this, I realize that “I’m too busy to have family devotions” is nothing but an excuse.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that you should quit your job so that you can spend an hour each afternoon preparing a 30 minute Bible lesson. I am not suggesting that you should have super long family devotions in the evening, complete with the singing of the Doxology, an altar call, and a salvation testimony from your six year old.

What I am suggesting is spending at least five to ten minutes a day reading and discussing a few verses from the Bible with your family.

Here are five easy ways to make family devotions happen (even if you have very little time!):

Do you feel like you have no time for family devotions? Family devotions doesn't have to take a lot of time, especially when you follow these 5 easy steps.| Path Through the Narrow Gate.com

1. Pick a time.

Look at today’s schedule and write in family devotions for a 10-15 minute slot. Then, do it again for tomorrow.

Aim for a time when your family can be consistent, so that you won’t forget. Some families choose to have family devotions at the breakfast table before the family scatters for the day, or at the dinner table, or before bed. If consistency is impossible, put a reminder for yourself on your phone so that you can make sure family devotions happens each day, even if it happens at different times.

If you do not have 10 minutes in your day to dedicate to family devotions, take this matter to God in prayer. Ask Him what He wants you to let go of so that you can focus on teaching your kids His Words for a few minutes each day.

2. Read a few verses.

Pick a Bible passage or a book of the Bible that you want to read through. Then, when the time for family devotions comes around, gather your family and read a few verses. That’s all. You can do that.

3. Ask questions.

After you have read a few verses, ask your family some questions about the verses. If you have young children, ask them very easy questions, then re-read the verse that the answer is found in. If you have older children, ask them how the characters in these verses may have felt or how the verses can be applied to their own lives.

mother daughter

4. Talk about the passage.

Talk to your kids about how that Bible passage can change your lives. What is God telling you about Himself or about people in that passage? How does God want you to respond or change? Help your kids understand that the Bible is relevant to their lives.

5. Pray.

After you have spent a few minutes reading the Bible and talking about the verses, pray. Thank God for His Word, ask Him to help you apply the passage to each of your lives, and pray for the people that God has laid on your heart that day.

You don’t need a huge amount of time to make family devotions a reality in your home. You can start today – with these five simple steps.

How about you? Do you struggle to make time for family Bible study? Do you have any suggestions or ideas to help others in this? Any questions? I would love to hear from you! Please scroll down to comment.

And, if you liked this post, please help me by sharing it. Scroll down and click on the share bar below. I really appreciate it!

May God bless you!

Would you like to make family devotions even easier? Sign up below for a FREE Bible Study plus an email series to help you start having family Bible study today!

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