There are some things you just have to leave to the professionals. Take the guy juggling three chainsaws I saw recently. There he was, effortlessly flipping them in the air, revving the motor with each grasp of the handle sending the chain spinning at slashing speed.
Would I do that? Uh . . . no! I’ve got guts but I don’t want to see them. I’ll leave chainsaw juggling to the practiced, prepared professional.
Is that how you feel when you consider leading your family in family devotions? Do you fear the results will resemble grabbing chainsaws and flipping them in the air because you’re not a trained professional?
God’s ideas are different.
1) God placed a call on your life for this purpose.
Devotions, Family Worship, whatever you call it will look different from home to home but read Deuteronomy 6. God places the responsibility for imparting the knowledge of himself to children squarely on Dad’s shoulders. We’ve been called. Let’s not respond like Moses and tell God He made a bad choice.
2) God called you so He also equipped you.
Where the Lord guides, He provides. He always gives the grace and the gifts to accomplish what He is asking of you. You have received the Holy Spirit and you have a Bible. Place your trust in God and ask Him to lead you as you strive to be obedient to Him in this area.
3) God never makes a mistake.
He knows you, your shortcomings, insecurities, and failures – just like he knew Moses. Yet, He specifically chose you to be the Dad of the particular children you have. Your children are what God is doing in the world. Rest in His choice and be faithful to what He has called you to do.
The above 3 reasons validate the fact that Dad is indeed the perfect guy to lead family devotions!
Getting Started.
The fear is understandable. Starting out, we men can be deeply insecure in this endeavor. Ladies, we need your support, big time. Dad, pick a time that works for your family and stick with it. Satan thinks this is a very bad idea so, expect opposition in all its creative forms.
I never insisted that my kids join me for family devotions. I just told them Mom and I were going to be reading the Bible and praying at 7am and would love it if they joined us.
Start small – a few verses – and discuss what they mean. You don’t have to preach a sermon on differing views of the End Times. By the way, what’s the weather outside where you live, right now? Do you see the power of a question, even an unrelated one? Use questions about those verses to engage the minds of your children.
You don’t have to build Rome in a day . . . no one ever did. This is a years-long discipleship program. Take the incremental approach. Build each day, precept upon precept, and you’ll find in a few years, your children have a strong foundation.
Openly love your children’s Mom. Seriously, in an article on family devotions? Yes! After all, the supreme purpose of your marriage is to demonstrate to the world (starting with the first disciples God entrusted to you) how Jesus Christ loves the Church. When Dad & Mom love each other, what they have to say to their children is filled with power and authenticity. Love between Dad & Mom, or the lack of it, can never be hid for long from children, regardless of their ages.
You can do it, Dad! You can lead. You were made for this purpose and, it’s not rocket science (or chainsaw juggling!). Open your Bible and tell your children about God.
Why not start today?
Have you had success in leading family devotions? What ideas have worked for you?
Blessings,
LOVE this!
Jenifer
We have loved that the Lord showed us the importance of family devotion time (referred to as Bible time at our home). This is something we didn’t grow up with.
One thing that I have found helpful is to go over the ‘rules’ or expectations for our children. I try to do this daily and am quickly reminded on the days I forget. We also choose 2-3 songs to sing for the whole month (we have 4 children ages 5 and under) which helps them remember the songs.
Thank you for this timely reminder and encouragement.
iam more than blessed. am forWARDING THIS
I definitely agree with Satan attacking a set time – it always seem like whatever time we’ve chosen doesn’t work the next day! Thank you for this encouraging post – for wives and the husbands! 🙂
Blessings,
Nicole @ WKH
Thank you. So helpful