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With busy families, it can be difficult to make family devotions a priority. But it’s worth it. Research shows that families who engage in regular devotional time have a stronger connection with one another and a greater understanding of the Christian faith.
If you want to make your family closer and inspire faith in your kids, this article will outline the many benefits of family devotions and why they should be a regular part of your family’s life. We’ll also provide examples of different ways you can engage in devotions as a family, even with older kids so you can find the approach that works best for you.
Even younger children can benefit from family devotions. So, if you’re ready to build a stronger, more connected family, read on to discover the power of family devotionals. They’re a great way to establish a family habit that will strengthen your family.
Establishing a habit of family devotions can be tough, with school, work, activities, and appointments. Still, with some creative planning, it is a worthwhile investment in your family’s walk with God.
Teaching your kids about Jesus is one of our greatest responsibilities as parents.
God instructed the Israelites:
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:6–9 (ESV)
God has made it clear in this verse (and others) that we are to teach our children God’s Word.
Here are three benefits of family devotions that, I hope, will encourage you to begin family devotions or to continue this family practice.
Five Benefits of Family Devotions
I’ve listed below just five benefits of family devotions, but I’m pretty sure you could think of even more. The most important thing is that we are following God’s command to:
“Train up a child in the way he should go;
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
1. Family devotions open the door for meaningful discussion with your children.
You are able to take scripture and help your children connect it to their lives or what they are learning in school.
For example, Louis Giglio’s How Great is Our God, is a terrific children’s devotional connecting science to God’s greatness and majesty.
Conversations around behavior, loving others, and science are natural to occur when discussing God’s Word.
2. Family devotions are an investment in your children’s spiritual growth.
By practicing and modeling reading the Bible and praying, you are setting a firm foundation in your child’s spiritual life.
By teaching them that the Bible is a handbook for life, you are helping them uncover God’s truth and how to put it into practice in their everyday lives. Taking the time for daily devotions with your family is an investment that will pay dividends throughout their lives,
His Word shows us just how very much He loves each of us and teaching them how to pray demonstrates that we can go to Our Father for anything at all, no matter how big or small.
3. Family devotions promote connection and unity in families.
Setting aside time and the distractions of this world to focus on God helps families to strengthen connections. This time can also help promote conversation and help us to relate to each other more.
Sharing our hearts, fears, hopes, and prayer requests and helping our children to understand how God loves them and is in control, as well as how His Word applies to their lives, opens up doors to meaningful conversation.
4. Improved Communication Skills
In addition to strengthening family bonds and fostering a sense of belonging, daily family devotions can greatly improve communication skills for all family members. During these dedicated moments, family members have the opportunity to engage in intentional conversations and express their thoughts, feelings, and concerns in a safe and supportive environment.
Family devotions provide a structured space where each person can actively listen and effectively communicate with one another. Through the act of discussing readings, sharing personal reflections, and participating in group activities, individuals learn the art of respectful dialogue, empathetic listening, and effective expression.
These skills are not only essential within the family unit but also transferable to other aspects of life, such as school, work, and personal relationships.
By engaging in meaningful conversations during family devotions, children and adults alike develop their abilities to articulate their thoughts and emotions more coherently.
They learn how to express themselves clearly, ask thoughtful questions, and actively contribute to discussions. These skills are invaluable in nurturing strong interpersonal relationships and building connections beyond the confines of the family.
Moreover, family devotions create a space where individuals feel comfortable sharing their joys, struggles, and aspirations. This open expression of thoughts and emotions fosters trust and authenticity within the family, encouraging everyone to be vulnerable and supportive of one another.
As each family member learns to communicate effectively and truly listen, misunderstandings are reduced, conflicts are resolved more peacefully, and bonds are strengthened.
Ultimately, the improved communication skills gained through regular family devotions create a foundation for healthy relationships built on trust, understanding, and empathy. These skills not only enhance family dynamics but also extend into other areas of life, enabling individuals to better navigate the complexities of the world and establish meaningful connections with others.
By improving communication skills, family devotions lay the groundwork for the next section on “Cultivating a Sense of Gratitude,” where the benefits of these open and honest conversations lead to a deeper appreciation for one another and the world around them.
Encourage your children to make prayer lists of those they would like to pray for and allow them to lead a portion of family prayer time.
5. Cultivating a Sense of Gratitude
By fostering open and honest conversations, family devotions not only improve communication skills but also cultivate a sense of gratitude within family members. As family members engage in discussions about faith, values, and individual experiences, they build a deeper understanding of one another’s perspectives and develop a genuine appreciation for the unique contributions each person brings to the table.
This heightened sense of gratitude extends beyond the immediate family unit and spills over into other aspects of life, allowing individuals to recognize and value the goodness in the world around them.
Through regular family devotions, family members have the opportunity to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe and supportive space. As they listen attentively to one another, they learn to appreciate the different ways in which their family members contribute to their lives.
This practice of active listening and genuine acknowledgment fosters a spirit of gratitude, as family members not only understand the challenges and triumphs experienced by their loved ones but also recognize the efforts and sacrifices made for the collective well-being of the family.
In addition to appreciating the unique qualities of family members, family devotions also encourage gratitude for the blessings and opportunities present in their lives. As they reflect on their faith, family members may express gratitude for the love, guidance, and protection they receive from a higher power.
They may also find themselves appreciating the simple joys and everyday miracles that often go unnoticed in the busyness of life. This shift in perspective towards gratitude enhances family dynamics and strengthens the bonds between family members, creating a harmonious and supportive environment for personal growth and development.
11 Tips For Family Devotion Time
- Read around the table.
Kids are more likely to pay attention without the distractions of a comfy couch or television in sight.
2. Choose the right time.
Consider doing simple family devotions at breakfast or dinnertime when the family is already gathered. It is great for quality family time.
3. Keep it simple.
Focus on just three things: reading, teaching/talking, and praying.
4. Engagement, not entertainment.
While crafts and games are fun, keep it simple (and save yourself the stress of preparation) by encouraging conversation over fun. Having discussion points in your family devotions will help with this.
5. Don’t get discouraged.
Kids wiggle and rarely like to sit still – even teenagers. Don’t be discouraged if your kids don’t sit still, look bored or even act up during devotions. You are establishing long-term habits and an investment in their futures. More will “sink in” than you might expect. Find devotional books that will work for multiple ages, if necessary.
You don’t need to invest in a family devotions book unless you really want to. Simply read from the Bible (Proverbs is a great place to start). You might also choose to use one of the many Bible studies available for families. No matter what you choose, the focus should be on the Word of God. Your children are encouraged to see you doing your own daily Bible reading, as well.
7. Keep it short.
Shoot for 5-10 minutes with great conversation over thirty minutes of frustration. Short devotions will keep your wigglers still over long and complicated ones.
8. God is in control
He will bless your family for your obedience to Him but don’t expect the blessing to come in a certain form. For example, your kids will not start to behave overnight just because you have started family devotions. God’s plan is not always ours.
9. Let Dad take the lead
As spiritual head of household, let Dad lead this time for your family, including any prayer. Of course, there will be times that this isn’t possible (Dad isn’t home or ill or not present), but whenever possible, let Dad take his role of spiritual family leader. Biblically, the father is the head of the household for the whole family.
10. Borrow a book
If you want to try a family devotions book without the extra cost, try checking one out at the library or see if your church has one to lend. It’s a great option for saving money, as well.
11. Incorporate Music.
Consider beginning or ending your family devotion time with worship music for a bit of family fun and meaning.
The Best Family Devotions Books
Best Family Devotions Books
Carefully curated list of family devotions books for families with children of all ages.
Great for kids of all ages. Topics include: Genesis, Moses and Esther, to the birth, life and resurrection of Jesus. 12 weeks of devotions that are both humorous and relatable, each day, you will read a short Bible passage, a thought to consider, questions to get you talking, and simple prayer.
Longer weekend entries also include a suggestion for something to do together as a family.
Incredibly engaging and most certainly fun, these family devotions include object lessons with hands on activities that get your kids doing and talking. Activities include electrocuting a pickle, converting a leaf blower into a toilet paper launcher and even (gasp!) lighting toothpaste on fire.
Your family will look forward to family devotions time!
The Family Bible Devotional: Stories from the Bible to Help Kids and Parents Engage and Love Scripture
The Family Bible Devotional highlights 52 short Bible readings, pairing each with engaging background information and discussion questions. It’s a family devotional that cultivates conversations—one that avoids simplistic answers and instead pulls kids into God’s unfolding, mysterious, beautiful story with all of its twists and turns.
The Bible Is My Best Friend--Family Devotional: 52 Devotions for Families
From best-selling author Sheila Walsh, the Bible Is My Best Friend Family Devotional connects families both to God's Word and to each other. Fifty-two key scriptures form the basis for the devotions, which build on the verses, challenge the family to commit them to memory, and explore how each verse is part of God's wonderful message. "Let's Talk" questions urge the family to discuss what they've learned and offer challenges for different ages of children as well as their parents.
The One Year Book of Josh McDowell’s Family Devotions is a Right From Wrong devotional that reinforces the need for applying the Scriptures to everyday decisions. Each of the 365 readings includes a story situation that deals with a contemporary issue and helps families think through how to make the right choices in a particular situation. At the end of each reading is a helpful feature that encourages families to pray, invites them to discuss the issue further, or gives them a practical task to perform.
Jesus Calling Family Devotional: 100 Devotions for Families to Enjoy Peace in His Presence
Each day offers an adult devotion from Jesus Calling® and a children’s devotional excerpted from Jesus Calling®: 365 Devotions for Kids. With the devotions side by side for children, parents and children can read their own devotion and then read, talk, and pray together. These beloved devotions are based on Scripture and written as though Jesus is speaking directly to you and your children—including enriching questions designed to take you deeper into the Savior's heart for your family.
Each devotion features a “Be Amazed” section with fascinating facts, hands-on activities, and a closing prayer. Based on Louie Giglio’s popular messages “Indescribable” and “How Great Is Our God,” Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God & Science will help kids discover the incredible creation of our indescribable God.
The One Year Family Devotions offers a full year’s worth of delightful stories and relevant Bible passages to boost your family’s devotion time. Since the Scripture verses―taken from the eminently readable New Living Translation―are printed alongside the stories, this book is all you’ll need. It also includes a “How about You?” section to personalize each lesson, a Scripture memory verse, and a handy two- to five-word summary of the day’s message. Families with children ages 6-10 will enjoy the updated look of the first two volumes of this classic devotional book.
The main goal is quality time with your own family while focusing on Jesus and having meaningful time together.
Family devotions are an invaluable exercise in faith and community building. They can bring families together and encourage respect, cooperation, communication, and trust. By taking a few minutes each day to read scripture, participate in shared prayer, and discuss topics relevant to the family, parents can invest in their children’s spiritual development and ensure that their families remain rooted in faith.
In short, family devotions are a fundamental tool for the growth and perpetuation of a strong Christian household.
So, if you’re looking for a way to build an unbreakable bond and strengthen your family’s faith—family devotions are the answer. Take a few moments each day to thank God for the blessings in your life and your family’s lives, and you’ll soon see just how rewarding and transformative this practice can be.
Allow the Holy Spirit to indwell in your family’s Christian life. Spending time together as a family focused on finding Jesus in your everyday life is an important key in raising godly children.
You may enjoy this video on family devotions by Focus on the Family: Growing Closer Through Family Devotions.
Do you enjoy family devotions with your family? How do you carve out time with busy schedules? What are your best tips? Do you have a recommendation for a family devotion book that I may have missed? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
Because of Him,
Sue
ESV – “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
Marcie
Friday 10th of July 2020
What about devotionals for couples? We do not have children, but would like apply some of these same principles. Looking for a devotional that gets us into Scripture and gives us something to talk about.
Susan Nelson
Friday 10th of July 2020
Absolutely! I have a great list here: https://www.womanofnoblecharacter.com/devotions-for-couples/ My husband and I have enjoyed many on the list.
Esther
Monday 9th of December 2019
God bless you, Sue, for this great piece on family devotion. You have really shown how it is an obedient act to the will of God. I am especially encouraged by the part that says even if our child/children act up during devotions, or seem not to be paying attention, we should never be discouraged, but know that more will actually sink in than we thought! And it's a long-term investment. I thank you for emphasizing the aspect of allowing the husband, who is the head of the family to lead. And I believe he can also call for contributions from other family members, if the Lord has opened their eyes to get light from the word bring shared.
Susan Nelson
Tuesday 10th of December 2019
Thank you, Esther! I'm so glad that it blessed you. Devotions are just more seed planting for the Kingdom! Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful and blessed day!