Setting time aside for devotion with the whole family can be one of the most rewarding things you do as a parent. Teaching children to make God a priority can be a lasting lesson they take with them for the rest of their lives. Try these four family-friendly devotions to make your children’s time with God educational, spiritually fulfilling, and fun.
What Does God Say About Art?
Combining art and the word of God is an excellent way to get young children excited about God. Exodus 35 is a great place to start this devotion. God’s people build a tabernacle for the Israelites to gather and worship God. God gives Moses a detailed list of items to put inside the Tabernacle. The Israelites donated all they could to help create the massive tent and courtyard – oil, fabric, jewels, and metals. God then gave Bezalel the skill and wisdom to create artistic designs for the Tabernacle, to create work in “gold, silver, and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts” (Exodus 35:32-33).
This devotion teaches children that even if they don’t have much money or possessions, they can serve the Lord with their unique skills and artistic talents. Ask your children what talents they have that can make God happy. If your children are stumped, download this fun PDF quiz to see what your child’s inner artist is. Your kids will pick what tasks they would rather do on the sheet and find out if they are a “visual artist,” “performance artist,” “literary artist,” or “culinary artist.” Tell your children they are all works of art in God’s eyes – Isaiah 64:8 states that we are the work of God’s hands.
The Washing of the Feet – A Lesson in Humility
This devotion is ideal for teaching children about humility. First, read John 13 aloud with your children. It is the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Jesus surprised His disciples by insisting He wash their feet – in Jesus’ time, washing another person’s feet was a way of serving them. It was Jesus’ way to show His disciples that serving someone else is not a sign of weakness but of love and humility.
Teach your children what humility means – not viewing yourself as better than other people – and then wash each other’s feet as a family. Go to the bathtub or get a bucket of water and some soap. Take turns washing each other’s feet with wash clothes or sponges, and reflect on what Jesus meant by washing his disciples’ feet. Ask your children to come up with ways to serve others.
How to Care for God’s Green Earth
Genesis describes God creating the earth and everything on it – the dirt, plants, sea, and animals. Read Genesis 2:19 with your children, which describes God creating wild animals and living creatures. God asks Adam to be a steward and care for the plants and animals in the Garden of Eden. God has called each of us on Earth to be stewards, too.
Teach your children the importance of caring for God’s planet, such as eliminating wasted water and recycling. Show that even one child can make a difference. For example, turning the water off while brushing your teeth saves about seven gallons of water per day. Ask your children to think of three things they can do daily to help preserve the earth. Being stewards of God’s creation is a very important job every child should do with pride.
God’s Promise of a Future
Children think a lot about what they want to be when they grow up. Jeremiah 29:11 says God has a plan for all of us, and He wants to give us each “hope and a future.” This devotion is excellent for children who want to know how to serve Christ as adults. Tell your children the story of Nate Saint, a famous missionary who wanted nothing more than to be a pilot when he was a kid.
Nate eventually became a commercial pilot for the U.S. Army, but he got an infection in his leg and had to stop. Nate then became aware of the need for missionary aviators. Soon, Nate committed his life to working as a missionary with “God’s Army.” In dedicating his life to Christ, Nate achieved his dream of becoming a pilot and so much more. Ask your children what they want to be when they grow up, and let them know that God has a plan for everyone.
With the right family-friendly devotions, you can instill God-centered values and morals in your children early on.
