Part Three: Family Worship
A note from Lisa Paugh
“13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:13-17
Families - what do you picture as your “perfect family devotion time?”
Married couples - do you find yourself dreaming of your family studying God’s word and praying together?
Singles - ever thought about it? Pictured it? Imagined yourself praying with your future spouse and kids?
We have all pictured it and dreamed about it and maybe even prayed for it.
I’m here to tell you: it is possible, and it will never be “the perfect dream.” But God, He is bigger than anything we could even dream of. He works through our feeble attempts, our desires to raise our families with Him as the center, and He is there just waiting for us to ask Him for Him to step in and help us. That being said, I’m also here to tell you: It will never be easy. (Seriously though, just come into our home for a few nights, and you’ll see what we mean haha).
When God saved us and transformed our hearts, He never promised this life would magically become easier and smoother. In reality, it may even feel harder in a way, because now we are more sensitive to the world, to our own sin, and to our desire to live for Jesus in a world that pulls us in so many different directions, further from Christ.
Once we decide (as a single, married with no kids, or a growing family) that we are ready to begin a “Family Worship Time”, you better believe everything that can go wrong will go wrong. This is a battlefield, and we always need to be on guard and EXPECT that. We should be anticipating issues, and prepare accordingly.
Ever had kids’ sports games, and the rain came, yet the game continued?
Why? Because the game was important!
Ever had a big party to throw for a friend, and the caterer cancelled, yet the party still happened and you figured it out? Why? Because the party was important!
Ever had a big assignment or work project due, yet your printer failed, and you couldn’t print your presentation, but you made a way to get it done? Why? Because that project was important!
---- Treat this FAMILY WORSHIP TIME as even more sacred, more important, more NEEDED!
Expect struggles, expect kids to misbehave, spouses to have had long days at work, homework needing to be done, house a mess, and projects to finish. But, PUSH THROUGH. Because we can wish and dream and hope for a family who lives to love and serve Jesus, but the only way for Him to make that happen, is to COME TO JESUS together and TRUST / ASK HIM to make it happen.
For our family, having 3 boys and a 1 year old baby girl, it is never smooth (ok, maybe like, once a month, we look at each other in shock because it went well haha). But, if we waited for it to be easy or comfortable or convenient, we would’ve never started, or we would’ve already given up. You wanna know what’s cool about our God, though? Jesus was sent here to be an example of perfection for us, but He knows we can never meet that! Phew! However, He does work through us, as sinful as we are, and still blesses our time together as families and couples and singles.
We try our best, we pray through it all, and we ask God to step in and speak through us.
Also, it is never too late to start. Maybe your kids are older than ours and moved out - start sending them scripture, send them specific prayers you are praying for them, get on your knees for them daily, be an example to them as you live. Maybe they laugh at you at first, but I guarantee, they will remember it and thank you for it.
Maybe your kids are younger than ours, and won’t sit for a devotion or prayer time - put them to bed, and get with your spouse, and pray over them!
Kids still at home, like us? Set a schedule, and make it a time of priority. Make it fun, play music, have them act out Bible stories, and one huge thing we see makes a huge difference - have them prayer for each other, name by name (and get the tissues! Hearing their hearts is the best ever).
Don’t have kids yet? Single or married? Start praying for your future family! Write down prayers, write down dreams, pray boldly. Use this time to serve other families! Deliver meals to families with kids, write letters of encouragement, and find mentors or seasoned families to learn from.
We will all go through storms and different seasons, but this is one of THE most important and vital things we can do for our families. Our time on this earth is so short, and we need to always look at the bigger picture. What do we want to be remembered for, and what do we want our family to be like?
We cannot change our families ourselves, but we need a Savior and a mighty God to do this.
We cannot wish it into existence. Only God can change us and them and our family.
Be prepared for battle, storms, trials. But know that your family has a HOPE.
A few applications to begin now:
Put aside expectations of perfection, or having enough time, or this time being convenient.
Do it anyway. 5 minutes or 45 minutes, God can still work. Pursue Him as a family / couple. Start small, start slow, don’t go from 0-100 the first night.
Find ways to serve together. Write notes to mamas, deliver meals, include your kids in it, pray together for friends, meet needs of others, spend intentional time forgetting what YOU need and focusing on others.
Live out what it means to have an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. Show them what really matters, show them your priorities, make it clear that Jesus runs your home and is the rock of your home. All other ground is sinking sand. He is our ONLY rock.
Fill your life with intentionality. Do not neglect the spiritual care of your family members. Step in, be bold, forget everything else. God will use you, no matter how “seasoned” you are in this.
Don’t wait. Start now. No kids, lots of kids, grown kids, just do something. Be different from the world. In it, but not of it. Your fruits will show the more time you spend in His Word.
Pray. Without ceasing. Over your family. Over their lives, salvation, future families.
Find a mentor or someone you can do this WITH. Ask for resources, ask for tips, ask for devotion books, ask for Bible studies to follow. Husbands and wives, unify and do it together. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help or guidance. You may bless someone ELSE by allowing another person to use their spiritual gifts!
Families - remember, keep it fun. Drop expectations (there will be fighting, crying, arguing, discipline haha). Keep it up moms and dads!!!! They WILL remember these times together, as messy and chaotic as they are. Encourage one another, and remember you are fighting for the same goal - CHRIST as the center.
Couples with no kids - pray together for your future. Your kids will need bold prayers.
Singles - use this time for HIM. Find ways to begin preparing for your future as a family, find accountability in friends, and be available to be used.
Your family is NOT impressed when everything is functioning well in the good times, and you are happy and peaceful.
Your family will see the difference when you go through the tough times, and you don’t crack.
The gospel you preach will THEN become believable, relatable, and REAL.
Satan wants our marriages, our families, our children, our hearts.
We serve a God who is bigger than anything we can face, and He has already conquered it all for us.
Start right now, like, right this minute. Gather your family. Go, do it. Start praying.
He is waiting, open arms, ready to move.
3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.