January is full of new beginnings. If you are like me, at the start of the year, I set tons of goals and push to obtain them. Sometimes, I’m successful, and sometimes I am just not. There are times I find, while I start so strong, over time, that enthusiasm fades. Life happens, and what seemed like a grand idea suddenly seems so overwhelming. What starts with good intentions then leaves me feeling discouraged and defeated. Surely you understand my experiences, right? Maybe you have decided to exercise regularly or be more charitable. Maybe your goals involve eating healthy or reading more. Maybe you have spiritual things that you would like to commit to for 2024 such as starting a prayer journal or beginning a family Bible Study.
Have you ever committed to regular family devotions before? I sure have. I got our Bibles and cool highlighters and pens. We set a time and got all of the family on board. By the end of the week, everyone’s schedule was all over the place, let alone focused on this time of stillness with God and each other in our home. If this is you, listen, you are not alone. It happens, right? I even saw a survey recently that said over 700 parents stated one of their top five struggles of parenting is discipling their children.
So, how can we use 2024 as a launching pad to continue teaching our kids to love Jesus and others without carrying a baggage of obligation, fear, and, sometimes, frustration? While I certainly don’t have all of the answers, here are a couple of things I have to remind myself as my family journeys with yours.
WELCOME THE JOY OF BEING MESSY
Navigating the delightful chaos of faith talks and Bible Study is unique for every home. One thing I have found to be true, is that our times of bible study with our families will likely be messy. There will be tough questions that will require honest answers. There may be answers that go like this, “I’m not really sure. I’ll find out and we can talk about it tomorrow.” Or, “I don’t like that either, but I do know God is faithful. Let me tell you how I know…” Allow your kids to be candid and relational as they seek to understand who God is and what His word has to say to us. Be honest as you direct the conversation. Hearing stories of faith from mom and dad often springboard faith for our kids. Embrace the dirty.
WELCOME THE RHYTHM OF CONVERSATION
Kid discipleship is not a checklist of dos and don’ts. Discipleship with our families are ongoing conversations about how our faith works within our everyday life. We can show our kids that when our faith and life intersect, God can, and will, do big things in us. While there is certainly something to be said about a consistent time of Bible study in our homes, we can also take advantage of the sporadic questions of life and struggles of growing up to serve as powerful, learning moments for our kids. Some of the most impactful moments of faith for me have come from a place of challenge or question and such will likely be true for our kids. We give our kids spiritual tools that point to God and His word as they face new things. Embrace the discussion.
WELCOME THE GRACE
This is not a race to finish but a journey to continue. If you do not give yourself grace, you will likely give up. Perfection is not the goal. If you miss a day, try again tomorrow. Don’t focus on the missed day, focus on the next day. This is not a time to feel shame or discouragement. It’s the love of Christ, not a list of rules, that will sustain us. Allow your family to see how God’s love is changing you. Embrace the grace.
As we look to this new year, let us take time to reflect on this past year where God showed up, where He spoke to us in our struggles, strengths, losses, and victories, and where we are still waiting for His timing. Let’s jump into His Word as a family, and enjoy the journey together!
So Will I 