Be sure your family’s schedule includes daily time with the Lord.  Family Bible Time, or Devotions, do not need to be long or complicated.  Just do it!

 •  Set aside a regularly scheduled time each day, perhaps while everyone is still at the breakfast or dinner table or before going to bed at night.

 •  You can also read, quote, or meditate on Scripture with your family throughout the day.  For example, read a Psalm at the breakfast table, work on a memory verse after lunch, and have family Devotions with Dad in the evening.

Let God talk to you by reading His Word.  Reading the whole Bible through from cover to cover enables your family to hear God’s complete truth and helps prevent errors in interpretation and understanding.

 •  Teach your children to love and obey the Lord by helping them get to know Him and what He tells them to do in His written Word.

 •  You can read through the Bible each year in about 15 minutes a day – and you can start at any time.  (See schedules.)

 •  Take a few minutes to discuss what you’ve read.  Recall facts, test comprehension by paraphrasing, and make applications.

Most importantly, show your love for God and desire to know Him and respond to His message.  Your attitude will make a life-long impression.

Teach your children to pray.

 •  Explain the ministry of praying for others as well as the comfort of casting our own cares on the Lord in prayer.

 •  Draw up a weekly prayer list or chart to help your family to be faithful in your ministry of prayer.

 •  Pray for political leaders, issues of concern, your family's goals, friends, unsaved people, items of thanksgiving, etc.

Music is a powerful influence in the spiritual lives of our families.  Learn and sing hymns together during family devotions, at mealtimes, in the car, or on special sing nights.

 •  Start by memorizing “Amazing Grace” or your favorite hymn.  Learn a new hymn each month, e.g., “And Can It Be,” "How Great Thou Art," “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” etc.

 •  Look for hymns that contain accurate theology and/or are based on Scripture.

 •  Read the background stories of individual hymns and their authors.  This will make their messages even more meaningful, e.g., “It Is Well with My Soul.”

 •  Explore the online Cyber Hymnal with 5,700 Christian hymns and Gospel songs, including lyrics, scores, background stories, pictures, history, and more.

As soon as your child can read, encourage him to read from God’s Word on his own at a certain time each day.  You could have him read it aloud to you for a while until he establishes the habit.

Sharing with your children what you have learned in your own personal devotions will encourage them as well!  Also teach him to:

 •  Think about what he has read.  Consider asking him to write notes in a journal.  He might look for attributes of God, instructions or good examples to follow, sins to avoid, etc.

 •  Do something about what he has read, such as share the truth with someone or change something in his own life.

 •  Pray.  Thank the Lord for what He has done; ask God for forgiveness; ask Him for what you need and to show you what He wants you to do.

Whatever else you do this school year, bring your family together to meet with the Lord each day!

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You disciple (teach and train) your children through your own example, your daily time together with the Lord, and your behavior throughout the day.

Your child’s salvation, spiritual growth, and right relationships with God and others give him with the inner ability to display the fruits of the Spirit (character qualities we want our children to have) – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

 •  Removing ungodly influences in your home will help furnish an atmosphere for godliness and diminish temptations.  Seek God’s wisdom and help, as this step can require courage!

You might be tempted to think that it is self-serving to teach your children to obey and honor you, but it is for their own benefit.

You do yourself, your children, and their future families a grave disservice if you do not teach and require obedience and respect.

 •  Teach your child what God commands and promises about obeying and honoring their parents.  (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20)

 •  Have your children memorize pertinent verses (see above).

 •  Discuss ways of honoring parents in word, deed, and thought.  (See “For This Is Right” from Doorposts, containing Scripture and questions to help children evaluate their honor and obedience to their parents.)

 •  Establish child discipline and training, with husband and wife in agreement.

See "7 Guidelines for Child Training and Discipline" and "Child Training Resources" in the sidebar at the left.

Be sure to show your love to each of your children (and husband!) every day in tangible ways.  (See “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman.)

 •  Tell them that you love them; leave a note for them under their pillow, etc.

 •  Thank them for something they have done or that you appreciate about them.

 •  Spend one-on-one time with them for a few minutes each day, or a longer time once a week (e.g., errands).  Be sure to listen to your child.

 •  Occasionally give small gifts.

 •  Acts of service define a mother's life, but sometimes a special effort can tell your child that you really love him.

 •  Physical contact, such as hugs, kisses, or pats on the back or shoulder.

A Family Night once a week does a lot to foster parent-child relations and is fun!  (See suggestions in the sidebar at the left.)

A positive atmosphere of mutual love and respect honors the Lord and helps your family grow spiritually.  It also makes teaching and learning more effective.

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