“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
The morning toast hasn’t even popped up and time presses hard. When daily demands begin before the sun rises, how do we as parents integrate faith into the daily regimen of forward motion? How do we begin to show our kids that faith is a real and important daily experience in this whirlwind life? We do it by being intentional and finding ways to integrate it into our dailies. Hundreds of right ways exist to spend time with God, learning His words and ways; but there’s only way to do it wrong, and that’s to not do it at all. Here are a few practical ideas for bringing faith into your and your family’s routine.
Write a Bible verse on a Post-It and stick it to your favorite coffee mug. Before the coffee is poured, read it and then move it onto tomorrow’s mug. Try sticking one on your kids’ cereal spoons and see their eyes light up at finding it each morning. Post-It notes work great on your teens’ phones at night too. It’ll likely be one of the first things they see the next day. A great starting place is Psalm 136:1: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”
Bookend your days in prayer. What better way to fall asleep at night than talking to God? What better way to begin a new day than with the One whose “mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23)? Parents, try bookend prayers for one week then share with your kids how it’s affecting and challenging your perspective. Your influence is powerful!
Have you heard? Podcasts rule. They travel well via phones, bluetooth and computers, making them ideal for integrating faith topics into your dailies. Here are a few to check out: “The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey,” “Mom Struggling Well” and “The Simple Show.” Click over to TheLifePodcast.org to check out my friend and former KC Parent writer Wendy Connelly’s new podcast show, “The Lift.” Her diverse guest list and captivating interviews get two thumbs up!
Before tomorrow’s coffee brews, see what you can do to incorporate faith into your routines. Baby steps become miles too, so start where you are and remember the only way to do it wrong is not to do it at all. God always listens and His Word travels well, so give it one week and see the difference faith can make in the dailies.
Faith & Family writer Jena Meyerpeter is mom to three daughters and wife to one amazing husband of 17 years.