The #1 question I hear from parents when we travel to homeschool conventions isn’t about homeschooling at all. In fact, the thing that everyone wants to know is… do you have any tips or tricks for devotions for kids?
What they are really asking is how can I help my children foster their OWN faith? How can I encourage them to cultivate a habit of spending time with the Lord?
In a society where more than 66% of young people are walking away from the church, we want to know the answer. No, we NEED to know that answer. Their very lives depend on it.
I absolutely love talking about this subject. Not because I am a perfect parent or claim to know all of the great theological answers in life, but because I personally overcame that 66% statistic and I love sharing my story with parents.
Despite growing up in the church (sitting in the pews three times a week and attending nearly every function), by late high school I had little to do with Christianity. In fact, I spent nearly 10 years completely doing my own thing with little regard for what God thought about it.
My desperation to fill that God-sized hole in my heart drove me to poor decisions that ended in an abusive relationship, a broken family, and shattered dreams.
That’s why this topic is so dear to my heart. I don’t want my kids to walk that same path. I don’t want ANYONE’S kids to become the same statistic that I became. So I must share the secret with anyone I meet.
The big secret to devotions for kids
The one thing that will keep our kids from becoming a statistic and walking away from the faith ===> God’s Word.
No, I don’t mean we need a few more Bibles holding up the other books on the shelf. I mean that if we want our kids to have authentic faith, they will need to develop THEIR OWN love for His Word. They will need THEIR OWN daily habit of spending time in it. Period. There’s no other way to own your faith.
Not really such a big secret, huh? But think about it. Kids who walk away from the faith do so because they never made it their own. It was always something that someone else wanted them to do. We sometimes miss this in kids like me–the pleaser.
As long as I did everything right on the outside, that’s all anyone really cared about. No one knew that I had no real faith of my own. Honestly, I didn’t even know. I just did what I thought would make me look good on the outside to make others in my life happy or proud.
The only way to keep this from happening is to help kids know God’s truth in a way that changes them. We need to give them the tools they must have to develop a daily quiet time they actually WANT to have.
So today, I’d like to share with you my tips and tricks for helping your kids develop authentic faith through devotions.
Devotions for kids: 3 things every child should be taught
1. A daily devotion is not an obligation, nor does it bear guilt.
Nothing will squelch your desire for the Lord faster than a bunch of rules and regulations. We are not obligated to God. He doesn’t force a relationship with us.
So often kids growing up in church are taught “good Christians have a devotion time in the morning.” They are told devotions are the right thing to do.
I’m not saying that’s wrong, I’m saying it’s not enough. Kids should be taught that spending time with God is a privilege we should enjoy. He wants us to desire this relationship with Him–that’s true salvation. Nothing else. Which brings me to my next point.
2. If I love the Lord with all my heart, I will WANT to spend time with Him.
Pardon me while I step on your toes in love. But it really is true. If we love the Lord, He is the first priority in our lives and in our day. Not food, sleep, family, friends, jobs, or whatever else we let get in the way.
Trust me, I know how difficult it is to shuffle the daily tasks and make them all fit in the box of a 24-hour day, but if we truly understand the breadth of what Jesus has done for us, how can we not want to be with Him more than anything else?
In my own life, I have often found that I don’t want to spend time with God when I become wrapped up in something other than Him. Christianity is a heart (not a head) relationship. We cannot afford for our kids to miss that truth.
3. If the day doesn’t start with Jesus, it’s difficult to be on the right path.
Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek FIRST the kingdom of God. FIRST means before checking off the to-do list. If God is first, my agenda doesn’t come before Him.
But more important than that is Proverbs 3:5-6. You probably have this one memorized. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will…”
Can you finish it? That’s right–He will make your paths straight. One day I finally realized that my day was never EVER going to go the way I intended. There would always be distractions, unexpected drama, and possibly even pain.
I am not equipped to do this world without God. So how can I possibly go into the day without His guidance? The best possible gift we can give our kids is to help them understand this one thing.
Devotions for Kids: Practical Training
Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for truths our kids must know about devotional time with God, it’s time to get into the step-by-step methods of training them.
Training the Little Ones
It will never be too early to develop a good habit. Believe me, I know it is hard to keep the attention span of those little guys and I know that the resources are limited. However, I think it is crucial to be modeling and practicing a personal time of devotion long before it becomes a habit that you need to keep up on your own.
Currently, in my house, I have my own personal quiet time before anyone gets up. As soon as my boys (ages four and seven) are awake, we have a short devotional time together. The format is very simple.
We say good morning to the Lord through a quick 1-2 sentence prayer. Then we read a short passage or complete an age-appropriate Bible study like Obey or Leading Little Ones to God.
We finish by each taking a turn to pray. Depending on attention span, this time generally lasts between 10-15 minutes.
It’s short and sweet but crucial to their development. This is the time when I have the opportunity to speak into their lives and point them to God’s truth as a solution to their wants, needs, and problems.
I really make an effort for this to happen as much as humanly possible because I know the days pass quickly and they will soon not put as much value on my teaching as they do now.
The middle ground: Family Devotion Time
The second component of our time in the Word is our family devotion time. The boys and I come together in the kitchen and meet up with my older girls (ages 13 and 14). The girls have completed their quiet times in their rooms (see more about this below).
We typically do this five days a week. The key to making this happen for our family was to stop being so legalistic about it. I found that if I dropped my expectations of the “perfect” family devotion, we were much more likely to do it.
Five minutes of time spent talking about God is better than zero. It’s a simple concept, but we often miss it. I used to aim for 20-30 minutes of devoted time only to fall flat every single time. Week after week I would try again and find that it just wouldn’t happen. Now, we simply take whatever time we can and it’s much more consistent.
We use our family devotion time to accomplish two things: discussion of what we have learned in our personal devotions, and family prayer. I don’t actually do a separate “devotion” during this time. This helps us have more time for quality discussion and prayer.
I love keeping a family prayer journal so we can always remember what God has done for us. It’s a blessing to look back on all of those answered prayers!
Often, each age group studies the same topic in our quiet time so the discussion is on the same topic, but it doesn’t have to be that way. (All of the Bible studies that I have written are designed for this type of set-up if desired.)
If you find your older kids have more in-depth things to say, perhaps allow the younger ones to be dismissed if their attention span has been maxed. The goal is not to keep them forever, it’s to plant the seed. This way we can still plant the seed without squelching the discussion of the older children.
Transitioning to Independent Quiet Time
Of course, there is no set age for when children should start taking ownership of their quiet time. I look for a few prerequisites. First, I think the child should be a strong reader and writer.
In my humble education-major opinion, I think that doesn’t happen for anyone before 3rd grade. There is simply too much skill-building and maturing going on, even if the child can sound out the words in The Chronicles of Narnia at age six.
The second thing I look for is a strong level of responsibility. In order to take control of their own quiet time, the child is going to need self-discipline. Are they completing chores without being asked? Taking ownership of school subjects? Coaching younger siblings? These are all great indicators.
The third factor should be spiritual maturity. Has the child professed a personal belief in Christ, been baptized, and/or shown an interest in deeper spiritual things? If not, I say wait on the quiet time and work on discipleship.
Remember, we aren’t looking for a fake faith here. We don’t want to just give them one more task to check off in order to please us.
If a child shows much of those three elements, it’s time to introduce them to devotions for kids on their own, but I think there is a RIGHT WAY to do it. Just remember, we are not going to just throw them the book and make it a new daily requirement. (Remember, this is NOT an obligation.)
Go slow. Teach them what to do. Show them what God’s Word says. Use some of the incredible tools available to help you!
Our Favorite Tools for Devotions for Kids
Anything we teach requires tools. Sometimes it’s simply the knowledge of the subject, other times it’s equipment like microscopes or dissection tools. Teaching your child to have a daily quiet time is no exception to this rule. There are many tools that will help you with this task. So let’s dive right in to some of my favorite devotions for kids tools!
Developing a Quiet Time
When our kids are ready to learn to have a devotional time, our focus should now be on helping them understand the need for a personal habit of spending time with God. They need to know why they would even want to do this, what God says about it, how it should be done or not done, and what it means for their lives.
Developing a Quiet Time is a 28-day study that walks kids through the process of learning to have a daily devotional time with God. They will learn what the Bible has to say about this topic, how a daily quiet time will affect life, and a simple way to spend time with God.
At the end of the study, kids have guided practice as they learn to take the reins on their own.
Action Study Bible
I know this goes without saying, but a Bible is critical for devotions for kids. If the Bible is not involved in our quiet time, something is missing. I’m not saying that all other books are bad. However, we live in a culture that is infiltrated with incredibly crafty false teaching.
How are we to know what is truth if we aren’t in the actual Bible every single day?
I teach my kids that it’s ok to use supplements. We just make sure to look up verses and compare the teaching to what is actually in the Bible. Most often, I use resources that challenge me to look up the verses myself. (By the way, that’s how all of the Bible studies on Not Consumed are written.)
I also want my kids to know that, in and of itself, the Bible is good enough to read. We don’t need anything else because this book is alive and active. Its truth is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. So we don’t have to believe that we won’t be able to comprehend it.
I have two favorites when it comes to Bibles for kids: The Action Study Bible ESV and the KJV Study Bible. We have both of these in our home and love the study helps and illustrations. Of course, there are many other options and translations out there, too.
My Time With God
There are four Bible study method templates in this journal. My Time with God, the Devotional Journal for Kids, is designed to be alternated and covers about three to five months of study depending on how many days of the week it is used. The passage you study is not listed. That is up to you. This journal is intended to be self-guided and completely flexible for your quiet time needs.
Quiet Time Bundle
The Quiet Time Bundle is designed to help your child develop a deeper quiet time with God. Based on the GROWS formula developed in our Bible study, the set encourages users to: (G)reet the Lord, (R)ead the Word, (O)pen your heart for prayer, (W)orship in song, and memorize (S)cripture.
JOY Prayer Cards
A wonderful addition to any home, the JOY Prayer Cards are a complete set of 28 cards organized into four themes, each lasting for one week: my family, my community, my nation, and my world.
Each card emphasizes the JOY formula for praying: J-Jesus, O-others and Y-yourself. They come in a sturdy gift box that is perfect for daily use.
These super thick and high-quality cards encourage prayer through suggestions and Scripture. I have designed them specifically with multi-ages in mind. Parents can use the cards with young children, praying and reading through them as a family. As children get older, they have the freedom to use the cards to support their own prayer life.
Fun Writing Tools
One of our favorite ways to make devotions for kids FUN is with writing utensils. Boys and girls alike love to have fun things to write with. Whether it is colorful ink, a fluffy topper, or a barrel that lights up, do something fun with your pens.
We love these multi-colored journaling pens. Of course, you might also grab a cute cup or mug to store them in!
Bible Book Tabs
These Bible book tabs make me so happy. They are super fun for kids. My teenage girls asked if they could have a set because they are so cute. Ok, truth be told, I really want a set!
If you have boys, go black and white. Or if you have a budding artist, let them design their own!
Ideas for devotions for kids
Check out this post if you’d like to read about more creative and fun kids devotions for the whole family!
I pray this post has been helpful for you and your family. What are your ideas or questions? Share them with us in the comments below!
Through practical tools & Bible-based resources, Kim Sorgius is dedicated to helping your family GROW in faith so you can be Not Consumed by life’s struggles. Author of popular kid’s devotional Bible studies and practical homeschooling tools, Kim has a master’s degree in education and curriculum design coupled with over 2 decades of experience working with kids and teens. Above all, her most treasured job is mother and homeschool teacher of four amazing kiddos.
Lucy Gonzalez says
My daughter is 15 yeas old and does not want to pray with me or even do devotionals. What can I do? I do not want to push it on her.
Kim Sorgius says
I would pray for her and ask God to change her heart. I would ask her from time to time. Maybe every few days or so. Ask gently and say something like, “I’d really like to do this together. Please let me know if you change your mind.” I would also consider getting to the root of the problem. Is she saved? I would question her salvation if she is uninterested in things of the faith. I think it’s ok to gently point that out to her. But if you think she is resistant to you (given her age- she may already be in that stage where mom isn’t super smart) I would consider asking the pastor, youth pastor, or another godly man/woman from the church to talk with her, too.
April says
I have a feeling about this so I’m going to share. Maybe someone will be helped by this… <3
I agree that you need to be curious about the root of this and not assume you know what her reasons are. She may have ideas about what she thinks or anticipates will happen at this setting, that she wants to avoid. Maybe you can offer her an option that is less threatening than sitting together to talk about (what she may view as) “heavy” spiritual things, or “should / should not”. I don’t mean that you have been critical toward her— but SHE may perceive that somehow for her own reasons and just imagines that this whole thing is just another way to be uncomfortable, or even just bored. If she thinks this is a way for you to preach to her, and her heart isn’t open, she’ll never want to do this. But I would encourage you to gently keep investigating what is at the root of this. I think it’s less about the devotional time and more about making sure her heart is open to you and to guidance from someone who is there to help her as she enters womanhood. I hope you’re able to uncover and resolve this!!
I want to share something — and I’m going somewhere with this.
When I was a teen, I was an introvert, which made it easy to succumb to a lot of shyness. I also was a people pleaser and regularly stuffed my emotions because it seemed easier and safer than trying to express myself and risking being in trouble for saying the wrong thing. I’m sure you know that kids can tell what we want to hear and don’t want to hear. Thankfully I was interested in spiritual things but if I hadn’t been, that would not have been safe to say to Mom and I’d have hidden it as well as I could. I remember my mom confronting me on other things — her style being to come at it head on and emphatically demand or beg me to open up. The more she did, the more I shut down because she overwhelmed me. I had run through the conversation in my head, trying to find a “safe and right and perfect” way to say whatever it was on my mind, and be sure of the outcome once I said it. If I wasn’t sure of that, I was a steel trap. I was well into my 20s before I was able to explain to her what I had been going through because I finally wasn’t carrying all that fear. Let me be clear: this is a combo of many factors and NOT my moms fault!!!!
I’m saying all this to say, maybe you could engage your daughter in another way that may diminish any apprehension she might feel, and plant the seed that this is for her and about her connection with God, and that it is safe. One thing that got me through and was literally a lifeline: I knew that I could pour out my heart to God in prayer when I was alone, He always understood me perfectly so I didn’t have to formulate the perfect words, He wasn’t a petty peer who would blab to others and embarrass me, He wouldn’t be angry and punitive if my words or tone were inappropriate, as adults had been. He was totally safe and when I’d gotten all my junk out I could hear His voice guiding me back to health.
Your daughter may have a lot of choppy waters under what looks like a quiet stream, and she’s scared of that being uncovered. But this can be an opportunity for you to show her that she can trust you and God with that!!! May He show you how to draw her out!!!
Sherri says
Such great ideas for guiding teens through those years!
We, too, are in the process of navigating deep waters with our youngest, now 16, and I totally agree with the “choppy waters” underneath analogy.
Some days it seems everything is “fine”, but just below the surface, a storm is brewing, and I’m finding today’s culture, world events, etc., are difficult for me to navigate, but for teens it can be overwhelming.
I write this not from a place of expert knowledge or perfect answers.
I am NOT that.
Rather from a place of brokenness, before God, flat on my face, pleading and interceding for my kid. Things I never saw coming, imagined, or would have predicted have found their way into our conversations, our lives, our home, and the battle, I believe, is strong for our children’s hearts & minds.
I love the devotion recommendations that Kim has created & that she shares how she has devotions with her kids. I didn’t have that, and stumbled through various themed studies, but wish I’d had this info, oh, a good 20 years ago! 😂
Devotional time is so very important to our kids growing strong in their relationship with God. God promises that HIS Word will not return void, and I often speak that promise in prayer over my child.
Just a few thoughts from an I’ve-been-there-discovered-this-about-my-teen perspective, in hopes that it will encourage teen parents as they navigate these often unpredictable years!
First, it’s a battle. Not with the teen. The Word tells us that our war is NOT with flesh and blood, but with powers & principalities of darkness.
Pray. Pray when everything looks ok. Pray when it doesn’t. Speak God’s Word over your teen. Pray for their friends as they hold a place of influence at your teens ear. Ask friends to pray with you. Family to pray. Fight the battles before, during, and after on your knees. And don’t let up – I’ve made that mistake. MANY times, thinking everything was going great, until it absolutely wasn’t so…. Just the tip of the iceberg!
Secondly, hang out. Sounds odd because teens don’t want to hang out with their parents, right?! Wrong! They do…. Just don’t want to admit it! Find something you two like to do together & do it often. Schedule it. Make it spontaneous. Run get a mocha? Sure mom! Wanna catch the matinee for the new movie? Go for a hike. Work on a project together. Listen to music together (our youngest does that with dad & loves it! They make a game of guessing the name of the song the fastest!). Bake or cook together. Face time often equals talk time. And the more time they spend with you, one on one, the more they will see you as a friend, not the enemy, and the more opportunity, as you have prayed, you will have to feed TRUTH into your teen’s life.
Third, pray. For as much as you plan & purpose number two, everything imaginable will attempt to steal your time. EVERYTHING. Even things you wouldn’t think was a thing, is a thing! Pray for opportunity. To share, to hang out. Plan it. And guard it to the best of your ability.
Lastly, we’ve started reading Christian books as a study. If your teen is a reader, this may work for you. Taking turns reading a chapter at night and discussing it seems to be working well for us, and we do that in place of watching a TV show. I’ve been challenged by “I will not set anything worthless before my eyes” in Psalms 101:3, and, well, truthfully, I find it difficult; “anything” is pretty inclusive!
There are plenty of options for topics – some are set up as devotionals, some themed for courage or faith, others we have include life journeys, perhaps overcoming a disability or life circumstance. True stories seem to capture my teen’s attention & I find, the struggles open conversations you wouldn’t normally have. All allow you as mom or dad to feed God’s Word, His heart, His response to trials, difficulty, and obstacles into your teen’s heart.
It is my hope that you are encouraged today! God is faithful. He keeps His Word. ALWAYS. He promised to go before us in battle. I pray He holds you & your teen close as you navigate these often tumultuous years. And I hold on to my hat knowing that, as I write this, the next challenge is on its way!
And Kim, I am so thankful for your ministry. As our oldest embarks on the homeschool adventure with the grand children, I am thrilled that your resources will be part of their journey! Thank you just doesn’t seem adequate. I’ll continue to pray for you and your precious children 😊
Sherri
Samantha says
You may want to consider, in addition to the above responses, taking her to a Christian conference for teen girls/young women (this was huge for one of my daughters) or to a Christian (non-cheesy) concert in your area (if she enjoys music, etc.) What are her areas of interest? How can you bring the support of the Christian community into those areas? At her age she so much of the world coming against her, and part of the lie of the enemy is that Christians don’t understand real life and it’s not fun to follow God, when God is the very source of joy itself! The Christian conference I took mine to was Anchored In Love, and it was a tremendous help for other women and young ladies to have the opportunity to share with the younger generation. It’s good for our teens to hear our values reinforced outside the home and by their peers. https://loveanchored.com/
Sara says
Thank you for these articles and great resources. My question is about scheduling the morning. So far we have our morning chores required before breakfast since food is a great motivator to get their chores done. ? (Our chores are similar trip yours: dressed, beds made, clothes tidied, hair brushed). Do you do qt with your kids before breakfast? Do you have a specific time that you require everyone to wake up? I hear so many homeschoolers talk about schooling in their pjs. Since, I, like you, struggle so significantly with mornings, I was hoping to train my kids to a life long habit of getting ready before breakfast so they don’t struggle their whole lives like I have. ( I went to private school and had to get up at a regular time my whole life, but still was always late and always hated the mornings. So I don’t think homeschooling in pjs equals bad morning habits for life, just to clarify.) How do you get your kids started in the morning at a decent time? I am always concerned that they get enough sleep for their developing bodies, and my oldest two stay up late in their beds even with an early bedtime. Lots of questions, sorry. Wish I could take you on a coffee/tea date and ask you lots of questions!
Mandy Friend says
Thank you so much for the reminder to not push this! I was researching ways to ‘make’ my homeschooled 16 yr old, still very much living in and infatuated by the world, do devotions. I appreciate the refocus of discipleship!
Lauren Reynolds says
Dear Kim, I just downloaded your New Years gift for subscribers. You don’t know me, yet you have blessed me and my family innumerably! Tears fell down my face this evening, an overflow of all the gratitude that is in my heart for you and for your kindness to me, to all. Thank you for all you do – love never fails!
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. http://esv.to/Prov11.25
Blessings to you, sister!
I can’t wait to throw my arms around your neck in heaven! May the joy of the Lord continue to be your strength!
happy wheels says
Great post,Thanks for providing us this great knowledge,Keep it up.
Nangobi Florence says
This has been really helpful. Thanks so much.
Cortissa says
Wonderful info and encouragement! Thank you Kim for sharing your wisdom from the heart! Blessings to you and your sweet family.
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