Winter is a season of new things. The weather often keeps us inside and the days can seem to move slower. This can be a time to engage with God at a new level and to stretch our spiritual wings, to try out new ways of praying and to serve others in Jesus’ name. One way to do this is to commit ourselves to trying one or more new spiritual practices. We can commit to reading the bible or trying out new prayer practices. The goal is to do something that will remind us of what God values and make us more the people God created us to be.
Here are some ideas:
Having regular faith practices, that families do together at home, is one of the most important gifts that parents can give their children. Mealtime prayers, bedtime prayers, reading books together and talking about where you see God in the story - any or all of these "count."
Our friends at Building Faith (Virginia Theological Seminary) have published an outstanding collection of faith practices for home; experiment, to find the one that comes most naturally to your family. Any of these may seem awkward at first, but will be less so with practice.
–Daily Examen Prayer: http://www.buildfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Daily-Examen-at-the-End-of-your-Day.pdf
–Praying in Your Car: http://www.buildfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Praying-in-your-Car.pdf
–Praying before Meals: http://www.buildfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Praying-before-meals.pdf
–Household Bible Reading: http://www.buildfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Household-Bible-Reading-with-Lectio-
Divina.pdf
Here are some ideas:
- Add a new dimension to your family’s prayer life - learn a new prayer
- At bedtime, talk about things that were “glad” and “sad” and offer them to God
- Spend time reading together
- Take care of creation by creating less trash or picking up trash in a park
- Invite a lonely person so do something with your family
- Share what you have – clean up toys no longer used and donate them
- Surprise someone with a card or a homemade treat
Having regular faith practices, that families do together at home, is one of the most important gifts that parents can give their children. Mealtime prayers, bedtime prayers, reading books together and talking about where you see God in the story - any or all of these "count."
Our friends at Building Faith (Virginia Theological Seminary) have published an outstanding collection of faith practices for home; experiment, to find the one that comes most naturally to your family. Any of these may seem awkward at first, but will be less so with practice.
- Prayer Practices
–Daily Examen Prayer: http://www.buildfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Daily-Examen-at-the-End-of-your-Day.pdf
–Praying in Your Car: http://www.buildfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Praying-in-your-Car.pdf
–Praying before Meals: http://www.buildfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Praying-before-meals.pdf
–Household Bible Reading: http://www.buildfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Household-Bible-Reading-with-Lectio-
Divina.pdf
- For a List of Good Books for Winter reading click here.
- A good devotional for moms is The Jesus Interruption.
