There are four things that my family tries to do every day to have a more God-Centered home. Notice I said tries? Some things we are pretty consistent about, but most of the time we fall short. And that’s okay, we can’t be perfect.
So we fall off the wagon, we get caught up in our own lives, and we forget the most important thing we’re supposed to be focused on. Serving God.But then you start again.
Even if you have to start small, just start. Even if you get absorbed in the world, don’t give up.
My family is no where near as God-centered as it should be. But we will never stop trying to do better the next day.
Pray
I Thessalonians 5:17
“Pray without ceasing.”
- Pray over meals before everyone digs in. We don’t usually pray over our breakfast since we all eat different things at different times. Not over lunch either since most days that consists of me throwing food at the kids while doing fifteen other things at the same time. But we habitually pray over our dinner every single night.
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- Pray as a family whenever you can. This is a huge key for a God-centered home. We pray every night with Oliver when we’re putting him to sleep and we try to when one of the kids is spending the night away from home. I think it’s so important for kids to learn the power of prayer while they are little because it’s something that even adults struggle with despite how simple it can be. I also believe that God uses prayer to plant little seeds of faith in our children. A few years ago my sister was cutting the grass with their tractor and had her four year old son sitting on her lap. Suddenly in the middle of the yard the tractor quit. She turned the ignition over and over but it wouldn’t start again. So her little son looked up at her and said, “let’s pray about it Mommy.” So they said a prayer with my sister thinking to herself “Lord please let it start, don’t let him be disappointed.” And when she turned the ignition one more time, it started right up.
- Pray with your spouse at least once a day. Jake and I try to pray together at night before bed since it’s the only time we really have without complete chaos everyday. But it also makes it hard when we go to bed at different times or when we’re so tired we fall asleep the second we lay down. But when we do it not only draws each of us closer to God, but also to one another.
- Pray for your family to have a better relationship with God. If you really want to create a more God-centered home the most important thing to do is pray for it.
Read
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
- Read the bible as a family to be more God-centered, even just a chapter or two a night. When Oliver was a baby I would play an audiobook of the King James Bible as I was feeding him a bottle before bed. It gave me comfort to know that I was putting my new baby to sleep every night after hearing the living word of God, even if he was too tiny to know what words even were. As Oliver got older we started making him sit and listen to us read a chapter before we would read one of his stories. Somewhere along the way we’ve fallen out of this habit and are still working on getting back to it in the chaos of our lives.
- Read a daily devotional with your spouse. For Christmas, I got Jake a devotional for men that he enjoys reading every day. It wasn’t until afterward that I realize there are devotionals for couples, daily or weekly, that we could be doing together. We’re both still learning how to be married and everything that comes with it, so I think it would be awesome to have something to help walk us through it the way God wants.
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Worship
Isaish 25:1
“O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”
- Thank God throughout the day for the little and big things He does. When I was a kid, whenever my mom would take us to the store and we got a really good parking spot she would whisper “oh thank you Lord.” It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. But it’s getting in the habit of thanking God for everything good that happens throughout the day.
- Listen to Christian music in the background during the day. I recently started listening to the praise and worship radio station on Pandora. I can’t believe how much I love hearing it all day. It brings a peaceful and calming feeling that’s hard to find in a house with two small kids. The best part is when a song comes up that I remember from when I was a kid. I can hear my mom’s voice singing it in my head.
Memorize Verses
Psalm 119:11-16
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”
- Memorize verses together and hold one another accountable for learning them. This will bring you together as a family and help create a more God-centered home. Growing up my mom could always think of a verse for any situation off the top of her head. It’s always been something I’ve admired about her. I want to be able to have that wisdom when my kids come to me one day looking for help. And it’s especially something I want them to be able to have in the back of their minds when they find themselves needing the wisdom of God’s word.
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Some great reminders in this post! We try to do these things daily and fall short of all of them, except praying. We pray several times throughout the day. Instead of letting distractions get in the way, we need to be spending more time in the word!
Thank you for sharing this powerful message I really appreciate it and I have really enjoyed it.
Thank you
Brenda
This is great advice for families that are believers, but what if you are the only believer in your family?
Claim those family members for the Kingdom! Do these things anywhere you can to expose them to light. Lay hands on them when they sleep and pray over them! Lord, reveal yourself in undeniable ways for those we love who remain in unbelief.
Patricia, I too am struggling to implement God-Centered praise in my home. My teens resist and mock and my husband although saved is not placing priority on Christ. And my babies aren’t yet old enough. But we are all in this fight together and I wanted to let you know I will be praying for your family. After reading your comment I felt burdened also for them. We cant save them but He can. I do my quiet time in the midst of the chaos so that all my family can see my example. They know how important it is and know they don’t interrupt (sometimes) and now the babies ask to read with me and they always pray with me. His timing is perfect and he tells us to Pratt expectantly also. Don’t doubt that he will answer your prayers. Our prayers. In Christ who strengthens me,
This was such a poignant message for me! Thank you for your obedience to write and encourage your readers to pursue God. I am a young wife @ home with our incredible 3 month old Baby boy and my heart desires to create a home environment that beams with Gods spirit throughout! This was a practical message about how, not to just implement Him into my home but, to make sure he’s at the center of our family life! Thank you- I’m praying for you Woman of God, and for your family as you continue to live for God and bring him glory as you raise your family. May he bring you a unique form of refreshment today sis!
Thank you Jan that means so much! I’ll keep you and your family in my prayers!
This is a great list! They are so easy to squeeze into the margin, but also tricky to make a habit.
Yes definitely!
Thanks for sharing! Worship was the hardest one to start up, but now the kids love it and it has been a great bridge into music and their connection with it!
It’s an awesome way to bond as a family as well!