Prioritizing Devotions with Our Children

Of all the things we desire to accomplish in our homeschool day, devotions with our children should uncompromisingly be done first. Why?

Because nurturing our children’s heart and character is paramount for success in all areas of their life—whether sports, academics, leadership, or daily choices.

I’ve said this for years, and it still rings true:

Academic performance will never develop spiritual maturity or character, but spiritual maturity and character will produce academic achievement.

Charlotte Mason says, 

“We should allow no separation to grow up between the intellectual and ‘spiritual’ life of children; but should teach them that the divine Spirit has constant access to their spirits, and is their continual helper in all the interests, duties and joys of life.”

And she also tells us, 

“But this holy mystery, this union and communion of God and the soul, how may human parents presume to meddle with it? …what can the parent do? Just this, and no more: [a parent] can present the idea of God to the soul of the child.”

Why is it so easy to neglect presenting God to our children each day? What’s keeping us from focusing on the thing—the only thing—that really matters? Why do we allow anything to become an obstacle in our path? 

I think it probably has to do with distraction. There’s a saying that if the enemy can’t destroy you, he will distract you or discourage you. 

Do you ever feel distracted or discouraged? 

Let me tell you a story that may encourage you to toss aside all the trappings of this world and seek ye first the Kingdom of God so that all those things you worry so much about will be taken care of by the only One who can intervene to bring you victory, peace, and rest.

CHAOTIC DAYS WITHOUT DEVOTIONS

There was once a homeschool mom (me) who began her year faithfully doing devotions with her children. A few months later, this homeschool mom became consumed with how poorly her homeschool days were going, how they did not progress according to her brilliant schedule, how far behind her children were in their curriculum, how little was getting accomplished, and how she was failing as a home educator. 

This overburdened and underperforming mom felt she could not possibly afford to spend the mornings doing devotions. After all, that would be a whole hour out of the schedule. If she were ever to finish the curricula she bought—the curricula everyone else was finishing—she had to buckle down, put the pedal to the metal, get her ducks in a row, and so on and so on. 

She would get back to devotions when everyone got caught up. She really would. 

Maybe next week. 

Weeks and weeks and weeks later, every hope and dream she had for the school year went down the drain. 

“Ughhhhhh. Do we have to do school?” Her oldest groaned on the way to the school room. 

“I hate school,” another said falling on the floor in dramatic fashion.

Once she got them into the room, it wasn’t any easier.

“I’m hungry.” 

“I’m thirsty.”  

“I’m tired.” 

“He called me stupid!”

“She broke my Lego dog.” 

On and on the whining went. The children were near impossible to rally. 

Ugh. 

Mom was at her wits end.  

She took to imagining life in the local elementary school. Surely it would be better than this disaster. 

GOD INTERVENES

She cried out to God, “This isn’t working! Homeschooling is too hard! I can’t do it anymore!”  

Then suddenly—unexpectedly—amidst the chaos in her mind, a still small voice spoke. The thought of devotions sprung up. Devotions? Devotions! Yes! That’s what we’ll do. In fact, I’ll ONLY do devotions. Forget school. It’s too hard. I’ll make the decision on whether to keep homeschooling later. For now, let’s get back to what matters. 

She dusted off her Bible, located the devotional under the couch, printed a hymn off the internet, and put a basket of photo Christmas cards on the table.

The next morning, this weary Mom announced after breakfast, “Time for school!” Amidst the furrowed brows, groans, frowns, and dramatic sighs, she said, “But we’re going to begin with devotions. Meet me on the couch in five minutes.” 

“Yay!” one happy heart cheered. “Oh yeah, I remember when we used to do that!” another replied with a look of wonder. 

That morning, Mom began with a prayer for her children’s eyes to be opened and their hearts to understand God’s Word. She handed out a hymn to those who could read, then played it on a speaker while everyone sang along. She played it over and over until everyone had some of it memorized. 

Mom then read from the Bible and the devotion book. Her children’s hearts were becoming soft again. They didn’t bicker or get angry when another child interrupted. They asked questions. They spent time discussing the things of God, sharing their own insights. 

This reminded Mom that the same Holy Spirit who speaks to her also speaks to her children. She realized that she spent a great deal of time ignoring the Holy Spirit, as did her children. And that makes sense. We tend to go on our way when we don’t devote time to Him each day. 

It was just as Charlotte Mason told us. Once we present the Lord to our children, He does the rest of the work. 

“…the living Word reaches down, touches the soul,––and there is life; growth and beauty, flower and fruit.”

After that, everyone worked on a new Bible memory verse (John 15) and Mom recited the first verse three times. The children then attempted to recite as much as they could remember. 

Then each child was told to pick a family Christmas card from the basket and lead a prayer for that family. After sharing requests, the children also prayed for each other. 

A SENSE OF PEACE

This mom felt a sense of peace returning to her spirit. This was all that was needed.  

The first and only thing necessary.

Then something strange happened. All four of her children, even the four-year-old, got up from the couch and trotted toward the school room. 

What on earth are they doing? she wondered. 

She crept stealthily to the doorway and peered inside the school room. Shock overtook her as she saw every single one of her children sitting at a desk doing schoolwork as diligently as a saint.  

And then it hit her. 

Focusing on academics will not produce the fruit of a joyful, peaceful home—of gentle, kind, persevering children who exercise self-control. 

Yet if we day by day, morning by morning, present our children to the Lord through devotions, the Holy Spirit will be empowered to produce the fruit we long to see in their lives.

God loves our children far more than we do. He talks to them far more often than we do, in words far sweeter, far more motivating, and with a heart that’s pure of any other motive than to bless and build up.

If we lead our children’s hearts to the Lord, we can trust that He will do the rest. 

A REALIZATION OF WHAT MATTERS

He is their teacher, their ultimate and most important teacher. Lead them to Him. That’s the most important job we can do. And it’s really the only thing that matters. It matters more than math, reading, science, history … more anything else. 

A heart for God will see our children through no matter the journey they take in life. A heart for God will give them strength, joy, wisdom, and yes, even success in life. 

Charlotte Mason speaks to this idea when she says,

“But this holy mystery, this union and communion of God and the soul, how may human parents presume to meddle with it? What can they do? How can they promote it?… what can the parent do? Just this, and no more: he can present the idea of God to the soul of the child.”