Helping Parents Put God's Word into Everyday Life

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. - Psalm 119:93

You’ve seen it before – the parents in your ministry feel like nothing is happening; nothing is changing. They are at a standstill. There is simply no spark. In the middle of this dessert, their teen walks in with a crisis that needs fixing or a problem they can’t think through. And all they’ve got to offer are the fumes they’re running on. As a parent, my experience is that days like this come most often when it didn’t get started right, when I didn’t stop to connect with God.

It's easy for parents to get overwhelmed in the hustle and bustle of life. When parents (or even us in ministry) let the calendar dictate our lives instead of the heart of God, that’s when things start going haywire. The only way for us to stay on course is to make time each day to hear from God in His word. Those few minutes you spend in solitude not only help focus on what God has in store but also become a testimony to your family of what is most important.

Here are a few tips to encourage parents this week to help them prioritize their own faith and bring God’s Word into their family's life.

CAUGHT IN THE ACTION

Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. – Psalm 119:111

Several years ago, when our children were little, they would come jump into our bed in the morning. One particular morning, our son sprinted in, did his usual Tigger pounce, and landed on the bed. He crawled up to the pillows and then started looking around like he had just lost his favorite toy. He sat straight up and asked, “Dad, what happened to Mom? Where did she disappear?” His sister, who had already beaten him to the bed, sprouted from underneath the blanket and said, “Bailey, don’t you know. She’s outside spending time with God.” She hadn’t actually seen her that morning, but in her little mind, she reasoned that if she couldn’t find her mother, then she must be spending time with God.

It is not enough that I tell our children to listen to God, to read His word, or to pray. It is more important that they catch me doing it. They need to see that spiritual growth and connectedness are important to me. As my kids have seen that foundation of God’s Word in my own life, it is becoming a part of what they desire as well.

A great way for parents to make spending time with God a family affair is to invite their teens into their own spiritual walk. Parents can share with their teens what God has been showing them. They could try writing down a verse they read that reminds them of their teen and share that with them. They could place a note in their lunch bag or in their car, so they’ll see it sometime later in the day. Parents can take some time at dinner to share what God did that day. When families are going through a time of transition, finding a verse to memorize together can help them all stay on the same path.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments. – Psalm 119:10

The easiest way for families to stay focused on God’s Word is to make it a normal part of their family rhythms and conversations. Families could try starting the day together, reading God’s Word around the breakfast table. Even though most of the members of our family are not “morning people,” we still commit ourselves to reading God’s Word and praying together. I want our family to have common memories of being together with God and sharing together what he is doing.

But mostly it’s about me needing it.

I notice that the days we let school or work responsibilities monopolize our morning and we skip out on our family time together, those are the days that I forget to pray for them throughout the day. Those are the days that I try to fix my own brokenness instead of seeing God as my healer. It’s those few minutes with God together that help me keep things in perspective.

SEEING GOD ALL AROUND

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. – Psalm 119:18

For some families, an everyday sit-down at the kitchen table is impractical. Keep in mind that it’s not so much about performing a ritual. It’s about them being connected to God throughout the day. And as they see God at work, they get to help their teen see God at work all around them.

What if families kept a journal of God’s activity in the life of their family? They can use a scrapbooking hobby to be more than just a library of family pictures, but also a visual representation of what God has done. The more families train each other to recognize God’s work, the easier it is to see when He is at work.

Before parents jump into all they have to deal with as Mom or Dad, what if they set aside a few minutes for their own hearts? Consider encouraging parents to:

• Go outside to see God’s creation.
• Right down a prayer for what is burdening them today.
• Read a proverb and let that be the focus of the day.
• Read a chapter from a spiritual biography.
• Listen to a song of worship that helps see the bigness of God.

Parents knowing the latest trends in teen dating, what websites teens are looking at, or who is at the top of the music charts is certainly a good thing. But don’t let it stop there. What if parents could demonstrate that they know the heart of God because of their time spent with Him?

HOW TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS

Here are a few practical ideas to help parents use the Bible with their teens. As they experiment with different ways to incorporate the Bible into everyday life, help them to be patient. Their teen may not respond well to each way, but that doesn’t mean it was useless or not worth the effort. Help parents to have fun trying different ways to connect God’s Word to their teenagers.

• Include verses on scrapbook pages that mark your teen’s milestones.
• Consider selecting a “life verse” to pray for your family or your teen.
• Post an encouraging verse on the desktop of your family computer.
• During a tough time, choose a verse you both can memorize together.
• Use a dry-erase marker to write an encouraging verse and note on their bathroom mirror.
• Send a text message to your teen’s phone before they take tests.
• At the dinner table, ask each family member to share where they saw God today. Share with them a time God used a verse in your life to help you through a difficult time.
• Teach your student how to do a word study or use a Bible concordance to find answers to their questions.

• Tell your teen when a passage you’ve been reading reminds you of them.

As youth pastors, one of the greatest ways we can support the families in our ministry is by equipping parents to pursue their own walk with God and prioritize His Word. When parents do this, they’re not just nurturing their own hearts; they’re setting the spiritual tone in their home. Don’t underestimate the impact that some encouragement and practical tips will have as you help parents bring God’s Word into everyday life.

Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community:

1. How am I currently encouraging or equipping parents in my ministry to pursue a personal walk with God and where could I take a step forward?
2. What other simple tools or rhythms could I introduce this month to help families integrate Scripture into their everyday lives?

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