Well, it’s official. We now have an elementary schooler, a middle schooler, and a high schooler in our household. Our kids, (9th grade, 7th grade, and 4th grade) started school again this week. It’s always difficult to regain a family rhythm for this time of year. I mean, we just spent roughly 3 months creating a summer rhythm and now we get to start all over again for the fall! 

Early mornings, study routines, and staying on track with mealtimes and bedtimes can be difficult for any family. Add in extra curricular activities, work schedules and other commitments and life turns into a complete whirlwind. But where does God fit into all of this? Is there margin in your family’s life to allow God to move and work and speak?

A better question may be “Does God belong in the margins of your life or should he get priority? If he deserves priority, how do we give that to Him and still honor our commitments in the busy seasons of life?”

Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

The Bible gives us sound advice when it comes to the busy seasons of life. We need to walk as wise people, not as unwise. Believers should remember to keep our work life balanced with rest. We should give God the firstfruits of our labor. We should draw our strength from the Lord in both times of rest and times of hardship. Plainly speaking, the busyness of life should not get in the way of our walk with Christ. Rather our walk with Christ should determine our steps. 

This truth is vitally important for families. Parents need to be able to lead their children spiritually no matter the circumstances of your life. Here are 3 ways we can keep God at the center of our families as we create rhythms heading into the new school year..

1. Model it.

Parents, your personal devotion to Christ is essential for your spiritual maturity and growth. But if your children never see you crack open your Bible, if they never hear you pray, if they never hear you speak biblical truth can you honestly say your personal walk with Christ is making a difference to your kids? It’s like the old saying, “If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, did it really make a sound?” If your faith is not lived out in front of your children, does it really make an impact on them?

Personal prayer closets (in any form) are important. We need to be able to go to the Lord privately when we need. And our prayers and devotions to God are not for show. At the same time, they should at some point regularly be visible to our kids. They need to see us in the Word. They need to hear us read from it. They need to watch us serve the body and the lost. 

Live your faith out in front of your kids. It will spark wonder in them. 

2. Make use of every opportunity.

Do you drive your kids to school? Use that time to have a quick Bible lesson and prayer. Do your kids ride the bus? Walk them to the bus stop and pray with them and the other children as they wait to be picked up. 

My kids are homeschooled so Bible is a part of their curriculum. However, even if that is not your scenario, you can still create similar expectations. When my kids were in public school, we set the tone by saying that their afternoon homework was not done until they studied their Awana verse. Awana is a tool churches use for kids to memorize Scripture but even if your church doesn’t offer Awana, they probably have some type of children’s lesson or Sunday School material. Use it throughout the week and not just wait for them to hear it on Sunday mornings. 

Does your family pray before dinner? Take a few extra seconds to get some prayer requests from your family. You’ll learn what’s on their hearts and hear them voice some of their personal concerns. 

Is your child involved in sports or other extra curricular activities? Rather than bowing down to the idol of travel ball, use it as an opportunity to share your faith with other parents and families. Consider yourself an ambassador when you take them to practice. If God has placed you in the baseball stands or at the dance studio during this season, then that is your mission field. Think of creative ways you can build relationships and share the gospel. And encourage your child to participate in your efforts. Your family becomes a mission team!

3. Think alignment, not addition.

The efforts you make in keeping God at the center of your family’s life during this season will be much more successful if you think of ways to align your schedule with God’s will. I’m not asking you to simply add things to your to do list or goal sheet. Adding things to your already busy schedule will only overwhelm you and your family and you’ll give up and abandon your daily pursuit of Him. 

Alignment, however, simply intersects your regular rhythms with your faith. It opens your eyes to look beyond the physical world and its demands and helps you see with spiritual eyes. You become more attentive and receptive to the Spirit. He is always there working.  We simply need to have spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear.

As our kids step back into classrooms and hit the books, pray that this season will be a season of growth and development for them. Pray that they will not only learn “Reading, Riting, and Rythmetic” but also Relationship with Jesus. I pray you will be able to create some family rhythms that cause eternal impact.