Deuteronomy 6:4–9
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
A troop of Boy Scouts was being used as “guinea pigs” in a test of emergency systems. A mock earthquake was staged, and the Scouts impersonated wounded persons who were to be picked up and cared for by the emergency units. One Scout was supposed to lie on the ground and await his rescuers, but the first-aid people got behind schedule, and the Scout lay “wounded” for several hours. When the first-aid squad arrived where the casualty was supposed to be, they found nothing but a brief note: “Have bled to death and gone home.”
While you may not be dealing with an emergency in your family it is still imperative that we establish a consistent schedule to prevent “casualties” in your home. What is it that sets a successful family apart? One of the key ingredients to a successful home is a Christ-honoring schedule. Let’s examine a dozen essentials that successful families include in their daily routines…
1. Play pleasant Christian music in the morning.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
2. Make sure they make their bed and clean their room.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
3. Have a devotional time before school.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
4. Talk in the car about the importance of pleasing God today.
Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
5. Pray for your children throughout the day.
James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
6. Leave notes of encouragement for them.
Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
7. Have dinner together as a family at the table.
Psalm 107:2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
8. Greatly limit TV time.
Psalm 101:3
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
9. Structure family time with everyone together.
Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
10. Determine to connect with your children individually on an intimate level daily.
Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Ask questions… patiently wait for genuine responses.
11. Have fun with them.
Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
12. Pray with them before bed.
Deuteronomy 6:7
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
