Schedules of the Incredible Family
Schedule for Parenting – Part 2

Scripture Reading:  Ephesians 6:1-10

Key Verse: Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Yesterday’s devotional challenges parents to schedule time for parenting.  Today I want to use Deuteronomy 6:6-7 to lay out some schedule suggestions to make that happen.  The first schedule adjustment needs to make room for one-on-one talks.  God told His people: “Talk to them when you sit at home.”  To accomplish this you have to be at home.  Some families are not home long enough to have these talks.  Is your schedule out of control?  Are you running with your kids every evening after school trying to keep up with their sports or social schedules?  Parenting takes some down time in order to have some talks that aren’t informal.  Subjects like how to love God in their daily lives, especially when their friends put ungodly pressure on them.

            The second phrase, “and when you walk along the road,” reminds me of great times of chatting with the kids while we travelled on vacations.  Maybe you can take this verse literally and take walks with your children, chatting about the spiritual values in your heart.

            Finally, we come to the phrase: “when you lie down and when you get up.”  Bedtime was always a good time to transfer spiritual values to our kids via bedside chats and prayers.  Reading a kid’s devotional book at breakfast might be something you could do to start everyone’s day off right!  Take action; schedule for parenting!

Father, I want my family to love and serve you.  Help my schedule to reflect efforts to make that come true.  In Jesus’ name, amen.