7 Ways to Bring God into Your School Year Routine

If your family is anything like mine, the start of the school year brings both equal measures of joy and dread. Joy that we’re back to routine—and dread that we’re back to routine! Gone are the slower, lazy days of summer, where the kids could shuffle off to day camp or Grandma’s house in their pjs, be flexible with bedtime, and read for fun instead of for a grade. Now we’re welcoming back the days of early wake-up calls, tight schedules, and school uniforms.

It can be difficult to find ways to feed our faith in the frenzy of busy mornings—and the even busier evenings, when there’s homework to complete, dinner to cook, and tomorrow’s lunches to make.

There’s no magic formula effective for every family, but there are several simple points that might help get your year off to a solid—and more peaceful—start.

Here are seven ways to bring God into your school year routine:

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1. Read the Bible, Mom.

Teaching our kids to stop and take time to grow in their walk with God can be even harder when they aren’t seeing it modeled before them. Take time to read the Word as their parent and be the example they need. It’ll also help your patience level and heart-posture as you’re attempting to get everyone out the door. Coffee helps, but the effect of God’s word lasts much longer than caffeine!

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

The Word not only gets our minds and hearts right for the day, it illuminates our steps and shows the path we’re to walk. Light the way for your children to follow!

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2. Pray with your kids.

Taking a few minutes to pray with the kids, either before you leave the house or on the way to school, can go a long way in preparing everyone’s hearts for the day. It doesn’t have to be lengthy! Incorporating prayer into your family morning routine can bring a sense of stability for everyone and offer a clean slate before school. If your child is nervous about an upcoming test or is dealing with something hard with a friend, prayer will help them face the trials.

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:19-20 ESV)

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3. Make Bible-reading part of your kids’ morning routine.

Filling their heads with God’s Word before they fill their heads with the junk they’ll face during the day is just as crucial as putting on socks or brushing their teeth. You wouldn’t let your child leave the house without having eaten breakfast or put on shoes, right? Make Bible reading in the morning—even if it’s just a few verses—be as automatically part of their morning routine as hygiene by teaching your kids to incorporate a daily devotional or Catechism into their schedule.

I printed each of my kids a “to do” list that they reference each morning. It includes obvious things like “eat breakfast” and “get dressed” and then gets more specific, such as “bring your backpack to the front door.” (You have no idea how many times this has helped us not forget it!) Also on that list is “read your devotional.” My girls are two different ages, so they each have a different devotional they go to, but we encourage them to also read more Scripture than they do man’s words about Scripture. With that, they’re memorizing weekly Reformed Catechisms.

I have stored up your word in my heart,that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11 ESV)

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4. Put encouraging notes in your kids’ lunchboxes.

If your child packs their lunch every day, slip a note of encouragement or a Bible verse into their lunch box. Having that mid-day reminder of things that are good and true and noble will help your child get the boost they need to finish the day strong and remind them that they aren’t alone.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9 ESV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 ESV)

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5. Have family devotionals.

It’s important for everyone in the family to have their own quiet time with the Lord, but as often as you can, incorporate Scripture-reading or family prayer into the evenings, as well. We try to do this about once a week, where the kids tell us their catechisms they’ve practiced, we read Scripture and dissect it, and talk about whatever is going on in our collective lives.

We don’t always do this perfectly—sometimes it’s two or three weeks in between family meetings, but when we do, it’s always beneficial and leaves us feeling bonded together. This needs to be a safe spot in the day for the kids to know their parents’ foundation is on the word of God, and that everyone is on the same team. If your kids are bickering a lot, encouraging them to pray for each other during family meetings also goes a long way in extending love and forgiveness.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

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6. Don’t skip church.

When life gets busy, sometimes church is the first thing to be dismissed from our schedule. We tend to view it as optional, compared to school and work. Parents are often tempted to sleep in, thinking it best for their busy child to get rest instead of fellowship with other believers.

But all of us—children and adults alike—need the community of church more than we need even sleep. Don’t get me wrong—there’s no legalism here! If someone is sick, by all means, keep your germs at home and recuperate. But if skipping church on Sundays in favor of having a “second Saturday” becomes your new family norm, you’re doing your children a disservice. The Bible encourages us in this same way.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV)

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7. Worship together.

Worship music goes a long way in affecting the atmosphere of one’s home. We often will leave it playing in the background in the evenings. You might be surprised at how tension dissipates with constant lyrics of praise to God invading your subconscious! If you or your children can play worship music in the house or in the car on the way to school, let it blare! There’s so many praise and worship songs available for free through various music apps, that there’s no excuse not to raise your roof (or your sunroof!) with praise.

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. (Psalm 29:1-2 ESV)

Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of fourteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her newlywed hubby, two story-telling young daughters, a collection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash of Pickle Pringles. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored in Christ. When she's not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a white-chocolate mocha. Look for her latest novel with HarperCollins, LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES, and POCKET PRAYERS FOR FRIENDS with Max Lucado. Visit her at http://www.betsystamant.com./