These commandments that I give to you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Deuteronomy 6:6-7

It’s mid-August, and for many Americans, that means it’s time to head back to school.  Back to school time means a return to “regular” schedules.  And while we get school supplies organized and labeled, pick out our first day of school clothes, meet the teacher and study the bus route–it’s also a great opportunity to begin cultivating regular faith practices.  So, here are some tips to heading back to school–Jesus style.

1. Pray with your children before they leave the house in the morning.  Ask for God’s presence to be with them during the school day, and let them voice any particular prayer requests they might have.
2. Begin a family devotional time, either in the morning or before bed.  Find a children’s Bible or a children’s devotional.  Take some time to discuss the readings together.
3. Write down Bible verses and place them in your child’s backpack or lunch box.
4. Encourage your children to say a quick prayer of thanks before they eat their lunch at school.  Praying in your head is okay!
5. Commit to attending worship on a regular basis.  Get the kids to Sunday school, and consider attending a Sunday school class yourself.
6. Join an adult Bible study group.  Look around your church and community to find a regular study group you can participate in.
7. Make personal Bible study a part of your daily routine.  Find a small devotional book to help you along.
8. Write down Bible verses on post-it notes and place them around your house or work area to keep them fresh in your mind.
9. Find some small spaces within your day to pray–before you get out of bed in the morning, as you’re getting dressed for the day, while making lunches, during lunch, or even as you lay down to sleep.
10. Commit to eating dinner as a family three or four evenings a week.  During dinner, encourage each member of your family to share where they saw God working that day.

Blessings and Peace for a great school year!

Sara