Prioritizing Family Worship

“Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, a family] is built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], and by knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” (Proverbs 24:3-4, AMP)

Almost a year into our marriage, Sam and I bought a house. It was in coastal North Carolina, and it was much, much bigger than our tiny 1-bedroom basement apartment had been on Long Island. Because it was the tail end of Covid, and so many people were leaving New York for elsewhere, we had trouble finding a moving truck. There were literally none to be had anywhere near us and there weren’t any estimated to be for a long time.

So, we had the idea to drive our cars– packed as much as they could be– down to North Carolina, close on our home, and rent a moving truck from there. Then, Sam would turn around, drive the moving truck back to New York, get the rest of our stuff, before coming back down to our new home.

It was crazy, but it was the only way to make it work. Meanwhile, I stayed behind with an air mattress and all the stuff that was in our cars– unpacking, cleaning, and hooking up utilities– until Sam got back. Looking back, those two and a half days were long. And the only furniture I had was the air mattress, so I spent all day on my feet unpacking what was mainly a kitchen and a desk and eating my meals on the floor. 

The house felt empty. It echoed when I sang or talked to myself. I tried not to think about missing Sam, but I dreamed about what it would be to fill that house. What would it look like? What would it feel like? 

When Sam came back, even with all our stuff, the house was mostly empty. We had to work together to fill it– coming to compromises between his likes and mine. Trying to find the middle ground that would make it feel like our place.

There was one thing that we didn’t have to compromise on. We were both resolved to fill our home with Godly wisdom, with family worship, and with traditions that glorified God. One of the first things Sam hung was a wildly huge flag that said “Jesus is King” from the front porch, a very public and definitive message to the neighborhood about our home. 

As a wife, I always take pride when someone walks into my home and comments on how lovely it is. In part, that might be because of the interior design of it, but I hope it’s also because the fruits of God’s Spirit are readily apparent in our lifestyle. I pray that the customs of the household my husband and I have striven to instill are acknowledged and blessed by God in a way where the spiritual riches and treasures are evident to those that walk through the door. 

And yes, God does that work. He saves our souls. He brought me and Sam together in covenant. He blessed us with children and has been so generous to us in all the ways that matter. But practically, what do we do in the pursuit of creating a home that is not just materially well-founded, built, and designed? What steps do we take to spiritually maintain a life, home, and family that is established on God and rests on the Truth of the Gospel? 

A very large part, I believe, depends on consistent family worship. Many nights, before the kids go to bed, you will find our family reading the Bible together, memorizing scripture, singing songs, and praying together. And say “many nights” because the goal is not perfection, but steadiness. There are times we don’t complete a family worship time together, but we do try to do it more often than not. 

By doing this, we’re teaching our children that God deserves the time and we need to make an effort to know Him. They know that worshiping God is important enough to make time, and they know that because the example has been set. And let me encourage you: it’s not easy to start. It’s not easy to put down what we’re doing and come together to do it. When we first started, Piper would see her daddy round the corner with his little, black Bible in his hands and run out of the room. But we did it anyway. At first, we shut all of us into a room so she couldn’t run away, and then we tried different things until we learned what grabbed her attention.

We discovered that Piper loves memorization and singing. She started learning Bible verses. I got a sticker chart for her to get little rewards for learning a new verse or catechism question. We tailored the lessons to go along with a song. We found places where the kids were more amenable to engage with in devotions: the bath, the dinner table, and their bunk beds. Eventually, Piper stopped running and hiding when the Bible came out. It became fun. 

And both my kids really learn– they know more than I can even fathom for girls their age. Even Lily knows the songs and Bible verses. And in remaining faithful to family devotion and fostering a culture of Godly wisdom, devotion, and praise in our home, it encourages me to personally be pursuing God in studying His Word and confronting my sin. Most days, it’s not comfortable, and I am challenged, but I thank God that He has held me and Sam accountable in remaining determined to build a home that glorifies God.

We are perfect by no means. We still have our areas that need God’s grace in, but it does make our home a cozy and fruitful home. And it’s never too late to turn to the Lord and ask Him to resolve you to do the same. The only way to do it, is to just do it. Grab your Bible, or a children’s theology book, and make the effort to sit down together. If you miss a night, don’t beat yourself up– just try to make time for it tomorrow. Teach your children God’s Word and make it fun in whatever way piques their interest.

And if you don’t have kids? If you’re newlyweds or empty-nesters? Single? Still do it. As a couple or an individual, it’s still worth it to do it. Having a home that’s not just beautiful or cozy, but full of precious spiritual riches is beyond valuable and worth the time and effort. You just have to begin.

Teach your family to value Godly wisdom. Make the time to worship Him together. It enriches your life in ways that are priceless and precious because it results in more of God and His wisdom.