Pushing the Momentum Forward

The busiest time of year has passed. The school year is halfway over. Families have survived the trifecta of holiday months: October, November, and December. Gifts were exchanged, relatives were visited, and memories were made.

After surviving such a whirlwind of school dress up days, parties, and holiday plans, it can feel surreal to move on into the new year. The presence of Christ and unity in the Spirit defines the Christmas holiday. But what about after? How do we as parents keep the focus of Jesus alive and flourishing when the last Advent candle has been extinguished?

As we move into a new year, I challenge you to find ways to keep Christ at the center of the everyday and mundane. Every drop off or pick up, every practice or after school class, and every bedtime can be prime time for family discipleship. Deuteronomy 6:4-9, called the Shema, is the blueprint for parental discipleship: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

            Keeping Christ at the center of your home is only possible if Christ is at the center of your personal life. When thinking about New Year’s resolutions, resolve to prioritize your prayer, discipleship, and Bible study. Resolve to talk to your children about what they learned on Sunday and to go over memory verses for Wednesday. Resolve to make conversations about Christ the norm in your home. And remember, you are not alone in your call to disciple your children. The church is walking alongside and available to offer support, prayer, and discipleship.