Summer conjures up images of long, sunny days, tall glasses of sweet iced tea, and sand pushing up between our toes while we watch the tide roll in.
For families with kids in school, it’s a time to take a break from the hustle of the school-year schedule. For those with athletes playing travel ball, a whole new routine takes over. Bottom line… summer schedules are typically different from the school year, and that means habits like bedtime prayers or church on Sunday can easily fall by the wayside. Tucked away until the school year brings them back around.
But who says your family’s spiritual routine has to get uprooted during the summer just because everyone’s schedule has changed?
Let’s talk about how, when you’re raising kids with faith, you can still keep it front and center even when you’re traveling, watching the sun sink beyond the ocean, or sending the kids off to summer camp. Here are six simple ways to center your life on faith this summer.
1. Create a Simple Summer Devotional Routine
The simplest way to make a routine stick is, well… to keep it simple. What’s the most likely time your family is all together during the summer months? Is it breakfast on Saturdays, Monday night dinner, or some other time? Pick one of those times and commit to doing a short devotional together.
It can be as simple as reading a short Psalm, reading from a faith-and-family devotional book, or picking something from the Bible app to read together. It doesn’t have to be long. In fact, keeping it short makes it more likely to happen. Above all, remember the goal isn’t perfection. It’s contributing consistently to your family’s spiritual growth.
2. Use Travel Time to Talk About Faith
In addition to creating a summer devotional routine, making the most of travel time is another way Christian parents can keep faith front and center. Long drives, train rides, or airport lines can turn into opportunities for conversation.
Depending on the age of your kids, that could mean sharing favorite Bible stories, talking about recent “God moments,” sharing about your new favorite song, or discussing the latest podcast you’ve all been listening to.
Again, the goal in Christian parenting isn’t perfection. But when you’re raising kids with faith, talking about it whenever you can builds connection and makes way for natural conversations.
3. Serve Together as a Family
If you’re looking for ideas beyond reading and talking together, why not try serving as a family? At First Baptist, VBS is a great opportunity for families with teens to volunteer. We’ll have lots of little ones dancing and singing, listening to Bible stories, creating artsy fun, and snacking on goodies. Teenagers can volunteer to help the younger kids stack on track while parents serve in other roles. (If you’re interested in this opportunity, be sure to reach out to Kayleigh McDaniel!)
You can find other opportunities to serve in the local community, too. Acts of service not only contribute good to others, but they build faith and family unity.
4. Keep Worship at the Center
What about keeping worship at the center during summer fun? How can you keep it a priority? One way that some families do that is by attending a local church when they’re away from home. If that seems intimidating, you can simply commit to watching your home church’s service online whenever you’re not there.
What’s important for Christian parents is helping your kids recognize the value in being committed to a local church and prioritizing attendance from the time they’re young.
If you’re not able to get to a church in the remote mountain cabin where your family’s vacationing, and there’s no internet either, you can always take some time to pray and read Scripture together during the typical church time. This reinforces the truth that worship grounds us in God’s presence no matter where we are.
5. Let Creation Spark Wonder
Do you love exploring the outdoors? Basking in God’s creation can spark deep wonder. Sitting in the quiet morning listening to the birds sing. Walking along a river listening to the roar of rushing water crashing against the rocks. Sitting at the edge of the ocean looking out at the vastness and feeling so small… and in awe of the Creator who formed it with His own hands.
Why not make some time to get out and explore nature more this summer? It’s such a great way to bring faith and family together, to reflect on God’s beauty and creativity. Maybe take a prayer walk, keep a nature journal, or read Psalm 19 together while you’re sitting around a campfire with the stars glowing about you. Let wonder become part of your family’s spiritual growth and worship this summer.
6. Create a Sabbath Routine
One thing our culture could use more of is a Sabbath routine. Remembering to keep the Sabbath holy is one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8), and as an example for us, when God created the universe, He worked on six days and rested on the seventh. Our busy schedules can easily keep us from choosing Sabbath, but this summer is as good a time as any to incorporate Sabbath into your family routine.
Derek and Amy Weichel, of Faithful Parent, started setting aside time for Sabbath rest a few years ago, and their family has found it to be a gift.
“Since implementing this Sabbath rhythm, we’ve been so blessed by the results. Having dedicated time to rest, reflect, and focus on God has helped us keep our priorities in check. We’ve enjoyed deeper family connections, a break from the distractions of technology, and a sense of renewal as we start each new week.” – Derek & Amy Weichel
Summer doesn’t have to be a season of spiritual disconnection. Let’s let it be a time when we encourage the spiritual growth of our families.
And when you’re in town, join us at the FBC-Mebane campus or the New Life Campus. We’ve got activities for the whole family at both locations!
