Family worship is all of life
As I write this post, my family is away, gone to help my in-laws move into their new home.
Two weeks is a very long time.
Yesterday I went to a public worship service. I went alone. It was the first time I’ve been to a public worship service since resigning from the pastorate, and it felt strange not to have my family with me.
It didn’t feel strange simply because I was by myself, but also because the words “family” and “worship” have become interrelated in my mind, things that go together. It felt strange because I’ve come to see worship as much more than a public gathering. Worship has to do with relationships more than it does rituals.
Worship, even family worship, is a way of life.
Family worship is not ONLY gathering together to sing, read the Bible, and pray. Family worship is more, yet simpler.
For a family where Christ is central, family worship is not a weekly event or gathering. Family worship is all of life.
It happens in the attitudes, conversations, relationships, and responsibilities of daily living.
And it happens because Christ is loved, praised, honored and exalted in the lives of parents before anything else.
Don’t wait for a scheduled time or place to worship together as a family. Family worship begins when you wake each morning, when you do chores together, when you talk of the day’s events, when you tuck in your children at the end of the day.
Family worship happens as you honestly share your own struggles, and how you are rediscovering God’s grace in the midst of them. Family worship happens as you give yourself to the LORD, in full view of your kids, and they witness what He is doing in you and through you. Family worship happens as they begin to embrace the God you’ve embraced – for themselves, because of your example.
Family worship is life together, lived humbly in the presence and by the power of Christ, who is the LORD of every family member.
by 
Yes, Carey, I agree. Family worship happens every day between the walls of our home. God is constantly giving me opportunities to be an example to my boys of what worship really looks like. It all begins with a healthy fear of God.
This morning I woke up not feeling up to “worship.” I was tired. I was grumpy. I didn’t feel like taking on the responsibilities of being a mom. But, the Lord convicted me in my heart that I needed to be a better example to the boys — learning to put on a smile even if I didn’t “feel like it.” It all came down to asking myself, “Is my attitude showing a healthy fear of God or is it becoming a hindrance to my kids?”
I’m honest with my boys in letting them know my struggles. Thankfully they are gracious with me in my weaknesses just as the Lord is faithful to do the same. Thanks for the reminder of how we can honor the Lord and worship Him any time, any day.
psiboxer Your comments are such a blessing to me! Thanks for sharing. I love that the LORD guides and convicts us in such things!
I like this perspective, Carey. I think it’s enhanced when we can talk to our kids about how every part of our lives is worship. I’ve heard about little things that I liked like stopping to pray a prayer of gratitude after a night of family fun. Things like that can really drive it home with kids.