Spirituality and young families

We've all heard the saying, "The family that prays together stays together." Prayer can happen in many circumstances — at a Sunday service, in the home, on holidays, wherever. Let's start by looking at the Biblical foundations for families and work from there.

Spirituality in families. In a Christian context, spirituality in families isn't simply teaching doctrines. "Doctrine" just means "teaching" — often used for a collection of beliefs relating to specific Biblical issues, but in its broadest sense meaning a collection of teachings that can (and perhaps should) include lifestyle and practices. Spirituality in families, then, includes both beliefs and practices — the whole of a family's life should have its "doctrines" God-centred, in what they believe and how they live. If this is developed, they'll experience God's presence in how they love, serve and worship, and in how they practise forgiveness when things go awry, and in daily discipleship.

Bible basics. The Bible presents the family as a main setting for spiritual development:

• Parents are instructed to teach God's commands throughout everyday life: "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon 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 — if written today, it probably would have added "and when you are driving in your car.")
• In Joshua 24:15, Joshua declared: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
• Two important women in the New Testament were Lois and Eunice — Paul recognised they were instrumental in raising Timothy and helping his faith grow. Notably, Lois was Timothy's grandmother: it isn't only the immediate family who helps spiritually; grandparents can have an important role (2 Timothy 1:5).
• "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." This was Paul's advice to the Christians at Ephesus — and while he specifically named fathers, he could well have meant mothers too (Ephesians 6:4).

Spirituality and faith should be shared across generations, integral to daily family life.

Obstacles to family spiritual growth. Many of us have busy schedules — parents often have to work to raise enough money to live comfortably, and the cost of living can be high. Children have school, sport, and hobbies. There are many electronic distractions — social media, games, television — affecting every family member, not just children, alongside non-electronic distractions like following sporting teams and events. All of these can work against quality family time and spiritual growth on God-centred matters.

As individuals, we can have differing levels of commitment to serving God, meaning some family members may have more enthusiasm for shared spiritual activities like attending church, reading the Bible, worshipping and praying together. There will likely be age differences leading to a wide variety of priorities that may not include family unity, at least at some times of the day. And the pace of modern life and various responsibilities might lead to stress and exhaustion by day's end.

We're not seeking perfection in family spiritual life — we're reaching out to develop our spiritual family in God's sight. If we trust in Him and have an earnest desire to serve Him as a family, He will guide us. We just need to ask Him, through prayer, and believe He will help. He's never promised to keep us away from struggles — what He has promised is His help in meeting them.