COVENANTER

As Joshua prepares to give Israel his final charge, he begins with a reminder: God has never failed to keep a single promise. Not one of His words has “fallen to the ground.” That truth is just as comforting for us when we are waiting on promises that seem slow to come. The God who has never let His Word fall will never let one of His children fall either.

We often think about stewarding our time in terms of keeping appointments, meeting deadlines, and fulfilling the commitments we’ve made to others. But what about the hours and minutes in between—the time that isn’t already spoken for? Scripture reminds us that every moment belongs to the Lord, and wisdom means learning to steward not only our scheduled time but also our unscheduled time for His glory.

We were created to recognize, appreciate, and pursue beauty because beauty is one of the ways God has revealed something of His own glory to us. Yet Scripture warns us that when we pursue beauty apart from God, the very things we seek can become the means of our ruin. Ezekiel’s prophecy against the king of Tyre shows us both the beauty humanity was created to enjoy and the devastating consequences of seeking that beauty on our own terms.

Have you ever wished you could enjoy the good parts of life without having to deal with the difficult ones? We often try to cut the “crust” off life, forgetting that some of what we would most like to avoid may be precisely what God uses to nourish and strengthen us. In 2 Corinthians, Paul shows us that suffering is not an unwelcome interruption to the Christian life, but an essential part of learning to depend on Christ and experience His comfort.

For the past few weeks, we’ve considered the practice of family worship. We’ve seen the rich benefits of regularly gathering to read Scripture, sing, and pray, but as we come to the end of this series, there are a few final thoughts worth considering. In particular, we’ll think about how family worship applies to those who are single, what we should—and shouldn’t—expect from it, and what should ultimately motivate us to worship together in our homes.

Family worship is not complete without prayer. After considering Scripture and song, we turn now to the privilege of speaking to God together as a family. What does it mean to pray, and what might it look like for our families to grow in this ordinary but profound practice? Prayer is not only an offering we bring to the Lord, but a gift we share as families when we pray with and for one another.

Today we’ll consider one of the most frequently overlooked elements of family worship: singing God’s praises. Singing is not an optional addition tacked onto the “real” parts of family worship. It is itself a real and wonderful act of worship. You don’t need a good voice, instrumental accompaniment, or perfect harmony; you simply need a heart filled with joy in the Lord that overflows in praise.

Scripture reading is a vital element of family worship. Through His Word, we encounter the Lord, and He uses it to shape and transform our hearts and minds. We can set ourselves up for success by starting small and growing steadily in our Bible reading, while also deepening our own knowledge of the Lord. As we do, we will be better equipped to answer the questions that may arise and to lead our families in knowing and loving Him.

There is so much to celebrate in the rich blessings of family worship. What a gracious gift from the Lord that such simple practices—reading Scripture, singing together, and praying—can bring blessing to parents, young children, older children, future generations, and even the whole church family! Let us commit ourselves together to cultivating this practice in our homes.

Before examining each of the elements of family worship, it’s helpful to consider a few mistakes that can quietly undermine its practice. These common mistakes often make it more difficult than it needs to be or even discourage families from continuing altogether. Avoiding them can be helpful in establishing a faithful and joyful pattern of family worship.

For many Christian parents, the thought of leading family worship can feel more intimidating than inviting. Questions about knowing enough, doing it the "right" way, or keeping everyone's attention often discourage families before they ever begin. But God has not called us to perfection. He has called us to faithfulness, and there are at least three reasons we should approach family worship with confidence rather than fear.

Every day, we are being shaped by what we choose to behold. Whether through music, movies, social media, or countless other forms of media, the things that capture our attention quietly shape our loves, desires, and ultimately our worship. Scripture calls us to consider not only what we consume, but what our habits reveal about the true affections of our hearts.