The Men of Iron Minute

by Jeff Reimold | Chief Executive Mentor

Why Devotions With Your Kids Is Important

When I was 12, I lived with my dad, stepmom, and stepsister. It was a really hard situation for me because I had just moved in with them. This meant changing schools, losing all my friends, and moving from a situation where my mom had worked at night, so I was used to having a ton of freedom to do whatever I had wanted to do. I was now in what I called a fanatical Christian home with people who I struggled to see as real family. I also felt like I had to compete with my stepmom and stepsister to get my dad’s attention. 

I wasn’t happy and I wasn’t into sugar coating everything with Jesus. It felt fake because I didn’t have or understand what a real relationship with God looked like. I was very angry because it seemed like God had handed me a pretty crappy deal. 

Even though it was tough, I can look back and see one sparkling memory from that season in life.

I’m not sure what the circumstances were, but my stepmom suggested we start dedicating one night a week to family time with God. 

We called it love night and at first, I thought it was a corny idea and of course there was no way I was going to tell my friends that I had to go home because of love night. Anyway, we would play games and we would do things intended to help develop our relationship with God.   

Sadly, I can say this great memory didn’t lead me to serve God the right way at the time, but I know for sure those seeds that were planted were the very ones that sprouted when I hit rock bottom a decade or so later. 

The moral of the story is…

Be intentional as a father to create space in your family to pursue God together.

God gave us this amazing promise that if we teach our children the way they should go, when they are old, they will not turn from it. 

Now is the time to start doing a daily devotional with your family. Take time to read it together and talk about it with your wife and kids. Plant the seeds that will help them get closer to a life enriched by relationship with the Father. Use my story as an example that it doesn’t matter how much they may say they don’t want to participate or give you a hard time about it, there is a promise attached which you can forever hold on to. 

SUBSCRIBE | WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

30-Day Men’s Devotional, Fitness Challenge, Mentor & Coaching Resources for men. Check out our FREE RESOURCES and find the tool you need to help you become the man you want to be!