Every year at the start of the Church year, I encourage my people to slow down during the Advent season. The world will be in a mad rush to Christmas (mind you a mere gift exchange and day off from work for most) and then the New Year. I tell them to be intentional each week in Advent as we continue to prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus.

This is one of those times when I could be much better practicing what I preach. It happens to all of us, though. Our schedules seem set when all of a sudden there’s one more party or event or dinner. Pretty soon, the season slips away and our schedules with it!

In the rush of everything, the first thing to go is often daily prayer. We’ll say that we’ll get to it, but when the time comes, our minds wander off mid-prayer, and we fall asleep. To be intentional about such things—especially during busy seasons—is crucial lest the practice fall away all together.

Even though my brother has already spoken about keeping up with family devotions as empty nesters, I want to encourage you once again and especially those of you who have smaller children. None of us are completely faithful in keeping our schedules all the time, but keeping a set time as sacred for such things is important. I have also noticed a great difference in my children when we read and pray before bed. They go to bed more easily and sleep better (for the most part). I attribute that to being intentional about that time, slowing down, hearing the comforting words of the Scriptures, and praying for those whose trials might be causing grief or uncertainty.

For our evening devotion, we simply use the LSB Prayer for the Close of the Day. As the Head of the Household, I lead. When it comes time to read, we use the Treasury of Daily Prayer and often will add the reading at the end. Since my boys are still quite young, I will explain difficult words so that they might better understand. In closing with the prayers, my older son always says, “Go to bed at once in good cheer, go to the bathroom, and brush your teeth!” We begin promptly at 7:30pm and the boys get to bed by 7:45.

If you have fallen away from family devotions, there’s no better time to begin again than tonight. Let the Word of Christ dwell richly among you and your family. I can’t promise your children will actually go to sleep in good cheer, but I will promise you what the Scriptures say: that Word will not return empty. It will accomplish that for which God purposes it (Isaiah 55:11).