Family & Parenting Devotionals

Daily devotionals for parents in every season, from toddlers to adult kids. Faith at the kitchen table.

The order matters. God first. Your marriage second. Your kids third. When the kids run the house, everybody loses, including the kids.

Lisa and I raised four children and now we've got grandkids, and the best thing I ever did for them was love God and love their mom in front of them. I got plenty wrong along the way. But Deuteronomy 6 says to teach faith when you sit at home and when you walk down the road, and that's the part any parent can do.

These parenting devotionals cover every season, from toddlers to teenagers to grown and gone. The scripture reference and summary under each one tell you which. Many of them work read out loud at the table.

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Arrows

Psalms 127:3-5

Psalm 127:3-5 likens children to arrows in the hands of a warrior, emphasizing the importance of carefully nurturing and guiding them to develop their full potential and meet life's challenges, highlighting the finite window for shaping their journey, and underscoring the role of parents in instilling values and preparing them as spiritual warriors, while encouraging partnership with the church in this endeavor.

All Devotionals

Next to Him

3:1-5

Nehemiah 3 reads like a roll call, and the phrase "next to him" appears twenty-two times while Nehemiah's own name is absent. The devotional draws out the leadership in that disappearance: the chapter where the leader vanishes is the chapter where the work gets done. We are invited to stop trying to build the whole wall, hire for intensity over intellect, and simply build the section in front of us alongside the person next to us.

He Refreshes My Soul

23:1-3

Psalm 23:1-3 offers a complete theology in a single line: if the Lord is your shepherd, you lack nothing. The verb matters — he makes us lie down, because rest is not something we choose naturally. Sheep will not drink from turbulent water, so the shepherd finds still places. Soul-level refreshment comes from outside ourselves, and God delights when we actually receive the gift.

The Heavy Word: Honor

Exodus 20:12 calls us to “honor” our father and mother by giving them real weight in our hearts—recognizing their God-given significance even when the relationship is imperfect, with gratitude, humility, and wise boundaries when needed. As we practice this sacred posture at home, we grow in our ability to honor God and extend grace that can bring healing and maturity.

Jesus > Family

Luke 14:26 challenges us to love Jesus so supremely that all other attachments—even to family—pale in comparison, calling us to reorder every relationship and priority around full devotion to Him. This isn’t about neglecting others, but about letting Christ become the center from which we truly learn how to love them well.

He Has Come

Galatians 4:4–5 declares that at just the right moment, God sent His Son to redeem us and make us His own—not just forgiving our sins, but adopting us into His family. The arrival of Jesus means we are no longer waiting for rescue; love has come, and our identity is now rooted in being fully known, fully wanted, and forever His.

Questions

How long is each devotional?
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About five minutes. One passage, a short reflection from Ed, and one thing to do or say that day.

Are these for parents of young kids or teenagers?
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Both. Some are about the early years, some about raising teens, and some about adult children. The scripture reference and summary under each title tell you which is which.

Can I read these with my kids?
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Many can be read aloud at the table. For younger children, read the passage and talk about the closing question in your own words.