The Children and Family altar

Woodrow Kroll, the director of Back to the Bible, wrote about his family prayer, “Most Christian families claim that their greatest difficulty as a family is finding time to read God’s Word together. Why? Because it takes discipline to make that time.

In my family, our time with God’s Word is just after the evening meal. The time we set aside to read God’s Word and pray as a family is never violated, never interrupted. If the doorbell rings or if the phone rings, the caller will have to try another time. We discipline ourselves not to let people interrupt our family’s time with God and His Word”.

All of us agree that the family that plays and prays together stays together. But we find it very difficult to put it into practise. Sometimes we either do not have family altar or have it in a way at least enjoyed by the children. What can we do to make the family altar interesting and useful to the family members?

1. Decide to start one: If you do not have regular family altar in your home, set aside a particular time each day and start it immediately.
2. Make it as a routine: Any activity that is carried out at a particular time daily over a period of one month will become a hobby. So make it a regular feature in the family. The time of family altar may be different in different homes, but there should be a particular fixed time for family altar every day. 
3. Encourage full participation: See to it that all the members of the family participate in the family altar daily, except on unavoidable circumstances. Never change the time, because of the absence of a particular member of the family. 
4. Have a time of singing: Most children like singing. So try singing together and use musical instruments if possible. 
5. Bible reading: This is the most important part of the family altar. Make the Bible reading interesting by choosing the right passage and read it in such a way that it will be enjoyed by the children. The Bible reading can be followed by either a brief discussion or an exhortation time.
6. Prayer and Praise: It will be good if most of the members pray just a few sentences each. Long and monotonous prayers should be avoided. Each day pray for a particular need and for the family. Pray for the needs of the children and never forget to have a time of praise and worship in the family altar.
7. Special Occasions: On special occasions thank God for the blessing and specially pray for the events like birthdays and anniversaries.

Remember that it is God’s plan for a family to have regular family devotion time. So consider the family devotion time as an important activity in the family, and have it daily, consistently and meaningfully.