Gratitude according to scripture is an active expression of thankfulness, not just words or actions but actually displaying and living as you mean it. We have taken a deep dive into gratitude itself, as well as 10 ways to show gratitude to God. It is also important to focus on showing those closest to us in this life that we appreciate and care for them, and that we do in fact truly appreciate them. What are some practical and creative ways we can show gratitude to family and friends?
We are in a season where people are more specifically focusing on being grateful and expressing their gratitude for and to others. It is always interesting how we are so prone to neglect gratitude the rest of the year and reserve our thanksgiving for the holiday season. I want to encourage us, though, to use these ideas in practical, everyday life all year long, not just leading up to Thanksgiving itself.
Tell them what you appreciate and love about them
One of the most basic but impactful things we can do to show gratitude to family and friends is to flat out tell them that we appreciate them, what we are thankful for, and that we love them. It sounds so simple, but if you’re like me we need these reminders. Something as simple as a compliment and word of appreciation can make a huge difference to someone’s day.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
I love that my husband and I have a habit of daily telling each other that we appreciate one another, and I always strive to thoroughly express my gratitude for him and what he does for me. Whether it be little or big, I thank him for it. And not just saying it, but I put my heart into it and truly strive to display my genuine gratitude.
For my kiddo, I try to make sure I thank her when she does something for me or even when she does her chores or listens to instructions I’ve given her. She always very obviously cherishes it when Mom says thank you and that she is appreciated.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
For my friends, I try to be intentional about expressing my appreciation to and for them. I express to each friend my gratitude in ways that speak more personally to each person. To clearly communicate love and appreciation requires us to go out of our way in ways that will speak to them specifically.
Each relationship and person is unique, and each will receive a clear sense of appreciation and affection uniquely as well. It is important that we take this into account when expressing something so important to those close to us. What doesn’t change is the need for this expression and communication within each relationship.
Thank them for both menial and significant tasks
Whether my kiddo completed an expected chore she is well trained in, takes a dirty dish to the kitchen for me, studies hard for a test, offers to do something for me, or makes me a heartfelt surprise, I make sure I thank her for it. This certainly should go hand in hand with telling our loved ones that we do in fact love and appreciate them, but again we so often need the reminder to say a simple yet important “thank you” every chance we get.
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly[a] mentioning you in our prayers,
Remember, not only are you to serve the Lord in all you do, but I find it helpful to remember that our family and friends are called to do the same. We should treat our loved ones as fellow workers for the Lord and exhort and encourage them in the work they are doing, no matter how significant or menial it seems to be. Thank them for choosing to bless you with their service, as well as for how they serve God in other ways outside of your personal relationship with them.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Before the pandemic when my kiddo was attending school in person I used to send little love notes in her lunchbox all the time. Now she has a whiteboard in her room and I sneak in there and write a little something to her. She likewise enjoys leaving sticky notes around places she knows we will find them.
These little notes are amazing. Whether it is a thank you, I love you, or a silly joke, it lets the person know you care and appreciate them. This level of expressing gratitude is beautiful because it surprises the other person, and it requires some thought and effort on your part.
12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
Some other practical ways to leave a little note of affection and gratitude are making or buying some thank you cards, leaving a handwritten note where they will find it, sending a text or email, or making a phone call. These are such simple ideas to show gratitude to family and friends but can have a profound effect on the receiver of your note.
Make special time for them
It so often feels like time is the number one reason and excuse people give for not spending time with loved ones. We place work, hobbies, other people, and so many other things above spending time with our loved ones. Making time to invest in our relationships with family and friends is vital to the health of those relationships, and it is a massive way to show gratitude to family and friends.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
I have said it before, and I will say it again – you have time, you just choose to spend it differently. Throughout scripture, God teaches us how to prioritize our relationships. He always comes first, our spouse, then children, parents, and other direct family. Then comes fellow believers, ministry, and work.
The main point I want to make right now is that work and ministry come after our personal relationships. We should be prioritizing investing in our personal relationships and striving to live an orderly life, which in turn will help us show gratitude to family and friends.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
This requires making time for the people God has blessed us with. We show gratitude to family and friends by making time for them, showing them they matter to us, we appreciate them. This enables us to treat them as the blessing from God that they are. Not only does this show them we are grateful, but expresses to God that we are grateful to Him for the people in our lives. Treat those close relationships with true appreciation by investing some time into them.
Pray for them and teach them about Christ
Above all, no matter what else you do, never neglect to show gratitude to family and friends by praying over those relationships. This is a beautiful thing we can do even without them knowing, but also seeking out how we can pray specifically for them will show them we care as well. I pray for my husband and kiddo daily, as well as for my parents, siblings, and other direct family. I also seek out how to lift my friends up in prayer. When I don’t know what specifically to pray for, I still lift them up to God. I thank God for them and seek His protection, guidance, and peace for them.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
Rely on God’s Holy Spirit to guide your prayers over the people in your life. We don’t need to know the details, because God does. Simply lift the people in your life up to God in prayer and encourage them that you are doing so. Express to God as well as to them that you are praying over them, the greatest blessing you could do for them.
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Another aspect is to encourage them with God’s Word. Even with my family and friends that are not believers, I let them know I am praying for them, encouraging them with scripture, and am unashamed by my faith and encouragement toward them. Sharing scripture, even for the people in your life who are not believers, can be used by God to uplift them and show them your love and appreciation. It also, of course, can be used to help draw them closer to God.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[a] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
It can be something as simple as a card or note with an encouraging Bible passage, a text to ask how you can pray for them, or just simply praying over them each day. You can show gratitude to family and friends by daily lifting them up in prayer, praying scripture over them, and sharing appropriate passages with them when the opportunities arise. It is a great act of love to share God’s love with others.
Thank them for simply being in your life
Again, such a simple thing but such a profound impact. I make sure to tell my husband and child that I am grateful for them being in my life. I love my kiddo’s reaction every time. She always has this response of pure wonder. She asks me sometimes if I am happy she is my kid and I tell her every time “absolutely. I thank God for you every single day, and am blessed to have YOU as my child.”
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Letting the people in your life know that you are grateful simply to have them in your life is such a beautiful way to show gratitude to family and friends. They don’t have to do anything significant. Just the simple fact of them being in your life is a blessing and is something you are grateful for without anything extra.
Be a good steward of your home and relationships
One way I love to show my husband in particular that I appreciate him is to take care of our home and family as a homemaker. I see caring for my home as an investment into my family and my relationships with them. Even while I was working full time I was the one primarily tending to the home because it is an act of service I know I have been called to provide to show my appreciation for my family and my home.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
I work hard to ensure my family is fed, clothed, and lives in a clean, orderly environment filled with love. We can all do this in a variety of ways. From housework, grocery shopping, and meal prep to praying, reading scripture, and bedtime stories I make it my mission to show my family my appreciation by how I care for them.
No matter who you are, being a good steward of your relationships and your home is an act of service that communicates that you are grateful for them and want to serve them. It should not be done grudgingly, not grumbling for them to help, but simply act out of a heart of love and appreciation for them, choosing to serve them in the ways God provides for you to do.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a]6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Serve your relationships by showering them with love, patience, kindness, joy, honesty, and support. Live out God’s definition of love in your relationships, shower it over your home, and relish in the blessings of that love. Pour God’s love out into your relationships to show gratitude to family and friends.
Display the fruits of the spirit within and about your relationships
As we pour out God’s love into our relationships, we will better bear the fruits of His Spirit in those relationships. Love, patience, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control… all of these fruits take intention. We must choose to express and dwell in these attributes. We should never expect them to just come naturally. We should never just give up when they don’t show up. They take work, intention, and investment. They are a choice.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
When we invest in our relationships and intentionally choose to express these fruits, God blesses these relationships. When we strive to treat others as Christ does, remembering that He died not just for us but also for them, we can humbly serve, love, and cherish those relationships. In cherishing these relationships we show gratitude to family and friends in that we are willing to invest and purposefully take steps toward love and care.
Be a listening ear and comforter in times of need
By investing in the fruits of God’s Spirit, we should be patient, bearing with our loved ones, and choose to stop and listen, help, comfort, and guide them through whatever life throws their way. Just like making time for the people in our lives is important, taking it a step further to make time for them regardless of the ups and downs of life is profound.
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.[a]
Whatever your friends and family are facing, be there for them. Show gratitude to family and friends by simply being there when they need you. Be there when they are rejoicing, when they are mourning, when they are feeling utterly broken or brand new. As Christ is there for us in all seasons, we should be there for those family and friends God has given us.
Offer to help and listen in times of want and in times of plenty
Sometimes simply being there, listening, comforting, and rejoicing is not the end of the call. Sometimes we are given an opportunity to go above and beyond for the friends and family in our lives. It is so important to remember that God has given us all we have in order to bless others. What we have is not simply for ourselves, but to be shared and used to advance God’s Kingdom and care for fellow people on this planet as well.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Sometimes God will give you opportunities to use what He has given you to help your family and friends. Obeying this call, taking the opportunity, sacrificing for their sake can be an incredible way to show gratitude to family and friends.
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
The other day I needed to drop my kiddo off with my mom for a few hours for a doctor’s appointment. On my way to pick her up, I stopped and grabbed a coffee for my mom, knowing this would show her how much I appreciate her help that day. When a friend is in need, I pray for God to reveal how I can best serve that need and help my friend. Every occasion will look different, but we should always have a heart willing and ready to be used to serve the needs of others in the ways God calls on us to do.
Why we should show gratitude to family and friends
All of us share the call to love God and love others. Expressing our gratitude for others is an important part of expressing our love for the people in our lives, as well as our gratitude to God for giving them to us and us to them. It is also an act of service to love and show gratitude to family and friends.
There are countless ways to show gratitude to family and friends. What are some other ways you show gratitude to the people in your life? What are some areas you struggle to show gratitude to family and friends? Let us know in the comments below and let’s encourage one another to grow in gratitude toward God as well as the people He has placed in our lives.
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I personally LOVE to read a plethora of books. As a mom, I love to find all kinds of great books for my kiddo to read, which as a Christian family can be very difficult. I enjoy finding books I can read with my family, as well as look for books I can read on my own, but I especially look for books that honor God. Today I want to tell you aboutmy top 5 Christian books to read as a family.
Some of my favorite books have been those I can read with my family. My kiddo is getting older, as they do, and she is also an avid reader herself. We love to read together at bedtime every night and need books that we can all understand as well as that we can all learn from. I would love to share my top 5 Christian books that I have read with my family.
#1 Unshakable Hope by Max Lucado
Unshakable Hope by Max Lucado has quickly become one of my favorite reads. I enjoyed it so much that we have started going through a 12-week study with it in our Vineyard Women’s Group. The way the world is right now, the state of our economy, the effects of the pandemic, all added on top of everything else we were already facing have caused so much panic, a shaking of hope and faith. This book was so helpful to my family and I am loving the study with the ladies as well.
Nothing lifts us out of fear and weariness like hope. An anchor through life’s storms, hope buoys our spirits and seeks to make a way when we face tough times. After 40 years of ministry and speaking to hurt hearts, Max Lucado has learned that the promises of God will give you the strength you need. Each chapter in Unshakable Hope explores one Biblical promise that will help equip you to face every day with courage. Includes reflection questions for individual or group study.
#2 The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
I read the entire series of the Chronicles of Narnia this past year and my kiddo has also read it. We didn’t read this one together, yet, but I loved it so much I plan to reread the whole series as a family before long. It is such a wonderful 7-book series by an acclaimed Christian author, C.S. Lewis, that truly gets you thinking about the Bible story. I highly encourage this series to adults and children. It is a pretty easy read but incredibly enjoyable no matter your age.
Once your children have followed Lucy through the back of a magic wardrobe – and met Aslan, the Christlike lion – they’ll never be the same! Kids adore these classics for their imaginative story lines and adults appreciate the rich Christian symbolism. This softcover set is perfect for young children and families that are on the go.
Each volume in this 7 book softcover set includesstunning new cover art by Cliff Nielsen. The individual books include approximately 200 pages and measure 4.25″ by 7.25″. This set also includes an attractive slipcase in which the books can be safely stored and attractively displayed.
#3 How Happiness Happens by Max Lucado
How Happiness Happens by Max Lucado is actually what we are currently reading as a family, and we are enjoying it immensely. Max Lucado has become one of my favorite authors to read with my family as his books are so thorough, yet written in such a way that the whole family can grasp easily and be edified and encouraged by. This one is definitely toward the top of my list of books I recommend for everyone to read.
We live in a world that teaches all kinds of things about happiness, but through How Happiness Happens Max Lucado walks us through practical applications of Biblical teachings and principles for the true meaning of happiness.
In a world searching for happiness, bestselling author Max Lucado provides a personal plan for a life filled with lasting and fulfilling joy, supported by Jesus’ teaching and modern research.
Do you feel happy?
How long has it been since you felt a level of contagious, infectious, unflappable, unstoppable happiness? Maybe your answer is, “All the time.” If so, God bless you! (And consider suggesting this book to someone who needs it.) For many of us the answer is, “Well, it’s been a while. I used to be happy, but then life took its toll.”
Only one-third of Americans surveyed said they were happy. How can this be? Education is accessible to most. We’ve made advancements in everything from medicine to technology, yet 66 percent of us can’t find an adequate reason to check the “yes” box on the happiness questionnaire.
Worldwide, people profess that happiness is their most cherished goal. Marketers get this. “Want to be happy?” they ask. Eat at this restaurant, drive this car, wear this dress. Happiness happens when you lose the weight, get the date, find the mate, or discover your fate. It’s wide, this way to happiness. Yet, for all its promise, it delivers a fragile joy; here one day, tomorrow scattered by the winds of comparison, disappointment, or unmet expectations.
Max writes, “There is another option. It requires no credit card, monthly mortgage, or stroke of fortune. Age and ethnicity aren’t factors…an unexpected door to joy.”
In this book Max shares the unexpected path to a lasting happiness, one that produces reliable joy in any season of life. Based on the teachings of Jesus and backed by modern research, How Happiness Happens presents a surprising but practical way of living that will change you from the inside out.
#4 Grace by Max Lucado
Grace by Max Lucado was definitely one of my favorites because Max Lucado really puts grace into real perspective and applicable examples. My family and I definitely had a fire as well as a better understanding of the grace of God after reading this book and encouraged me to learn how to display grace and even explain grace better to others.
In Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine, Max Lucado calls readers back to consider the abundant richness of God’s offer. It’s an offer to live a changed life, a call to genuine transformation and the courage to see it through. Don’t let grace pass you by. When you let it in, it will rock your world, and change your heart.
As believers in Christ, we claim to understand grace. From Sunday school to adulthood we’ve been taught that we’re saved by grace. We know the Bible verses and the sinner’s prayer, but have we really taken hold of it? Or rather, has it taken hold of us?
Grace isn’t a nice idea. It’s not a song lyric, or a warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s the radical life of Christ lived in you. Grace gives you the freedom to love the unlovable, and forgive the unforgivable, because you know how much you’re loved, and know how much you’ve been forgiven. Softcover.
#5 God Will Carry Your Through by Max Lucado
God Will Carry You Through by Max Lucado was one of the first books we read as a family. It ignited the desire to make it a nightly routine, and it also helped us in a stressful point in this crazy pandemic. With so much happening around us this was such an encouraging read for us to go through together.
Looking for answers to replace your tears? Running low on hope for the future? Spending more time with discouragement than joy?
Sooner or later, life turns us upside down. Sooner or later, we all encounter the pain and disappointments of life. When life gets hard, the road to peace may not be painless. It may not be quick. But God will use your struggle for good. Trust him. God will carry you through.
Includes a presentation page for gift-giving. Hardcover.
How do we read as a family?
We love to read as a family. I also love to use my Kindle Oasis while my kiddo uses her kid’s Kindle or reads along on my phone using the Kindle app. This lets us read along together better, or gives us the flexibility to trade off reading turns. Sometimes I read, other times my husband or child read, but having multiple devices has been really helpful for us to allow whoever wants to read to do so while the rest follow along.
For those who have Amazon Prime, you may not know that it includes Prime Reading which allows you to basically “check out” books for free like you would from a library. There is also Kindle Unlimited which is a monthly subscription that unlocks tons more books and can be incredibly cost-effective for a nightly family reading routine. And of course there is also Audible which is awesome for those who prefer to be read to.
Whatever you love to read, and whether you prefer digital or physical books, I hope you will find these recommendations helpful for your family. I would love to invite you to share what your favorite books to read are, whether with your family or on your own.
What encouragement would you like to share with fellow parents looking for Christian books for our kids?
What recommendations would you make in looking for books to read on your own?
What authors do you love to read that encourage you in your faith and relationship with Jesus?
Whether you’re married, have kids, living with your parents or other family members you know that it can be tough to find meaningful things you can do together, that you all enjoy. For us, the go-to for a long time was watching movies or playing a videogame together, but it’s still tough to create time daily to focus on one another in a meaningful way. We recently began to read the Bible as a family, It took some doing to make it a habit but I am so glad we did.
During the pandemic, you would think it would have been easier to do, but honestly, I think that we spend so much time together that we tend to spend a lot less quality time with one another. It hit me like a brick house a few months ago that I was getting far too distracted and not focusing enough on my family. I knew I needed to fix this asap so we started getting intentional about being in scripture together every day, even if only in little doses.
We all love to spend time together, but our hobbies are all different so it is really challenging to find common ground on activities we will all enjoy doing together. I prayed over how to get us together every day even just for a few minutes, and God has worked on us to create a nice little routine that all of us enjoy and I can see already is easily evolving as we grow. Every day we do three things that have helped all of us so much, and our home feels much closer and more peaceful.
Read a Passage a Day
One of the most beautiful things you can do is read the Bible as a family. It honestly took us a long while to get into this habit, but a few months ago the kiddo and I first started reading a Psalm a day in the mornings before she starts school and I start my work for the day around the house and community.
Reading a passage a day with my kiddo has been amazing. It gets us both in the Word every morning, and also gives her the chance to read with me and ask questions about what we are reading. Sometimes we have long conversations about what the passage means, and sometimes it’s quick. Either way, we have set our focus on God for the day.
I can say without a doubt this has helped us both a lot to have this time together with God. Whatever stage your family is at, I encourage you to read a passage as a family every day. You can use a reading plan, or just open to wherever you’re feeling led that day. Let God lead the way and the passage every day and watch as He works in you and your family through the shared experience of being in scripture together on a regular basis.
Read a Devotional or Study Together
At the time we began to read the Bible as a family I was reading an amazing book with our Vineyard Women’s group, called Battle Plan for Prayer. I was loving this study so much, and my kiddo and I had also just started a prayer journaling routine in the mornings, so I thought this would be an amazing opportunity to share with my kiddo and help her learn more about prayer as well. We started reading together at bedtime, and now my husband (who is not a reader) also joins us and we make it a family bedtime story routine.
This has been so amazing, and we have gone through several devotionals by now. Sometimes we take turns reading and its been a great way to focus on one another while we learn more about God and His Word together right before bed. Some are super short, some have been really long, and we just dive in where the Lord leads.
So far for our family, we have loved Max Lucado’s books. We’ve gone through several by now and for us, it’s been perfect. Our kiddo is still young and in early stages of learning ab0ut faith, and it’s been awesome to have a nice devotional style for my husband and me every day as well.
How do you choose the right study or devotional?
Choosing the right devotionals for your family should be done prayerfully, and remember it’s okay if you start one and realize it’s a bit too advanced for all family members. That’s happened a couple of times for us. (I was a bit too excited to get into C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity only to find out it will be one I read on my own, which, hey, no complaints here!! I love to read!) We ended up saving that for later and grabbing one that is at a more appropriate level for us.
My husband and I also have a Small Group study we do together every week which has been amazing and gives us lots to pray, think and talk about all week long. Studying with my husband has also meant so much to me, as we get to be in the Word together with a couple of friends and learn more about one another and first and foremost about God. I highly recommend this for every couple.
Pray Together Daily
As well as read the Bible as a family, we pray together as a family. This is definitely the most vital part. Praying together as a family is imperative. Not only is it necessary for us to be daily communicating with God, but we can also set an example for those in our family who are newer in faith, and praying with and for them every day helps to strengthen our relationships with our family as well as with God. (Remembering you are talking to God, not your family.)Praying as a family is powerful.
We pray before every meal, even little snacks, and pray constantly throughout the day. My family has set the precedent that when someone is praying nearby, all of us stop what we are doing and pray as well. We hold prayer to a high level of importance in our home. It took quite a while for us to get into this habit, and it took an especially long while and lots of patience to teach our kiddo the importance of prayer, but diligence has paid off and we are now a household that constantly stops to pray together often every day, and I can tell you this is such an incredible blessing.
How has it helped to read the Bible as a family?
Being in the Word on a regular basis, making time consistently to pray and study together, has been really helping all of us to grow in faith, in relationship with God, and with one another. We have had so many more meaningful conversations about faith, God and scripture, our home feels so much more peace, and we are teaching our kiddo to be unafraid of asking questions, value scripture and prayer, and grow in her own faith. It’s been such a beautiful journey so far and I know we have so much ahead of us.
I cannot recommend highly enough that all families, whatever your family’s dynamic, read, study and pray together constantly in intentional and meaningful ways. Remember, you have time, and you choose how you spend your time. Will you choose to prioritize God and His Word in your home and family?
My entire life I have been a night owl. I had never been a morning person. Even being a mom, waking up early happened only when it was necessary for the kiddo or for work, but never voluntary. With that, though, my day always started really late, and then I was up late. Unfortunately, I was opposite my family’s schedule, and enjoyed my time at night playing games, reading, and hanging out with friends online. I didn’t have much of a morning routine.
This made me realize a few things that I now see was without question God letting me know I needed to make some changes. What I thought was for my family was even more so for my faith and my relationship with my Heavenly Father, and has, in turn, benefited my family and my relationship with them.
I am no longer a night owl, but I’m not even upset about it. Honestly, I don’t miss it (often). Sometimes, very rarely, I stay up late (which is now only about 10 pm where it used to be like 2 am), but usually we are all early to bed and early to rise. Why is that? Why would I change this habit I loved of staying up late and sleeping late into the morning?
She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
Last year I revisited Proverbs 31 and God renewed my desire and mission to be the woman He has called me to be. I am a wife and mother, and first and foremost daughter of the One True King, my Heavenly Father. He has placed me here to tend to my family, including to rise early to care for them, which begins with caring for my relationship with God.
This struck me. As time went on God led me to create a morning routine that centers me on Him each day and equips me to better serve Him and care for my family.
Now, if you don’t have a family or others to care for, this still applies – we are all the bride of Christ. This is the way a Christian should live; not grudgingly, but gratefully because we have a Heavenly Father whom we are called to serve out of love for Him, and also serve those He places in our care, whomever that might be. But it begins with us, and our personal relationship with God. In order to serve God well, we must grow with Him daily.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
We must all remember that everyone’s relationship with God is unique, but that some things are the same. We will be called to the same great mission in our own unique ways in which God equips us. For me, this morning routine is what helps me start my day growing with God and I pray this will encourage and inspire you to grow with God daily as well.
Prayer in your morning routine
At the beginning of this year, I was feeling incredibly convicted about prayer. When I had started streaming on Twitch we eventually began to pray together every day, live and on camera, and I started to learn more about prayer. I studied prayer deeply in scripture, began praying with and for others daily, and learned a bit more about praying for myself as well. But let me tell you, building a prayer routine? That was a tough one, but something God put on my heart to do – and I am so grateful He did.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
When I had felt this draw to be more intentional and strategic with my prayers I didn’t know what I was in for. I really didn’t like the idea of a prayer journal; that felt too personal – what if someone else saw it?? But the idea of just keeping a list felt far too impersonal.
I searched and searched for some different books and journals online, though, to see what other people were doing. I scoured Pinterest, asked a couple of friends to pray with me about it, and eventually, I saw where God was taking me.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words
What I needed to learn first is what I believe we all need to learn first – prayer is supposed to be about your personal and intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father. It is not about you, nor others, it is about God. It is to grow with God, grow in faith, build and strengthen your relationship with Him through intentional and constant communication with Him.
What that means is there is no “one size fits all”, but there are certainly practices we can all benefit from in our prayer lives. So, while I would like to share what has worked for me, I would like to encourage you to prayerfully consider how God may be guiding you to a stronger prayer routine to be more intentional about your time with Him.
Recommended for learning more about and diving deeper in prayer:
Writing prayers is so powerful. It helps me to focus more on my prayers, be more intentional, and also be able to go back through old prayers to see answered ones and pray over older ones again. I prayer journal directly to God. It is like a letter I am writing to God, or like passing notes as if He is right next to me. Prayer journaling has been a huge blessing for me and allows me to connect with God in an intimate and personal way.
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Some people love bullet journaling, some write novels every day, some love to doodle or downright paint the whole page. Whatever God leads you to with your journaling, go for it! Rock it out and pray for God to reveal Himself and draw you closer to Him in the personal and intimate ways He wants you to grow in a relationship with Him.
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
If writing them down on paper is not your thing for whatever reason, there are some really incredible online tools that can remain private. My favorite is through the YouVersion Bible App. They have so much to offer, and one thing is their digital prayer list which can be kept privately in the palm of your hand. This may be a good toe-in-the-water to help you feel out writing your prayers down in some private format.
Creating a prayer list is also really helpful if you aren’t much for writing. Having a list of names or things you are praying over can help you set your mind and heart on those things and people in your prayer time.
My Prayer Journaling Staples:
Make time for prayer
I know – your day is just SO busy! How could you possibly make time for anything else?
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
If God is truly a priority in your life you will prioritize Him in your day by making time for Him first thing and throughout. I have started getting up at about 5:00am before my kiddo gets up to have some quiet time with God before I start my day.
This changed my whole morning routine to make sure I have quiet time to spend with God every day. I hold to a principle that I will not say “I don’t have time” – I have time, and it is my choice how I spend my time.
When I do wake up later, I still make sure I take my time to spend with God, and I let my kiddo see it. She now has her own prayer journal and spends time in prayer, building her own morning routine with God. I’ve enjoyed watching her grow in faith and prayer, and develop a better routine with God as well.
You have time – how are you choosing to spend it?
That is not to say you should create unhealthy habits in order to make time for prayer. We should all prayerfully consider how and when God would like us to shape out a part of every day to spend specifically with Him. How can we expect a relationship to grow, to strengthen, to be healthy if we don’t prioritize it and make time to have meaningful and intimate time and conversations within that relationship? The same is true with our relationship with God, and our relationship with God should be placed as #1 in our lives, above all other relationships.
If we make time for friends and family, even ourselves, how much more important should it be to make time for God?
I tried so many different prayer journals and I could not find any that allowed me to really make my prayer time personal. They all felt very fill-in-the-blank and check-the-box, but I needed intimate, personal, creative, and expressive. I wanted space that helped me intentionally and strategically pray, but that gave me the freedom to pray intimately. I then created my own prayer journal and fine-tuned it through many trials, errors, prayers, and studies. You can grab a printable copy of my prayer journal as well to help you get more out of your prayer life.
Read the Bible in your morning routine
After I have prayed for as long as I need and feel led to, I whip open my Bible. I love to have a variety of Bibles. Sometimes I crack open a study Bible, sometimes one with lighter devotionals, sometimes a journaling Bible, sometimes just a raw Bible with no commentary or extras. I use whatever I am feeling led to that morning. I’ve loved using reading plans and have started creating my own for the books and topics I feel led to specifically study and read through.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
I also particularly love a newer routine of reading a Psalm a day with my kiddo before we jump into the day’s activities. We both have an NLT Inspire Art Journaling Bible that we can get artsy in worship to God while we study a Psalm together – bond together as we bond with God. It’s been a beautiful way to begin every day.
Afterward, she gets started on schoolwork while I jump into a personal study. I am in love with the new NIV Verse Mapping Bible (even if you’re not an NIV fan, check this one out…for real. I expect to write a post dedicated to it before long it is that amazing!), and I am also just starting a study on Elijah by Priscilla Shirer with our women’s fellowship group, the Vineyard. It is amazing and I highly recommend it. You’re also welcome to join us if you haven’t already!
Use a Bible plan
I love being in the Word of God every morning for as long as God leads, and in whatever way or place He calls me to. I let Him lead the way every morning and prayerfully dive in deep to learn whatever He is revealing to me that day.
Planning out a scripture reading plan ahead, though, helps me be more intentional about spending this time with God every morning. I have a special place in my planner to include what I plan to read each day. Sometimes I stick with it, sometimes I’m led elsewhere, but having a plan helps me get organized and be more dedicated to reading my Bible every day. I have found the Orderly Life Planner to be so insanely helpful in not just planning life stuff in general, but helping me build, follow and keep up with my morning routine with God.
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Whatever else you do each day, begin your day with the Lord. Pray intentionally. Make time for Him, spend time in His Word, and let Him reveal to you whatever He has waiting for you. Beginning my day not-so-bright but very early has been an immense blessing for this life-long night owl and I am so grateful He led me here. Don’t be afraid to make your own morning routine with God.
For those who are like I was, not ready to rise early, to sacrifice sleep, or to put time with God ahead of the to-do list – I encourage you to surrender all of it to Him and let Him lead you where He knows you need to go and where only He can take you. Trust your Heavenly Father to help you, guide you, and strengthen you. Trust that in prioritizing time with Him, He will guide you in rightly prioritizing the rest of your time and tasks as well.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Grow in your faith with a morning routine with God
All of these tools have helped me to dive deeper as I grow in my faith, but I want to stress that all you need is time – and trust me, God has given you plenty of it, no matter what the world teaches you. Choose to spend time with God every day however He calls you to. He earnestly seeks intimate time with you every day and He should be rightly prioritized every single day.
When God placed it on my heart to get more intentional about making time for Him every day I began the journey of developing the right tools to help me. Over time and with the help and guidance of the Lord I have put together three tools that have been game-changers for me. With them, I have been able to get my routine in order, be realistic about my time and priorities, plan out my studies, be intentional and strategic about prayer and Bible study, all of which have helped me grow in my personal faith and relationship with God.
If you’re here reading this, you likely are looking for some inspiration and maybe a bit of help getting your own routine or life in general in order. If that is you, I pray you would be blessed by prayerfully considering these faith-focused printables that have helped me so much in my own morning routine and relationship with God.
I invite you to tell us how we can pray for you, and what you are studying. We’re here to grow with God as we grow with one another as the Body of Christ. Come back and watch for future studies, reading plans, and more as well. There’s always more to study and learn!
Welcome!
I am a wife, mom, writer, crafter, and above all, a Child of God. I love to study the Bible, fellowship with other Christians, and serve God. I am thrilled to invite you to join me in seeking to satisfy our thirsty souls with the Living Water of Christ, which is what Water On Thirsty Land is here to do.