4 Must-Read Devotionals For Parents and Children at Home
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Between the morning rush, school pickups, and extracurricular activities, carving out time to foster a spiritual connection with our kids can feel impossible. But we need to rely on God and His Word every day, especially when life feels hard. And we need to encourage our kids to do the same!
Family devotionals provide a powerful opportunity to pause, reflect, and invite God into the rhythm of daily life. The right devotionals can spark curiosity and meaningful conversations as we aim to nurture our children’s spiritual growth.
Let’s talk about what to look for in a strong family devotional and where your family can look for your next family Bible study.
What Makes a Good Family Devotional?
Before reading through a list of devotionals, we should consider what we’re looking to get out of the experience. Is there a specific topic the book should cover? Are your kids curious about the meaning of a particular book or passage of Scripture?
Finding one devotional that speaks to every family member can be difficult. However, there are a few non-negotiable characteristics to look for when shopping for a book. A great family devotional is:
Scripture-based. Look for family devotionals thoroughly grounded in Scripture. Biblically based devotionals directly guide readers through a Bible passage or use specific verses to support their claims.
Age appropriate. Family devotionals have to be understandable without watering down the message. As parents, we want family devotionals to be thought-provoking on a personal level and for our kids.
Fun! Theological truth and excitement can coexist. A good family devotional should get us excited about Scripture, and some make the experience even more fun by incorporating relevant games and activities.
Ultimately, the right devotional will be different for each family! What speaks profoundly to one family may not be as impactful to another. The goal is to find a book or Bible study that accurately depicts God’s truth and inspires us and our children to walk in it daily.
4 Resources For Meaningful Family Devotionals
Here are a few standout family devotionals that bring Scripture to life and make time with God feel natural, not forced.
1. Your Church’s Curriculum Resources
Best for: Parents looking to support spiritual lessons from children’s church throughout the week
For those of us whose children participate in Sunday school or children’s church, the Scriptural truths they learn there will be more impactful if we support their learning at home. By reinforcing these lessons throughout the week, we can help our kids turn Sunday school messages into lessons they practice daily.
While this may not take the form of a physical book, many churches use a structured curriculum to lead their children’s ministries. Most of these curricula come equipped with helpful take-home resources for families, which can make for great devotional materials.
Take Wonder Ink, for example:
Wonder Ink’s curriculum offers at-home activities to help parents continue the learning at home, including:
Activities
Scriptures
At-home Bible story videos
Worship music
Prayers
Pro tip: Check with your child’s Sunday school teacher to learn more about their curriculum and access any at-home resources. Even if the curriculum doesn’t include formal tools, the teacher or ministry leader can help you find a complementary family devotional by sharing current lessons’ themes and activities.
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2. Flash Theology by Jenny Randle and Brayden Brookshier
Best for: Families wanting to start deep (but understandable) conversations about theological topics
We know that driving our kids to church every Sunday morning or sending them to a Christian school doesn’t automatically result in a personal relationship with Christ. Kids need a genuine understanding of their beliefs, and there is no “right age” to start talking about theological truths with our kids.
Flash Theology is a visually driven guide designed to help readers understand core Christian beliefs and their connection to God’s identity.
Why it’s the perfect family devotional:
Invites families to discuss the “why” behind our beliefs
Fun and relevant to keep kids engaged
Makes theology accessible to people of different spiritual maturity levels
Pro tip: Read one concept as a family each week and discuss ways you see this in everyday life. For example, you might discuss what it means for God to be our friend and share how you felt this closeness to Him throughout the week.
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3. Beautiful Me by Stasi Eldredge
Best for: Moms and their young daughters who want to explore God’s love for them and the confidence we can have in Christ
Many people experience the childhood struggle to fit in and find self-worth. Although this world tries to trick us into finding validation from insincere sources, we know that our confidence comes from Christ!
Beautiful Me is a 90-day devotional that inspires moms and daughters to see themselves in light of God’s unconditional love for us.
Why families love this devotional:
Covers relatable topics in an approachable tone
Includes prayers, scriptures, and encouragement for readers
Broken into quick devotionals that lead into personal reflection
Pro tip: Show kids how God’s story connects to their own. Be sure to explore your church's children's church lessons to draw connections to what your kids are learning in Sunday school whenever you can.
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4. Getting to Know God’s Voice by Jenny Randle
Best for: Families trying to make spiritual lessons more actionable and experience Christ in everyday life
If you’ve ever heard a compelling sermon and then wondered what to do with it while sitting at lunch after church, you’re not alone! As parents, it’s our responsibility to show kids that our faith is more than an inspiring speech delivered once a week; it’s a daily commitment and a transformative way to live.
Getting to Know God’s Voice is a 31-day devotional that helps readers learn how to recognize God’s voice in their daily lives and find purpose in the mundane.
Why this family devotional stands out:
Includes journal prompts to encourage personal reflection
Empowers readers to practice spiritual disciplines
Addresses common obstacles to hearing God’s voice
Pro tip: Use your refrigerator and index cards to display your personal experiences with God throughout the week. Everyone can write their experience on an index card and add it to the board when they hear God speaking to them in a new way!
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To nurture spiritual growth for every family member, family devotionals can’t be a standalone activity. Whether we as parents are reading books for women in leadership positions or listening to podcasts on becoming Godly men, the insights we gain from our personal walks with Christ can be powerful opportunities for communal reflection and encouragement.
As we search for the right devotionals to guide our families through shared Bible study, the most important step we can take is to prayerfully consider what book will be best for our kids’ spiritual development. When we trust God to reveal Himself, family devotionals become less of a parent-led activity and more of a Christ-centered leap of faith!