Focal verse
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act” (Psalm 37:5).
Reflection
Next to my armchair sits a wicker basket that holds books and journals. Grabbing my coffee, I take myself to this chair most mornings to sit, read and write before anyone else is awake. My hardcover Bible gets picked up and dropped in the basket each day. It has tears at the seams, and the cover hangs by threads. One would see the Bible and know it’s used and well-loved. I turn the pages and highlight passages. I wrestle with how God is speaking to me each morning. I pray and I sit. I take deep breaths. I understand and I doubt. But each morning, God’s word meets me as I am.
It would be easy to purchase a new Bible, one that doesn’t turn sideways as I open its pages or has a fully intact cover. Yet that wouldn’t show the commitment I’ve poured into reading and praying each day. A new Bible wouldn’t tell a story about my faith and connection with God and others. My Bible is a tangible reminder that our faith is physical—it’s active and requires us to show up. I want my children to see the intention with which I come to the Bible every day.
And it’s not only our Bibles. Plenty of objects help us deepen our faith as individuals and families. What objects of your faith are well used? Or perhaps you’re interested in being more intentional at home with your children and are searching for a way to connect with God.
Maybe it’s the baptismal candle that you light once a week over dinner and say a prayer of thanks for God’s gift of grace. Maybe you have a book of prayers that you read together over meals. Or maybe it’s time to place a children’s Bible where you can reach for it at bedtime to read your child a story. What about keeping a cross by your front door as a reminder that when you come and go, God is with you. Or use the same baking dish to make bread to share with your neighbors.
Whatever object or book you find, remember that God meets you in the dailyness of your lives.
Practices
- Leave your Bible in a place that has a lot of traffic for your family. See if you can incorporate reading a passage or two of Scripture throughout your day.
- Grab some rocks and paint encouraging messages on them. Maybe write a word such as grace, hope or trust to help focus your mind. You can share the rocks with your family or leave them around town.
Service opportunity
Organize a collection for donations. Maybe your Sunday school class or a few families in your neighborhood could come together to collect toys for foster children or pet food for the animal shelter.
Prayer practice
Get a map of the world or the United States and place it where you spend time during the day. Be intentional to pray for the people and countries before you.
