--- title: "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions" author: "Pastor Jeff Wickwire" url: "https://books.hardwired.org/24/decisions-decisions-decisions" --- Family Devotion 1: The Power of Choices Theme: Decisions shape our future. Activity Time: Dinner time Scripture: Joshua 24:15 - "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." Activity: During dinner, discuss the choices everyone made today. Ask each family member to share one decision they made and how it affected their day. Discussion Questions:Why do you think our choices are important? How can we make choices that honor God?Parenting Tip: Encourage each child to think about a choice they can make tomorrow that will reflect their love for Jesus. Family Devotion 2: The Narrow and Wide Roads Theme: Choosing the right path Activity Time: During a car ride Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14 - "Enter through the narrow gate..." Activity: As you drive, point out the different roads and paths you see. Discuss how some roads are wide and easy, while others are narrow and challenging. Discussion Questions:What do you think it means to choose the narrow road in life? How can we help each other stay on the narrow road?Parenting Tip: Use this time to encourage your children to think about how they can follow Jesus in their daily lives. Family Devotion 3: The Toll Booth of Life Theme: The cost of following Jesus Activity Time: Bedtime Scripture: Luke 9:23 - "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Activity: Before bed, talk about what it means to pay a toll. Discuss how following Jesus might require us to give up certain things. Discussion Questions:What are some things we might need to give up to follow Jesus? How can we support each other in making these sacrifices?Parenting Tip: Encourage your children to pray about one thing they can give up to grow closer to Jesus. Family Devotion 4: The Prodigal Son's Choice Theme: Returning to God Activity Time: During a family walk Scripture: Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son Activity: As you walk, talk about the story of the prodigal son. Discuss how he made a choice to leave and then return to his father. Discussion Questions:Why do you think the son decided to return home? How does God welcome us back when we make mistakes?Parenting Tip: Use this time to reassure your children that God always welcomes us back with open arms. Family Devotion 5: The Wise Road Theme: Walking with Jesus Activity Time: While cleaning up after dinner Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..." Activity: As you clean, talk about how we can trust God to guide us on the right path. Discussion Questions:How can we trust God in our everyday decisions? What are some ways we can show others the love of Jesus?Parenting Tip: Encourage your children to think of one way they can show Jesus' love to someone this week. Family Devotion 1: The Power of Choice Time: Dinner Time Activity: During dinner, have each family member share a decision they made today, big or small. Discuss how each decision can impact their day and others around them. Discussion Points:Explain that God gives us the freedom to make choices, just like He did with Adam and Eve. Discuss how our choices can lead to good or bad outcomes. Encourage kids to think about how they can make choices that honor God.Parenting Tip: Encourage open sharing and affirm each child's decision-making process, guiding them gently towards understanding the impact of their choices. Family Devotion 2: Values and Beliefs Time: Bedtime Routine Activity: As you tuck your kids into bed, ask them to think about something they value, like kindness or honesty. Have them draw a picture of it the next day. Discussion Points:Explain that our values are what we believe is important, and they guide our actions. Share how the Bible helps us form good values. Discuss how living by these values can make us more like Jesus.Parenting Tip: Use this time to reinforce positive values and share a short Bible verse that aligns with the value discussed. Family Devotion 3: Influences Around Us Time: During a Car Ride Activity: While driving, play a game where each person names something or someone that influences them, like a friend, a book, or a TV show. Discussion Points:Talk about how influences can be good or bad. Discuss how Jesus should be our greatest influence. Encourage kids to choose friends and activities that help them grow closer to God.Parenting Tip: Use this opportunity to discuss your own positive influences and how they have shaped your faith. Family Devotion 4: Seeds of Tomorrow Time: Gardening or Yard Work Activity: While planting seeds or doing yard work, explain how each decision is like planting a seed that will grow into something in the future. Discussion Points:Discuss how good decisions can lead to a fruitful life. Talk about how bad decisions can lead to problems, just like weeds in a garden. Encourage kids to think about the "seeds" they are planting with their actions.Parenting Tip: Use this hands-on activity to visually demonstrate the concept of sowing and reaping, making it relatable and memorable. Family Devotion 5: Following Jesus Time: Family Walk or Exercise Time Activity: During a walk or exercise, talk about how following Jesus is like following a path that leads to joy and peace. Discussion Points:Discuss how the disciples chose to follow Jesus and how it changed their lives. Encourage kids to think about ways they can follow Jesus in their daily lives. Share how following Jesus brings joy and helps us make good decisions.Parenting Tip: Use the walk to point out things in nature that remind you of God's creation and His path for us, making the discussion engaging and interactive. Family Devotion 1: The Power of Decisions Theme: Decisions shape our lives. Activity/Time: Dinner time discussion. Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14 (The Narrow and Wide Gates) Devotion:Introduction: Begin by asking, "What decisions did you make today?" Encourage each family member to share one decision, big or small. Read the Scripture: Read Matthew 7:13-14 together. Explain that Jesus talks about two roads: one that leads to life and one that leads to destruction. Discussion: Ask, "What do you think it means to choose the narrow road?" Discuss how choosing to follow Jesus is like choosing the narrow road, which might be harder but leads to life. Application: Encourage kids to think about a decision they can make this week that reflects choosing the narrow road, like being kind to a friend or helping someone in need. Prayer: Pray together, asking God to help each family member make good decisions that honor Him.Parenting Tip: Encourage open sharing by affirming each child's decision, no matter how small. This builds confidence in their ability to make choices. Family Devotion 2: Forgiveness is Freedom Theme: The importance of forgiveness. Activity/Time: Bedtime reflection. Scripture: Ephesians 4:32 (Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.) Devotion:Introduction: Ask, "Has anyone ever hurt your feelings?" Allow kids to share their experiences. Read the Scripture: Read Ephesians 4:32. Explain that God wants us to forgive others just like He forgives us. Discussion: Discuss why it might be hard to forgive and how it feels when we do forgive. Share a personal story of forgiveness if appropriate. Application: Encourage kids to think of someone they need to forgive and pray for the strength to do so. Prayer: Pray together, asking God to help each person forgive and let go of any hurt feelings.Parenting Tip: Model forgiveness by sharing a time you forgave someone. This shows kids that everyone struggles with forgiveness but it's possible with God's help. Family Devotion 3: Avoiding the Trap of Offense Theme: Offense is a trap that can harm us. Activity/Time: During a family walk or drive. Scripture: Proverbs 19:11 (A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.) Devotion:Introduction: Ask, "What does it mean to be offended?" Discuss what it feels like and why it happens. Read the Scripture: Read Proverbs 19:11. Explain that being wise means not letting offenses control us. Discussion: Talk about how holding onto offenses can be like carrying a heavy backpack. Ask, "How can we let go of offenses?" Application: Encourage kids to think of a time they felt offended and how they can choose to let it go. Prayer: Pray together, asking God to help each family member let go of offenses and choose peace.Parenting Tip: Use a real or imaginary backpack to illustrate the weight of offenses. This visual can help kids understand the burden of holding onto hurt. Family Devotion 4: The Danger of Bitterness Theme: Bitterness can cause deep trouble. Activity/Time: While cleaning up after dinner. Scripture: Hebrews 12:15 (See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.) Devotion:Introduction: Ask, "What is bitterness?" Discuss how it feels and what it looks like. Read the Scripture: Read Hebrews 12:15. Explain that bitterness is like a root that can grow and cause trouble. Discussion: Talk about how bitterness can affect our hearts and relationships. Ask, "How can we stop bitterness from growing?" Application: Encourage kids to think of ways to replace bitterness with kindness and love. Prayer: Pray together, asking God to remove any bitterness and fill hearts with His love.Parenting Tip: Use the cleaning activity to illustrate how we need to clean out bitterness from our hearts, just like we clean our homes. Family Devotion 5: Living Offense-Free Theme: Choosing to live without offense. Activity/Time: During a family game night. Scripture: Colossians 3:13 (Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.) Devotion:Introduction: Ask, "What does it mean to live offense-free?" Discuss how it feels to be free from grudges. Read the Scripture: Read Colossians 3:13. Explain that God wants us to forgive just like He forgives us. Discussion: Talk about how living offense-free can make life more joyful and peaceful. Ask, "How can we practice forgiveness every day?" Application: Encourage kids to think of one way they can practice forgiveness this week. Prayer: Pray together, asking God to help each family member live offense-free and full of His peace.Parenting Tip: Use the game night to show how forgiving quickly can keep the fun going, just like in life. Encourage laughter and joy as a family. Day 1: God Knows Everything About Us Theme: God's Omniscience Activity Time: During dinner or breakfast Supplies Needed: None Devotion:Opening Question: Ask the kids, "What is something you did today that you think nobody else knows about?" Read Psalm 139:1-4: Explain that God knows everything about us, even the things we think are secret. Discussion: Talk about how it feels to know that God knows everything about us and still loves us. Ask, "Why do you think it's important that God knows everything?" Prayer: Thank God for knowing us completely and loving us anyway.Parenting Tip: Encourage kids to share openly by sharing something about your own day first. This sets the tone for honesty and openness. Day 2: Making Good Decisions Theme: Wisdom in Decision-Making Activity Time: While driving or walking somewhere Supplies Needed: None Devotion:Opening Question: Ask, "What is a decision you made today?" Read James 1:5: Explain that God gives us wisdom when we ask for it. Discussion: Discuss a time when you made a good decision and how it turned out. Ask the kids, "How can we ask God for wisdom in our decisions?" Prayer: Ask God for wisdom in making decisions every day.Parenting Tip: Use real-life examples from your own life to illustrate the importance of seeking God's wisdom. Day 3: God Redeems Our Mistakes Theme: Redemption Activity Time: During a family chore time Supplies Needed: None Devotion:Opening Question: Ask, "Have you ever made a mistake and then fixed it?" Read Romans 8:28: Explain that God can use even our mistakes for good. Discussion: Share a story of a mistake you made and how God used it for good. Ask the kids, "How can God use our mistakes?" Prayer: Thank God for turning our mistakes into something good.Parenting Tip: Encourage kids by sharing how God has redeemed mistakes in your own life. Day 4: God Gives Us Second Chances Theme: Grace and Second Chances Activity Time: Before bedtime Supplies Needed: None Devotion:Opening Question: Ask, "What is something you wish you could do over?" Read John 21:15-17: Talk about how Jesus gave Peter a second chance after he denied Him. Discussion: Discuss how it feels to be given a second chance. Ask, "How can we give others second chances?" Prayer: Thank God for His grace and second chances.Parenting Tip: Reinforce the idea of grace by being patient and forgiving with your children. Day 5: Praise as a Response to God's Goodness Theme: Worship and Praise Activity Time: During a family walk or playtime Supplies Needed: None Devotion:Opening Question: Ask, "What is something good that happened today?" Read Psalm 150:6: Explain that we should praise God for His goodness. Discussion: Talk about different ways we can praise God. Ask, "What is your favorite way to praise God?" Prayer: Spend a few moments praising God for His goodness.Parenting Tip: Encourage kids to express their praise in their own way, whether through words, song, or dance. These devotions are designed to be simple, engaging, and adaptable to fit into the everyday life of a busy family, helping children grow as disciples of Jesus.