30 Days of Prayer: So Much Family Time!

“Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like the stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” Philippians 2:14-16b

My kids were asked how they felt about not going back to school and being home, and all three answered differently. For my daughter, this abundant home and family time is hard. She misses her teachers, friends, church, and freedom. For my youngest son, it’s awesome. He loves being home with his siblings, playing and wearing PJs all day long. As I observe them, one has to fight harder to speak kindly, to encourage, and to have patience than the other. She’s fighting to resist grumbling and arguing, and that is GOOD! God is in the growth; He is in this learning process.

As a family who has ample “together time,” it’s inevitable we will be tempted to grumble and argue with each other. My husband and I are tempted to “vent” to one another. This too is sin. We can ask God for help with our words so that we aren’t tearing each other down. We can trust that God is our help. And there is such a wonderful purpose for it—so that we will shine like stars in the sky! We don’t shine to be great ourselves; we shine so that God is glorified and people are drawn to His Light. Learning to do everything without grumbling and arguing in our families can be used to show others Christ’s love.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for always being our help when we come to you. We ask you to use this time to refine and strengthen us as a family, so that we would be a light and witness of your saving grace to people in our lives. Help us, God, to speak words that build each other up, and to not grumble and argue. All for Your glory, Lord, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

For Reflection:

• Has it been harder, lately, to do everything without grumbling or arguing? Why do you think that is?
• How could God be using this time to help us work on our words?
• What’s the purpose for being “blameless” with our words?

By Molly McClish