Parent Devo - Camp Day 5
How distracted are you? How preoccupied is your child? We live in a time when we are barraged with constant distractions. The pace of our lives and the setup of our technology have our minds in frantic disarray. Even as you read this short devotion, most likely, your mind will wander to your device (or another app if you are reading this article on your device).
As we grow increasingly more accessible to the entire world all at once, we also grow decreasingly connected to the Lord and those physically around us. We are often more present for people on our device than we are for people in the room.
How have you seen technology change in your lifetime?
What are your greatest concerns for your child’s digital attachments right now
What do you think is on the cultural horizon for technology going forward?
“...we must learn how to fight for rest in our lives.”
While our devices keep us distracted, our schedules keep us hectic, and our responsibilities keep us stressed, we must learn how to fight for rest in our lives. Amidst all the striving, are you able to be still and seek Jesus? He is our rest.
Maybe you have never thought of what it would look like to actually have a relationship with Christ. If that’s you, you can turn from serving your own desires and place your faith in Christ instead. Pray to Him right now and turn your life over to Him.
If you are a Christ follower, do you have an adequate margin to meet with Jesus regularly? Years ago, someone coined the phrase “quiet time.” Many people rightfully highlighted the need for this daily encounter in the Word and prayer. In addition to considering a quiet time, you also need to ensure that it is quality time. Your soul needs unhurried, uninhibited, and unyielding time with Jesus.
What are the most significant distractions to your meeting with Jesus?
What are your child’s most constant distractions to meeting with Jesus?
To strengthen your ability to rest in Jesus, you have to ensure that this time becomes a priority. You might have to decide to start some things and stop others.
What tangible steps could you take to prioritize a home environment that encourages and facilitates spiritual growth?
Your list might include some simple adjustments or some dramatic overhauls. You might concern yourself in your home about several things, but are you concerned about the most important thing? Your tasks can wait, but if you fail to meet with Jesus, none of them can be done well.
PRAY
Pray for your child today. Pray for focus and clarity. Pray that he or she can fight through the distractions in order to get a better glimpse of Jesus. Use Psalm 46:10-11 as a guide.
“ ‘Stop your fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.’ The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold” (Ps. 46:10-11).
Use each of those phrases to pray over you and your child. Don’t rush through this prayer time either. Take your time. What could possibly be more necessary on your schedule than an appointment with Jesus?
This devotional is adapted from FUGE’s Parent Devotions. You can find the complete resource here.
