“Have it Your Way” Family Devotional
Adapted from thrivingfamily.com
Plan a night to have hamburgers for dinner. Start the meal off by asking, “Did you know that ketchup and cheese are the most favored hamburger toppings? What do you like on your hamburger? Why?” Once everyone has their burgers made, sat at the table together and you’ve blessed the food start your mealtime discussion.
Table Talk: Have you heard the fast-food restaurant slogan “Have it your way”? What does it mean to you? Why do customers like having choices? Did you know that in the Bible there are stories of men who told God, “Have it Your way”?
· How did Noah let God “have it His way” when it came to building the ark? Could a canoe have done the job? Why? (See Genesis 6:14-22.)
· How did Moses let God “have it His way” when he went before Pharaoh? What was the result? (See Exodus 7:1-6.)
· How did Joshua let God “have it His way” when he marched around Jericho? Did it make sense at the time? Why or why not? What did God prove? (See Joshua 6:1-20.)
Do you remember God’s greatest commandment? (Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ~Matthew 22:37) If we were to tell God “Have it Your way” what would that look like? (Putting God first everyday)
After Dinner Application: (Prepare this visual beforehand. Put three golf balls in the bottom of a canning jar. Add rice, dried beans or field corn to fill the jar. Make sure the lid will close. Then dump the contents of the jar into a large bowl.)
When we’re not deliberate about putting God first in our daily life, spiritual matters tend to be crowded out. If we’re going to tell God “Have it Your way” about His greatest commandment we have to put Him first. Let me show you an example:
· Gather the children around the large bowl of contents. Explain that the jar represents their day and all the activities that fill it. Have the children start to add the rice, corn or beans into the jar while naming activities or responsibilities that occur in a typical day.
· For instance, a small handful of beans may represent brushing teeth; adding another fistful is equated with making the bed. Continue filling the jar to represent activities or chores, such as watching television, playing video games or feeding the family pet.
· After all of the smaller objects are added, try putting the golf balls in the jar. Describe that the balls represent Bible story time, praying to God and showing love to others. The children will see that the three balls will not fit neatly, and the lid cannot be secured.
· Now, dump all the contents of the jar back into the bowl. Start with the three balls first, restating that they represent Bible time, praying and showing love to others.
· Then have the children add all of the smaller items, equating each fistful with activities in their day.
· When everything is added back in the jar, put the lid on. Explain to the children that when we put God first in our lives, everything else fits.
Discuss some ways each person in the family can let God “have it His way” this week. Have each person make a commitment to put God first for the next five days and see how everything else will fit into place. Each night a dinner review Matthew 22:37 and let each family member share how they “Let God have it His way” that day.
