Category: Family Devotionals

Day 3

— “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

— Matthew 5:4 NASB1995

🌬 A Home that Grieves Righteously

To mourn in this verse is to grieve over sin—our own, and the brokenness around us. It’s not surface sadness; it’s the ache of a heart awakened to God’s holiness. And in that grief, Jesus promises comfort.

In this season with older children, you have the privilege of guiding their conscience. Help them see sin not as mere rule-breaking, but as something that wounds relationship with God. Let your own mourning over sin lead them to understand both the seriousness of sin and the beauty of God’s mercy.

🕯 A Mother’s Role

Don’t hide your sorrow over sin. Let your children see the tears that come from a tender heart. But also let them see the joy of restoration. You are shaping how they will handle conviction—with avoidance or with repentance and hope.

📖 Talk About It:

• What kind of mourning do you think Jesus is talking about?
• When have you felt truly sorry before God? What happened next?

🧰 Kingdom Practice

Set aside time to read Psalm 51 together. Invite your children to quietly reflect and journal a prayer of confession. Afterwards, read 1 John 1:9 aloud as a reminder of God’s promise to forgive.

✍️ Prayer

Lord, teach us to mourn over sin, not with despair, but with hope. Let our home be a place where repentance is real and comfort is received. Shape my children to hate sin and love righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Day 2

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

— Matthew 5:3 NASB1995

🤾 A Posture of Dependence

To be poor in spirit is to recognize our spiritual neediness before God. It’s to come empty so that He may fill. It is not shameful, but blessed. In a world that praises self-reliance, Jesus begins His Kingdom with the opposite: humility.

As a mother raising older children, your example of dependency on Christ is essential. When they see you turning to prayer, repenting with sincerity, and humbling yourself in daily life, they are watching the Kingdom unfold before their eyes.

🕯 A Mother’s Role

Your children are nearing adulthood—they’re watching how you handle failure, weakness, and need. Do they see a mom who hides her need or one who openly relies on the Lord? You lead by example when you confess sin, ask for prayer, and rejoice in God’s mercy.

📖 Talk About It:

• Why is it hard to admit we need help?
• What does it mean to be spiritually empty before God?

🧰 Kingdom Practice

Practice a night of prayer together this week. Each person can name one area where they need God’s help. Write them down and keep a list to revisit and give thanks as He answers.

✍️ Prayer

Father, teach us to be poor in spirit. Let our home be marked by humility, not pride; by prayer, not self-sufficiency. Help me model a dependent heart to my children as they step into maturity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 1

“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them…”
— Matthew 5:1–2 NASB1995

🕯 Gathered to Listen

Before the words came, there was a pause. Jesus sat down. His disciples came close. This wasn’t a crowd performance—it was intimate. The King of heaven had something to say, and those who drew near would hear the foundation of His Kingdom.

As a family, we are invited to do the same: pause. Slow down. Open our hearts to Jesus’ voice and posture ourselves like His first disciples—eager to learn, willing to follow, and unafraid to be changed.

🏛 Early Church Families

In the earliest days of the church, there were no church buildings. Families gathered in homes, sometimes under threat of persecution. Fathers taught their children the words of Jesus. Mothers instructed through example and quiet strength. Children listened, learned, and often became bold witnesses themselves.

The Kingdom of God wasn’t something they just talked about—it was something they lived together, every day, in every circumstance.

🗣 Discuss Together:

1. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?
2. What helps us listen to God as a family?
3. Can we think of one way this week we can “come near” to Jesus together?

🧱 Kingdom Practice

• Choose one night this week to turn off distractions (TV, phones) and sit together quietly.
• Read one verse of Matthew 5 and talk about it. Let everyone share—even the youngest!
• End with each person saying one sentence to Jesus.

🙏 Family Prayer

Lord Jesus, help our family to draw near to You. Teach us to listen. Help us make time for Your words and trust that You are always speaking to us through them. We want to follow You together. In Your name, Amen.