As a family, we do Bible time together. We always have a time that our family comes together to do our family Bible reading and prayer time. Annie is 9, so she does have her own Bible time as do Barry and I. We alternate through the list below and have so many favorites. A good devotional book really can make a big difference for Family Bible Time! So here are ten of our favorites, plus a couple bonus books for moms.
Bedtime Bible Story Book: 365 Read-aloud Stories from the Bible.
This is a super cheap book and I love that the content lasts for a whole year. It has each day with a Bible story and a Bible verse with a few questions at the end. Barry shares the scripture reference and I will read directly from the Bible. Then Barry reads from the book, asks the questions. Then we pray and we’re done! Short and sweet. Especially with little ones, that is often the best way to go.
365 Little Visits, Volume 4.
There are several volumes out there, but because this is an older series, they can be hard to find online. For each day, there is a scripture verse and a story which is followed by a “Let’s Talk” and “Let’s Pray” section. I know some people don’t like to pray out loud or don’t know what to say. Which is one reason I love these prayer prompts. They are good all by themselves or they can really get you started if you are chatty like me and want to pray with more words. But either way – these prompts are great for teaching kids to pray in simple way.
Bible Stories for Curious Kids.
I picked this up at a blogging conference and have had a tricky time finding it now. You can buy used, but I think maybe it’s out of print? It’s been a book we’ve really enjoyed. It starts with the Bible story and shares the scripture reference. Then as a family, we walk through each story. There are several talking and sharing prompts through each Bible Story. No prayer prompts, but lots of questions and talking. This one might be tricky for younger kids, but it works great for my 6 & 9 year olds.
One Year Bible For Children
As the title suggests, there are 365 stories in this Bible. Each day has it’s own devotional section, with some being shorter than others. It day starts with “Remember” where it asks a question, then “Discover” where they share a scripture, and then “Apply” where the kids have a chance to chat about how apply to their own lives. I like how this one in particular has application for each Bible story and devotional. I think this can be helpful!
Jesus Storybook Bible is hands down our family’s number one favorite. I absolutely love it.
The illustrations in this book are so beautiful! And I love that each story leads back to Jesus. These are great short stories which captivate my kids, but Barry and I also enjoy this one. The whole book is as easy to read as it is beautiful. Barry sits on the floor and the kids just sit around (and on!) him so they can see the pictures as he’s reading.
Veggie Tales Bible Storybook
This one is another favorite of my kids. It’s a real crowd-pleaser for the obvious reasons. Did I mention it’s Veggie Tales?! I like it because it makes me laugh! This book is made to be a supplement to your traditional Bible reading and devotionals. It tells a Bible story in the same way the popular DVDs do, not directly from the Bible. But these cute and funny stories keep my kids’ attention. After each story, they follow up with actual scripture that the story is based on. This book has great pictures and the Veggie Tales version of Bible stories is a fun way to occasionally change up family Bible time with kids.
Our 24 Family Ways: A Family Devotional Guide
This is my second favorite devotional of all time. It works really well, no matter the age of the kids! Each way has 5 days of lessons. Each lesson has 4 parts: Ask a Question, Read the Bible, Talk About It, and Speak to God. I love these prayer prompts! And we extend it into 6 days and use the last page of each way, Learning the Way, as our Day 6. There is also an accompanying book, the Children’s Color-In Book that is great for kids who need to keep their hands buys while they listen.
The Story for Children, A Storybook Bible
This is nowhere near as good as the Jesus Storybook Bible, but we’ve enjoyed this one too. Each of the 48 Bible stories begins with the title, scripture to read, what the passage is about, and awesome pictures that keep the kids engaged. At the end of each story, there is a bit of application and teaching as the author asks “what is God’s message for you from this story?”
These last two are not ACTUALLY devotionals, and they are also not actually for families. But hear me out! My heart has to be in the right place if I want to love and embrace Family Bible Time with my people. And more than any other books I have read in the last few years, these two have shaped and changed by life and my attitude.
Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life
This book, by Emily P Freeman, has been transformational for me. As y’all might know, I was raised in the church, a “good girl” my whole life. Sometimes it’s hard to grasp grace when that is your background. I love everything about this book. And keep in mind, it is an actual book, not a devotional. But I don’t actually prefer to use devotions for myself. I like to read a portion of a book and then pull out my Bible to read scripture. That way at the end of the month, year, etc. I have completed a lot of books from my to-read list instead of just devotionals.
Wild and Free – A Hope-Filled Anthem for The Woman Who Feels She Is Too Much and Never Enough.
When I first picked this book up, I thought, “ehh, this probably isn’t for me. I don’t think I’m going to like this.” But now – y’all – I cannot say enough good things about this book. It’s officially changed my life. I usually read books and then share with others because I’m not going to read that same book a second time. So…if I read and then actually keep a book, it is super important to me. I’ve got tons of sticky notes and lots of underlining in this one. This book is a keeper! And seriously, I plan to read this over and over again.
I hope this little list was helpful to y’all. And I truly think any one of these devotionals would make a great gift for friends and families in your life!
What is your favorite devotional for families or women?
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