Do you or don't you?!?

Devotions: an act of prayer or private worship, the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal

Do you have regular devotions each day? Quiet time with the Lord? Do you journal? Do you spend time in prayer and listening to God's still small voice?!? If not, then you're not setting a good example to your children!

It is so important to not only tell your children they need to have devotions, you need to show them how it's done! Here are reviews of some of the wonderful books that I have used with my kids!!

Discover 4 Yourself for kids inductive Bible Studies by Kay Arthur are great ways for your children to learn about various Bible topics. There are a bunch of these books in the series. They are basically a workbook that your child fills in as they learn. Recommended for ages 8-12, these books usually are good for a month's worth of studies done 5 days a week.

The Power of a Praying Kid is by the author of the bestselling The Power of a Praying Series...Stormie Omartian. We loved this book and read through it very quickly! It not only teaches kids how to pray, it lets them know that they can pray any where, any time and in any place for any thing! There are comments from other kids throughout the book and some questions for your kids to think about. Recommended for ages 7-12.

This book was something that I purchased for my own sanity!! My kids fight like cats and dogs sometimes. Their age difference (6 years) and the fact that one is a boy and the other a girl, really shouldn't matter, and this book proves it! Siblings need to learn to get along, and this book, written by Sarah, Stephen and Grace Mally (siblings) tells them how! It's a creatively written book with lots of drawings (done by their Dad) with tons of advice and stories from their personal experiences. There is no specific age recommendation, but I'd guess somewhere after age 7 up through thge teenage years.

Keys for Kids is a great daily devotional series put out by CBH Ministries. The booklets, which you can have sent to your home bi-monthly, remind me of the Daily Bread. Each day has a 1 page story with scripture reference and then questions for thought at the bottom. My kids still enjoy reading these each day while we eat breakfast. You can order them here for $6. per subscription...totally worth it if you ask me! Ask them to send you a free sample if you'd like just to try it out.

This book not only cracks my 13 year old up, it also cracks me up!! Written by Sandy Silverthorne, "Surviving Zits...How to cope with your changing self" is a simple, easy to read book for your child who is starting puberty. My son already read (with my husband) the great series "God's Design for Sex", so he's heard and been taught it all. This book gives him something fun to read through, that in my opinion, lightens the load of puberty a bit for every teen! Recommended for ages 8-12, this book gives you Biblical principles needed to apply in their lives. The cartoons are a riot and it's a very easy read.

Who Made God is a very sweet picture book for ages 4-8. I read this to both of our children and they both loved it! The calming photos are awesome. Each double page has a section that is read by the parent, while the child either reads along, or looks at the picture. It is filled with questions and answers common in young children all about God.

Beautiful Girlhood, by Karen Andreola, is a wonderful book for teaching your girls how to be Christian young ladies. They will learn about friendship, how to keep modest, what to look forward to in life etc. I have not read it to Sweet-Pea yet as she is still young, but I have it waiting on my bookshelf already!

The book Boyhood and Beyond I have read with my son, and we both absolutely loved it! Recommended for ages 10-18, this book, written by Bob Schultz gives practical wisdom for becoming a man...a Godly man! He uses Biblical character traits to teach. Leadership, overcoming fear, industry, justice, preparing for a wife, authority, temptation are only a few topics covered in this must read book!

If you have a little girl who LOVES princesses like mine does, then this is the perfect book for you! Life Lessons from "The Princess and the Kiss...Planting Seeds of Purity in Young Hearts', by Jennie Bishop and Susan Henson. This is a companion book to the kids story book by the same name, which you also should have! Each chapter gives you a topic, a section to read about that topic, a prayer, jewel of truth (verse), creative things to do, royal reminders (questions) and helpful hints for parents. Also included is a Princess Ceremony Guide. Very sweet book recommended for age 6 and up.

"The Squire and the Scroll...Battle Plans for a Pure Heart" is also a Life Lessons book by the same authors as the last book. It also is a companion book and is recommended for boys age 6 and up. It also includes a Squire Ceremony Guide. Great illustrations throughout with a similar layout to the girl's book, only it's geared towards boys.

God's Wisdom for Little Boys, by Jim and Elizabeth George, is a book recommended for ages 4-7. Your boy will learn to be prayerful, truthful, brave, responsible, thankful, kind and more by using Proverbs as a guide! It's a great tool for Dad's and their boys to read through together.


God's Wisdom for Little Girls, by Elizabeth George, is a book that teaches little girls how to follow Proverbs 31 from a young age...something I wish I had learned when I was young! Some topics include: Creativity, confidence, helpfulness, prayerfulness and thoughtfulness. The illustrations are exquisite and you will love reading through it with your young daughter!!

If you have any books you'd highly recommend, feel free to post them in the comments section! I'm an avid reader and I LOVE books. Passing on this passion to my children is something I've tried to instill in them. Right now Lionel isn't into reading as much as I'd like him to be, but he truly enjoys reading together, so at least he's still learning. Sweet-Pea loves books and can't wait to read the big-girl books sometime soon! She's coming along in her reading skills, so it won't be long. The main part is that they learn to read books of quality so they keep their minds and hearts pure before Christ. Good devotional books are a great way to start!