Tag: Family Devotions (Page 3 of 11)

Creative Prayer: Gone with the Wind (Let’s Say Sorry)

/ Amy Nappa

Focus: Saying you’re sorry / asking forgiveness

Before You Begin:

For this adventure you’ll need a handful of balloons. You may use helium balloons if you like, but ones that you inflate yourself will work just as well.

The Prayer Time!

Give each family member a balloon and a pen (permanent markers work best). Ask each person to think of something they’ve done wrong that they’d like God to forget about. Tell them to write one or two words on the balloon to represent what they’ve done.

For example, if Emma is sorry she called Jared a mean name, she might write “mean name” on her balloon. If Kadeem is sorry he took Dad’s car without asking, he could write, “took car.” Have older family members help those who cannot write yet.

When everyone is ready, have different family members volunteer to read the following verses aloud:

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Be sure all family members know the meanings of words such as transgressions, confess, just, purify and unrighteousness. Discuss together what these verses mean to people in your family.

Then begin a time of prayer, encouraging kids to “say sorry” to God and ask for forgiveness according to what is written on their balloons. Go first, to set an example of what it means to to say sorry to God. After you’ve prayed, pop your balloon with a thumb-tack or pin to represent the forgiveness of your sin. Then pass the pin to another family member and allow him or her to pray then pop his or her balloon.

Continue until all balloons have been popped. Ask family members how popping balloons is like sins being gone. How is it different?

Close by thanking God for being true to his word and forgiving our sins.

Looking for More?

Find Amy Nappa on Amazon.com

Check out a few of Amy’s YouTube videos

Discover more about Amy’s memoir, Hard Way Home

Creative Prayer: Prayer for Heroes

/ Amy Nappa

Focus: Praying for people we admire

Before You Begin:

Before you come together for prayer, ask each family member to choose one person whom they admire or consider a hero or heroine. This could be a sports figure, singer, actor, politician, composer, scientist, teacher, and so on. If possible, have family members find an item that represents their heroes, such as their picture, an album cover, a copy of their latest book, and so on.

The Prayer Time!

When you’ve gathered together, take turns telling about your heroes. Share why these people are important to you, and what makes them heroes in your eyes.

After everyone has shared, take time to pray for each hero. For instance:

If you know the person is a Christian, pray that they’ll grow stronger in their faith and will continue to follow God.
If the hero is not Christian, pray that they’ll learn of God’s love and accept his forgiveness.
Pray for the families of your heroes, their careers, and the impact they have on those around them.
Ask God to help these people use their positions of influence for God’s glory and to help others.

Afterward, why not have your family take time to write to each person for whom you’ve prayed? In brief notes, express your admiration, and let your heroes know you’re praying for them. If you’d like to hear back from someone famous, include your name and address (a self-addressed, stamped envelope is always helpful too!).

If you don’t know the address of a famous person to which you can to send your letters, you can go a Google search for that information, or try sending your correspondence in care of a larger organization with which this person is affiliated. This may be the recording label for a musician, the team of a sports figure, the publisher of an author, and so on. Even if you can’t locate an address, keep praying for this person. God knows where they are!

Looking for More?

Find Amy Nappa on Amazon.com

Check out a few of Amy’s YouTube videos

Discover more about Amy’s memoir, Hard Way Home

Creative Prayer: Musical Prayers

/ Amy Nappa

Focus: Praying for each other

Before You Begin:

This adventure is similar to “Musical Chairs,” but everyone wins!

You’ll need five pieces of paper in these colors: red, orange, blue, green, and brown. (If you don’t have one or more of these colors, substitute another color and adjust the later directions as necessary.) The papers should be at least the size of a playing card, but can be bigger if you like. If you have more than five members in your family, use two papers of each color. You’ll also need a way to play music.

The Prayer Time!

Place your pieces of paper in a large circle on the floor. You may want to tape them to the floor to be sure they stay where they are put!

Tell your family that in this creative prayer time you’re going to play “Musical Prayers,” which is a variation on the classic game Musical Chairs. Then have each family member (including you) stand on a piece of paper. When everyone is in position, start the music.

While the music is playing have family members walk around the circle from paper to paper. When you stop the music, have each person stop by standing on the paper closest to him or her. Then take turns praying as follows:

If you’re standing on a red paper, pray for the adults in your family. This can include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and so on, as well as moms and dads.
If you’re standing on an orange paper, pray for the person on your left.
If you’re standing on blue paper, pray for each child in your family. If you want, include cousins or family members not living with you (such as step-siblings or older children).
If you’re standing on green paper, pray for the person on your right.
If you’re standing on brown paper, pray for yourself!

After each person has prayed according to these guidelines, start “Musical Prayers” again and start moving! When you stop the music, family members will be on different colors, and can pray again according to their new color.

Repeat the music and praying sequence as many times as you and your family want.

Looking for More?

Find Amy Nappa on Amazon.com

Check out a few of Amy’s YouTube videos

Discover more about Amy’s memoir, Hard Way Home

Creative Prayer: Outside-In Prayer for Family

/ Amy Nappa

Focus: Family appreciation

Before You Begin:

No prep is required this time!

The Prayer Time!

Join together in the largest room of your home. Have everyone stand against the walls, as far from each other as possible.

Explain that after each different thing that you pray about, each person should take a large step toward the center of the room. Use these ideas for things to pray about:

Praise God for creating families.
Ask God to forgive family members when they don’t treat each other well.
Ask God to help you all show kindness to each other.
Thank God for sending Jesus to help us all know how to treat each other.
Ask God to help you all to be examples of Jesus’ love to each other every day.

As soon as everyone in your family has stepped to the middle of the room, join together in a family group hug and close your time by thanking God for each person that makes up your special family.

Looking for More?

Find Amy Nappa on Amazon.com

Check out a few of Amy’s YouTube videos

Discover more about Amy’s memoir, Hard Way Home

Creative Prayer: Sin Slam Dunk

/ Amy Nappa

Focus: Experiencing forgiveness for sin

Before You Begin:

You’ll want to provide blank paper and pens for your family.

The Prayer Time!

Have each person take a sheet of paper and write one or more things they’ve done that they’d like to ask forgiveness for. Younger family members can draw a picture or have another family member help them with the writing. Allow time for family members to write as many things as they want.

If you like, give family members the option of sharing the things they’ve written. If the need for forgiveness involves another family member, now is a good time to ask! For example, if Andrew had colored on the wall in Tenisha’s room, now’s the time for him to say he’s sorry and ask Tenisha to forgive him. Or if Mom had yelled at Sarah, she could take this opportunity to ask forgiveness. However, if family members aren’t comfortable sharing, don’t force them.

Now place a waste basket in the center of the room.

Stand together around the basket and have each person crumple his or her “sin” paper into a ball. Then pray together, asking God for forgiveness for the wrong things that have been done. Encourage any family members who want to pray.

Then take turns “slam-dunking” your paper balls into the trash. When all the paper has made its way into the basket, join hands and thank God for “slam-dunking” the penalty of sin and for providing forgiveness.