Jesus-Centered Family DevotionsSample

Read aloud: “Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45) Say: Maybe there’s a bully in your life—someone who persecutes you at school, at work, or somewhere else. Let’s talk about that: Where is there a bully in your life? Take turns as family members identify bullies in their lives. Then read the Bible passage above aloud again. Say: Let’s do what Jesus asked us to do. Let’s pray—out loud—for the bullies we mentioned. Let’s ask that God gives them the help they need in life. After praying together as a family, say: Now let’s ask Jesus if there’s some way Jesus can use us to give the bullies in our lives the help they need. Let’s close our eyes and sit quietly for a minute, listening to see if Jesus has something to say to us about how we might help a bully. After one minute, ask if anyone got a word, or idea, or picture from Jesus—anything that might be a nudge about how your family or someone in it could help a bully. Talk about anything someone has to report.