Have you ever met someone with firm life goals for their time invested in media?

When is the last time you heard your friend say, “I’m really going after an hour a day on Facebook this week.”? Or “I feel really convicted for not making the TV more of a priority.”?

Goal setting is mysterious. In 0.56 seconds, Google registered about 12,900,000 results. Even from my limited study of leadership, I’ve landed that having goals will impact the way we live life.

Business Today published that the 40 minutes a day is the average American’s time on Facebook.
[i] John Koblin states in his NY Times article, “On average, American adults are watching five hours and four minutes of television per day.”[ii] Shocking?

Do you think the average American sets their heart to do so?

When you have a desire for a new habit or routine in your life, Nike’s old adage “Just Do It” ought to suffice. If you’re like me, you find it insufficient to achieve the success you desire.

You’ve got to hear about my friend Russell. Russell has three amazing children 5 years old and under. He has run his own home inspection business for the last six years. His wife, Eliza Joy home schools their oldest two and while taking care of their one-year-old. Oh yeah, Russell just became a licensed realtor as well. He is actively engaged in a missional community at church and serves a few weekends a year with a national men’s ministry. Russell is a stud.

But, guess who didn’t grow up in a home where prayer, reading the Bible and worship were modeled.
Russell’s a busy dude but he also has a passion for winning at home. Now, you have to know that Russell is still in the making. He still has to apologize to his wife daily (ok, sometimes hourly) and still gets bothered when the kids are demanding.

Russell shared that Eliza Joy had desired for years for us to prayer together as a family and it was hard for him to commit. When Russell heard and caught vision for a time of worship and prayer in his home, he went for it. He talked to Eliza Joy about what it might look like to have a night of family worship in their house. You can imagine the scrupulous dynamics of three kids five and under.
But, he’s doing it. He’s a real guy with real challenges just like your family faces.

When you’re thinking about just doing it, think about a couple of tips that helped Russell establish a time of Family Worship in their home.

Here are 8 things Russell did to “Just Do It

Now, Russell is leading his home (making disciples) with intentionality in family worship. He would never say that what they are doing is perfect or polished, but they are succeeding. As his kids grow up, you can imagine they will shift and the time might ebb and flow.
But Russell’s wife and kids will look back in 20 years with a reality that Daddy/Hubby was actively engaged in leading his home in worship.

Sign. Me. Up.

If you are human, and probably American, you are facing so many challenges with finding time for what matters most. Just like Russell, you can do it!

Let me encourage you, talk to the Lord about your challenges and ask for help just like Russell. You’ll look back in 20 years and be so thankful. Oh yeah, your wife and kids are going to thank you for it too!

How about you?  What are the biggest challenges you are facing in making time for family worship?

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