Teaching Children to Worship--The Morning Altar

So many of you have asked what my homeschooling day looks like or what kind of a schedule I use. I even have a list of our daily routine on the fridge and often have moms stop to read it or ask a question or two about it often.

Now every homeschool is different, and we need to do what best suits each family, but now that I have homeschooled for 15 years I have learned to focus more on a routine than a schedule. I do not like feeling pressured to keep by a  rigid schedule but like freedom with time to keep the day pleasant.

But let me just say that there is one thing in our day that I would love to share with you that cannot be explained by merely glancing at that schedule that hangs on the fridge--I cannot tell you how important it is to our family to have our circle time.
 
Circle time, or the morning altar time, as preachers-of-old might define it, is a special time of the morning after breakfast that we gather after personal devotions on the couch and worship the Lord collectively by:

1. Reading through the Scriptures together. We will pick a chapter and have every child (that can read) read a portion of scripture outloud to the group. Afterwards, we will discuss it with either me or my husband leading if he is home.We are currently working our way through Proverbs.

2. We will sing hymns, contemporary Christian songs together (usually songs from church) and read about where the songs came from and the songwriter's walk with the Lord. This has been such a blessing and not only counts as music and history but the bonus is that they can remember songs in church by heart. Last week we learned 10,000 Reasons and were able to sing w/out the lyrics in church.

3. We address character. This is a good time to praise them for the good you have seen them do and offer constructive criticism as needed. We will also be going through different character cards and books to glean from them.

4. We pray together. Each child, even our little twins up to our young adult, all say prayers for the following:

• church
• family
• friends
• the unsaved
• the sick
• the nation
• missionaries
• leaders
• special needs

We usually pick a topic and pray specifically and also make room for whatever the Holy Spirit puts on our hearts.

Also, we try to keep this portion of the day lighthearted and fun and not with a stiff somberness that can come with a time like this but still teach reverence, worship, and relevance.

This is also a good time to memorize Bible verses as a family. The children look forward to this time, but not as much as I do. I know that if nothing else is accomplished in the day-and you know just how crazy a homeschooler's day can get-- that as long as I taught them in the Lord's ways, there would be peace of mind. 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10


I am also not worried that we will not have enough time for math or language because now I have just filled my children's time with what their soul needs most and what I am commanded to do by my Savior. Somehow God brings an unexplainable peace over our home and the day flows so sweetly afterwards. Yes, my children still sin throughout the day, but there is something different about having this special time with the Lord. It truly brings peace calm to all of our souls.

There is no academic class is more important than the time you spend investing in growing your children spiritually. The seeds you plant now will have eternal significance in the future. Be encouraged, dear mothers, and know that the time that you invest teach the Word will not return void!


For more inspiration about Circle Time, please read here.

How do you teach your children to worship the Lord at home?

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