Take time out of your schedule today (and hopefully every day) to pray. The easiest place to find time is early in the morning. Set your alarm for 10 minutes earlier, get up, and get on your knees. If you need music, play music, if you need silence, bask in the sound of the sunrise. Go out on your patio, take a walk, stretch. Get into The Word. Flip open your Bible and pick a spot. I usually land in the Psalms and it’s usually the one I absolutely needed that day.

I also like the prayer acrostic ACTS: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Read more about it here. This is a great one to teach the kids, too. It’s not all about “God’s neat! Let’s eat!” There’s a bit more to it than that!

It’s important to pray with your kids at bedtime. Praying together has a calming effect, and creates an atmosphere of protection and solidarity for everyone.

Remember what Christmas is all about. It’s not about LEGO robots, cookies, or even ham. It’s about the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s gift to humankind. Pray for peace: throughout the world, our nation, our cities, our neighborhoods, and especially in our homes and families. What are you waiting for?