Praying Through the Bible for Your Kids by Nancy Guthrie

In 2016 Tyndale published what might be the best parent-oriented devotion I have ever seen: Nancy Guthrie’s Praying through the Bible for Your Kids. In his forward, Sinclair Ferguson comments that the book “does not take the low road of offering us a series of things we must do in order to become successful Christian parents. Instead it takes the high road of patiently, daily, guiding us through the message of the whole Bible so that we may reflect on it and pray through it, all in a way that is related to the nitty-gritty, day-in and day-out experience of being a mom or dad.”

Guthrie demonstrates how the entire Bible is utterly practical and effective for training parents’ hearts as well as the hearts of our children. Because Guthrie and her husband have raised one child to adulthood, yet suffered the loss of two other children, they have experienced a broad range of the joys, challenges, and anguish that parents can face. Consequently, Guthrie is sensitive to the intensity of parental love, yet her experience with God’s faithfulness in their trials has established her hope in God alone. She encourages her readers to do the same.

Each day contains four brief Scripture references from the Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs and New Testament. Guthrie selects a theme or idea from one of the four and expands on the concept in the devotion, and closes with a brief related prayer. Because the book focuses on spiritual maturity, it is useful for parents (and grandparents) with children of any age.

Guthrie’s expert guidance through Scripture orients my heart to trust and my thoughts to focus on the good news of Jesus Christ. Her guidance in prayer demonstrates how to pray for my children in accordance with God’s will, not my own. Praying Through the Bible for Your Kids is a book that will help you grow spiritually and love your children well. A parent couldn’t ask for anything more.