How to Spiritually Prepare Your Family for Fall

August 6th, 2025
by Randy Phillips

It’s that time of year again.

Backpacks are packed, routines are forming, and summer break is fading into memory. As the school year begins, we have an opportunity—one that goes beyond academics and after-school activities.

Back-to-school season is a chance to refocus your home around what truly matters: your walk with Jesus.

It’s more than getting your kids back in class. It’s about leading them to live with purpose, peace, and faith in the middle of a busy world.

Building a Foundation That Lasts

Scripture reminds us in Proverbs 22:6:

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

As parents, we shape more than schedules—we shape hearts. When we align our homes with God’s truth, we give our children a foundation that can weather any season.

So how do we do that practically this fall? Here are a few ways to help your family start the school year with faith at the center.

1. Make Church a Weekly Rhythm

When calendars fill up fast, church can start to feel optional. But now’s the time to reset that rhythm.

Make Sundays sacred again—not just for your kids, but for you.

Join your church family in worship. Plug into youth and children’s programs. Let your kids see that church isn’t just a place you go—it’s a community you grow with.

Reminder: Your excitement is contagious. When you make church a priority, your kids will notice.

2. Start and End the Day with Scripture

Busy mornings and late nights don’t have to be spiritually empty. Start small. Post a verse by the bathroom mirror. Drop a Scripture note in your child’s lunchbox. Pray together in the carpool line.

At night, wind down with a short Bible story. For younger kids, a Beginner’s Bible works wonders. For older ones, ask what they’re learning and where they’re struggling.

Deuteronomy 6:7 says:

“Talk about God’s commands when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Faith isn’t a compartment. It’s a conversation.
Make it part of your daily flow.

3. Align Your Calendar with Your Faith

We schedule school, sports, and social events—why not our spiritual life too?

Mark time for youth group, small groups, family devotions, or a Saturday service project.

Write them in just like you would a game or recital.

And remember:

There’s a small chance your child will go pro in sports.
There’s a 100% chance they’ll stand before the Lord one day.

The world may treat faith as optional. But you don’t have to.

4. Model Faith When Life Gets Messy

School seasons come with stress—early mornings, full schedules, and unexpected challenges. But your response matters more than you think.

Let your kids see what faith looks like in real life.
When things go sideways, pray. When you’re overwhelmed, speak peace. When plans change, trust God out loud.

Your example is your loudest sermon.

5. Celebrate and Give Thanks Every Week

Before you launch into the weekend, pause to reflect.

Around the dinner table on Friday nights, ask:

What’s one thing you’re grateful for this week?
Where did you see God show up?

Little moments of gratitude create big culture shifts. When faith becomes regular conversation, it becomes real in the everyday.

Final Word

This back-to-school season is more than a return to routine. It’s a spiritual reset. A moment to say:

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

So walk into this new season with purpose.
Prioritize what matters most.
And know this—God is with you every step of the way.

Prayer: Lord, help us lead our homes with wisdom and courage. As our kids head back to school, center our hearts on You. Use this season to grow us, stretch us, and draw us closer to You.

Here’s to a school year filled with faith, peace, and God’s presence in your home.

— Pastor Randy Phillips