OCTOBER 15 – Reading 288

by Vanessa Abrisqueta | October 15

“FINDING GOD IN ORDINARY MOMENTS”
(Luke 2:1-38; Matthew 2:1-23; Luke 2:39-52)

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” – Luke 2:20 (ESV)

There’s something profoundly ordinary about some of our moments with children. We pack lunches, tie shoes, help with homework, listen as a child shares about their day, and tuck children into bed. The rhythm of investing in young lives—whether as parents, teachers, mentors, or caring adults—might at first feel routine. Yet these are the very moments where spiritual formation happens—not in dramatic religious experiences, but in the quiet consistency of everyday faithfulness. The challenge isn’t finding extraordinary spiritual moments for the children in our lives; it’s learning to recognize God’s presence in the beautifully ordinary rhythm of intergenerational relationships.

When Jesus was born, God chose to reveal this world-changing event to ordinary people first. The shepherds weren’t religious leaders—they were working-class men doing their regular night shift who became the first evangelists, returning to work “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). The entire Christmas narrative unfolds through routine moments made extraordinary by God’s presence: Mary and Joseph traveling for a census, Jesus born during a common travel inconvenience, wise men following a star during regular observations, and Jesus growing up in the ordinary rhythm of family life.

In Christ, we see how the Word became flesh and entered our ordinary world. Through the Holy Spirit’s power, our everyday moments become opportunities for spiritual formation—dinner tables become places of gratitude, bedtime routines become opportunities for prayer, and even conflicts become spaces where we learn about forgiveness and trust in God’s goodness.

This perspective transforms our approach to spiritual parenting. Instead of feeling pressure to create elaborate spiritual experiences, we can trust that God works through consistent, faithful presence in ordinary moments. When we model gratitude during routine tasks, speak words of affirmation during everyday interactions, and point out God’s goodness in simple pleasures, we’re creating a spiritual foundation that shapes young hearts naturally.

The beauty of ordinary spiritual formation is its accessibility. Every family—regardless of resources, education, or circumstances—can create environments where God’s presence is acknowledged in daily life. This authentic spirituality, lived out in the rhythm of regular family life, demonstrates to our community that faith isn’t reserved for Sundays or special occasions, but woven into the fabric of how we live, love, and respond to life together.

Simple Truth:
Sacred moments hide in ordinary routines.

Application:
Choose one ordinary daily routine in your home—perhaps dinner preparation, car rides to school, or bedtime—and intentionally invite God’s presence into that moment. 

• Ask simple questions like “What are you thankful for today?”

   

• Point out God’s goodness in small things you notice together. Let this one routine become a consistent space where your family naturally acknowledges God’s presence in everyday life.

   

Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing to enter our ordinary world and transform it with Your presence. Help us recognize that the most powerful spiritual formation happens not in dramatic moments, but in the faithful consistency of everyday life. Holy Spirit, open our eyes to see You in routine moments—around our dinner tables, in our conversations, through our daily rhythms of work and rest. Give us wisdom to point young hearts toward Your goodness in simple things and help them develop spiritual awareness that will sustain them throughout their lives. May our ordinary faithfulness create extraordinary impact in the lives You’ve entrusted to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.