Additional ways to Spiritually Engage on a Road Trip

Beauty → One of the biggest magnets God uses to draw people to him is the beauty of His creation. Spending moments to pause and appreciate the beauty around you is a spiritual discipline.  

Reflecting on the day → Having moments to look back on the day and answer questions like, “what was your favorite part?” can be great. Grow your family's spiritual sensitivity by asking questions like, “when did you feel closest to God today & why?” Just slowing down and reflecting does wonders to raise our awareness of God’s presence in our every moment.

Picking a spiritual theme → Is there a single attribute of God (wisdom, compassion, etc.) or area of your spiritual life you feel drawn to explore (listening to God, prayer, anxiousness)? Find a good book on the area and let that be a theme for your prayer and listen 

Written Journal → Buy everyone in your family a small journal and have them write 1 sentence or draw 1 picture of what was beautiful that day. Just the small moment of reflection goes a long way.

Photo Journal → Have everyone take 1 picture a day of something they loved. Could be a mountain scape, could be a pic of your lunch, or could be a family pic. Anything. After your trip, make a photo book with everyone’s photos.

Memory verse → Choose a verse and repeat it whenever you get back in the car while driving. Print it out and keep it in the glovebox so you don’t need the phones.

 - Psalm 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

- Psalm 8:1-2 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

- Psalm 139: 7-10 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

- Psalm 121:1-8 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Rest Stop reflection → When you stop somewhere to stretch your legs, have everyone get out and spend 5 minutes looking around and picking something that makes them think of God. Have everyone gather back together and share what they picked and why. Could be a branch, an interesting rock, or a tree in the distance.