Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms

One of the best books ever written. I laughed, I cried, I felt every word and it felt written for me and my journey in parenthood and marriage. This book is written so different than any other book I’ve read and I enjoyed the authors style of writing. I loved the chapter summaries at the end and the repetitive ending verse that he ended every single chapter with. It’s not a Bible verse I don’t think, but it’s a daily reminder that I’ll be using to remind me of Gods Grace and how his love for us should change our habits. I finished the book because I couldn’t put it down. Each chapter talked about everything in my life that I or my family are going through. I loved the examples and talking points and short prayers to practice if we can’t make our own. I cannot recommend this book enough. I’m so grateful to it, as it came to me at the perfect timing - a true blessing !!!! Please buy this book! For you, your spouse, a friend, a neighbor! It’s the perfect gift !

This is such a great book. Well written, practical, easy to read!

Habits of the Household is a great reminder to turn everyday routines like waking up, mealtimes, discipline, play, and bedtime into meaningful opportunities to weave faith into family life. This isn’t just another parenting book; it’s highly practical, deeply encouraging, and truly transformative. Every parent should read this!

I highly recommend this book --I'm not quite finished with it but feel confident enough in it to recommend it anyway. Although it's written by a dad, it's helpful for a mom as well. I will admit that the word "liturgy" made me a bit nervous that it wouldn't be down-to-earth enough for me, but he explains that this really just means Habits. I love how Justin explains the theological implications behind the habits that create the routines in our day, then suggests practical applications --with lots of examples from his day -- the good, the bad, the ugly, and the redeemed! I'm not a deep theological or flowery prose reader anymore -- with my bad eyes, I save reading for practical or straightforward stuff, and this does not disappoint. It's worth using up my eye energy for! I can't read a book straight through anymore, but this has been easy to pick up and read a chapter a day and be inspired and encouraged. It reinforced to me the biblical "why" behind so much of what we did instinctively yet intentionally. I just picked up several more as gifts!

Habits of the Household feels like a step forward from The Common Rule, which I last read in 2022—though a lot has shifted since then: myself, my family, and the world. His writing is accessible, relatable, and practical, yet carries the understated finesse of a competent intellectual and artist who knows when to hold back. There's a thoughtful rhythm between intellect, emotion, and action throughout the book, which I found refreshing. Earley comes across less like a distant expert and more like a steady friend, gently saying, “God’s got us—let’s figure this out together. Here’s a few things to try.”

I have read SO MANY CHRISTIAN PARENTING BOOKS in my short 10 years of parenting. This is ABOVE AND BEYOND any of the other books I have read. The author is so incredibly practical that you can totally relate to him and his family - but also have incredible practical tools to adopt his “habits” into your own. I love how the book is broken down into sections (work, screentime, meals, etc!) because it makes it an easy book to read, but also study with others. I listened on audiobook first, and loved the book so much I bought a physical copy for my husband to read. I wish every Christian parent had this book in their resource library because we can truly change the world and the trajectory of the next generation if we adopt these “habits of the household!” 10/10 recommend!!!!

Highly recommend. The book feels like coffee with a friend. It will make you laugh, contemplate and feel comfort and encouragement. This book feels real because the author uses his real life experience as an example. This book will be one that stays on my nightstand and becomes well loved. I do think this would also be a great gift for someone practicing their walk with the lord and a parent!

I’m giving the book itself a 5 star rating because it’s such a great book. I’m a mom a 3 under 10 and this book has been so helpful. Thinking about what our day truly consists of and how to see God and share God in all things. It arrived banged up which I’m slightly sad about, but it can still be read. Amazon just didn’t think about the shipping packaging.

I recently finished Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley, and I’d give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars. This book is immensely practical. Earley doesn’t write as a distant expert but as a father in the trenches, and that tone makes a big difference. He shows how ordinary family moments—mealtimes, bedtimes, discipline, technology use, even conflict—can become opportunities for spiritual formation. The core idea is simple but powerful: our homes are always shaping us, so we should be intentional about forming habits that point our families toward Christ. One of the strongest aspects of the book is how actionable it is. Each chapter includes concrete practices, sample liturgies, and realistic suggestions that don’t require a perfect schedule or superhuman discipline. He understands that family life is noisy and messy, and he works with that reality rather than against it. That said, I didn’t give it 5 stars for a couple of reasons. At times, the structure can feel a bit repetitive, and some ideas could have been developed more theologically. The emphasis is clearly on practice over depth, which is helpful, but readers looking for a more robust biblical or doctrinal framework may feel it’s somewhat light in that area. Still, as a guide for building Christ-centered rhythms in the home, this is an excellent resource. It’s especially helpful for parents who want to disciple their children in everyday life, not just during formal family devotions. I’d gladly recommend it to families who want practical help turning their home into a place of intentional spiritual growth.

Invaluable advice for the modern parent.

An easy, enjoyable read but also a super practical guide to bringing God's ways into all the daily rhythyms of parenting. Justin uses humor and grace to inspire parents to embrace heart-forming habits. Well on it's way to becoming a dog-earred reference book in our home!

Mostra como nossa rotina pode estar redimida ao amor de Deus

In dem Buch geht es darum, wie und Rituale dabei helfen, uns in Familienalltag an Gott zu erinnern. Das Buch ist sehr praktisch orientiert und gibt viele gute Ideen/Anregungen, wie man eigene Familienrituale entwickeln kann, die uns im stressigen Alltag helfen immer wieder kurz innezuhalten. Ich habe das Buch schon mehrfach weiterempfohlen.