The transition between summer and fall is a tough one for my family. We’re all reluctant to trade in our lazy days and sandy feet for weekly schedules and sneakers. You can’t fight the inevitable. But you can make goals, chart a course, and expect change!

As we move forward into the school year, I have to help my kids adapt to new routines. And by adapt, I mean drag them kicking and screaming. Changes, especially ones we are hesitant to make, can lead to great opportunities for course correction.

Course correction can be a controversial topic, even within families. Whatever your viewpoint, if you don’t have a plan or end goal, things can get messy. This prayer bike ride will help you show your children what it means to have a plan, chart a course, and get to your destination while trying to stay on the path! And you’ll get to take advantage of the evening sunshine before the time changes and homework obligations set in.

Pack a dinner (or snack) to go, and plan on eating at a park, or make your destination a local restaurant and eat there. Gather your family together to look at a map and plan the route to your destination. (If you are using your phone, don’t let the app do the route for you!) Show your kids your location and destination and let them give input about which directions to take.

Before you leave, read Proverbs 3:5–6 aloud together and pray the verses over your family:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

As you begin to ride your bikes, encourage your kids to look for things to pray for along the route. You might even stop and pray for someone you meet. You can let older children lead the way. If they have questions about the route, don’t give them the answers. Instead, have everyone stop and look at the map. Let the kids figure out where you are and where they need to go next. If you’ve taken a wrong turn, they can correct your course by looking at the map.

When you get to the park or restaurant, talk about what you saw on your ride. Were there people you could pray for in your neighborhood? Discuss the upcoming school year. Are your children excited, worried, or scared about anything? Pray about those situations. Chart a course together for the school year!

God has gifted us with the best plans in His Word. The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters—perfect to use as a daily devotional for an entire month. Consider reading one chapter a day together as you navigate the course for your own family!