Collective nouns

WHICH IS CORRECT PLEASE?

THE FAMILY HAVE DEVOTIONS

THE FAMILY HAS DEVOTIONS

It depends on where you are. No, really.
In the U.S., we treat collective nouns (nouns that represent a bunch of people) as a singular. In the U. K., collectives are plural. Words like "the government" are treated very differently, depending on which side of the Atlantic you are on.

I agree -- in the U.S. collective nouns, like family, are treated as singular. The family has devotions. However, there are some exceptions based on whether the collective noun is acting as a unit.

The team is on the field.
The team ate their lunches. (Since the team isn't eating a single collective lunch.)

Usually I just skirt the whole issue by changing the noun. For example, changing "team" to "team members." The team members ate their lunches.