A recent conversation with a mom friend prompted me to write a little bit about how we can teach our children to grow in their faith and walk with God. This friend asked me what she could do to teach her child about her faith. It got me thinking about what things we, as parents, can do to help our children live out their faith on a daily basis.
I truly believe that the greatest indicator of what a child understands about God and their faith starts in the home, and that we, as parents, are their greatest teachers.
Here are few basic, every day ideas of how we can teach our children to love God organically in our everyday lives:
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Continued Prayer: Children are never too young, or too old, to engage in age appropriate forms of prayer. As parents we can pray over our babies when we rock them, feed them, or drive with them. I believe babies can sense what this is from a young age and that it brings a great calm to their spirits. As they grow older, we can pray with our children. The types of prayers are dependent on the age and development of the child-but the consistency of doing this together is what is most important. Never underestimate the power of simple prayers like grace over meals, bedtime prayers, or prayers of thankfulness. One of my favorite things to do with Aiden is to pray as we're driving together in the morning, whether it be school, church, or a friend’s house. I turn off the radio, reach my hand back to hold his (in good driving conditions) and explain to him what I’m going to pray for (church, our day, Daddy’s meeting, etc.). We close every prayer, big or small, together in the name of Jesus. I want him to learn, at a young age, the power of praying in the name of Jesus.
Continued Prayer: Children are never too young, or too old, to engage in age appropriate forms of prayer. As parents we can pray over our babies when we rock them, feed them, or drive with them. I believe babies can sense what this is from a young age and that it brings a great calm to their spirits. As they grow older, we can pray with our children. The types of prayers are dependent on the age and development of the child-but the consistency of doing this together is what is most important. Never underestimate the power of simple prayers like grace over meals, bedtime prayers, or prayers of thankfulness. One of my favorite things to do with Aiden is to pray as we're driving together in the morning, whether it be school, church, or a friend’s house. I turn off the radio, reach my hand back to hold his (in good driving conditions) and explain to him what I’m going to pray for (church, our day, Daddy’s meeting, etc.). We close every prayer, big or small, together in the name of Jesus. I want him to learn, at a young age, the power of praying in the name of Jesus.
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Our words: The way we speak to our children, spouses, friends and family show the ways we edify God with our mouths. We can also speak scripture into our daily situations, using those “teachable moments” to introduce Biblical concepts-big or small-to help shape their understanding of the world around them.
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Our disciplines: When we take time to pray, reflect, read the word of God, and make church a regular part of regular family life, we are teaching our kids lifestyle habits that will never leave them. Do something fun like writing a memory verse on a chalkboard or mirror in your home, leave it hanging for them to see and discuss with them over the course of the week.
Our disciplines: When we take time to pray, reflect, read the word of God, and make church a regular part of regular family life, we are teaching our kids lifestyle habits that will never leave them. Do something fun like writing a memory verse on a chalkboard or mirror in your home, leave it hanging for them to see and discuss with them over the course of the week.
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Our generosity: What we do with our resources matters. Children learn first and foremost from their parents to begin thinking beyond themselves and start using what they have for God and others. Having conversations about why we do certain things that are not “normal” with our resources (such as tithing, giving to special projects, or cleaning out toys to give to others in need) are all ways that our children can learn how to live generous lives at a young age. We were blessed to take Aiden this Christmas to deliver presents to some of the families our church sponsored. He may not have understood fully what he was doing, but, it was a great starting point for future conversations we can have as he grows older.
Our generosity: What we do with our resources matters. Children learn first and foremost from their parents to begin thinking beyond themselves and start using what they have for God and others. Having conversations about why we do certain things that are not “normal” with our resources (such as tithing, giving to special projects, or cleaning out toys to give to others in need) are all ways that our children can learn how to live generous lives at a young age. We were blessed to take Aiden this Christmas to deliver presents to some of the families our church sponsored. He may not have understood fully what he was doing, but, it was a great starting point for future conversations we can have as he grows older.
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Step Out: Continue to step out in faith in your own walk with God. Allow God to direct your family in ways that you can take faith steps together and show your kids what it is to step out in faith on a daily basis. Go to a soup kitchen, give something to bless God or others with, pray with someone in need at your home, serve on a ministry team, practice hospitality towards friends and “strangers”…when you don’t get too “comfortable” in your faith your kids will see that it’s living and active in you.
Step Out: Continue to step out in faith in your own walk with God. Allow God to direct your family in ways that you can take faith steps together and show your kids what it is to step out in faith on a daily basis. Go to a soup kitchen, give something to bless God or others with, pray with someone in need at your home, serve on a ministry team, practice hospitality towards friends and “strangers”…when you don’t get too “comfortable” in your faith your kids will see that it’s living and active in you.
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