Recently a mom asked me a question for a Mom’s Corner:
How do I practically teach kids about God outside Bible reading/family worship time and other formal situations to teach God’s Word? Sadly this does not come naturally to me. How do I show the little ones that God is real and loving, and they need Him a lot?
I believe moms have a powerful platform of spiritual influence in their children’s lives by being purposeful in this area. It is something I wish I had done more and better when my children were little. I encourage you to take the challenge.
“We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children whichshould be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (Psalm 78:4-7).
Praise and Thanksgiving
One thing we see in Scripture is the call to praise and thanksgiving. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).
If you continually thank the Lord, out loud, at every opportunity, and praise Him often, you will be bringing Christ into your children’s little hearts and lives. They emulate you and develop grateful hearts.
Prayer
Teach yourself to stop and pray out loud with your children often. Pray together when you hear Daddy is having a rough day at work, when someone gets hurt, when you hear the sirens going down your street, or when you have a friend who is sick.
When your children struggle with each other, have bad attitudes toward you, or even difficulty with school, pray with them. Help them learn to cry out to the Lord with their needs. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Recognize answers to prayer with your children. Talk about those answers to prayer, thank the Lord for them, and praise Him for them.
Scripture
Memorize key verses that are applicable to your children’s lives to quote to them when it is appropriate. If you do that regularly, they will grow up with those Scriptures embedded in their minds available to pop up when it is helpful.
Singing
Memorize hymns, and sing them when you are working in the kitchen, folding laundry, or during other tasks where your mind isn’t very engaged. Singing reflects a joyful heart, and it puts your thoughts on the Lord Jesus. You will be drawing your children to the Lord, while giving them the sweet spirit of joyful song. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).
Through these suggestions, you bring your personal relationship with the Lord to the outside so that it is visible to your children, and you make them a part of it. You are discipling them in a real, personal walk with Jesus. This is the eternal investment you make in your children’s lives, and it is worth planning, purposing, and making real.
Trusting in Jesus,
Teri