How to Guide Your Children to God

I don’t want my kids to blindly do what the Bible says just because I’ve told them to or because our church has told them to do so.  I know there is something to be said for blind faith, and I do agree with that, but I would rather my kids think of God as a friend.

Seeing Him as a friend means it is He who they will go to first when they have something going on in their life and they just don’t know what to do.

Seeing Him as a friend means it is He they will go to with excitement when something wonderful happens in their life.

Seeing Him as a friend means when things just don’t seem to be going right, it is He they will go to and talk about what is troubling them.

Isn’t that really what we want for our kids when we teach them about God?  I know that’s what I want for my kids!

I want my kids to know who to turn to when they feel they have no one to turn to or no one that will understand.

I want them to know that God will listen to them and give them answers.  And if they try, they will learn how to hear those answers.

There are many verses that talk about this…

1 John 5:14

¹⁴ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Philippians 4:6

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Job 33:14-16

¹⁴ For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.  ¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, ¹⁶ Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.

Psalm 37:7-9

⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.  ⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.  ⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.

Ezekiel 3:10

¹⁰ Moreover He said to me: “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.

If you read those verses, you will see a few similarities… We are asked to come to God and make our requests known, to be patient, to not worry or be angry, and then, finally, to listen to Gods words.

So, how do we guide our children to God?

While there are no concrete ways to ensure your children have a fulfilling relationship with God, I believe there are things you can do to help them understand His love and His role in their lives.

1. Show them what it looks like.  Allow your kids to see you in your walk with God.  Let them see you pray.  Include them in those prayers whenever possible.  If I find out a friend is ill, I get my kids from whatever they are doing and we pray together.  They need to know that they can talk to God at any time throughout the day… not just at meal times and bedtime.
2. Start early.  Your kids are never too young to start teaching them to seek God.  When my kids are scared of the dark, I encourage them to talk to God about it.  I tell them He will help to give them peace.  As they grow older, I continue to encourage them to seek God’s guidance with whatever is going on in their life.  It is my hope that by helping them at a young age to talk to God about what is worrying them, that they will continue to do so as they grow up.
3. Teach them what it means to “hear” God.  Make sure your kids understand that “hearing” God’s words does not mean that they will necessarily hear a man’s voice out loud like they can hear yours.  He speaks to us through dreams.  He speaks to us through people.  Mostly, though, he speaks to us through our hearts.  If we practice, we can listen to our hearts and do what God is telling us to do.
4. Show them real life examples  When something great happens, show them how God had a hand in it.  This one is hard, because bad things do happen.  Obviously we need to teach the kids not to become discouraged in those times.  But we can also help them see the good.  Remember to show them the little things.

These are just a few ways to guide your children to God and help them to turn to Him

What are ways you do this in your home?

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