7 BEST WAYS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD'S SPIRITUAL GROWTH
I'm sure I can speak for most parents when I say that the most important thing we can do is to lead our children to Jesus. My child's salvation is the absolute most important thing to me and I'm sure you feel the same way.
This post is all about 7 ways to encourage your child's spiritual growth.
7 Best Ways To Encourage Your Child's Spiritual Growth
Our Responsibility As Mothers
As mothers, we are given our children by God with the responsibility of raising them to know the Lord. How we parent, how we love, and our daily interactions should foster that early foundation of their personal relationship with Jesus. We should be teaching them, guiding them, and encouraging their spiritual growth.
How do we do this? There are many things you can do to encourage your child’s spiritual growth!
Teach And Model Prayer
As I have said in many articles, prayer is vital in our relationship with Jesus. It is our lifeline and the way we communicate with our Heavenly Father. You can model prayer by praying on the way to school, before meals, at bedtime, and any other opportunities.
Your child is always watching and observing. They see when you pray, and they hear how you pray. These things set an example for their prayer life. If your child gets hurt, lead and encourage them to pray for calmness and healing. Are they scared of the dark? Have them pray for comfort. Is your child excited? Let them pray in gratitude.
When these things are implemented, it gives them opportunities to practice praying, strengthens their confidence in talking to God, and allows their own prayer life to grow as they grow.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Praise And Worship The Lord
God calls us to worship and give Him praise! Kids LOVE music, and there are a lot of great worship bands and Christian artists. Turn up the music and have a dance party! You will be surprised how the words of the songs touch their hearts. My son is four and always requests “Lion by Elevation Worship.” He can sing every word, and he will ask questions about certain lines from the song, which opens the door for me to have spiritual conversations with him!
Psalms 98:4 "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music"
Show How You Spend Time With God And Help Them Do The Same
One of the best ways to teach our children is to model what we teach. Making time with God a priority in your life will carry into their life. Your child needs to see you reading your bible, they need to hear you pray, and they need to be shown how to spend time with God throughout the busy day. You are the best example of this and trust me. They are watching!
John 15:4 “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
Talk About Scripture And Read Bible Stories
Kids are never too young to hear bible stories and memorize scriptures! Start with easy and short verses and work your way up. Introduce bible stories through books, music, and shows. One of my favorite ways to introduce bible stories and scriptures is through Saddleback Kids on YouTube! They have specific channels for each age group, and the shows are engaging and fun! You can also use crafts to help teach bible stories to kids, and by doing this, they will have something tangible to serve as a reminder of what they have learned.
I would also highly encourage you to try and find a time to implement a family bible lesson. There are so many excellent resources online and a variety of family devotionals you can do together.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ”These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Talk About How To Handle Difficult Situations
One of the best parts about being a Christian is that we are never alone! We have a God who stands by us, holding our hands and guiding us through life. When we face storms and go through hard times, we have the Lord to help us, giving us peace and strength.
This is such an important thing for kids to learn. They need to know where and who to go to with their problems. An excellent way to practice this is leading them to God when they are struggling. Fall and scrape their knee? Pray for healing with them. Are they having a hard time making good choices? Pray for God to help lead them and be obedient. Things didn’t go their way? Have them pray with gratitude, trusting God. Dealing with a mean kid in their class? Have them pray for that child and for God to soften their heart.
It's important to remember that the problems and hard times a child faces that may not seem like a big deal to us as adults are a big deal to them. So, just as we would call out to the Lord, they can and should do the same. It is our responsibility to teach them!
1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Point Out God's Goodness
We also point out God's blessings when they happen! If my son wants to play outside and it's raining, once the rain stops, we will thank God for stopping the rain. When a “boo boo” heals, a friend gets to come over, or when he is good at school and receives a prize from the treasure box, we thank and praise the Lord! By doing this, you are teaching them that everything good comes from the Lord, the big and the little things. It is all from God and His goodness.
One of my and my kids’ favorite things to do is to go on nature walks. I made them these cute little buckets and let them decorate them with stickers. They take their buckets on nature walks, and we collect things God created. I will say, “Find something God made that's green,” and they will put a leaf or flower in their bucket. They love to show me cool things they find that God made, and it opens a conversation about God's creation and His wonder!
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Answer Questions Honestly
We all know children can come up with the craziest of questions. Their little curious minds are constantly spinning. So, it is unsurprising that the more you introduce Jesus, the more questions they will ask. You must take time for their questions and answer honestly! If you don’t know the answer or don’t know what exactly to say, open the bible and let them see you seek God for wisdom. Find the answers together; this will show them where to go when they have questions as they grow up.
If you know the answer, be patient when explaining it to them. Try to use metaphors or situations that they can compare to. Ask them questions back to ensure they understand and are retaining the information. You can also remind them of a past event or experience they remember to help their comprehension.
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Jesus Calls Children To Come To Him
Kids are smarter than we think, and their innocence and child-like faith is such a remarkable thing. Jesus calls the children to come to Him. It is our job as mothers to create and lead them on the path that leads to Him. Being a Christian is much more than a “religion”; it is a relationship with our Savior..
The Creator who knows and loves us more than anyone. The one who gives us a purpose and an eternal life with Him. Through His blood, we are given a new life, an authentic life, the life we want our children to receive! Their salvation is the most critical decision they will ever make, and it is our job to lay the foundation so that when the Lord calls them, they answer!
Written by: Allie Buchanan