What do your kids want to be when they grow up? It’s funny how that answer changes as they age. Right now, one of my sons is convinced that he will be the second coming of JJ Watt in Houston. If you don’t know what that means, he’s convinced he will be a professional football player. Our kids have big plans, and we have big plans for our kids.
As fun as it would be to see my son achieve this goal, I know that what goes on in his heart and soul is exponentially more important than what occurs on the football field. The same concept is true regardless of what your child is involved in. As parents who love Jesus, our call from God is to teach our kids to know and love Jesus too. David Platt says, “Our goal in parenting is not ultimately for our kids to get a great education or be a great athlete or find a great spouse or get a great career. Our goal is for them to love a great God.”
Why is this important?
Let’s make sure we understand why this is so important. In Deuteronomy 6, we see the blueprint for a biblical home.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.“
Two things are clear: (1) we’re called to love God with our whole heart, and (2) we’re called to raise our kids in a home where they see that this is our top priority, our highest calling!
Let me make another observation: We cannot teach our kids to love God with their whole hearts if we don’t love God with our whole hearts. The old saying, “Do as I say, not as I do,” doesn’t work with our kids. They will do what we do almost 100% of the time. If we love Jesus with our whole hearts and seek to live a life honoring him, that’s the example they will follow. However, if we tell our kids to love Jesus and follow him when it’s not a priority in our own lives, we shouldn’t be surprised when it’s not a priority for them either.
How do we do it?
So, how do we do it? Deuteronomy 6 reveals that teaching our kids to know and love God is an ongoing mission. Here are three action steps to make that mission a reality:
Read the Bible.
The more we learn about God through his Word, the more we love him. As we read, we see the heart of God, we see the promises of God, we learn the plan of God, and we see the love God has for each one of us. God’s word transforms us (Romans 12), gives us direction in this life (Psalm 119:105), and ultimately introduces us to our Savior, Jesus (1 John 1:4).
Nothing impacts the spiritual growth of our children like time reading the Bible. Every family has a different rhythm, so Bible reading in your home may look different than mine, and that’s okay. What matters is that our kids (and us) read. Carve out a time and protect it! For those with younger kids, bedtime is a natural time to read together. If your kids are older, maybe it’s the dinner table. Early risers? Sit around the breakfast table and read together. If your kids are older, encourage them to read independently and have one or two moments per week where your family comes together to discuss what everyone is reading in their Bibles. Be prepared to share what you’ve been reading and learning, too!
So, read the Bible. Got it. But where do we start reading? Great question! Preschool Children? Start with teaching them Bible stories. This “Beginners Bible” was written just for them. Before long, your kids will recite these stories back to you. If your kids are of reading age, this “Storybook Bible” is a great Bible for them to read to you. Once your kids are a little older, find a reading plan and encourage them to start reading independently. YouVersion is an excellent resource for reading plans.
Your schedule is light, and you have a bunch of free time, right? Probably not. No matter how busy we get, ensuring our kids grow up reading the Bible is of more value to their hearts and souls than everything else we’ve allowed to crowd our schedules. Make the time. Do the work. Establish the rhythm of Bible reading in your home.
Talk to God.
If we aim to teach our kids to love God, don’t you think we should teach them to talk to him? Don’t overthink this. When we pray, we talk to our Heavenly Father, confidently knowing he hears us. Pray with your kids so that they see and hear you talking to God. Then, encourage them to pray as well. Encourage your kids to give thanks for what they’re thankful for. Remind them to ask God for healing and help for those they know who are sick or struggling. Have them pray for friends who don’t know God. If you’ve spent time reading the Bible, ask them to pray about something they saw in the Bible. For example, “Thank you, God, for sending Jesus at Christmas” or “God, give me courage like Paul.”
Show your kids that prayer is natural and constant in the life of believers. Pray in the evening together. Pray when you’re driving down the road and pass by an ambulance (“God, help the person that ambulance is for and give their family comfort, amen!”). Pray when you see the sunset (“God, thank you for this beautiful sunset; your creation is amazing!”). Pray when your kiddo isn’t feeling good (“God, help us to feel better!”). Do you see the pattern? In all things, pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Start Singing.
That’s right, sing! You probably assumed Bible reading and prayer were on the list, but singing? Let me explain. I just finished reading through Psalms and couldn’t help but notice the constant call to praise God! What we sing matters.
Lifeway did a study just a few years ago. Their goal was to identify what patterns in a household had the most significant impact on a child’s faith. Number one was Bible reading, number two was prayer, and number three was singing Christian songs. Just think about it: Songs stick in our minds and hearts, right? What was your favorite song in high school? What songs did your parents sing to you as a kid? What music was on repeat when you learned how to drive? More than likely, lyrics rushed back into your head and heart as I asked you those questions. Lyrics stick.
Now, let me ask you this: What are your kids singing? What lyrics are being imprinted in their hearts and minds? Don’t miss the opportunity music provides as you teach your kids to love God. Find great worship music and sing together! You might say, “Alexa, play Big Daddy Weave!” or, “Alexa, play Maverick City Music!” In the car, turn down the Kid’s Bop Sing Along and turn on music that points to Jesus. Let it sink in so that it’s in their hearts and minds years from now. There’s no sweeter sound than hearing your child sing songs that praise Jesus.
If these family worship habits are new to you, let me make a suggestion. Begin today. Open your Bible to the Book of Luke. Read one chapter per day with your family. You’ll walk through the life of Jesus and finish in just over three weeks. After you read each day, take a few minutes to pray together about what you read and what’s going on in your life. Then, take every opportunity to turn on music that praises God. Miss a day? That’s okay! Try not to miss two. If you miss two, that’s okay. Don’t miss three! You get the point. Make Bible reading, prayer, and singing a priority in your home, and do your best to stay consistent. There’s no better time to create rhythms in your home that teach your kids to love God with their whole hearts!
