School is in Session – Do Our Children Have the Faith Foundation They Need? Part 2

Last week I shared about one of my biggest fears – that my kids won’t have a solid foundation in faith. We also talked a little about the importance of not only regularly reading God’s Word ourselves, but sharing the stories of the Bible with out children. Here are a few other ways that I believe will help provide the foundation of faith for our kids.

Pray For and With Your Children
My daughter (7 yrs old) says the exact same prayer every night. I have to admit – it drives me a little nuts. I want to launch into a sermon on the subject almost every night. BUT, I’m learning to bite my tongue as much as possible as trying to lead by example. I’m hoping that she’ll hear how others talk to God and it will hit her one day – we’re talking to the God of the Universe! I’ve seen God do amazing things through prayer and I look forward to sharing in prayer with my kids more and more as they grow up.

Take Advantage of Teachable Moments
In our family teachable moments seem to occur most often in places like the car, at the dinner table or when we’re spending time doing an activity together. It can be the simplest of things – we may be talking about their school day or we might hear a song on the radio and these things translate so easily into a quick spiritual lesson.

Our latest lesson was just this week. My daughter got in the car after school and was frustrated with one of her friends. We had a few moments where I had their full attention and we discussed being kind and how to handle this particular situation. These teachable moments are great times to infuse our kids with lessons about God and living a godly life.

Remember that God is in Control
In the end, the conclusion that I’ve come to is that God loves my children even more than I do. (Hard to believe, but true!) If we are doing what He has asked us to do, what more can we possibly do?

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:36-40