2022 – Can you believe it’s already here? As we begin this new year, how can we help our children begin new practices that will allow them to grow in faith?
Model Faith
Modeling faith happens in our day-to-day activities. It’s said that more is ‘caught’ than ‘taught’ with our children. They watch and listen to everything we do. When life is going well, praise the Lord together. Celebrate with your children. Sing, dance, and laugh together. When life is a struggle, pray to the Lord together. Modeling our faith through prayer in both good and bad times helps our children to know that our God is ever-present and always there for us.
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.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Active Faith
During each day take time to praise the Lord for the many good things in life, i.e., raindrops, puppy kisses, warm beds, clothes to wear, etc. There is an array of sights, sounds, and experiences each day to thank God for. Capture those moments together. It doesn’t have to be huge moments of victory, but a bundle of little things that we share praising God for.
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”
Talking Faith
Talking with our children about their faith can be an opportunity for deeper discussions. The Bible has stories that can be applied to real instances that our children face; fear, pride, injustice, and insecurity to name just a few. Developing a deep-seeded reality in our children that the people in the Bible were very real and faced real challenges just like we do, can help our children know that the same God who walked with those in the Bible walk with us.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Action Steps:
Pray
We can’t pray too much. I want the Lord to be the first thing on my mind when I rise and the last before I go to sleep. I often pray as I’m cleaning the kitchen and as I’m walking our dog. Teaching our children to pray throughout the day in whatever circumstance we’re in is a wonderful habit to establish in this new year.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Memorize Scripture
As a family, memorize a verse together each week. Write the verse on a 3×5 card with the scripture reference on one side and the Bible verse on the other. Review this verse together throughout the week and praise your child as they learn. God’s Word does not return void. We can be assured that each little morsel of God’s Word we can plant in our children will flourish in their hearts.
Isaiah 55:11 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to me void…”
Ask for Forgiveness
When needed, ask your child for forgiveness. Demonstrating a contrite heart and repentance can be a powerful lesson for our children. Our children need to know that we too fail in our faith walk. We’re not perfect and it’s okay for our kids to know that. When needed, apologize to your child, and ask them to forgive you. It’s humbling but necessary for our kids to see genuine faith.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
We’ll never be perfect in our faith journey, but that’s not the goal. True faith is established moment by moment, day by day. May 2022 be a year that your faith as a family is active and growing with God-centered practices and habits.
Good sound advice for our faith to grow, Lee Ann, “with God-centered practices and habits”.