Did you know that God is a big boot and we are the sand under it. When He walks on us, He pushes us down under Him. And that’s good, because the ocean is Satan. You see, Satan wants to pull us out into the open ocean so we drown. So when God steps on us, He’s actually saving us.
Another theory is that we are the teeth and God is the toothbrush and the toothpaste we brush with is His love. When we don’t have enough of God in our lives, we get cavities (Satan).
I bet you’re wondering what I ate for dinner last night that would cause such interesting thoughts to flow about God. Actually, these were given to me by my kids.
This past weekend, we took a 45 minute drive into the mountains to visit my parents and wish my grandmother a happy 91st birthday. From the minute I pulled out of our driveway to when we drove into Estes Park, my children flooded my brain with ideas for me to write or talk to you all about.
It was the coolest thing.
I love that my kids know what I do, think I’m world famous, and like to be involved by sharing ideas with me. It’s awesome that they get to see ministry in action because it helps them solidify their own faith.
But you know what I realized? This is new.
You see, I used to do my Bible study homework while they were at school or in bed. I’d read my Bible out back in the mornings while they were in front of the TV. I wouldn’t share God moments with them because I thought they wouldn’t be interested.
These days, I live my faith out in front of my family… especially my kids. Do you?
If you are, then bravo! Keep doing what you’re doing knowing the eternal impact it’s having. If your answer is no, I want to encourage you to be intentional about involving those precious children.
- Find a really crazy cool Bible story and read it to them (Like the story of Balaam’s Donkey in Numbers 22)
- When you find an interesting ah-ha moment in your Bible study, share it with your family at dinner. Ask their thoughts.
- If you receive a prayer request over email, ask your children to pray with you.
- Tell your kids what you learned in church before asking them what they learned about.
- Share what you feel God is doing in your life. Ask how they feel God is working in them, too.
- Explain to your kids how you hear God and ask them how they do.
- Ask your kids what you can pray for… for them.
When I began to do these things, I saw great growth in my kids. God is so a part of our days and our conversations now! My kids have come alive and are developing a great foundation in their own faith.
As parents, aunts, sisters, teachers, grandmothers, spiritual mothers, God-parents, neighbors… we have to live our faith out in front of these young children. Why?
- Because it makes God come alive for them, showing them that a relationship with Him is essential.
- They see how God fits into every situation and place in one’s life.
- It battles the world’s message that God’s not cool.
- But most importantly, because God tells us to do just that.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon 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.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (emphasis mine)
In this verse, Moses is telling the Israelites to make God an integral part of their everyday lives, and they were extremely successful in doing so. The same lesson can be applied to us in the here and now. We need to allow God to permeate our worlds whether we’re at hanging at home, running errands, getting ready for bed, or hustling out the door in the morning.
And a little side note here – If you think teaching your children about God isn’t as necessary since they go to church regularly and/or attend Christian school… you’re wrong. While they certainly help drive the point home, you cannot escape the responsibility.
Sisters, make God a part of your everyday life and it will teach your kids that He can be a part of theirs, too.
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Thank you for the reminder and the “practical” ways to apply these truths.
I use to do this when the children were young but once they hit teens they didn’t want to go to church or participate in any “God stuff”. I have often wanted to share with my teen and adult children, but how do I do that when they don’t want God “forced” on them?
Nikki… you just live your life of faith in front of them. Be the Bible they read. Actions speak so much louder, so just silently “show” them what a walk with God looks like.
Thank you for this post. I am always looking for new ways to keep God in my child’s daily life.
love this post…am going to share it!!
So true, we are the movie that our kids watch to learn how to live life. If we God isn’t the star of our lives, then won’t see Him. And the world will certainly show them other things.
Love it! Thanks
I have a friend who used to say that she sat in her teens’ rooms and “picked carpet” until they talked about themselves/their day/their feelings. Now I love to “pick carpet” with my own kids.