How to Teach Your Kids (or others) to Have Relationship With God
It’s so important to me to teach my kids to have a real relationship with God, beyond salvation. In fact, I’d say that’s part of my life’s mission and calling. I want not only to help my kids learn how to have relationship with God but to teach others this as well. It’s a part of why I started this blog. Today I was reading through the Jen Hatmaker Bible plan “For the Love“. She was discussing how kids are ultimately going to make their own decisions especially spiritually. We can’t control or guarantee the outcome as parents. She said “the best we can do is give them Jesus”. He is unchanging (Hebrews 13:8).
Jen shared how when we don’t know what to do, when we are grasping as a spiritual mentor, or when right words and answers fail us, Jesus can deliver. Kids may doubt us, but they can’t doubt Jesus because he is unfailing and dependable. He always endures. Jesus can lead and guide our kids during those times when we can’t and even after our job of raising them is done. We need to remember that our children belong to God.
Raising good, godly, world-altering kids who have a relationship with God
I kind of had a vulnerable moment with God during reading this because one of my heart’s greatest desires is to raise good, godly, world-altering kids who love God faithfully with their whole heart and have a genuine relationship with God. My kids are still young, but sometimes I worry about their relationship with God (not their salvation because I personally prayed the believer’s prayer with both of them). I especially worry about my 12-year-old son at times. He doesn’t seem too terribly interested in spiritual things or in true relationship with God. That hurts my heart because I don’t know how to fix that. You hear stories of kids being raised in good Christian homes and then turning away from God. I don’t want that. So reading this devotional helped a little…I just need to give them Jesus.
I stopped my reading and prayed an earnest and heartfelt prayer (James 5:16) telling Jesus my concerns and desires for my kids. I told him that right answers have failed me. I told him that I’m concerned that I can’t guarantee their “spiritual success”. I asked him for help. I asked him to show me what I could do (what steps I could take) to do my part in “giving them Jesus”. After pouring my heart out for a minute or two, I continued reading my Bible. This verse was part of the plan and the last phrase comforted me…
“For the Lord is good, His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100:5 (NLT)
Each generation… That means He will be just as faithful to my kids as He’s been to me. 😀