After Lynn's post on Friday, a bloggie friend left this great question in the comments:
Well, I have boys but thank you for the reminder to still set that example for them. I would love to hear ideas you or other may have about exactly HOW to help your kids develop that habit of quiet time for themselves early on. We are trying many different things but my oldest( just 9) will resist it if pushed to hard and I certainly do not want time with God to be a chore or something he dreads. Any ideas?
Here's the thing...I really didn't want to answer that question, because, quite honestly, I'm not sure we've done this right. But here goes...
Barry and I have taken the approach that personal quiet times are a habit our kids will have to establish on their own when they're ready. I started my own prayer and Bible study times when I was 16, and they were powerful primarily because they were my idea. (You might not believe this, but I'm a little on the strong-willed side. Ha!) I made a personal commitment from a personal realization of my need.
Since I felt insecure about this advice, I asked my friend Wendy about it this morning. She said she thinks that the time for personal quiet times really depends on the age and stage of the child.
BUT Wendy followed by saying that she thinks there are two really important things for parents to do to prepare their children for that day:
As I thought this through, I thought of one more thing I want to add:
3. Live like Jesus is real and part of the family...because He is.
Even though we might not have been strong and intentional enough in regular family devotions (and I really wish we had been stronger), I think the area in which we've been really intentional is in keeping Jesus very present in our conversations, our family decisions and our everyday interactions. We've tried to live out Deut. 6:5-9,
"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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (NIV)
Friends, I know lots of you are probably doing some wonderful things to teach your children about personal time with God. Please share. This topic is essential to passing on our faith to the next generation. How are you approaching it?
Well, I have boys but thank you for the reminder to still set that example for them. I would love to hear ideas you or other may have about exactly HOW to help your kids develop that habit of quiet time for themselves early on. We are trying many different things but my oldest( just 9) will resist it if pushed to hard and I certainly do not want time with God to be a chore or something he dreads. Any ideas?
Here's the thing...I really didn't want to answer that question, because, quite honestly, I'm not sure we've done this right. But here goes...
Barry and I have taken the approach that personal quiet times are a habit our kids will have to establish on their own when they're ready. I started my own prayer and Bible study times when I was 16, and they were powerful primarily because they were my idea. (You might not believe this, but I'm a little on the strong-willed side. Ha!) I made a personal commitment from a personal realization of my need.
Since I felt insecure about this advice, I asked my friend Wendy about it this morning. She said she thinks that the time for personal quiet times really depends on the age and stage of the child.
BUT Wendy followed by saying that she thinks there are two really important things for parents to do to prepare their children for that day:
- Model quiet times by having their own and letting their children see them. (Just what Lynn said. Yay!)
- Read scripture as a family. You can got to Wendy's blog by clicking here and reading her series about morning devotions. The Carroll family is following her plan this year, and we love it!
As I thought this through, I thought of one more thing I want to add:
3. Live like Jesus is real and part of the family...because He is.
Even though we might not have been strong and intentional enough in regular family devotions (and I really wish we had been stronger), I think the area in which we've been really intentional is in keeping Jesus very present in our conversations, our family decisions and our everyday interactions. We've tried to live out Deut. 6:5-9,
"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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (NIV)
Friends, I know lots of you are probably doing some wonderful things to teach your children about personal time with God. Please share. This topic is essential to passing on our faith to the next generation. How are you approaching it?
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2 comments:
I encourage my kids to pray by themselves about upcoming decisions. I also have them do individual devotional times. They are 6 and 8. I started them both at 6, towards the end of kindergarten. I have seen the growth that has stemmed. I have started them in a habit that they will need to assume later. I think everyone is different, but all I can say is that trying to teach these habits to my two has definitely made a huge difference.
Great post, my sweet friend! Living the example before them is definitely key.
Love you and miss you!!
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