Things That Grow...

How do we help our kids grow in God?

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught.” Colossians 2:6-7

Your child has accepted Christ as his Saviour and has become a child of God. Now it is time to help him or her get to know God better and grow in a personal relationship with Him. Our iKids love a song that goes...
Read your Bible pray every day, pray every day, pray every day.
Read your Bible pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow.
And you'll grow, grow, grow, and you'll grow, grow, grow.
Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow.
Neglect your Bible forget to pray, forget to pray, forget to pray.
Neglect your Bible forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink.
And you'll shrink, shrink, shrink, and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink.
Neglect your Bible forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink.

Encouraging your kids to grow in God is not very different from growing plants. Your child begins their Christian walk as a little seedling. God's word has been planted in their heart and they found their need of a Savior and their new life begins to sprout. That young plant needs nourishment to grow into the mature plant that bears much fruit and in turn plants seeds in the hearts of others.
They have a lot to learn and you have a lot to teach! But little by little, day by day...

Now here is how you can Grow your kids in God . . .

1. READ the Bible and you'll grow, grow, grow.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
The best way for your child to get to know God is to read the Bible. The Bible is God’s love letter to your child and explains who God is and what He is like. It tells them how He created the world and why He created them. The Bible will teach your child right from wrong and shows them how to live in a way that pleases God.
Family devotions are so important and by modeling your walk with God you'll both grow in your understanding of Scripture. The Bible book store has wonderful Bible and devotional books for all ages. Even a preschooler can have a Bible at their level that they can understand. Establish a time for your child to have personal devotions at their level of understanding. Help your child memorize Bible verses that are meaningful to their stage of life. This is like adding the extra nutrients your young plant needs to grow strong.

2. Help your child TALK to God!
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Prayer is talking to God. Your child can share all of their thoughts and feelings with God, because He understands. He always has time to listen and He always cares.
Teach your child that they can pray anytime and anyplace. Encourage them to set aside a special time each day to pray. Model a healthy prayer life to your child and share answers to prayers with them. A favorite book of mine entitled Creative Family Prayer Times by Mike and Amy Nappa has many ideas to keep your familie's prayer life fresh and growing.

3. TELL Others the Good News!
“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” 1 Peter 3:15
Jesus wants your child to mature into a healthy full grown plant that produces fruit and in turn shares the good news that they have recieved planting God's word in the hearts of others. The most important life lessons are caught rather than taught. Be sure to model this in your own life and your child will be sure to follow, growing deep roots that will withstand the winds of uncertainty.

4. GO to Church!
“Encourage one another and build one another up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
The Bible tells us that when we give our hearts to Jesus, we join the family of God. We become God’s children (1 John 3:1). Spending time with their Christian “brothers” and “sisters” helps your children to grow in their faith. The simplest way to get together with other believers is to go to church. At church, we worship God together. We pray together. We study the Bible together. We are reminded to put God first and make choices that honor Him. Show your children that going to church is a top priority in your family and does not get bumped off the to do list when other events come up.

5. GIVE Back to God!
“You received without paying; give without pay.” Matthew 10:8
When we think about how much God has done for us, and all that He has given us, we naturally want to give thanks. And give back. One way that we can give back to God is to give money to those who are doing God’s work. When we regularly set aside a certain amount of money to give to our local church, it is called a “tithe” or “offering.” We may also choose to give to missionaries or to groups that reach out to the poor and needy. Jesus said that the size of our gift is not nearly as important as the attitude of our hearts (Luke 21:1-4). God can multiply even the smallest gift and use it to bless thousands of people (Luke 9:10-17). Teach your children about the gift of generosity and putting other's first.