Are you a mother? Grandmother? Great-grandmother? Aunt? Godmother? Big sister? If not, you may be a spiritual mother or grandmother or great-grandmother or aunt, or big sister! Whatever your role, training children and teenagers up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4) is one of the most important responsibilities one can have.

One of my favorite passages of scripture has always been Deuteronomy 6:1-9.

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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 on 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.

Remember to first look at your own walk with Jesus before you begin to teach the young ones in your life. Do you love the Lord with all of your heart, soul, and strength? More is caught than taught. You are a living Bible that the children and young people in your life will be reading! Be sure to make habits of the following:

  • Practice the presence of Jesus.
  • Maintain a worshipful attitude. 
  • Study the Word.
  • Pray continually.

Then teach the children and young people in your life to form habits of their own:

1. Worship – NOT JUST ON SUNDAY!

  • Life should be a constant exercise of worship, an attitude of gratitude, and giving God His due at all times. 
  • Listen to worship music at all possible times. Sing these songs with the kids in your life! Tell them about the words and what they mean. Relate them to everyday situations.
  • Look for reasons to praise God and do so within their hearing of the kids.

2. Pray all day. If possible, start praying with them when they are just babies!

  • Before every meal.
  • Before going anywhere or doing anything.
  • Before and after “devotions.”
  • When you or they are anxious.
  • When you hear sirens.
  • When discipline is necessary.
  • When decisions need to be made.
  • Before bed.
  • On behalf of others.

3. Study the Word. Use age-appropriate Bibles and devotionals. Take advantage of true Deuteronomy 6 moments to ensure they know how scripture relates to their everyday lives. Have discussions about what the Bible has to say about everything:

  • TV shows and movies
  • Situations with siblings and friends
  • Things you witness in other families

4. Share their faith.

  • Teach them to say, “I am blessed” instead of  “I am lucky.”
  • Instruct them to say, “Praise God!” when they are complimented.
  • Encourage them to do strategic gift giving with Christ centered themes for birthdays and Christmas.
  • Encourage them to share their faith whenever possible through book reports and  science or social studies projects

5. Be good stewards

  • Of things. Take good care of them and put them away. Share with others your clothes, toys, your home through hospitality with guests and parties. Teach them to share all they have.
  • Of relationships. Honor and obey parents. Love brothers and sisters. Treat friends well.
  • Of self. Eat well. Exercise
  • Of time. Set priorities and live them (meals together, church, serving, key relationships) Don’t do things you don’t have time for (like watching TV). Be purpose driven.
  • Of gifts and abilities. Use them for God.
  • Of money. Use banks that help them set aside money for tithing and for saving as well as for spending.

6. Find their place in the body of Christ

  • YOU SERVE as a model.
  • Perhaps they can serve with you.
  • Help them start identifying what they are good at, and how they can use it for God.

I praise the Lord that all three of my kids made decisions to trust Jesus and love and serve Him faithfully and that my three precious grandchildren are being raised to prayerfully do the same. But in addition to the eternal life my kids (and prayerfully my grandkids) can look forward to, being raised in the ways described above have given them a firm foundation on which to stand when the inevitable storms of life here on earth come their way.

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