Your QuestionsHere you can find some of our most commonly asked questions answered by the author of Entrusted with a Child's Heart, Betsy Corning. Or you may choose to submit your own question by using the Contact Us tab at the top of the page - we will be glad to consider it for future posting!
Your Questions - Entries tagged "Spiritual Training"
FriFridayOctOctober21st2011
Helping Children Develop a Devotional Lifestyle?
Dear Betsy:
At what age would you suggest children begin to read their Bible and have a devotional life?
Curious…
Dear Curious:
Obviously, the Bible is difficult for smaller children to read and understand. And since you want to develop a love the Lord and prayer as a natural part of their lives along with an ever deepening trust in God, you will not want to approach this important discipline as a mere “task” to be performed. However, the truth is that we do not become disciplined in anything without a considerable amount of effort, obedience and perseverance. I often told my kids, “Don’t look for the shortcut. It will not really get you where you want to be.”
All that being said, we gauge our teaching and training so that it is age-appropriate, engaging, and at the same time a bit challenging. If they grow up seeing Mom and Dad reading the Bible, praying and memorizing Scripture, it will not only seem like a regular part of life, but they will be intrigued by what Mom and Dad are doing and learning. So along with modeling a devotion to God, we share “teachable moments” with our children about how God is working in our lives (Deut 6:6-7). In this way, developing a “quiet time” or devotional life can start well before their ability to read the Bible.
In Entrusted with a Child’s Heart, we suggest a “Thinking Time” (in the chapter entitled, “Character Building”) for children who have outgrown naps. Occasionally they still may need a nap so this is a good “transitioner,” but even older children benefit from some “down time” to just be quiet, focus on the Lord, pray and think. For me, it was so helpful for my children to rest and have a half-hour alone sometime between arriving home from school and beginning dinner. (You can see that the timing is strategic to keep the house calm while prepping dinner.)
Also, be sure to be reading great Bible stories and devotional books to them. You may want to start a family devotional time or a bedtime story and chat time. Two books along these lines that I recommend are The Jesus Storybook Bible and Choosing God’s Way, but there are many wonderful choices. Scripture memory is also a great way for children to tuck away truth from the Scriptures, especially since they are such little sponges and so able to memorize! Entrusted offers a Scripture Memory CD featuring 23 verses set to song that will appeal to all ages.
Continue to help your children cultivate a devotional style as they grow. Around the age of twelve or so they will be ready to begin reading the Bible. Set realistic goals for how long (five to ten minutes) or how much (ten verses or one chapter). Have them journal what they are getting out of their reading. When our children reached thirty days in a row, they received a special Bible like Mom and Dad. Help them grow into this discipline. (For more on this see the chapter on “Growing Godly Disciplines” in Entrusted with a Child’s Heart).
For parents interested in reading through the Bible with their teens, I recommend reading through chronologically to give the best overview of the entire Bible. The parent and teen read on their own, then once a week discuss what the Lord is teaching them. You may even have them color-code or highlight themes in the Bible. For example, when reading Proverbs, have them highlight “wise choices” in one color and “foolish choices” in another. For the older child or teen, they may be challenged with learning the “Top Fifty” Scripture Memory verses found in the Appendix of Entrusted with a Child’s Heart Book Format.
We are currently piloting and developing a curriculum for developing a devotional lifestyle called, Get The Word Out. Nancy, from our office, is using this resource while reading through the Bible (using a two-year reading schedule) with her sixteen-year old. We hope to have this new curriculum complete and available next fall. In the mean time contact us if you would like a copy of the two-year chronological reading plan.
Blessings,
FriFridayAugAugust19th2011
How do I help my child learn to pray?
Dear Betsy,
How do I help my 3 year-old daughter to pray? She often doesn’t want to pray. How do I foster sensitivity in her spirit towards God?
-- Praying Mom
Dear Praying
There is something so sweet about a child’s prayer. They pray from the heart until often (sadly) they learn to rush or pray by rote. Rather than forcing the issue with her, use everyday moments to teach her the spiritual discipline of communicating with her Heavenly Father. Allow her to see you praying, reading, singing, so that it becomes a natural part of life for her.
Pray with her before meals, before bed, and other times throughout the day as needs or concerns arise or simply to offer praise or thanksgiving to God. (…pray without ceasing – I Thessalonians 5:17)
More than praying when we want them to, we train them to pray when they need to communicate with their Heavenly Father about anything. Help her to see all the ways God answers our prayers and how He is always near to us. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:4-7
Teach her that God guides us and helps us through prayer and that we can pray for others too. Be patient and teach her to have an attitude of caring about other people and she will begin to pray on her own. Help her see the connection between what we ask and God’s answers so that her prayers are natural responses from a grateful heart.
Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Warmly,
Please Note: This
counsel is given from a distinctively biblical worldview, and therefore, is being
offered with the assumption that the reader has placed him or
herself under the authority of Scripture. Also, please remember that these answers are designed to give general parenting
advice and are not intended to give specific counsel to specific situations. If
you have extenuating circumstances, please seek the professional advice of
your pastor, physician, or counselor.
Applying Biblical Truth to Everyday Life
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