Sadly, too many adults greatest faith came in their youngest days.

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15

They believed God was bigger and greater and more powerful than the sum of all their problems, challenges, and adversities. However, somewhere, along the way, the seeds of doubt, disappointment and “reality” taught them the hard lessons of life that decreased their faith in God’s ability to be greater. Maybe it was a divorce, abuse, neglect, abandonment, alcoholism, addiction and the list goes on and on. Children are susceptible to the greatest faith and greatest injury.

God’s ability is never diminished by circumstances, situations or our failures.

Many of you reading this grew up believing “God to be able!” After all, He parted the Red Sea, flooded the whole earth, lead the Children of Israel with a pillar of fire and smoke…I mean, the God of Bible Stories of our youth did awesome stuff! Then, you hit the teenage years, the college years and the wheels of your faith came off. Why? Because you were not prepared for (a) God to test your faith, and (b) the temptations that accompany those tests. Now that you’ve become a parent, you’re establishing your faith (again or for the first time) and want to ensure your children don’t repeat the same kinds of mistakes…Read on the following may help!

Number 1: Teach your children that the God of the Bible Stories is the God of Your Story

This is your personal story. This is your family story. Your children need to know your story of how you met Jesus–how you still meet with Jesus. Your children need to know that the Power of Christ is in you. Share your life with your children. Too many parents have shameful activities in their lives they hide from their kids. Stop hiding it, by stop doing it! Start doing things worthy of sharing with your kids. They already see and know your behavior. Live your life for Christ with your family. It is a shared story. Stories are best when shared!

Some of the most powerful stories my Dad and Mom shared with us as children were their stories of coming to trust Christ or how God interacted with them at particularly difficult times. Children don’t need all the details (especially, in some of your more unflattering stories) but they need to know the actions, responses, and how & why you believed the way you did—this is your faith in action!

Number 2: Pray together for specific requests at more than just meal times and bed times. Have a family prayer time. Call a family meeting. Prayer is very much a modeled and learned behavior. When your children hear you pray, it activates and reinforces a powerful illustration of your faith and dependence upon God.

I remember we were at Downtown Disney at 8pm at night and EVERY one of the thousands of parking spots were full. We had to park two cars, so we needed two parking places–this seemed an impossibility. Julie and I prayed SPECIFICALLY with our children that God would give us two spots right next to each other (this was a massive prayer of faith–you should have seen the parking lot!). We drove around, and found one spot–we took it. Thirty seconds later, I drove the other car on, Julie, called me on the cell phone and said, “hurry back, the car RIGHT BESIDE US is pulling out, and they are willing to wait (other cars were circling) for you to park right next to us!” God is good. Our kids saw immediate, answered prayer! It doesn’t always work this way, but we were sure glad God said “yes!”

Number 3: Link God’s Word to Your Words and Circumstances. Teach your kids the Bible is trustworthy, relevant, and authoritative.

The Word of God is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12), demonstrate to your children that God’s words (the Bible) are alive and active in your life. Teach them that the reason you responded the way you did is because Jesus commands us in “Book, Chapter and Verse” to behave in such a way. Link your life actions with the words of the Bible for your children’s sake. My mother did a phenomenal job of quoting Scriptures to we six children growing up. She was ALWAYS quoting Scripture verses to us–they were so well reinforced, most of them I still remember to this day!

Number 4: Faith that can be trusted is faith that is tested.

Reinforce your child’s behavior when they demonstrate simple obedience as a form of simple faith. Thank them for their obedience. Praise them for their obedience. A simple lesson is that far too often we lean towards over-communicating our displeasure with disobedience disobedience disobedience than we ever do at expressing our pleasure with obedience. Don’t get too ridiculous with this, but early lessons of positive reinforcement surrounding obedience can go a long way as the child grows in independence towards taking faith.

A steadfast faith is a firm, unwavering faith. The heart of a child is fertile soil for the fruits of faith to grow.

“For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him” Hebrews 11:6, ESV