How to help your child enjoy God
BY BARBARA REAOCH |
BSF CHILDREN’S DIVISION DIRECTOR
Kids know how to enjoy pizza, pets, games and ice cream. But how we can we help them know what it means to enjoy God? God is not looking for kids who dutifully behave, but for those who will know and love Him (Psalms 34:8, 37:4). Something will always be missing until they grasp that God made us to enjoy a relationship with Him (Genesis 1:26, Psalm 16:11, Matthew 22:25-38).
A father’s story
One father shared his struggles and joys in bringing his three kids to BSF every Monday. “The kids love it,” he said, “but it’s lots of work for me!”
A neighbor asked why he bothered rushing home every Monday and then back to church for BSF. “One Monday a week,” he replied, “is a small investment for the eternal dividends God promises.”
This father understands that enjoying God is a process. His kids once thought of God’s Word as a rule book. Now they’re experiencing God’s Word as His voice and enjoying a delicious meal for their souls (Psalm 119:103).
At first, his kids read the Bible just to complete all the study questions. “Over time, my kids’ thinking about Bible study has changed. It’s no longer ‘eat your vegetables.’ Now Bible study means tasting sweet honey.” The study questions serve his kids as a journal. They record God’s truths with words and pictures. This journal helps them realize what it means to enjoy God.
More than a “Dear Diary” discipline, journaling helps kids concentrate. God made our brains so the act of writing out our thoughts helps us think and remember. Here’s an amazing truth: nothing has a greater impact on a child’s life than the Word of God. The Holy Spirit takes God’s Word and points us to Jesus. When we write down what is true about God, the Holy Spirit supersizes it!
An 8-year-old’s journal entry.
These three journaling topics can also help get you started:
CLICK EACH TOPIC BELOW TO READ MORE
What do God’s actions tell you about who He is?
How can we help kids enjoy God as they would their best friend?
We cannot see God, but we can help kids know God in His Word. God’s actions tell us who He is. As you read the Bible together, point out what God is doing.
Then ask, “What did God do, and what does His action tell us about Him?”
Examples:
- Genesis 1:1, 27; Psalm 19:1 – God created everything. God alone is able to bring something out of nothing. He is all-powerful and good.
- Isaiah 41:10; Romans 3:24-26 – God is also righteous. Jesus willingly died so that the Father could forgive our sin and give us Jesus’ righteousness (Psalm 86:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Describe what God has done for you in Jesus.
Children do not understand their own sinful hearts and the greatness of God’s grace to them in sending Jesus as an atonement for sin. We can help kids understand and remember God’s acts of love.
Ask, “What has God done for me in Jesus, and how will I praise Him?”
Examples:
- Our holy and loving Father created us to love and enjoy Him (Genesis 1:27-30; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 1:1-7). As His precious children we are happiest when we live for His honor (Isaiah 43:4-7; Acts 17:28).
- Jesus is stronger than everything – even sin and death. God promises to forgive the sin of all who turn to Him and trust in Jesus. God’s children will spend eternity in heaven with Him (Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 8:1).
How you are learning to love the things Jesus loves?
Children think their own way is best. We can help them understand the joy and privilege of obeying our loving Father, whose way is always best (Romans 6:22-23; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
As you read the Bible, watch for God’s Word to teach, challenge, correct and train you and your child (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The Holy Spirit grows us to be more like Jesus as we respond to God (Ephesians 4:22-24). Knowing God as Father changes us from being rule-keepers to people who can find joy in obedience (Romans 8:14-16).
Examples:
- The Holy Spirit is Jesus with you all the time. All who turn to God and trust in Jesus have the Holy Spirit living in them (Romans 8:9-15). That’s how close Jesus is!
- God invites us to taste and see His goodness (Psalm 34:8). As we spend time getting to know God by listening to Him speak, we love and enjoy Him.
Super-sized enjoyment
Journal entries help you remember. God strongly warns His people not to forget His Word. At the same time, He encourages us to actively remember His goodness (Deuteronomy 4:10; 8:2, 18; 32:7). Help your family learn to rest in God’s grace for the future as you remember together what He has done in the past (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:8). Journal in words, pictures, stories, poems or songs, to help you remember the mighty work of God in your lives.
Journal entries help you trace God’s work to make you more like Jesus. Most children enjoy looking at family photos and videos to see how much they’ve grown. Or they eagerly mark their physical growth on a door or wall. Spiritual growth is not as easily measured. The Holy Spirit changes us little by little, as we yield to Him. In the future, when you reread the journal notes, you will enjoy God even more. He will reveal to you His power at work in the minds and hearts of those you love.
Are you ready to start journaling as a family? Parents can play an active role in helping children discover their soul’s most satisfying joy in God. This requires earnest prayer and deliberate effort. Together, families can discover that the greatest enjoyment in this world and in the ages to come is God alone.
A 10-year-old’s journal entry.
Barbara Reaoch’s new book A Jesus Christmas, has just been released. The book is a 25-day journey that can guide your family through the Old and New Testaments to Jesus.
Each day’s Scripture passage leads kids of all ages to explore God’s truth in their lives. The Family Journaling space gives you a daily opportunity to begin to learn how journaling helps kids enjoy God.
Hi Barbara,
I love the analogy, not “eat your vegetables” but “taste sweet honey”.
Thank you for your precious years of service over the years. May the Lord richly bless and enlarge you and the work that you obediently laboured in, for his service.
My son now almost 4 years, started BSF Well, in my womb 🙂 But physically 6 months. We travelled miles each week for BSF but now It’s a wonderful blessing & deeply fulfilling reward to see faith grow in his heart as he declares, “Jesus is in my heart, so I’m not afraid of the dark… “, “Jesus can help you”, “that will not make Jesus happy” and actively turning his desires and needs to God Conversationally at any opportunity!
Now serving as a GL, I Continually encourage my members to bring their children & those around them to BSF for foundational building of faith.
Your service has encouraged me and is such a blessing to many! May the Lord bless your next step.
Love & blessings!
I have noticed you don’t monetize your page, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn additional bucks every month.
You can use the best adsense alternative for any type of
website (they approve all websites), for more info simply search in gooogle: boorfe’s tips monetize your
website
I am so excited for this amazing work of GOD! So sorry to know this wonderful leader is retiring but we know there is NO retire in Scripture. She is only refiring in a different manner! The program has been facelifted so wisely. It feels pretty seamless and I am pretty old (“age 70”). Having been a Public School teacher, and trained through a liberal education, the opportunity to come under the disciplines of Bible Study Fellowship was GOD ordained. I thank GOD for such outstanding leadership and the privilege to minister within BSF . I have grown immensely and pray I can be of use in the Children’s Department until I am 103 and die while doing my lesson! GOD BLESS YOU Barbara and all the AMAZING leaders of BSF! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Many thanks for your thoughtful comments, Linda….and for your faithful leadership. May God give you the desire of your heart – to love and serve Him all your days! To God be the glory, indeed – Barbara
I want to thank you for your service to children. As a 76 year old child of God, I was struck by the term redemptive discipline. I want to learn that language. Could you give me direction in practical terms what that is? A reading list? I need more input.
I am excited to hear that you want to know more about Redemptive Discipline and suggest you talk with the children’s supervisor in your BSF class. But the main concept is that “all discipline issues are opportunities to turn a child’s heart toward Him.”
In Him,
Barbara
How my son loves to scribble and draw even on the sides of his lesson, and how many times i have erased the scribbling so he can present a clean one. Journaling is an answered prayer. Thank you for allowing God to use you as you have served though the years and may He reward you abundantly.
How wonderful to hear about your son’s creativity – a God-given gift…..thank you so much for letting me share your joy!
with joy,
Barbara
Thank you so much for the many years of your life that were dedicated to the BSF Children’s Program. God has done amazing things through your commitment to make the CP the incredible program that it is. I have been a CS for many years and love the emphasis on gospel centered teaching and reaching the next generation with the infant and toddler classes. What a blessing to be a part of such a God centered program that remains true to the Holy Bible. I appreciate all you have done and I know God has more great things for you as you enjoy time with your family!
Thanks for the blessing of your note, Janet.
For Him,
Barbara
We thank Barbara for working for God. Young people will be brought up knowing how to survive in this hostile period of the anti Christ!!
Yes, Susan….this is a world full of lies so let’s keep giving our children the truth about Jesus!
Onwards,
Barbara
Dear Barbara, As we have been reminded in Joshua, we serve until our last breath! Your leadership in BSF was very special and helpful to me both as a leader and as a grandmother. I am happy to see your latest book and look forward to seeing what God has planned for you in the future! There are so many more marvelous opportunities in BSF these days to study God’s Word. Love them all; this is my favorite — that the opportunity has come to have school age children go to a DW class and have age appropriate material from the School Program as part of their home schooling! So many years of fervent prayer now granted by our loving God!! Thank you for your obedience to wait on Him and To God Alone Be The Glory!!
Yes, Pat – to God be the glory. God works through prayer, so thank you for your faithfulness.
in Him,
Barbara