Faith Walks and Talks
In continuing the topic of healthy habits for families, let’s talk about faith walks. Children do what they see Mom and Dad doing. So, if we want our children to walk in faith, we need to do the same.
This concept was brought home to me when my boys were little. I would often curl up in bed to do my Bible study after the boys were tucked in for the night. They rarely saw me studying. Not good! The routine has changed. Now my homework is done while they do their schoolwork. As high schoolers, the boys help out by proofreading my blog posts. They read about my faith walk often!
Another habit is to talk about what my husband, Scott, and I are studying. More importantly, we discuss how we are applying the lessons to our own lives. This makes the Word of God something more tangible and applicable.
Lori Wildenberg, my ministry partner, and I encourage parents to Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk, and Talk About the Walk with children. Here are the specifics.
Talk the Talk Take the time to talk about God to build faith in children. Discuss your Bible study with your kids. Share what you’ve learned and how you’re planning on implementing the lessons in your life.
Walk the Walk Model what you believe. When kids see Mom and Dad in action, they generally follow. If you are kind to others, your children will mimic kindness. If you are a person of your word, your children will learn to trust you. If the name of the Lord is honored, using God’s name casually will not be part of your child’s vocabulary.
Talk about the Walk What does a Christian lifestyle look like? Discuss the choices you make as those decisions relate to your faith. What charities do you support? What activities do you participate in or choose not to take part in because of your belief in God and the authority of Scripture? Discussions such as this provide concrete reasons for the principles you stand for as a follower of Christ.
Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk, and Talk About the Walk with your children! For more strategies in how to implement faith in your home, visit 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting!
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.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
© 2013 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
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Photo by Zack Silver on Unsplash
I so enjoyed this part at your recent conference in Helena it made so much sense it was my Ah Ha! moment thank you for your faith and work and to be willing to be transparency when you teach and share. All of His blessings!