The trick to getting children to lean on God and turn to Him for guidance is not really a trick at all. The secret to finding balance between an earthly life and concentrating on getting to heaven is really no secret at all. In fact, God has made it perfectly clear what He expects from his children, and he has given us all the tools we need through His son Jesus.
God has given parents the task to raise spiritual children who hunger for Him and want to show others about his love. So, how do parents encourage children to follow God's path? Here are some points to remember.
Tell your child that God cares for her. To a child, God may seem so far away, an untouchable being that is too busy to worry about every child. You know this is not so, and you can put your child's mind at ease by letting her know that God does listen to her every word. He is always there to guide her along. All she needs to do is pray and develop a personal relationship with God by talking to Him as she would her earthly Father.
Remind her that God has a plan and she has a part. It is difficult for any of us to know what God's big picture is. We can't even see what tomorrow holds. We sometimes have a hard enough time trying to decide what God's plan is for our own life, much less that of the universe. But, we can always be sure that His plan involves each and everyone on this earth, and we must choose by our own free will to commit to God and let Him use us for his works. Your child needs to know she was made for a purpose. Her life has a special meaning to God.
Listen. Jesus tells adults to have a childlike faith. He says this for a reason. Children are much more eager to accept what they hear from adults, and they respond in a way that makes them want to obey and please others. Listening to what your child has to say gives us a window into childlike faith. Listening gives your child a feeling of encouragement to continue to share future thoughts and feelings. Listening means completely focusing on a what your child is saying, getting eye level, and putting aside whatever you are doing to give her your full attention.
Encourage dreams and hopes. Allowing your child to dream is where she begins to discover her spirituality. As you nurture her along with God's words, she will begin to imagine what heaven is like and conjure up what a world of love can be like. It is a beautiful place when parents allow children to discover themselves and what they want to do with their life. Sure, it will change year to year, but that's okay. If no one ever had a dream, there would be nothing to show for it.
Let each day be a new beginning. God says that if we confess our sins, he will forgive us. We are constantly able to have new beginnings in our life because of God's mercy. Extending this mercy to your child will give her the reassurance that even if she has done something wrong, she can make it right and leave it behind her. No one wants to live with guilt and shame over their head. This heightens anxiety. If your child knows that she is loved and can be forgiven for wrongdoings, she will try her best to not do those deeds again.
Be an example. Live what you teach. Your child has to see that you believe in what you are teaching. Her faith will naturally grow, if she knows that the most important people in her life really place an emphasis on Scripture and growing closer to God.
