Train Up a Child in the Lord ~ It's a Parent's Responsibility!

Adela Osmond

 

Family Bible Reading Time ~
The Root to Rearing Godly Children.

Do you and your spouse spend enough quality time together with your children reading Scriptures, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, along with praying as a family unit?

Before my husband and I had our first child, we heard that setting time aside consistently for family worship is an essential part of the Christian family heartbeat.

You too will find (if you haven't already) that your Bible reading will be the root to rearing godly children. In addition, your every word and action (the example you set) that stems from your family worship will determine if your parenting technique is proper nourishment to your children's soul or if it's, spiritually staving them for discipline in the Lord's ways.

Here are a few things we do during our family Bible reading time that I would like to share with you. We have found that the time spent in family worship sets our family values and increases our faith. Ultimately, it is planting seeds of godly character in each of us.

When we started our family Bible reading time, we read a cartoon image beginner's Bible for our children were very young but as of today, we are particularly drawn to Tommy Nelson's edition of Read-N-Grow Picture Bible for capturing life-like images of Biblical events most left out the beginner Bibles. The colorful illustrations are true to life and there are so many of them... over 1,800! You and your child will feel like you're viewing the Bible account first hand. If you don't have this picture Bible you should get one, it would be an excellent choice for your family library.

Seeing that our children are 5.5 and 3 we found that this format is best for them. Certainly as they get older we will use the Bible itself. I'm very fond of the King James Version but I do use the New King James too.

Our Bible reading time usually runs 15 minutes long, in which my husband leads our study. James will ask questions about the Bible account, prompting an answer from each child. Before each lesson he makes sure they remember where we left off. What makes them remember is simply the questions he asks. 90% of the time they can recall where we left off. As a side note, you must know that our children are not Bible prodigies but yet they are children who are taught God's word in a loving and orderly way. They are taught to sit still, and listen to daddy attentively. Most of the times they love to just snuggle and hold our arms as the story is read.

Then after our reading, we have every child pick their favorite hymn from our family hymnal and we sing unto the Lord. We use a simple worship song book.

Whole heartily I enjoy singing praises to God along with my family whether it's in a family Bible study or throughout our day together. I especially love hearing a 3 and 5.5 year old, sing traditional hymns and spiritual songs that admonish and encourage their maturing souls. Plus, it's so easy to implement into a schedule.

Even if you don't think you can sing... here's an idea for you. I've found recorded acapella music such an enjoyment to listen to as we go about either cleaning the house, traveling to town or right before daddy gets home from work. It reminds us of our purpose in life by teaching spiritual truths through melodies and encouraging words. Also, these wholesome words in harmony uplifts the soul, from the littlest one in the family to the head of our house.

Subtle, wholesome music for the soul makes for praise and thankful thoughts towards our God and Creator. Listening to gospel music is a practical way to influence your children for good and direct their spiritual mind to think on things above.

Finally, to sum up our family Bible reading time the last thing we do is... we pray together as a family. We found that our children are learning how to pray by hearing us pray before them. We stay away from repetitious "lay me down to sleep prayers". But rather we fill their ears with the very words of Christ and the Apostles. You will find, as we have, that when you pray according to scriptures your children will be encourage by God's word and they will begin to offer up petition and supplications as do daddy and mommy.

For example I have prayed in a similar fashion the following before my children... that our Holy Father will keep them in His name, that they may be sanctified in His truth ~ His word is truth (John 17) and that their whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Please always remember, as a parent we can't walk away from our Bible study and forget all that we have heard. We must be doers of God's word to be an effective teacher of the gospel. Our example is most important to the little eyes watching us, whether young or teens.

Keep your faith and belief steadfast in the word of God, for God promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us when we seek Him diligently. This also applies to the very guidance we need from Him in order that we can teach our children to believe upon Christ Jesus; preserving them blameless unto the coming of our Lord.

I hope the above encourages you to press on with your family worship. The old hymn,
"A Beautiful Life" by William M. Golden (1918), comes to mind as I close this letter. I've changed the words a bit to reminder us as Christian parents of the importance of doing golden deeds in our children's lives:

Each day I'll do a golden deed, By helping my children who are in need. My life on earth is but a span, and so I'll do the best I can.

To be a child of God each day, My life must shine along the way. I'll sing His praise while ages roll, and strive to teach each child's soul.

The only life that will endure, Is one that's kind, and good and pure. And so for God I'll take my stand, Each day I'll lend a helping hand.

Life's evening sun is sinking low, A few more days and I must go, To meet the deeds that I have done, Where there will be no setting sun!

God bless you as you give your children spiritual food for their hungry, growing souls!

Author of "Plant the Word"
Co-Owner TrainUpChildren.com