God’s Word beautifully reminds us that children are a heritage from the Lord, a reward from Him (Psalm 127:3). But—to be completely honest—as summer begins and the chaos ensues, that truth feels like it goes in one ear and out the other. Because amid the day-to-day realities of parenting—all the diaper changes, sibling conflicts, and bedtime battles—it’s easy to forget the bigger picture. Yes, our children are a blessing, but raising them can be difficult!
As parents, we’re constantly trying to figure out how to manage their emotions, meet their needs, and teach them basic life skills. And in the midst of it all, seeking to raise them in the faith. That calling alone can feel overwhelming, especially when we’re already painfully aware of our own shortcomings.
So how do we build a godly home when most days it feels like we’re operating out of our weakness?
Well, Psalm 127 doesn’t just remind us that children are a blessing; it also points us to the foundation for raising them: “Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain” (verse 1). The truth is, we can’t do it on our own. Raising our kids in the faith is only possible if we ourselves are depending on the Lord—relying on His strength, presence, and guidance.
It’s the Lord alone who builds our house—our children—in the faith. And by His grace He uses our efforts to do so. With the Lord by our side, our parenting is not in vain.
So as we explore some of the practical ways that we can lead our children to know and love the Lord, we must remember that only the Lord Himself can do the ultimate work of transformation.
With that in mind, let’s explore a few ways that we as parents can partner with the Lord in our kids’ spiritual formation.
Model what it looks like to follow Christ
Children are observational learners, meaning they learn by observing and imitating the behavior of others. They copy what they see and hear: monkey see, monkey do. Therefore, as a parent, you are a crucial role model for your children—you are your child's first and most important teacher. So as you seek to raise your children in the faith, begin by reflecting on your own behavior. Don’t just tell them that Jesus is at the center of your life, but show them as well—do as you say. Make it undeniably known by your words and actions that Jesus is greater than everything else in this world.
Pray with your kids
While it’s important to model prayer to your children, it’s also important to let them participate with you in this practice. Prayer is about creating a regular habit of talking with God—and as you form this habit as a family, your children will hopefully begin to talk to God on their own.
Praying with your kids can look like many things: from simple everyday gratitude to more formal family prayers. The key is to be consistent with both how and when you pray. And as you pray with them, ask them what that they are thankful for or what they need God’s help with. Let them pray for their pet and their homework assignments—because through it, they are learning to rely on God in all areas of their lives.
Read the Bible to your kids
God speaks through His Word—and it's through His Word that your children will learn how to live a life that is pleasing to Him. But most importantly, by reading God’s Word to your children, you are revealing God's character to them as well as His relationship with His people. You get to introduce them to a God who is faithful, loving, and gracious. A God who created them and who is with them through every phase of life. So as you raise your children in the faith, lean on God’s Word and let it do the work of building them up.
Encourage your children to memorize verses
By leaning on God’s Word and talking about it with them, you are also helping your children store it in their hearts. And this is where Scripture memorization comes in. Scripture memorization is a powerful tool to aid your children in learning God’s Word and having access to it when they need it most. All you need is five minutes and one verse to repeat. You can get your children to say this verse to you throughout the day or even make it into a game during play time.
As you begin this task, here are some verses that could help get you started:
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John 3:16: “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
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John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
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Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
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Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”
Handle failures with grace
No matter how intentional you try to be, there will be moments when you will fall short. You’ll lose your temper or miss teachable moments—but it’s in those moments that you can show your children what grace looks like in real life. When you mess up, you can model humility by owning up to your mistakes and asking for forgiveness. And when you children fall short, you can meet them with compassion instead of condemnation—reminding them that the gospel covers their failures as well.
You won’t always get it right, and that’s okay. What matters most is that you are depending on the Lord as you point your children to Him. You can rest assured that with the Lord by your side, your laboring, your parenting, is not in vain.
And to help you take a simple next step, we’ve created a free resource just for you!
