Family Faith in Action

Have you ever wished you could choose your own family? Believe it or not, sometimes your kids might wish for a family transplant, too! Though family can make us frustrated, angry and downright batty sometimes, each family is held together in love. Family members love us, challenge us and reflect aspects of God’s character to us. You can’t choose who God put in your family—that’s just how He wants it!

God also calls us to raise children that will know and honor Him. Creating a family climate that seeks to glorify God is a daunting task. Have you ever wondered how to get your children excited about God? How can you model faith in your home? Where’s room for God in your hectic schedule? Putting family faith into action can be kick-started with some practical tips:

• Remember the why. Why was I put in a family to begin with? God’s great sanctification tool is the family. Family members know you like no one else. You can challenge your kids to honor God daily, and boy will they challenge you!

• Remember the Trinity. God has a Son; Jesus has a Father; each has the Holy Spirit. Families are reflections of God’s character. God created each of us in His image, and family is just another part of it. Use the Trinity as a teaching tool for your kids and for perspective for yourself.

• Remember the blessing. Your family is a tremendous blessing, each and every person. Uncle Harry who always tells the same war story over and over, little Joe who terrorizes the pets and Sister Sally who always calls right when your dinner is burning are each a gift! Sometimes it’s easiest to love and minister to your family members when you keep in mind what it would be like to have none of them at all.

• Remember development. What would children do if they weren’t raised by teaching parents? Probably eat a lot of potato chips, watch a lot of cartoons and never learn to read—and you can forget anything about God! Children need you to instill faith in the family. Help them along. Teach your children spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer and worship. Model those behaviors before them. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, right? Give them something good to imitate!

• Remember the motivation. What’s supposed to motivate our decisions? Success? Stature? Money? Wrong! Make your family’s decisions based on God’s desires and include each family member in that process. Ask your kids how they’d handle situations and dilemmas. Share your Christian worldview with your kids. 

• Remember to filter. What’s the latest “Christian” trend? Home schooling? Breastfeeding? While certainly not bad things, remember that God may have unique plans for families. Look to God’s Word. Don’t take action that conflicts with Scripture but allow for creativity.

• Remember to pray. Ever looked for a copy of “Parenting for Dummies”? Well, it’s a good thing we have a hotline. Pray! God has a plan for your children and entire family. Get in on it. Be a catalyst in your children’s lives and ask God for discernment and help.

• Remember the goal. The apostle Paul’s goal was to fight the good fight. Finishing the race is your family’s goal, too. Consider crafting a family mission statement. What is your family’s plan to honor God?

Want even more helpful hints? Check out Crosswalk.com.