Listening to God is vital to your child’s relationship with him. I think it is important to be conscious that your children are not too young to hear from God. God in his almighty power has the ability to speak to the heart of children in just the right way. This listening to God thing can be illustrated best through your relationship with them. When I speak to my children I desire more than them simply hearing the words. I want them to show me they listened by how they act. It is no different with God. He desires listening ears that lead to obedience.
God speaks through His word. As you read Bible stories to you children share with them that it is so much more than just a story. God is communicating to them through that story. You can ask them, “What do you think God is telling you through this story?”.
God speaks through His Spirit. Those that have a relationship with God have his Spirit IN them. He is WITH them at all times. But the Holy Spirit often speaks in a small voice that requires us to quiet ourselves, setting aside other activities and noise to listen to what he says. Help your child find a few moments of quiet from time to time.
God speaks through His people. God speaks through you to your child. God has placed you in your child’s life with the responsibility of raising your child. God gives clear instructions for children to obey their parents. Your guidance and their obedience is an exercise in listening to God for both parties involved. Say things to your children that God says to his.
God speaks to give guidance. God will guide your child in decisions that they make. Learning to listen to God at a young age will build a pattern of depending on God for guidance that will be invaluable throughout the rest of their life. Be a strong voice in you child’s life but point them to God as THE voice.
God speaks to minister through your child. God wants to use your child to impact others. Part of the guidance he gives is promptings to care for and encourage others. Though you may play an important role in pointing out ministry opportunities to your child make sure you leave them room to be guided by the Spirit.
God speaks to encourage your child. God loves your children like they are his own, because they are. His thoughts about them are wonderful, and as mentioned above, he uses his word, his spirit, and you to communicate how special they are. Read to your child God’s thoughts about them (Ps. 139:13-18 is a good place to start)
God speaks to convict your child. Gods Spirit that lives in them gives promptings, warning them of a temptation, or challenging them when they have done something wrong. As you seek to raise obedient children, pay attention to their hearts. Guide and correct with grace, like God does.
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