Daily Devotional: Modeling Christian Faith To Our Sons and Daughters

In the busyness of everyday life, it’s easy to get caught up in the routine of parenting without realizing the crucial impact our actions have on our children’s spiritual development.

James 1:22 reminds us, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” This principle rings true in the way we model faith for our children.

Just last night, as I sat with my sons in their room and asked them what they needed prayer for, I witnessed a beautiful moment of genuine care and concern.

After praying for their needs, my oldest son turned to me and asked, “Dad, what do you need prayer for?” It was a heartwarming reminder that our children are watching and learning from our example. When we consistently model prayer and seek God’s guidance in our lives, we pave the way for our children to follow suit.

This principle extends beyond our personal Christian practices and permeates into every aspect of our lives, including our interactions with others. Reflecting on my sons’ recent academic achievements, I couldn’t help but see parallels to biblical teachings on virtues such as respect, diligence, and kindness.

Evan, my oldest, exemplifies these virtues in his classroom, earning praise from his teacher for setting a stellar example for his classmates. His respectful demeanor, active participation, and excellent work ethic mirror the biblical call to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39) and to do everything with excellence as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

Similarly, Sean’s dedication and hard work are reflected in his teacher’s commendation of his overall performance. His perseverance and commitment to excellence serve as a testament to the biblical principle of diligence and the importance of finishing strong (Proverbs 13:4, Philippians 3:14).

As parents, it’s our responsibility to not only teach our children biblical truths but to live them out in our daily lives. By modeling faith through prayer, integrity, and virtuous living, we lay a foundation for our children to grow in their own relationship with God and to impact the world around them for His glory.

Let’s continue to be intentional in our role as spiritual mentors, knowing that our actions speak louder than words and that our children are watching, learning, and following in our footsteps. As Proverbs 22:6 instructs us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”