Owning Their Faith

"Nathan, what are you doing? It’s time for bed. Nathan put that game away; it’s time to leave for school. Put that up Nathan and go brush your teeth." Nathan got a hand-me-down android phone from his dad. There’s no plan for texting or actually using the phone, but he can play games, read and listen to music. Since he got it a couple of months ago, games are what Nathan has had his eyes and fingers glued to as often as we would let him. However, when I have asked him the above questions for the last couple of weeks, he is actually reading the Bible on his phone. I feel a little guilty and allow him to finish before he starts his task. He asked me to load the Bible App two weeks ago. He started two plans, “The Book of Daniel for Kids” and “The Children’s Guide to Easter” and reads them every day. How awesome!

Nathan has been saved for nearly two years now. I have wondered lately when he would begin to “own” his walk with the Lord and determine to seek God for himself. I encourage Bible reading, scripture memorization, and we do nighttime devotions with our children. In my heart, I want them to learn to seek God without being prompted. I have been so delighted to realize that at not quite 9 years old, Nathan is beginning to read and study the Bible own his own. Yeah!

Will he get behind? Maybe. Will he skip a day? Probably. But he started each plan and is doing them on his own. One thing about Nathan though, is that his is very methodical. Since this is a daily reading, he is more likely than I am to stick with it every day.

So, what have I learned through this? Regardless of what it looks like or feels like sometimes, every effort to help them grow spiritually is worth it. My kids are developing spiritually. Their hearts want to seek God and know more about him. I couldn’t be more proud of Nathan. I also learned, once again, to give my kids the benefit of the doubt. Just because Nathan looked like he was doing something mindless like playing a video game, didn’t mean he was. He was being a spiritually disciplined Christian.