Unshakable Kids: Three Keys to Raising Spiritually Strong and Emotionally Healthy ChildrenSample

Children as Little Guardians

As parents, we should protect our children from the dangers in this world. Along with that, our role as a guardian includes teaching our kids how to protect and guard their own hearts. We are our children’s hedge, but at some point, we won’t be around to filter out everything. We must give them the tools to guard their own hearts and minds when we aren’t around.

Kids can learn to listen to the Holy Spirit at a young age. I’ll never forget the day we toured a potential home to buy. The first thing out of our five-year-old’s mouth was, “This house doesn’t feel right.” He was spot-on. We quickly walked past the Playboy pinball machine in the living room and tried to shield our children’s eyes. Even with all the old farmhouse charm in the doorways and floors, the house felt dark. As we quickly exited the house, we encouraged our son to listen to the voice he’d heard that day.

While adults typically have more wisdom than children, kids need to know that God can speak to them at a young age too. The more they pay attention to the Holy Spirit’s leading, the better they’ll be at hearing it. Nurture this skill in their little hearts.

Our oldest daughter loves to read, and while I try to preview books before I hand them over to her, sometimes I don’t have time to read a novel a day to make sure it’s safe. When I don’t have time to read the book, I usually ask trusted friends their thoughts or do a quick google search. Somehow, I missed a chapter titled “A Ghost in the House” in the children’s classic Heidi. One night our daughter came into our room to tell us the title of the next chapter. She asked if we could read it first because it made her feel uncomfortable. I felt awful that I had missed it, but as I read, I realized there wasn’t really a ghost, just a sleepwalking child dressed in a white nightgown. Our daughter thought it was funny once I explained it to her.

Though that time the issue turned out to be innocent, I’m so grateful that she came to us. It’s important for children to look to their parents as the ultimate source of information. Keep the communication open and encourage them to come to you with any and every question.

What are you doing to teach your children how to protect their hearts and minds? Consider reading 1 Samuel 3 tonight as a family and discuss how even children can learn to discern God’s voice.