Illustration depicting Lily from infant to young adult with age ranges and activities
Image generated via AI.

Raising a child to know God is one of the holiest assignments a parent will ever receive. It’s not accidental, automatic, or something that “just happens.” Scripture paints it as intentional, daily, relational work—planting seeds that the Holy Spirit will water for a lifetime.

The Call Begins at Home — Not at Church

God places the primary responsibility for spiritual formation on parents.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 says these commands must be “on your hearts” and that you should “teach them diligently to your children.”

This means your walk with God is the first sermon your child ever hears. They learn what faith looks like by watching you pray, forgive, repent, worship, and trust God in real time.

Build a Rhythm of God’s Word in Their Lives

Children thrive on repetition and routine. Scripture encourages this kind of steady, daily exposure. Psalm 119:11 reminds us to “hide God’s Word in our hearts.”

Ways to build that rhythm:

  • Daily Scripture moments — a verse at breakfast or bedtime
  • Worship together — even simple songs plant deep truths
  • Bible storytelling — make Scripture come alive with imagination and joy

You’re not lecturing; you’re shaping their spiritual instincts.

Model a Life That Makes God Attractive

Paul told believers, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Your child will imitate what you celebrate.

If they see you:

  • turn to prayer when stressed
  • speak with kindness
  • repent when wrong
  • serve others joyfully

…they will learn that following Jesus is not a burden but a blessing.

Correct With Grace, Not Just Rules

Rules without relationship lead to rebellion. But discipline rooted in love reflects God’s heart.
Ephesians 6:4 warns parents not to “provoke your children to anger” but to raise them in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord.” This means correction should always point them back to God’s character—His holiness, His mercy, His truth.

Pray Over Them Continually

You can teach them truth, but only God can transform their hearts. Prayer is how you place your child in God’s hands daily. Pray for:

  • their salvation
  • their future friendships
  • their purity
  • their calling
  • their protection
  • their hunger for God

But what if they grow up and reject God

Proverbs 22:6 — “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  This scripture notes the way a child “should” go, but it doesn’t promise that they will. There can be a lot of reasons for that, but the bottom line is – free will.

Most likely, they get influenced by some individual(s) before they realize the pleasure of having a personal relationship with God. Whether the influencer is a wayward parent, a friend, a love interest, or someone else the child becomes interested in and how “they” live their life without God. The child may be deceitfully only seeing the good parts of the influencer’s life.

If that has happened to your child, it can break your heart. You could worry, fret with fear, or you can give it to God. In some cases, the child will know in their heart that the lifestyle they have chosen isn’t right, but they will find ways to ignore it, and one way may even be to stop talking to you. That may be because they know you represent God. Whether you say something to them, hoping they will return to God, or not. Never stop praying for them.

A Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for entrusting this precious child to my care. Give me wisdom to teach them Your ways, courage to model Your character, and grace to lead them with love. Plant Your Word deep in their hearts and draw them to Yourself all the days of their lives. Amen.

Copyright © 2026 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.