Why You Should Nourish Your Children’s Spiritual Lives

As a parent, I care a lot about what my children eat. I make sure that they are eating plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean protein and drinking lots of water. We try as much as possible not to bring junk food into the house…. you know that delicious, sugary stuff that is full of empty calories. We stock the house with nutritious food and snacks instead because healthy nutrition is vital for their little bodies to grow strong, develop well and function at optimum. This is a culture we are intentionally cultivating because the habits our children form now will follow them into adulthood. Children that eat healthy, nutrient rich food grow up into adults that make healthy food choices. Also, if it’s not there, then we’re not tempted to eat it. You will reach out for an apple or banana or some sliced cucumber when you feel like a snack because it is right there and ready for you to eat. I will occasionally bake homemade cookies as a treat, and even then, I try to sneak in as much nutritional value as I can by adding ingredients like flax meal and chia seed. Keeping my family on this path of nutrition and health takes work and self control. It requires one to be deliberate while planning and shopping so as to make healthy choices even when you’d rather not. The appeal of fast food is in its convenience. Less time in the kitchen for me, right!? However, I’m convinced that our health and nutrition as a family is worth those extra minutes (and sometimes hours) that it takes to make home cooked meals with healthy ingredients that we all enjoy. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that.

As I meal plan in my head for next week’s menu, I consider the state of my children’s spiritual food. Are they well nourished in their spirits as they are in their flesh?

Jesus is called the bread of life. He also calls us to go to Him for the living water. Our spiritual food comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and spending time reading and meditating on the Word of God.

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3 John.1: 2 Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.

God desires for all areas of our lives to prosper. Not just some areas, but all. The Bible passage in 3 John.1:2 says in every way, prosper. Not just some ways, but every way. This is so comforting to me. To be reassured that God not only cares about us but goes the extra step to make sure that we excel and prosper in every single way.

You would not intentionally feed your children poison, right!? Nor would you let them go hungry. In the same way, we must not feed our children what would be poison to their soul and spirit. We need to keep a watchful eye and vet what they read, listen to and watch. Making sure that it will build them up in righteousness and not tear them down by feeding the sinful nature.

Galatians.5:19-25 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

We don’t expect our children to function and flourish on one meal a week. So then why leave their spiritual lives to be sustained by one ‘meal’ a week at Sunday school?

It is our special calling as parents to show our children Jesus. We teach them how to pray until they can pray by themselves. We read the Bible to them until they can read it for themselves. We teach them how to seek after God until they learn how to seek and serve Him for themselves. We continue to guide them on their spiritual walk while modeling it by living according to the Word of God ourselves.

Just like our body needs daily maintenance to remain healthy, so does our spiritual man. What would this look like in my home though, you might be wondering.

First are the private disciplines. These include praying, fasting and studying the Bible. You’ve heard it been said that children are great imitators, so give them something great to imitate. As we teach and guide our children in developing these private disciples that result in spiritual growth, we must be practicing them ourselves.

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Then there is sound Biblical teaching. Exposing our children to sound Biblical teaching through Church services, Bible study groups, Church youth groups and using every opportunity presented to us to explore God’s word with them, even at the dining table or bath time. Purposing to use all of life’s experiences to point them back to Jesus and the Word of God.

As a parent the pressure of raising your child to be the best version of themselves can be daunting. We often feel ill-equipped and frankly unworthy of such a humongous task. At least I know I do. Thankfully it’s not all up to me. The Bible assures us that our children will be taught of the Lord. Ours is to lead them to Jesus and He takes over. Hallelujah! What an exciting revelation: that my children will be taught of the all knowing, all seeing, all wise creator of EVERYTHING. Mine is to lead them to Him and He takes over. Thank You, Jesus. That’s just the encouragement I need to keep on the daily task of reading the Bible with our children as they learn to read and meditate on it for themselves and to keep on praying with our children as they learn to pray and hear from God for themselves.