You have heard it been said that we ought to live our lives according to the Bible’s teaching rather than the culturally acceptable practices of the day. But what does that even look like practically? What strategies can you employ in the daily rhythms of your life and family to effectively do this?

For sure it is not easy living whole-heartedly for Jesus in a culture that is increasingly hostile to Him. It is hard. But it is not impossible. Jesus, in His divine wisdom and foresight, warned us about this already, but He did not leave us helpless or hopeless. He sent us the most powerful and effective Helper anyone could ever ask for; the Holy Spirit. Jesus also encourages us to take heart, because He has overcome the world. Not will or is going to, but He has already. That is an encouraging truth to hold on to, that we are fighting from a place of Victory.

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] – John 16:33

Teaching our children to worship God is something I believe is top priority for every God-fearing parent.

Here are some steps you can take right now to ensure that you are leading and teaching the generations after you to serve and worship God from their hearts.

Pray over them

Remind God of His promises concerning your children and speak them over them by faith.

All your children will be taught of the Lord, and great will be their peace. – Isaiah 54:13.

Prayer: Oh Mighty Lord, teach my children to worship You in spirit and truth. Give them divine instruction and guidance to bring acceptable worship to You. Teach them the posture of worship, from their hearts, spirit and body. May they have a personal relationship with You. In Jesus’s Name, amen.

Start them young

From the lips of babies and infants, You have ordained and ordered high praise. –Psalm 8:2

Your children are never too young to worship God. Jesus Himself said let the little children come to Him. Remove every hinderance and obstacle that could stop your children from coming to Jesus and having a personal relationship with them. Attend Church services, fellowships, and Bible studies with your children. Teach them to memorize the Bible and live by it. Sing hymns, praise and worship songs to God with your children.

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” – Matthew 19:14.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for ordering Your praise from the lips of my children, may it manifest in their lives in the Name of Jesus. May Your praise always be upon their lips and may their hearts never draw far from You. Thank You for making my children open and receptive to Your teachings. May I too approach You Lord with child-like faith, trust and openness.

Model worship to them

One of my favorite Bible verses about being a Christian parent is Deuteronomy 11:19: You shall teach them [diligently] to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths], speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.

It gives clear guidance and instruction of what God expects of us as parents and points out how to execute His instructions.

But the verse before it is as equally as important. You can not teach what you do not know. The best kind of teacher is the one who models the lesson by living it out themselves. That way they can teach with authority and with the heart and passion that only personal experience can give.

Teaching our children true worship of God begins first of all with us being worshipers of God ourselves. There must be a permanent and deliberate effort on our part to remember and live by God’s laws first before we can then teach those very laws to our children.

“Therefore, you shall impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul, and tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. – Deuteronomy 11:18

It is so important for us to pass on our faith and obedience to God to future generations. And God will help us to do this as we consistently yield ourselves to Him.

“We will not hide them from our children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done.” – Psalm 78:4