How to Listen So Your Kids Will TalkSample

 Teach Your Child to Have Conversations with God (He’s Listening)

As a parent, you won’t always be with your child, and you won’t always listen well. Even when you are too exhausted to listen, to empathize, to respond gently, there is a heavenly Father who is always ready to listen to your child. 

The psalmist writes about God, “Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:2 nlt). I learned at a very young age that I could talk with Jesus at any time. I chatted with Him while walking to and from kindergarten. Whenever I was confused, worried, or fearful, I talked with Jesus. When I raised my kids, I wanted them to understand that they could talk with God about anything and everything. Your child can learn this as well.

Remember the Bible story of Samuel? One night when Samuel was a young boy, he kept hearing a voice. Eli, the priest, figured out it was God speaking to young Samuel. He told Samuel to go back to bed and to say to the Lord, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9 niv). Those conversations with God laid the foundation for Samuel’s prophetic ministry later in life. 

How comforting for your children to know that even on the days when you blow it as a parent, there is a heavenly Father who is “closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 niv). He sees them, hears them, and, as the psalmist says, “bends down to listen” to every cry of their hearts.

Pause and Reflect: What message are you modeling for your children through your prayer life? Do your kids know that prayer is simply a conversation with God?

Action Step: Have a conversation with your children about the fact that God always bends down to listen. If they’re old enough, buy them each a prayer journal and let them know that their prayer journal is between them and God. You won’t snoop.

Pray: Abba Father, I praise you that you always bend down to listen. I praise you that not only do you listen to me, but you also hear every whisper of my child’s heart. Help ___________________ [name of your child] to learn that he/she can talk to you at any time about anything. Thank you that you are always available and ready to listen.

“Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!”—Psalm 116:2 (NLT)

If you’ve enjoyed these devotions by Becky Harling, learn more at http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse.