When you pray and read the Word together, when you talk about God and what it means to be a Christian, your family will get stronger spiritually.

Most kids don't have the self-discipline to sit down by themselves every day and read the Bible and pray. They just won't do it. But you can make sure they know God and His Word by praying with them, reading the Bible to them, talking about God with them and having regular family devotions.

In the book of Deuteronomy, God commanded the Israelites to teach their children His laws, and He told them how to do it. He said:
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be a frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the post of thy house, and on thy gates.
(Deut. 6:6-9)
God is simply saying this:
I want you to fill your family life with talk about Me and My Word. I want you to talk to your children about Me and My commandments every day. While you are working around the house, when you go for a walk, when you get ready for bed, or when you get up in the morning, teach your children about Me.
Our daughter, Candas, used to be afraid to go to school when she was in the second or third grade. On the way to school, Buddy would drill 2 Timothy 1:7 into her: "God has not given me the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

They drilled on that verse, along with another verse in Jude chapter 20: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost."

Those two Scriptures...the first two Candas learned...helped her through school and had a major impact on her life.

Speak the Word to Your Kids
Unfortunately, some people never talk about God in their homes. The only time they mention Him is when something terrible happens. Then they wonder why their kids feel uncomfortable talking about Him.

God says you are to talk about Him and His Word naturally, in your everyday conversation. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, if an opportunity comes along for you to talk about God, do it. As you get to know Him, it will become second nature for you to talk about Him. In fact it will be difficult to talk without mentioning His name.

You may say, "How can I do that without sounding phony to my kids?"

Suppose an unexpected bill comes in and you don't have the money to pay it. Talk to your children about it. Show them in the Bible where God gave the Israelites manna in the wilderness (Ex.16). Point out that if He provided for them, you can trust Him to provide for you because He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). Then have them pray with you and ask God to provide money to help you pay the bill.

Or suppose someone in your family is sick. Ask your children to pray with you for that one who is ill. You can pray together that God's healing power will be manifested.

Teach your family these powerful truths. And do it daily.

Source: How To Raise Your Kids In Troubled Times by Buddy & Pat Harrison.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers