Train A Child
By Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading:
“Start children off on how they should go; even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Our children grew up in church. Because my husband is a pastor, church attendance was a given. Except for illness or an emergency, we were at church every Sunday. My kids served in various capacities in the church. My kids got used to church every Sunday and didn't mind it. But around 13 years ago, I realized their prayer life was less stellar. When they prayed during grace, there would not be more than a “thank you, God, for this food.”
When probed further about their spiritual life, they both admitted they didn't have much of one. They often went to God with prayer requests but didn't confess their sin or spend time being grateful for all God had given them. Around age 15, I vowed to read the Bible cover to cover with my daughter. Within one year, we were able to do it. But it took work. My daughter often waited till the last minute to do the job, only to do it half-heartedly. We usually got into heated debates when discussing it.
But I was determined to make sure she was trained properly. I wanted my daughter to leave my house, having read the Bible at least once, cover to cover. We reviewed what she found surprising about the given verses every painstaking week. We discussed what we found interesting in whatever passage we read that week. We sometimes debated; sometimes, the conversations were intellectually stimulating. Nevertheless, we did get through the Bible.
Today, she feels a calling to ministry. She's currently at a Christian college taking classes to become credentialed as a staff pastor within a denomination. She admits some people do not accept her for being a woman in ministry, but she is pursuing the calling, knowing that God is calling her to it.
My husband and I never would have thought that the same girl who used to fight with us over verses in the Bible when we read it together would turn out to be pursuing God fervently in ministry. Although the Holy Spirit placed the calling on her life. I want to think her early training in the Bible helped shape that calling. If she were unwilling to go through the Bible study and ask questions that would lead to more profound study, I don't think she could hear the call and pursue it in her life.
Even when we, as parents, do everything right, our kids may still go astray. But that doesn't mean our training was for nothing. Throughout their lives, we, as parents, plant seeds of faith in God. They are responsible for watering it and making it grow, but we, as parents, must still take responsibility and train them in the faith. This means regular church attendance, taking them to children's church or other children's activities, praying regularly, and reading the Bible. Children will never catch the fever of knowing God more intimately if they have no example to follow at home. Our role in shaping their faith is crucial and empowering.
While none of us is perfect, we must do what we can to be Christ's example to our children. There are many ways to demonstrate our love for Christ. Even when our marriage is not going well, we can reassure them that God is with us through our struggles and that we intend to persevere through trials. They must also see us reading the Bible, attending church regularly, praying, and practicing spiritual disciplines. Even in their teens, when they look more to their peers than to their parents, they will remember the example we set for them, increasing the likelihood that they will want to follow in our footsteps. Our commitment to setting a good example is a powerful motivator in their spiritual journey.
Father, let us be parents that our kids want to follow. Let us be an example of Christ to others. Let us be the example of who you are and your presence in our lives through good times and bad. Let us read the Word with our children and let it plant seeds of faith so they may want to see it grow later. Amen.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Angelica Reyes
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Originally published Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
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