The new year is here, and now is the perfect time to get focused on faith. Many people use January to form new habits to start the year off right. Now that the holiday season has ended, the whole family can take some time to consider what their faith journey looks like. Here are a few ways your child can work on discovering their Christian faith this year:
Regular Bible Study
There’s no better way to get immersed in Christian faith than studying the Bible. Help your child find age-appropriate Bible lessons to study over the course of the year. If you think your child is ready, see if this could be the year they read the Bible in its entirety for the first time. There are plenty of Bible reading plans available online. Whether it’s studying the Bible or reading it, the best way to build this new habit is to dedicate time to it every single day.
Building Prayer Habits
Prayer is the best tool for making faith personal. By praying each day, or even a few times a day, your child can build a personal relationship with God. Encourage individual prayer, and pray together as a family. Let your child know that they can seek God’s guidance at any time, no matter what they’re going through in life.
Worshiping with Others
For children, faith building often happens in a community setting. Joining groups at church or attending a Christian school can give children of faith extra opportunities to better understand what it means to be a Christian. Being surrounded by examples of living in faith helps children see how they can live in it themselves.
Incorporating Faith in Daily Life
There’s more to faith than memorizing Bible verses and gospel lessons. Children find faith more relatable when it’s part of their everyday lives. This can mean treating others with love, respect and kindness. It may also look like donating to charity or helping a neighbor in need. Children can find plenty of ways to live fully in their faith and make it a focus of their lives.
Seeking Spiritual Guidance
Sometimes, the spiritual path isn’t so straightforward, especially for children who are especially curious about the world around them. They may have a lot of questions that aren’t answered by simply reading a passage out of a book. This is where having guidance from spiritual leaders can help. The more a child can explore their faith and ask questions, the more invested they will be in their spiritual journey.
At North Tampa Christian Academy, we have an UNCOMMON faith development program that helps children discover their faith through discipleship, celebration and service. Students at our Tampa Christian school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.