In our Mama Heart Like Jesus series, we are studying how Jesus discipled His followers as a model for discipling our own children.
The first way we will look at is this: Jesus taught his disciples to prioritize God’s Word.
Jesus directly quoted the Old Testament througout the Gospels, for example see Luke 4:4, 8, 12, 18-19. 
He also referenced the Old Testament Scriptures throughout His teachings. See John 7:38, Matthew 21:42, and Matthew 22:29. According to passiontoknowgodmore.com, over one-tenth of Jesus’ words recorded in the New Testament can be found in the Old Testament. In addition to this, His actual words BECAME the Gospels of the New Testament that his followers faithfully wrote down and are still with us today. He clearly prioritized His Word and desires His followers to do the same.
So how can we help our children prioritize God’s Word?
Make Bible time fun.
When my children were young, we would read through engaging picture Bibles, use puppets to ask questions, and watch children’s Bible movies together. Thankfully, God’s Word IS exciting for kids, so they will love hearing the stories! Stories like Noah’s Ark, Jonah and the Whale, and The Feeding of the 5,000 will always leave them coming back for more. They build their faith in our big God who can do anything, even part the sea into dry ground. Our kids need this foundation of faith and excitement for God! To see a list of great picture Bibles for younger kids, click here.
Choose a Bible that will interest your kids.
Once your kids are old enough to read, purchasing a Bible (especially with their name on it) is a great way to reinforce the importance of God’s Word. There are so many types of Bibles geared toward different interests, from MineCraft® Bibles, coloring Bibles, Bibles with QR codes that read to you, and comic Bibles, you are sure to find one that fits your child’s interests. Click the links to see some great options for elementary and teens.
Teach your kids why meditating on God’s Word is so import and how to do so.
Explaining to your kids why meditating, memorizing, and applying God’s Word to their lives is so important. Explain to them that God uses His Word to ground His children in truth, so they are not swayed by the enemy’s lies. They will grow deeper in their character, and they will develop a more personal relationship with Jesus when they ask the Lord to speak to them through Scripture. You can teach your kids how to meditate, pray, and memorize God’s Word by doing this with them. Starting a family Bible study together will help your kids hunger for the Bible, and it will model to them how to meditate on God’s Word during their own personal time with the Lord. For example, read a passage of Scripture and spend some time asking the Lord to guide you in answering the following questions: “What verse stood out to you the most?” “What promise or command do you see in this chapter?” “How can you apply this verse to your life?” Once they find value in God’s Word, they will begin to prioritize it on their own and see the difference it makes in their own lives.
As Mamas with a Heart Like Jesus, when we lay the foundation for God’s Word to be fun, engaging, and impactful, God will use His Word to draw His children close to Him and transform them into His disciples, ready to teach God’s Word to others too.
