Listening Device
Listening Device
“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He said to them. (Luke 2:49–50)
Listen to Your Child
What’s the average twelve-year-old boy like? Awkward. Gangly. Not a small boy, not a full-blown teen. Not polished in social situations or filled out with an athletic physique. Jesus was once a tweenager. Even His own parents didn’t understand what He said!
But God can and does speak to believing children no matter their age. Obviously Jesus had been listening to His heavenly Father. He had hung back at His Father’s house to listen to the teachers, ask questions, and come up with a few relevant answers on His own. How can we cultivate a listening spirit in our kids?
Help Them Listen to God
First, we must believe God really does speak to young believers. When a child has God’s Word in his heart, the Holy Spirit can bring it to mind at the right time. And it’s best for them to learn this trait young because if they ignore God’s voice, it becomes harder and harder to hear Him the older they get.
So teach them the Scriptures. And while you’re doing that, teach them to pray for God to make His voice clear to them. Explain to them that Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” (see John 10:1–18) and that we as His sheep can recognize His voice. Finally, remind them that God loves them so much He’ll never stop speaking to them. He desires to speak with all His children.
Bottom Line
One of the greatest things you can do for your children is help them discern the voice of God.