I was talking with a lady recently whose mother taught her to pray Psalm 23. As a child, she would often giggle as she thought about the safety and security of King David’s words. It is a serious Psalm, but her mom always made the message of truth so real and fun.

When she was older, she found herself praying this same Psalm but with different emotion-her recited words were now filled with a sense of desperation. She had drifted in her love for God, and her life was in turmoil. One question haunted her every step. Would God lead her through the valley of regret and back home to His heart? She believed He would because of her mother's faith.

How do you pass your faith on to your children? Many parents insist on giving their sons and daughters the latest of everything-video games, clothes, and cars. Sadly, however, when it comes to the things of God, they often hesitate for fear of appearing outdated or too serious. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

While a child may seem to ignore the godly lessons you are teaching, he is not missing a word. Later, when the bottom of life drops out, as it does at some point for all of us, he will remember what his mother taught him and cling to it. Ask God to make you sensitive to any destructive patterns you may be building in your child’s life. Even very young children are aware of mom’s habits and fears.

If you have children, I want to remind you that no material thing can compare with your love and involvement in their lives. Remember: the way your child sees you is the way he or she will grow up to view God whether you are a single mom or a mother who is struggling under the pressure of a very demanding schedule, God wants you to know He will give you the strength and wisdom you need to raise your children. He will use your godly influence to shape and mold their character.

One of the greatest motivations for learning is praise-not ridicule. God will never belittle you. He knows the mistakes you have made, but He never thinks, She won't ever get it right. She's a loser.

Try praising your children when they do something right, and encourage them to try again whenever they fail. Believe in them, because God believes in you. You never know how the Lord is planning to use your son or daughter. Therefore, take time to listen, instruct them in the ways of God, and praise them for their efforts. When you do, you will find that they will try to do even better next time, because everyone-young or old-likes to hear, “Well done!”

The greatest lesson my mother taught me was to pray and then trust God for the outcome. When faith and prayer connect, your perspective changes. Problems which seemed hard and impassable are recognized as God's responsibility. If you try to figure out all the answers, your sons and daughters will think they must do the same. However, when we trust God with calm assurance because we have prayed and given Him our problems, then your children will imitate your faith. Prayer and faith should be a daily part of all we do.

No matter how packed life becomes, make God your first priority, and you will experience His blessings. The greatest gift a mother can give her son or daughter is the gift of godly devotion. When your life is caught up in Him, then He will give you the wisdom you need to teach your children and prepare them for the future.

No matter how appealing the trappings of this life may seem, the greatest gift you can give your children is the truth concerning God's love for them. This is foundational to everything else. If they know that God loves them and that He is faithful, then they will learn to trust Him at every turn in life.