DADDY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING

Long ago, my second son complained about his inability to understand the content of our prayers and what we do during family devotion.

Most times, during devotion, we struggle to get their attention. I just wanted them to pray and hear the word but it was obvious they didn't understand what we were doing. To them, it is a compulsory ritual just as it is most homes.

However, one morning, my son spoke his mind: "Daddy, I don't understand what you're saying."  Immediately, I picked the message. I knew he was expressing the thought of his elder brother as well.

I decided I'll devise a means of coming down to their level so they can participate joyfully for their understanding to be fruitful.

I introduced dance steps into our songs and I made our several prayers to become confessional and declarative. They repeated after me as we paced the floor.They loved it and they participated joyfully.

It was as if we were in a nursery class where teachers teach by demonstrating rhymes and songs. After I adopted that method, my second son said: "Daddy, can you see that we are powerful Pastors and we can pray?" For the first time, I knew I got their attention as I've always wanted. In fact, they desire devotion time and they long for it.

Of what use is a family devotion where your children do not understand the 'why' and 'what'? Sometimes, we do certain things as rituals but we lose the very essence. Today, I want to encourage you to come down to the level your children can understand.

Have you  wondered why they watch cartoon animations for hours but sleep during few minutes of prayer? The cartoonist entered into their world, descended to their level of understanding to pass his message across to them in a way that will make them stay glued to the t.v. Painfully, there are demonic cartoons passing demonic messages across to children.

So many of us use The Living Bible translation because of the simple English used but the person( Kenneth Taylor) who gave us that bible translation did not mean to publish bible in simple English for general use.

He embarked on that project to simplify the bible for his children who had problems understanding KJV and RSV during devotion. Later, that translation was published for public use.

*The gospel should be preached to children in a manner that is consistent and commensurate to what they can comprehend without tampering with the basic truths in it.*

If you're struggling with your children to be part of devotion or you noticed loss of interest, it may not be the devil, your method may be wrong. Consider their age, health, strength and level of comprehension.

*Family devotion time is not the time to do Greek and Hebrew exegesis of the bible, it is family fellowship time. Just bring out bible truths, enter into their world and teach it to them using the language they understand best.*

Don't preach sermons like: "Pedagogy Of The Bible Doctrines". The title is enough to scare adults and shut their minds, let alone children. Be creative.