How To Teach Christian Character

I found this article I saved and thought it needed to be shared. I'm not sure where/who I got it from. I'll be posting meanings of character traits in the next couple of days. You can get a head start by reading up on the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5.

As our children's primary mentors, we need to consistently display Christian character traits and surround our children with others who share our values. Harvard and Stanford Universities have reported that the reason a person gets hired for a job and promoted in that job is due to eighty-five percent attitude and fifteen percent technical or specific skills. But, we often teach the opposite! This statistic makes it very clear that our children's character will matter more in life than their academic performance. Here are some ways to instill Godly character traits.

1.      Have your child develop relationships with teachers, leaders, and mature Christians who can mentor them. There is much truth to the African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child." Surrounding your child with adults who display Godly behaviors is the key to character building. Your participation in church can create a desire to know God more intimately. Belonging to a church and creating a network of Christian friends gives children a sense of community. The Sunday school lessons, music, and pastor's sermons can stimulate interesting questions and conversations.

2.      Please do not treat your child's Bible like an ordinary book. It does not belong on a bookshelf or tucked away in a drawer. The Bible is God's instructions for life, and it needs to be visible at all times. The more your child sees it, the more likely he is to pick it up and begin reading it. 

My children's favorite Bible is placed on their dresser, and my husband reads them a story every night before bed. I also have an assortment of children's Bibles throughout the house, such as on our coffee table and in their reading basket of books. God's word needs to be available to our children on a consistent basis.

3.      Parents, I would like to stress the importance of keeping God first in our homes. It is so easy to wake up, make breakfast, get yourself and your child dressed, and begin the day's school routine. We often say to ourselves that we will make time for God later.

Show your child God always comes first by giving Him the first minutes of your day. Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier, and wake up before your family to have coffee with Jesus. Read your Bible or a devotional and have a quiet prayer time. We need to seek God's guidance BEFORE we begin our day.