Helping Your Kids Know Who They Are & Whose They Are

Our identity in Christ begins in childhood, and as parents, we play a crucial role in helping our kids understand who they truly are before the world tells them otherwise.

• Teaching children scriptures about their identity in Christ using passages like Ephesians 1:4-5, Jeremiah 1:5, and Psalm 139
• Personalizing the gospel by inserting your child's name into scripture verses relevant to their current struggles
• Creating identity prayers for children to repeat, reinforcing that Jesus loves, wants, and pursues them personally
• Adapting these practices for older children through texts, notes, or praying these truths over them

I'd love to hear from you! Email me at hello@jennamariemasterscom or find me on Instagram @jennamariemasters. Don't forget to follow, save, share and subscribe.

Transcript

Identity and Faith for Kids

Speaker 1 0:11

This is Jenna Marie Masters with the Real Moms Real Faith Podcast . I am so glad you're here so you can be encouraged to trust God with all the things one day at a time . Hey everyone , this is episode 15 . We are continuing our talk about identity and today we're focusing on your kids . If you didn't listen to last week's episode , I highly encourage you to do it , because this is really going to relate to that .

Speaker 1 0:32

I asked you all to think about a lie that was spoken over you that you've believed . I've just been praying for you all week that God has set you free from that , from believing that lie . So now I want to think about that in regards to our own kiddos , Because believing that lie . So now I want to think about that in regards to our own kiddos Because , remember , most of the lies people still believe were spoken over them as a child , and there's something so tender and impressionable about children , isn't there ? Maybe that's why Jesus was so firm with his disciples when they were trying to block little children from coming to him , and he said to them hey , let the little children come to me and do not hinder them , for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these . That's Matthew 19 . Just like that , we don't want any lies to hinder our children to coming from God . So we got to start young , letting them come to Jesus to learn who they are . Now I'm going to tell you why it's important to start young with our kids .

Speaker 1 1:18

My 17 year old made a girl cry at school this year and all he did was ask who are you ? She had come into class . She was upset because some boys were teasing her . So my son asked why does it bother you so much about what these guys think of you ? I don't know . She said it just does so . My son said hey , if you know who you are , it doesn't matter what they think . She told him that she didn't know who she was she's like , but I'm loyal . But he encouraged her , encouraged her yeah , I'm sure you're loyal . That's awesome . But that describes something about you . It's not who you are . What is something about you that never changes ? Who are you ? She looked

Teaching Children Their True Value

Speaker 1 1:54

at my son and she said I don't know who are you . And he answered I am loved by Jesus . I am a child of God . And this girl burst into tears in the middle of class and all he did was tell her she was loved too .

Speaker 1 2:11

People . This is where we have come . Some teenagers don't even know God loves them . Young men and women . When they're asked , who are you ? Don't have an answer . God has an eye on this generation , but so does the enemy .

Speaker 1 2:25

This is my plea to anybody listening Find your kids , find a teenager , find a kid and tell them the truth . Tell them they have a purpose . Tell them they're created by God , who gave everything to call them sons and daughters , and I'm really praying that this podcast sets a foundation for you to do that on a regular basis in your home , Because remember , godly , parenting isn't just teaching our children what we believe about God . It's about teaching our children what God believes about them too . We can constantly remind them who they are , whose they are and why they are , and we'll be talking about the why next week , but today I want to talk about how we can help remind our kids who they are and whose they are on a regular basis . I just cannot say enough about having the word of God in your home .

Speaker 1 3:10

I've heard this story many times about professional bankers . When they're in training , they do not handle any fake money . They only handle real money , over and over again , for countless hours as they're training for their job . Why do they do this ? Because the minute a fake comes in , they know right away . They have spent so much time with what is real that the minute a fake thing comes in , it doesn't fool them .

Speaker 1 3:35

If we handle the word of God every single day in our homes , we will know the truth about who we are and who God is so well that a minute a lie comes in , we will know immediately how to toss it out . Some people are going to feed you lies and feed your children lives , and you need to set boundaries with those people , and I know that can be hard to do . But we want our kids to know they are saved , forgiven , made new , justified , washed , clean and treasured . And if they don't know Jesus , they will never know who they are . And that's true for us too . If you don't know your creator , how can you know why you've been created ?

Speaker 1 4:07

So we're going to start with some really practical things . When is the last time you told your kids that God knew their names before he created the earth ?

Personalizing Scripture For Children

Speaker 1 4:15

And not only that have you ever showed them the verse that proves it ? Years ago , I wasn't really sure I had done this . Maybe I had said that , but I really hadn't shown them where it was in the word . And I started to realize this is important . They need to know how to find this in the word . They need to know why I'm saying this . I'm not just making it up , right , I mean , I make some stuff up as a parent , but I don't make that up .

Speaker 1 4:32

So , number one teach them scriptures about their identity in Christ . You can say to them did you know that God knew your name before he laid the foundation of the world ? Before he said let there be light , he said let there be you . And then open up the Bible and turn to Ephesians 1 , 4 through 5 and Jeremiah 1 , 5 . And you can say to them did you know God created you with his very hands ? And then open up the Bible and show them Psalm 139 , 13 through 14 . Do you know that God took the time to write a book about your life before you were even born ? And then show them Psalm 139 , 16 , where it says that Then you can say to them hey , did you know God cares about everything you do and say ? And then open up Psalm 139 , 1 through 4 and show them .

Speaker 1 5:20

The second thing to do is personalize the gospel for your kids . Do your kids know that all of history weaves around the story of God pursuing them and crying out from a manger and then later crying out from a cross ? They need to know . It's personal and it can be really challenging , though , for kids to relate to an all-inclusive statement like God so loved the world . But if we personalize the gospel for our children , it comes alive and it becomes powerful to them . So try choosing scripture verses based on what your child is going through and personalize the verses with his or her name . This is one of my favorite things to do .

Speaker 1 5:50

When we first became a foster family , the verse that I would speak over my daughter over and over again was Jeremiah 29 , 11 . For I know the plans I have for you , declares the Lord . Plans to prosper you and not to harm you . Plans to give you hope and a future . Prosper you and not to harm you . Plans to give you hope and a future . And I used to say this out loud , like a crazy lady during visitations outside of a library in LA . I would walk outside and repeat this over and over and over again For I know the plans I have for you , declares the Lord plans to prosper you , not to harm you , plans to give you hope and a future . And as she got older and could hear the verse and understand what I was saying , I realized how important it was to personalize this for her . So at nighttime , before bed every night , I say to her for I know the plans I have for Kaya , says the Lord Plans to prosper her and not to harm her . Plans to give her hope and a future . And I repeat it , for I know the plans I have for Kaya . Declares the Lord Plans to prosper her and not to harm her . Plans to give her hope and a future .

Speaker 1 6:44

Make it personal for them . Let them hear God say their name through his word . So try inserting your children's name into scripture when you speak to them . You could say , for God so loved Jake that he gave his one and only son , John 3 , 16 . You could say , for Eli is his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that he should walk in them . 1 Corinthians 2.10 . For I am sure that neither life nor death , nor angels , nor rulers , nor things present nor things to come , nor powers , nor height , nor depth , nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate Emma from the love of God in Christ Jesus , our Lord . Romans 8.38.39 . I also love Isaiah 41.10 .

Speaker 1 7:28

Fear not and really think about what they're going through . If they're having fear , then you could give them this verse . If they're really living in the unknown right now , you can give them Jeremiah 29 , 11 . If they feel like they don't know what their purpose is , then you could use first Corinthians two , 10 . When we personalize the gospel for our kids , it becomes alive and becomes more powerful to them , and sometimes we need to do it for ourselves too , don't we ? Sometimes I really need to hear . Come to me , Jenna , if you're weary and burdened , and I will give you rest . Any other mom out there need to hear that verse . I know for some of you you may feel like your kids are too old for this for you to speak this over them . So go ahead , send them a text . Send them a text with that Bible verse in it , with their name inserted . Put it on a little index card and stick it up in the mirror where they're getting ready for school . Put it on a little card and put it into their backpack with their name in the scripture Easy .

Speaker 1 8:25

A third thing we can do is say an identity prayer over

Identity Prayers and Final Thoughts

Speaker 1 8:28

our children . So I wrote a prayer out for my kids to read aloud and repeat to me when they were younger and I know that praying aloud can be uncomfortable sometimes , but I wholeheartedly encourage you to give this a try . For one thing , the enemy cannot read our thoughts , but he can hear what we say . So proclaiming these truths with our mouth is like putting a hedge of protection around our children . Here's the prayer and I will put it in the podcast notes . Have your kids repeat this after you .

Speaker 1 8:53

Jesus , I believe you love me , want me , made me , pursue me , hold me , hear me , see me , forgive me , Jesus , I believe you think of me , died for me , see me , forgive me , Jesus , I believe you think of me , died for me , fight for me , cry with me , sing over me , whisper to me , run after me , work through me , have good plans for me . Jesus , I believe you are Emmanuel , wonderful counselor , mighty God , prince of peace , everlasting father , king Jesus , coming , Jesus for me . My prayer is that our children understand that Jesus came not only for the salvation of the world as a global truth , but also Jesus came down to earth as a baby for them . Jesus suffered and hung on a cross for them . Jesus rose again and is coming back for them . This great love for them is not dependent on how many soccer games they win or if they can create a masterpiece in art class , but because they are his masterpiece , my prayer is that our kids find their worth in his workmanship , not their own , and this remains true for me . It remains true for them when they were little and now remains true for my kids , who are now getting ready to go to college . Speaking of that , if your kids are older , it's probably not practical to sit and have them repeat after you write this prayer , but as a mom , I find myself praying this for my children more and more on their behalf , and that is something that they will never grow out of . Never stop fighting for your kids through prayer . I really hope that these practical things help you speak life and truth into your children and into your home . So , number one teach them scriptures about their identity in Christ . Number two personalize the gospel for them . Three , say identity prayers over your child and have them repeat it back to you Again .

Speaker 1 10:51

Thank you so much for tuning in . It means so much to me If you thought of a friend as you heard this podcast . Please share it with them and I'd love to hear from you . So go ahead and email me hello at jennamariemasterscom , or you can join me over on Instagram at jennamariemasters . Have a beautiful week . Don't forget to follow , save and share and subscribe . You're awesome . Give it up for our mommy . Yeah , we'll be faster . Love it .