HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP HIS CONVICTIONS

 Christian parents recognize that faith in God is not something a child inherits. You were born with faith in Jehovah. That is also true of your child. Over time a child may wrestle with such questions as: 'How do I know that there is a God? Can I really believe what the Bible says?' In fact, the Bible actually encourages us to use our "Power of reason" and "to make sure of all things." (Romans 12:1; 1Thessalonians 5:21) How though, can you help your child to strengthen his faith?

Encourage your child to prove the truth to himself. (Read Roman 12:2.) When your child asks questions, take the opportunity to s how him how to find the answers by using research tools, such as the Watch Tower Publications Index and the Research Guide for Jehovah's Witnesses. In the latter, under the subject "The Bible," He might look up "Inspired by God" to find the evidence that the Bible is not just a good book written by men.  Rather, it is "the Word of God." (1 Thessalonians 2:13) For example, he could research the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh. In the past, some Bible critics claimed that the city of Nineveh never existed. But by the 1850's, the ruins of this city were unearthed, proving the Bible's account be accurate.  (Zephaniah 2:13-15) For information on ow the destruction of Nineveh fulfilled Bible prophecy, he might see the article "Did You Know?" in the November 2021 issue of the Watchtower. By comparing what he learns from our publications with what he learns from encyclopedias and other respected sources, your child will have good reason to increase his faith in what the Bible says.

Stimulate your child's thinking ability. Parents have different opportunities to engage in interesting conversations with their child about the Bible or about faith in God. These opportunities may come up during visit to a museum, a botanical garden, or an exhibit at a branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses. For example, when touring a museum, whether in person or virtually, you could draw your child's attention to historical events or artifacts that can strengthen his conviction that the Bible is accurate. Does your child know that God's personal name appears on a 3,000- year-old slab of stone known as the Moabite stone? The original Moabit Stone is on display in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Also, a replica of the Moabite Stone is on display at the World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses in Warwick, New York.  The Moabite Stone reveals that King Mesha of Moab rebelled against Israel. That is in accord with what the Bible says. (2 Kings 3:4, 5) When your child sees with his own eyes the evidence of the Bible's truthfulness and accuracy, his faith will become stronger. -Compare 2 CHRONICLES 9:6.

Next time: HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP HIS CONVICTIONS

From the jw.org publications