You have just brought your baby home from the hospital and you are exhausted and overwhelmed, but so in love. Whether it is your first or fifth child you are experiencing love in an entirely new way that you couldn’t have imagined before. It feels like no one ever has or could love this baby as much as you do. Yet, there is one who knows your baby better, loves your baby more, and has already sacrificed everything for him or her, Jesus. As a new mama, it is your highest privilege to introduce your baby to God.
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Babies Draw Mamas Closer to God
When I was a first-time new mama, I had one night where NOTHING I did could help my baby. It was uncharacteristic of her and she wasn’t sleeping and wouldn’t stop crying. I remember sitting on the couch about 2 am just rocking her and crying with her. I wanted more than anything for her to just tell me what was wrong. My husband has no recollection of this night because he slept through it. 😴
I had run out of ideas when I began praying. At that moment I realized that this was just a small experience of God’s love for each of us. There are times when we are hurting and in pain, and God will sit in that moment and cry with us. His heart breaks when we are sad and he desperately desires for us to just tell him what is wrong.
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.
Romans 8:26-28 (MSG)
Are Babies Too Young for God?
Then the Holy Spirit pulled me deeper into that moment and helped me to see that although I had no clue what my baby needed, God did. He could hear her crying out and he knew what it meant. I began to wonder, could my baby have a relationship with God? And the Holy Spirit said, “yes!” She shows me love and has relationships with her family. Baby is capable of an age-appropriate relationship with her Creator if I don’t get in the way.
People were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Luke 18:15-17 (CSB)
Ultimately, this relationship is possible because of God and his incredible love for baby, but the same is true of my relationship with God, the Father, too.
What the Bible says about Baby and God
The Bible is clear on the value of babies and God’s desire to be in a relationship with them. Below are some verses from both the Old and New Testaments speaking to the abilities of God to have a relationship with our littlest ones.
Babies and God in the Old Testament
God knows our babies better than we do.
I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5
Our babies are sinners in need of a Savior and a relationship with their Creator.
Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Psalm 51:5
Babies are seen, included, and valuable in the community of God’s people.
Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the infants, even babies nursing at the breast. Let the groom leave his bedroom, and the bride her honeymoon chamber.
Joel 2:16
God can teach our babies.
You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
Psalm 8:2
Babies and God in the New Testament
God can reveal wisdom and truth to babies.
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants.
Matthew 11:25
Babies can recognize the Lord.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:41
Babies can praise God.
When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that he did and the children shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to him, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” Jesus replied, “Yes, have you never read: You have prepared praise from the mouths of infants and nursing babies?”
Matthew 21:15-16
Babies benefit from the Word.
and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:15
What can my baby know about God?
The first year of life is an important year for babies. The earlier you introduce your baby to God the better. Developmentally, our babies are learning trust. Is the world a safe place? Are others going to take care of me? Will my needs be met? As you sacrificially meet the needs of your baby, you are also, either intentionally or unintentionally, teaching your child if they can trust God.
Here are a few other simple truths baby can begin to know about God:
- God is real.
- He loves them.
- God created them and everything.
- He takes care of them.
- God wants us to talk to him.
8 Practical Ways to Introduce Your Baby to God
Introducing your baby to God doesn’t have to be a formal event. It should be woven into your daily life, as you model your faith and relationship with the Lord. Waking them up with praise to God for the day to tucking them in with a prayer and Jesus Loves Me. So many simple moments plant seeds of faith into the heart of your child preparing them for a life with God.
“Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
1. Nature
The Bible makes it clear that the earth displays God’s power and divinity. Let us take advantage of that and point it out to our babies. As you go for a walk talk about the textures, colors, and animals God has made. Share about his creativity and his provision. Can you see mountains, water, trees, or desert? How do these reflect God’s glory, power, and heart for baby?
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Romans 1:20 (NLT)
2. Music
Music is so beneficial to baby and his or her brain. It can soothe baby, encourage emotions, foster bonding, and help with language development.
One of the most popular ways of worship is also music. We regularly praise God and tell of his greatness through singing and instruments.
Both of those facts make this a perfect pairing, like peanut butter and jelly! You can sing baby worship songs that you love, classic hymns, and Sunday School songs from your childhood. Also, let baby join in the fun and make a celebrate before the Lord with tambourines, castanets, and maracas. Babies loves them!
David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
2 Samuel 6:5
3. Feelings
Babies experience a wide range of emotions, sometimes within a span of minutes. When baby is experiencing a big emotion, turn it into an opportunity for prayer. Pray out loud so baby knows that we can take anything and everything to God. Baby will learn that God listens and cares.
Is baby laughing at a sibling? God thank you for our sibling! Did baby get scared by the dog barking? God help us to know you are here when we are afraid. Did baby fall and get a bonk? God heal and comfort baby. Is baby crying for a reason you can’t identify? God be with baby and bring him peace and comfort.
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15
4. Meals
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and every snack in between is an opportunity to talk to your baby about God’s provision. As you hand baby her plate or put food on her tray, try saying, “Here’s some yummy banana that God made.” “God made your peas green and round.” “God loves you so much. He made lots of yummy foods for us to enjoy.” Not only does it point the meal back to God, it also helps boost language development.
All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables.
Genesis 9:2-3
5. Books
Not only can you read baby Bibles together (see some good ones here), but there are also so many fun baby books that point to God’s love and truth for baby. Here are a few of my favorites:
Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.
Mark 4:33
6. Prayers
Model prayer to your baby on a consistent basis. Did you lose your keys? Verbally ask God to help you find them. You will be teaching baby that God cares about the big and little things in your life and that he wants to help us. Pray for siblings and for yourself. Thank God for rain or sunshine. Praise God for safety getting you somewhere without incident.
We can and we are called to pray throughout the day, but many families also have set prayer times. These times could be before meals and during bedtime. Before bed is a beautiful time to say a blessing over your baby and ask for God’s peace, comfort, and protection for baby throughout the night. As you put baby down, say, “I love you. God loves you, too.”
As you pray baby is learning that you know that God is there and listening. Although you can’t see the results now, you are teaching your baby to trust God and turn to him. These moments are planting seeds for a lifetime of faith and an eternity with their Creator.
You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie down and sleep soundly.
Proverbs 3:24
7. Bath Time
Are you still in awe of your baby’s ten little toes and the softness of their cheeks? I am and I have 5 kiddos! One of my favorite times with baby is bath time, most of the time at least, and only if baby loves the bath.
Bath time can be a wonderful time of talking about your child’s body parts and their identity as God’s purposefully created child. “Look at these 10 little toes God made: one, two, three…” “God gave you two perfect little ears. Let’s wash those ears.” “You have messy hands from eating blackberries. God loves it when you enjoy the things he made for you.” “You had so much fun today crawling and getting dirty outside in the grass. Thank you God for the soft, green grass.”
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
Psalm 139:13-17
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
8. Diaper Changes
Diaper changes are a prime opportunity for connection with your baby and God. In Long Days of Small Things, Catherine McNiel calls mothers to reflect on their salvation during diaper changes. Thinking of the ways in which Jesus cleans us up. You can read more about that book here.
With our littlests, we can talk to them about the ways God takes care of us as we change their diapers. They aren’t ready for a sin talk yet, but as you reflect on your sin, baby can hear how God will do anything to take care of them.
Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:2
Final Thoughts
Sometimes when I am talking with my baby and God, I think, “this is so silly.” I mean she can’t talk how can she have a relationship with God who we can’t see? But, then how do I? Only by his grace and his mercy do any of us get to have a relationship with him. Who am I to stand between my baby and her Creator?
These 8 times in your baby’s day are natural places to invite God to join you and your baby. As your child learns to trust you and grows to love you, you will model God’s love to her. Daily conversations with and about God will provide an environment where she can experience the Holy Spirit and grow to love and know her Maker.
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