Teaching Kids to Hear God’s Voice: Where to Start
At The Family Oasis, we believe that even the smallest hearts can hear the voice of God. There is no mini Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who speaks to us as adults longs to whisper truth, comfort, and identity to our children—yes, even our toddlers.
But where do we begin?
We’re often unsure how to guide our kids spiritually, especially when we’re still learning to hear God for ourselves. But you don’t need to have all the answers. You just need a posture of humility and an invitation for the Holy Spirit to lead the way.
Mark Batterson once said, "If you want to hear God’s voice, you have to position yourself to listen." This truth applies beautifully to our children too. The key is not perfection, but positioning. And it starts with creating space.
1. Make Room for Stillness
In a noisy world, stillness is a radical act of faith. But it’s in the stillness that we often hear God most clearly.
How do you deal with stillness?
Does silence feel awkward? Do you get antsy, distracted, unsettled?
You're not alone. Stillness confronts us. It exposes the noise we’ve gotten used to—the endless scroll, the packed schedule, the false sense of control. It strips away performance and brings us face to face with ourselves... and with God.
In a culture that celebrates busyness—even within Christianity—we must re-learn the sacred rhythm of stillness, of simply sitting at His feet.You’ll quickly feel the tension in stillness—your mind floods with tasks left undone, forgotten responsibilities suddenly surface, and the pressure to be "productive" pushes hard against the pause. But this is exactly why reclaiming moments of stillness is so vital. The enemy has so saturated our lives with busyness that we’ve forgotten how to simply be—to sit, to breathe, to listen. Stillness isn’t a weakness; it’s warfare.
So yes—once again—it starts with us. Wanting your children to hear God's voice is a beautiful desire, but the deeper question is: Do you hear Him? Before we can lead our children into His presence, we must first be familiar with it ourselves. What we model shapes them far more powerfully than any lecture ever could.
Make it a new habit to sit in stillness for just 10 minutes a day. You can always increase the time later—but you may be surprised how even that short pause feels difficult at first. Still, it’s in that quiet space that transformation begins.
What might this look like with toddlers?
It could be as simple as a quiet moment before bedtime. After you pray, gently say, “Jesus is always with us. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge Him—yes, He is here. Let’s be quiet and listen to what He might want to tell us.”
At first, it may feel awkward or even a little silly, but you’re planting seeds. If they say something sweet, simple, or surprising—write it down. Celebrate it. They’re learning to listen to His voice, and that is sacred.
Older children can begin keeping a "God journal." Encourage them to ask God a question and write down whatever they sense—a thought, a picture, a Scripture, even a word. Seth Dahl, a pastor and author who works closely with families, encourages parents to keep this process lighthearted. The goal isn’t to test their spirituality, but to normalize connection with God.
And yes, this is so important—creating daily encounters with Jesus in both the small and the big moments. We're teaching our children that this is a relationship we nurture every day, not just something we turn to when we need help. It's about walking with Him consistently, not occasionally. and that’s possible even for our smallest.
2. Use Scripture as a Conversation Starter
The Bible is living and active—one of the most beautiful ways God speaks to us. Choose simple stories with clear messages your children can grasp. A great example is the story of young Samuel hearing God’s voice (1 Samuel 3).
Read it aloud together, then gently ask: “What do you think God was saying to Samuel? Do you think He wants to speak to you too?”
Follow it with Jesus’ words: “My sheep hear My voice.” (John 10:27) Then say, “Are you one of His sheep? That means you qualify! You don’t have to wait until you’re older to hear Him. Want to know a secret? Sometimes it’s even easier to hear God’s voice when you’re young—your heart is wide open.”
Becky Fischer, founder of Kids in Ministry International, reminds us that children don’t need a watered-down gospel. They can handle deep truths—when we speak to them in age-appropriate, Spirit-filled ways.
Invite your children into wonder. Into reflection. Let them know: This isn’t just a Bible story—it’s a real invitation from a living God who loves to speak to them.
3. Model What You Want to Multiply
Yes—one more time, because this truth is just that important:
Your kids will learn more from your example than from your words.
We say it often, but let’s be honest—it doesn’t always sink in. If you want your children to value hearing God’s voice, let them see you seeking it.
Say things like, “I felt like Jesus encouraged me today when I read this verse,” or, “I was feeling sad, so I asked God what He wanted to say—and I felt peace.”
This isn’t about being super-spiritual. It’s about being real.
Authentic faith is contagious.
When your kids see you prioritize time with God, they learn that it’s worth making space for. When they hear you process emotions or decisions with Jesus, they begin to do the same—not out of religion, but out of relationship. That’s how spiritual legacy is built: not just through instruction, but through lived example.
This has been—and continues to be—a core value in our family: we are a family that hears God.
From the beginning, we've involved our children in how we seek Him, how we listen, and how they can hear His voice too. Especially when we stepped into the mission field six years ago, hearing God became essential in every major decision. Whether it was moving across nations or facing the unknown, we didn’t just pray as parents—we sought Him as a family.
Because we believe this deeply: God is a God of families. A God of unity. And when He leads, He invites each of us—young and old—to listen, to trust, and to follow Him together.
4. Make It Natural and Fun
Hearing God doesn’t have to feel mystical or heavy.
It’s not about getting everything right—it’s about relationship.
With toddlers, you might simply pray, “Jesus, what do You want to show us today?” Then draw a picture together. Maybe your child colors a rainbow and says, “God loves me.” That’s hearing God. Art, play, and imagination are beautiful ways to tune in to His voice.
With older kids, try a fun and faith-building game like “Treasure Hunt”—a tool used by many kids’ ministries to help children learn to hear God in a hands-on way. Here’s how it works:
Pray together and ask God to show you some clues—this could be a person’s name, a color, a place, a specific need (like “someone with a sore knee”), or even an item of clothing.
Write the clues down.
Then go out (maybe to a park, grocery store, or church lobby) and look for someone who matches what you wrote.
When you spot someone, encourage your child to say something kind or pray if they feel led—“Hi! I think God wants you to know He sees you today!”
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s about removing pressure and increasing curiosity, joy, and boldness in listening to God. You’re not just teaching your children to hear—you’re showing them that God is real, close, and always speaking.
5. Don’t Dismiss the Small Things
Sometimes kids will say something as simple as, “Jesus said I’m special.” Don’t overlook it.
These are powerful, identity-shaping moments. That one truth could be exactly what your child needs to hold onto during a tough day at school, a friendship conflict, or when the enemy tries to plant a lie in their heart.
Write those words down. Revisit them often. Speak them back over your child when life gets hard. Show them that what they hear from God is real, valuable, and worth remembering.
6. Help Them Discern with Love and Truth
As your children grow, so will their questions—and that’s a good thing. But not every thought is from God, and part of our role as parents is to walk with them as they learn to discern His voice.
Teach them to ask simple, grounding questions:
Is this loving? (Because God is love.)
Does this line up with Scripture?
Does this bring peace—or fear?
Just like we teach them not to trust every stranger’s voice, we also want them to learn how to recognize the voice of their Shepherd.
Give them space to grow. Create a safe, grace-filled environment where it’s okay to ask, wonder, or even get it wrong. Correct with gentleness. Celebrate courage. And above all—walk closely with them on the journey of hearing God’s voice, together.
7. Create Rhythms of Listening
Make it part of your family culture—something woven into the rhythm of your everyday life. You don’t need a two-hour devotional to raise kids who know and love God. What you need are simple, repeatable moments that welcome His presence into your home:
— “Listening minutes” before bedtime
— Sunday evening journaling with Jesus
— Quiet worship playing while they color
It’s not about adding more to your plate. It’s about walking with God together, in the ordinary. Consistency, not complexity. That’s what builds legacy. Little moments become holy ground when He’s invited in.
8. Trust the Holy Spirit
You don’t need to be a perfect parent to raise kids who hear God. You just need to trust that the Holy Spirit loves your child even more than you do.
Let Him lead. Ask Him for wisdom. Invite Him into your parenting.
Isaiah 30:21 says, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"
That promise is for your children too.
Let It Begin Today
Now more than ever, our children need to know how to hear God's voice. Not just to feel good—but to stand strong. To face real struggles. To walk through fear, peer pressure, and loneliness knowing they are never alone.
We’re not just raising kids—we’re raising a generation that leads others to Christ, that knows who they are, and points their friends to hope when the world offers none.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start where you are.
One quiet minute.
One honest question.
One journal entry.
One whisper of, “Jesus, I’m listening.”
Your child doesn’t need a title or a platform.
They just need to know they are loved, known, and created to walk with God—daily.
Every time you make space for His voice, you’re planting seeds of confidence, trust, and intimacy with the Father. And those seeds? They’ll grow into a faith that stands through the storms.
Let’s raise a generation that knows His voice—and has the courage to follow it.