How to Teach Your Children to Recognize God's Voice Through Seeing (Without Weirding Them Out)

Joy in the Processing, LLC
6 days ago
7 min read

Eight-year-old Emma climbed into her mom's lap with tears in her eyes. "Mommy, I had that dream again about Jesus giving me a golden necklace. But then I woke up and it wasn't real. Why does Jesus keep showing me things that aren't really there?"

Her mom, Lisa, felt her heart skip a beat. For weeks, Emma had been sharing vivid dreams, talking about "seeing" Jesus during prayer time, and asking questions like "Why do I see colors when we worship at church?" Lisa had been gently redirecting these conversations, worried they were "too much" for a child Emma's age.

But sitting there, holding her daughter's tender heart, Lisa suddenly realized something profound: What if God was already speaking to Emma, and she just needed someone to help her understand that this was actually a beautiful gift?

That conversation changed everything for their family.

Children Are Natural Receivers

Here's something that might surprise you: children are often more naturally receptive to God's visual communication than adults. Their hearts are pure, their minds aren't cluttered with doubt, and they haven't yet learned to dismiss spiritual experiences as "just imagination."

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 18:3: "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Could it be that part of becoming "like little children" means recovering their natural ability to see what God shows us?

Think about it:

Children believe easily without needing extensive theological explanations
They're comfortable with the unseen world (talking to imaginary friends, seeing monsters, believing in magic)
Their analytical minds haven't developed enough to argue with spiritual experiences
They live in wonder and expect the impossible to be possible
They trust without fear of being deceived or misled

The question isn't whether children can see what God shows them—it's how we, as parents and guardians, can help them steward this gift in healthy, biblical ways.

Signs Your Child Might Be Seeing Spiritually

Before you can help your child, you need to recognize when God might already be speaking to them through their seeing receptor. Here are some common signs:

During Prayer or Worship:

"I see Jesus" during prayer times
Describing colors or light during worship songs
Talking about angels or "light people" during church
Drawing pictures of biblical scenes with details they haven't been taught
Unusual peace or joy during spiritual activities

In Dreams:

Vivid dreams about Jesus, angels, or biblical scenes that they remember clearly
Dreams that bring comfort during difficult times
Recurring positive dreams with spiritual themes
Dreams about deceased Christian relatives bringing messages of love
Dreams that seem to answer their prayers or concerns

Daily Life Observations:

Seeing God in creation with unusual depth ("God painted that cloud!")
Sensing things about people ("That person seems sad, we should pray")
Unexpected insights about Bible stories during reading time
Prophetic play (acting out biblical scenes with remarkable accuracy)
Questions about the spiritual world that go beyond their age level

Important Distinction:

Not every imagination is spiritual vision, but spiritual vision often looks like imagination to adults. The key is paying attention to patterns, fruits, and whether these experiences draw your child closer to Jesus.

Age-Appropriate Ways to Nurture This Gift

Ages 3-6: Foundation Building

At this age, keep it simple and focus on building positive associations with God speaking.

What you can do:

"God shows us beautiful things" - Point out sunsets, flowers, butterflies as ways God shows His love
"Let's ask Jesus what He thinks" - During prayer, ask simple questions like, "Jesus, what color is Your love?"
"Dream prayers" - Before bed: "Jesus, if You want to visit [child's name] in dreams tonight, that would be wonderful!"
"Creation walks" - Take walks asking, "What do you think God wants to show us today?"
"Picture prayers" - "Close your eyes and see if Jesus shows you anything while we pray"

Simple responses when they share:

"That sounds beautiful! What do you think Jesus was showing you?"
"I'm so glad Jesus talks to you! He loves you so much."
"Let's thank Jesus for that special dream/picture."
"What did that make you feel about Jesus?"

Ages 7-11: Understanding and Development

This is the sweet spot for teaching biblical foundations while nurturing their natural receptivity.

What you can do:

Teach simple biblical examples: "Remember when God spoke to Samuel when he was young like you?"
Create a "God Pictures" journal where they can draw or write what they see during prayer
Practice together: "Let's both ask God to show us something and see what happens"
Introduce gentle discernment: "When God shows us things, they always make us feel loved and closer to Jesus"
Share age-appropriate stories of how God speaks through seeing in Scripture

Family Activities:

Bible scene visualization: Read a story and ask, "What do you see in this story?"
Worship art time: Play worship music and let them draw what they see or feel
Prayer walking: Ask God to show your family how to pray for your neighborhood
Creation observation: Look for "God's fingerprints" in nature together

Ages 12-18: Deeper Training and Discipleship

Teenagers can handle more theological depth while still maintaining wonder and receptivity.

What you can do:

Study biblical examples together: Joseph, Daniel, Ezekiel, John's Revelation
Discuss discernment principles: How to test what they're receiving against Scripture
Encourage spiritual journaling with both written and artistic elements
Create safe spaces for sharing without judgment or adult interpretation
Connect them with godly mentors who understand prophetic gifts

Teen-Friendly Approaches:

"God speaks in dreams and visions—let's explore what the Bible says about this"
Art and creativity as spiritual expression (prophetic art, worship through creativity)
Mission trip preparation through prayer and seeking God's heart for others
Future and calling exploration through prayer and spiritual sight
Peer group discussions about hearing God's voice in age-appropriate settings

Common Parental Fears (And Why They're Usually Unfounded)

"What if they're just making it up?"

Here's the truth: Children actually struggle more with lying about boring things than exciting spiritual experiences. When a child consistently shares spiritual experiences with genuine emotion and detail, they're usually not lying.

More importantly: Even if some of it is imagination, responding with love and interest creates an environment where real spiritual experiences can flourish.

"What if it's not from God?"

This is wise discernment, not fearful control. Teach your children simple tests:

Does it make you feel loved by Jesus?
Does it make you want to be closer to God?
Does it match what we know about God from the Bible?
Does it bring peace or fear?

Children who learn these principles early become discerning adults.

"What if other people think we're weird?"

Remember: Jesus was considered "weird" by religious leaders of His day. Your job isn't to make your child fit into a box that religious culture creates—it's to help them develop an authentic relationship with God.

Focus on:

What God thinks rather than what people think
Building your child's confidence in hearing from God
Creating home as a safe space for spiritual growth
Finding like-minded community that celebrates rather than suppresses spiritual gifts

"What if they become spiritually prideful?"

This is actually easy to prevent:

Always point back to Jesus as the source of any spiritual experience
Emphasize relationship over manifestation ("God loves talking with you!")
Teach humility and service as natural fruits of hearing from God
Model excitement about God speaking without making it about the child being "special"

Practical Family Practices That Work

Weekly "God Sightings" Dinner Conversations

Every week, go around the table and share:

"Where did you see God this week?"
"What did God show you in creation?"
"Any interesting dreams to share?"
"How did you see God's love in our family?"

Monthly Family "Listening Prayers"

Once a month, spend 15-20 minutes in family prayer where everyone:

Asks God questions and shares what they sense
Prays for each family member and shares any pictures or impressions
Seeks God's heart for friends, neighbors, or situations
Thanks God for the ways He's been speaking

Bedtime "Dream Invitations"

Make it normal to pray before sleep:

"Jesus, if You want to visit [child] in dreams, we welcome You!"
"Help [child] remember anything special You want to show them."
"Thank You for loving [child] even while they sleep."

Creation-Based Spiritual Formation

Regular activities that combine nature with spiritual sight:

"God's Art Gallery" walks looking for beauty that reflects His character
Weather worship ("What is God saying through this storm/sunshine?")
Garden prayers asking God to show growth in your family like He grows plants
Star-gazing conversations about God's bigness and love

What Success Looks Like

You'll know you're succeeding when your children:

Feel safe sharing spiritual experiences without fear of judgment
Naturally turn to prayer when facing decisions or problems
See God's love and character in everyday circumstances
Want to grow closer to Jesus rather than feeling forced into spirituality
Show fruits of the Spirit as natural outcomes of their relationship with God
Become confident in hearing God's voice for themselves

Remember: The goal isn't to raise "super-spiritual" children—it's to help them develop authentic, personal relationships with God that will sustain them for life.

When to Seek Additional Guidance

Reach out to mature spiritual mentors if:

Your child experiences spiritual manifestations that cause fear or distress
The experiences don't align with the biblical character and nature of God
Your child becomes spiritually prideful or manipulative about their experiences
You feel overwhelmed or unprepared to guide them
Your child expresses interest in spiritual exploration outside of biblical boundaries

Remember: Seeking wisdom is not a sign of failure—it's good parenting.

The Generation God is Raising

Here's something beautiful to consider: God might be preparing to speak to this generation of children in unprecedented ways. Joel 2:28 promises that God will pour out His Spirit on "all people" and that "your sons and daughters will prophesy."

What if your child is part of a generation that will naturally hear God's voice and see His kingdom in ways previous generations only dreamed of?

What if, instead of fearing their spiritual sensitivity, you're meant to nurture it into something beautiful that serves God's purposes for their lifetime?

Your role isn't to control or limit their spiritual experiences—it's to provide biblical foundation, loving guidance, and a safe environment for them to grow into the fullness of their calling.

Start Tonight

If you have children and you've been hesitant about nurturing their spiritual sight, start simple tonight:

At bedtime, ask: "Did you see anything beautiful today that reminded you of God?"
Before sleep, pray: "Jesus, we invite You to speak to [child's name] in any way You choose."
In the morning, ask: "Any special dreams last night?"
During the day, point out: "Look how God painted that sky! What do you think He's saying through those colors?"