Kimber shares a tool for your kids to map their identity in Christ.
We have a long car ride to and from school. Honestly, I treasure the time in the car. Not just because I can finish a whole podcast or blast my new favorite worship song on repeat.
The real reason I enjoy these car rides is the conversations that I get to have with my daughters. These daily conversations that start with the “what” of their days eventually lead to them exposing their hearts and their struggles.
Each of my girls faces different struggles. Yet, the root of each struggle is often the same – a question of their identity.
Someone said or did something that led to my daughters to question who they are. More often than not, I get to remind them of their God-given identity. Though they already know this, they can easily forget or, rather, believe the lies that shout over God’s truth.
We recently discovered a tool called mind mapping. Mind mapping is a tool to help my girls (and myself!) remember our identity in Christ when it is challenged by the world or even by our own flesh.
Mind mapping is a great tool for kids and adults of any age. I’ll teach you how to get started!
Note: Invite your child to practice mind mapping with you! As you read and write God’s truth together, it will deepen your bond. Go on this journey together!
Step 1: Write what you know about yourself.
Start with a blank sheet of paper.
Have your child write their name in the center of the paper. If they are not yet able to write their name, have them draw themself or anything that represents them in the center.
Draw a box or any kind of shape around the name/self-portrait.
Here is the fun part and, honestly, the most revealing part.
Ask your child to describe themselves.
– Start with physical features: hair color, eye color, and height.
– Then, descriptive features: favorite food, favorite subject, favorite activities.
– Then, character traits: kind, patient, generous, creative, etc.
Have your child write/draw each of these ideas all over the paper. (If drawing is hard, use stickers.)
Take your time here to flush out all the ways your child sees his/herself. You will be surprised by the depth of their thoughts, even your young kids.
Put a box/shape around each feature and draw a line to connect it to their name/self-portrait.
Look over the map together and discuss everything you see on the paper.
For an advanced step, you can draw lines to connect related things together, revealing their strengths. For example: many friends – kind friend – patient with others
Step 2: Identify Godly traits and replace any lies with truth
Open your Bibles together. Younger kids can open their Storybook Bibles or Children’s Bibles.
The goal of this step is to teach our kids to go to the Bible to find truth. So it is helpful for them to practice using their Bibles alongside you!
Tell your child that you are going to look in the Bible to find things that are true about them in every situation they wrote about, what is true no matter what.
For older kids, you can invite them into the search.
For younger kids, start with reading Genesis 2:26-27. Talk about how God created us in His image. Ask your child if they see any traits that reflect God. Highlight those traits in a new color. Use anything that will help you and your child clearly see how they are made in His image.
If your child needs some help, consider these passages:
Galatians 5:22-23– The Fruit of the Spirit
James 1:19-20– Quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry
2 Corinthians 9:7 – A cheerful giver
Romans 5:3-5 – Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.
Ephesians 4:1-3 – completely humble and gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love
Psalm 112:7 – No fear in bad news, steadfast hearts, trusting in the Lord
Step 3: Encourage your child to live out their identity in Christ
Now that you and your child uncovered their identity in Christ, you want to encourage them to step out and live fully in their God-given identity.
I like to read Psalm 18:16-19. These verses end with “He rescued me because He delighted in me.” How great that God chooses us! He wants us! He delights in us!
Look over the mind map again and point out all the traits God delights in over your child. Let them do the same with your paper! We are encouraged to live in our true identity because God loves us so much!
Step 4: Remind each other about your identity in Christ
Find a special spot to keep your mind map. Maybe it is in your child’s room, or maybe you all have your maps together in the living room.
Use these as visual reminders of what you know to be true. You can help encourage each other by pointing out these maps when you forget who you are. We will forget, and God is kind to us to remind us of His great love in creating us.
Keep adding to your mind map! As your child learns more about Jesus, they will learn more about how He created them. The same is true for you!
Kimber Thomson lives on a farm in Colorado with her husband and two daughters, and their many animals. For the past two decades, Kimber has been teaching kids about who they are in Christ as she learns right alongside them. She teaches fitness classes in her local community and leads online book studies as well as one on one coaching. You can find out more about her offerings here.
More resources about your identity in Christ:
One Response
I love this Kimber! Thank you
I’m going to try this with my teenage son, he’s experiencing some anxiety.