Question:  Right after a child prays a salvation prayer, what should I say to help him with assurance?   

Important:    Ask the child a question rather than making a statement like "Now you're saved!"

          You may feel you have the green light to go ahead and tell the child he is saved because you heard him pray, but . . .

          You must use caution, even when a child seems sincere.

          Stop and think! You cannot know what actually took place in the child's heart.

The question to ask:

          "What did God just do for you?"

The child may answer, "He took away my sin!"    or "I don't know!"  or an unending list of unpredictable things because kids are kids and you never know what they will say.            

However the child responds, show him a condition / promise verse in the Bible, preferably the same one you showed him before he prayed. (Click here if you need to review the use of condition / promise verses, and scroll down to the first Bible picture.)

This time, insert the child's name in the verse. 

Here's how to do that:

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

(Click here to see how to personalize the verse.)

After you read the verse for the child with his name inserted, ask two more questions:

"Did you tell God you believe in Him?"

"Then what did God say He would do?

Now the child is receiving assurance from God's Word.

Here's another example:

Acts 16:31 says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

(Click here and personalize this verse with your name.)

Personalizing a condition / promise verse should help you as well as the children you lead to Christ. Romans 10:13 and John 1:12 also are excellent condition / promise verses, easy to personalize to assist a child (or anyone) with assurance of salvation.

    Children really can know for sure they are saved, and they may surprise you with the way they express their assurance. In our Good News Club^® we were talking about Heaven. We mentioned that the Lamb's Book of Life would be there and asked if anyone remembered what that is.
    Alex stated, "It's a special book where God writes our names when we ask Jesus to take away our sins and He writes our names in permanent marker."
    Later that same club hour, two boys responded to the salvation invitation. After asking questions to check their understanding of the message of salvation and listening to them pray, we asked, "What did God just do for you?"
    One of the boys immediately responded, "He wrote our names in that special book with a permanent marker!" Amen!

Once the child has given a clear answer to the question, "What did God just do for you?" and you have personalized a verse for him, ask the child if he would like to thank God for what He just did for him. Saying thanks! acknowledges a gift has been received. 

It also helps to tell the child about a five-word promise tucked in Hebrews 13:5 where God says, ". . . I will never leave thee . . ." The child can hold up one hand, start pointing to his little finger, and say one of those words for each finger. "Thee" will be his thumb. He can say his own name in place of "thee" and point his thumb toward himself. Stop and try this, inserting your own name. What a wonderful promise!

If possible, give the child a salvation tract to keep and remember the decision he has made. "First Steps" by CEF Press^® is our favorite.

NOTE: If a child in your class responds to a salvation invitation and you lead him to Christ, we do not suggest that you hand him a new Bible. Why? Because he will show his friends and the next week all of them will respond to your invitation - not because they want to receive Christ, but to get a new Bible.

A summary of the steps to follow:

        Ask the child, "What did God just do for you?"

        Insert his name in a condition / promise verse.

        Encourage him to pray a thank-you prayer.

        Use his hand to help him remember God says, "I will never leave thee."

        Give him a salvation tract to help him remember his decision.

You will be able to continue discipling most of the children you lead to Lord. But a child could be a visitor in your class, or you may be involved in an outreach where you have a one-time contact with lots of children and some of them come to Christ. If you have time add the following steps to help a child:

Explain that:

        God gives us the power to do what is right (Philippians 2:13).

         Sin breaks our fellowship with God (1 John 1:9).

        God wants us to grow as Christians (2 Peter 3:18).

                G o to Sunday school and church

                R ead your Bible and pray

                O bey God

                W itness - Tell others about Jesus

        Enroll the child in the CEF Mailbox Club™.

Vanessa was a visitor in club. After a couple of weeks she called on the Lord to save her. The next week we were discussing the question, "What is a Christian?" We used the definition, "A Christian is someone who believes in Jesus and asks Him to take their sins away and save them." Vanessa looked right at us, smiled, and said, "That's me!" We only saw her a couple of times after that. We rejoice that one day we'll see her again.

Regardless of what age a person comes to Christ, the enemy loves to cause him to doubt his salvation. 

Personalize 1 John 5:13, putting your name in each blank: These things have I written unto ________ who believes on the name of the Son of God; that ________ may KNOW that _______ has eternal life ...

A child can KNOW that he has eternal life now and that no one can take that wonderful gift away from him - not ever.

Will you lead children to Christ and help them with these easy-to-take steps of assurance?

Where do you want to go next?

  To the index of questions and home page

  To the place for encouragement (changed each week)

  To try out what you have learned with a child you recently led to Christ. Oops! There's no button to push to get there. Just go and do it!