Can a Mobile Game Teach Your Kids to Praise God?

Can a fun bubble-shooter mobile game actually teach children--and even adults--to praise God? Can a game actually help to solve the lost art of praise in Christian families?

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What Does It Mean to Praise God?

To praise God means to honor, adore, and glorify Him for who He is and what He has done. Though it can be silent, it's often a verbal acknowledgement of His greatness, goodness, love, mercy, and power, a deep, heartfelt response to God's divine nature and works. Christians express praise through worship, songs, prayers, and actions that reflect their love and reverence for Him. In essence, praising God is a way to give back to Him a portion of the glory that He deserves, acknowledging His greatness.

Why Is Praising God Important for Christians?

Praising God is a fundamental aspect of Christian faith and practice, but among many churches and families, it's become a rarity. Many of our prayers skip over praise to get to other stuff--petition and intercession. But praise helps believers maintain a proper perspective of who God is and align their hearts with the truth of God's greatness and their own need of Him. When we praise God, we recognize that He is at the center of the universe, not us.

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Praise is also an act of obedience. The Bible repeatedly commands believers to praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6, Hebrews 13:15), and such obedience deepens our relationship with God. It's also a way of sharing God’s love with others, as it often invites others to witness God's power and glory, whether through corporate worship or personal testimonies.

Praise does even more. It brings joy and peace to the human heart, as we realize, even in the midst of life's challenges, that God is powerful, He is in control, and He loves us and is at work in and around us. Such realizations or reinforcements lift the spirit, provide comfort, and give hope, whatever our circumstances may be.

Why Is Praising God So Hard for Us?

Still, many people find it hard to praise God. Stress, disappointment, and depression can prompt a focus on our problems instead of God's goodness. Sometimes, when we face severe struggles, grief, or hardship, praise can feel nearly impossible.

The multitudinous distractions of modern life—work, family, technology, and the pressures of daily routines—can also make it hard to focus on God. Praise requires intentionality, time, and a heart that is attuned to the presence of God, and the pressures of the modern world make such things hard to achieve.

Finally, many modern Christians--of all ages--have never been taught why or how to praise God. In some traditions, hymns of praise have been replaced with more person worship songs, that focus more on the singer's emotions than on God's attributes. Corporate prayers of praise have largely disappeared from all but the most liturgical traditions. And, while children may still be taught to say grace at meals and prayers at bedtime, family worship that includes praise has become a rarity.

How Can Parents Help Their Children Learn to Praise God?

For these reasons, parents play a more crucial role than ever in teaching their children to praise God. They can do this by modeling lives of praise themselves. Children often learn by watching their parents, so when parents demonstrate hearts of gratitude and worship, children are more likely to follow suit. Talking about God’s greatness, singing praise-filled worship songs together, and praying as a family are tangible ways parents can lead their children in praise.

Another helpful practice is to involve children in worship. Letting them participate in church services, sing songs, and engage in age-appropriate Bible studies or devotions can build an understanding of why praise matters. Parents can also encourage their children to express praise creatively, such as through drawing, dancing, or writing.

Finally, parents can cultivate a habit of praise at home by thanking God for His provisions, whether big or small. Regularly acknowledging God’s goodness in everyday moments can instill a sense of gratitude and reverence in children. Parents can encourage children to pray prayers of thanksgiving and praise, teaching them that praising God is a vital part of their relationship with Him.

How TruPlay's ChirpSong Game Can Teach Children and Families to Praise

One other way to foster a spirit of praise in your kids–and yourself!--is through play, believe it or not. The creative minds involved in the TruPlay Games’ mobile app designed one of their games on the platform for the specific purpose of depicting praise and encouraging it…while playing a game! ChirpSong: Wings of Praise is a charming bubble shooter game that reveals the restorative power of praise as players free the colorful and varied "Chirps" in the Forest of Words from corrupting influences!

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ChirpSong is just one of many games available onthe TruPlay mobile app—a platform of multiple games, comics, and videos sometimes referred to as “the Netflix of Christian mobile games for children.” The app’s selection of games, comics, and videos includes Bible stories, Christian themes and values, and countless hours of engaging fun for children, youth, and adults.

TruPlay's website (TruPlayGames.com) clearly details the app's offerings, and free downloads and trials are available in both the Apple App Store and GooglePlay. Explore the following links to unlock a safer gaming experience for your kids:

● https://www.truplaygames.com/games-more

● https://www.truplaygames.com/user-registration

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