“Mom, I need a new binder for school.”

“Mom, I really need some new foundation.”

“Mom, I need you to sign this permission form.”

“Mom, I need this shirt washed for tonight.”

“Mom, I need …”

For a while, I began to think my daughter thought my name was “Mom, I need.” If you have children, you can probably relate. Our kids understand need in a far different way than we do as parents. They make very little (if any) distinction between needing and wanting.

How can we teach our children to understand what they really need can’t be found at Target or on social media? How can we help them recognize their deepest need in life is Jesus?

Two of my favorite people in Scripture are Mary and Martha. You remember them, right? The sisters of Lazarus were close to Jesus. We see His interactions with them in multiple Gospels. Most women tend to relate to one of these sisters more than the others. Me? Oh, I’m a Martha. No doubt about it. I want to solve the problems, do the work and get the right answers.

But Mary knew something Martha didn’t – and it’s something I want to learn and live in myself. Mary knew what she really needed.

In the familiar story found in Luke 10, we read Jesus’ words to Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42 ESV).

One thing is necessary. Some translations say one thing is needed. Mary understood the good portion, the better choice – she recognized her deepest need wasn’t what she could do for Jesus but time spent with Jesus.

And, friend, that’s our deepest need too.

How do we help our daughters (and sons) understand this truth? How do we point them toward the reality that without a relationship with Jesus, nothing else really matters? I don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. But I do believe there are specific ways we can guide them toward this vital understanding.

We can share our own stories with them. Sharing our own faith journeys with our children. As we tell them of our need for Jesus and the way He has sustained us, we help them recognize the need they have as well.

We consistently point to Jesus when they face difficult seasons of their own. By faithfully leading our children to Jesus as the source of peace and comfort, we are laying a foundation of faith for the rest of their lives.

We pray for them to know their need for Him and seek Him above all. Praying for our children to know their deepest need is Jesus – that gives us the opportunity to sow into their spiritual growth. And this sort of prayer helps us remember, we as moms can never meet the deepest need in their lives – only Jesus can!

Praying for our children to know their deepest need is Jesus is one of most important ways we intercede for them. And it is a prayer we can pray with confidence and boldness, knowing God’s desire is for them to know Him and walk with Him for their whole lives.

How do you encourage your children to recognize Jesus as their deepest need?

Praying for our girls’ hearts to be pure and devoted to Christ is just one of the important topics covered in my new book, “Praying for Girls: Asking God for the Things They Need Most.”