If God is not first in our thoughts in the morning, he will be last in our thoughts all day.

Amish Proverb

Five-year-old Laura is just learning to read. Early one summer morning, Laura woke before everyone else. Her grandmother found her sitting on the couch beside her three-year-old brother, Marcus, with a Bible open on her lap, trying to read from the book of Ezekiel. She was warning her wide-eyed little brother about living creatures and wheels with faces . . . things far beyond their comprehension. But one thing Laura does understand—the day begins with time spent with God’s Word.

To the Amish, the wheel of life spins around faith. There’s a reason they dress Plain and live simply—to honor God. Amish children like Laura and Marcus grow up with daily Bible readings, prayer, regular church, schooling that affirms the home’s beliefs, and a community that upholds God’s ways. Something as simple as grace before a meal is part of the tapestry that weaves an Amish life. “We pray before and after every meal,” said Old Order Amish bishop Daniel Miller. “The children know when the meal is over, because of that prayer. We give thanks, then we return thanks. We have a Bible reading every morning. Each evening, we ask God’s forgiveness for any sins we might have committed during the day. It builds in ready confession. And it adds structure to our lives.”

Bookending a day in prayer was how Daniel was raised. “I remember my grandfather offering a memorized prayer, but we have silent prayer.”

Bibles, said Erik Wesner, author of Success Made Simple, are ever-present in Amish homes. “When I visit Amish friends, a daily morning reading after breakfast was and is the norm. I’ve often discussed Bible stories, people, and ideas with Amish people, outside of church.” But it isn’t just an academic activity for the Amish; real faith involves doing. Living by example is the backbone of Amish tradition.

As minister Henry Glick said, “I think of the Bible as a handbook for everyday life. It addresses everything we need to know about how to live, either directly in words or indirectly through example.” Everything the Amish do, from chores at home to weddings and funerals, is carried out in a way that shows the young people how it’s done—including faith.

There is a saying among them: “People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.” Whatever the Amish teach their children, they back up with their actions. “There’s no point in knowing God’s Word if you don’t walk God’s Word,” Henry said.

The Amish know they are being observed—by their children, by neighbors, by the world. Even little Laura has a younger sibling watching her: Marcus, a three-year-old who has already been introduced to the book of Ezekiel.