Preparing Yourself and Your Child, by Amy Joy

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."  Deuteronomy 6:6-9.  

This passage has been a key part of how we are raising our children and live our lives.  I try to take advantage of every opportunity that I can to talk about God, His Word, and His ways.

I was recently feeling badly that I have not been good about teaching my children a second language as I had always wanted to.  My husband is much better about it than I am.  Then, it occurred to me.  I am teaching them the most important language to know.  The language of God's Word.  

For several years, we have been in the habit of reading a passage after dinner, then each child reciting or learning a new scripture, and each child choosing a spiritual song for us to sing.  Over a year ago, I decided to add to that by using our time during lunch to memorize more scriptures. After they have a verse or passage memorized well, we move on to another one.  I am keeping track of what we have memorized so that we can make sure to go back over them from time to time.

 
Recently, my five year old said that we should start doing the Bible more, and he suggested doing it at breakfast, too.  So, that has become our new habit.  We've also started picking a song that relates to each scripture to sing along with it.  They are really enjoying it.  They are the ones to remind me if I haven't started going over the scriptures yet.

There are so many good reasons to memorize scriptures.  When we know God's Word, we are armed with the "sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17).  It also produces faith (Romans 10:17).  I explain to my children that this will help them in times when they are not able to read the written Word of God.  Only one out of my four children who are learning the scriptures is able to read.

When they're older (God willing) and they're on the job, or raising a family, or perhaps Bibles will be illegal then, they will be able to call to mind passages from God's Word to help them in whatever situation they're in.  I encourage you to equip yourself and your children by hiding His Word in your hearts (Psalm 119:11).

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