A Wife Loved Like The Church

I am super excited to have Rosann guest posting for me today. Her blog, ChristianSuperMom, is one of my favorites. She is constantly challenging me to remember what Christ has done for me and wants to do through me. I am certain you will love her as much as I do! 

A few months ago, a good friend and I decided to challenge ourselves.  The challenge was to memorize Psalm 91 in its entirety and be sort of an accountability partner to make sure we each did in fact memorize it.  Psalm 91 has always had powerful and personal meaning to me, so when I finally had it memorized {three weeks later} I felt ecstatic.

Since then my plans and busy schedule have sort of gotten in the way of continuing my scripture memorization journey.  I have good intentions.  Don’t we all?  But my intentions haven’t had the desired effect of a brain filled with scripture.  Thankfully, God’s agenda is much greater than my own.  And He’s always finding ways to challenge me, not only for my own spiritual growth but for my children as well.

Lately, my six year old has been coming home from Sunday school and church youth club with parent notes indicating various scriptures the children are working to memorize.  My mission, as the letters point out, is to help my daughter memorize these specific verses.

But there are so many to learn and she has other activities and responsibilities to tend to as well {aside from having time to just be a kid}.  There’s daily homework for school.  Chores. Gymnastics.  Girl Scouts and the various fundraiser work necessary with being a Daisy.

It’s almost too much to deal with some days.  Well, for me at least…since I’m the master planner and organizer of our family schedule.  But as I’ve spent time praying and meditating over how best to accomplish this calling God keeps taking me to the words of Proverbs 22:6…

Train up a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Setting an example through our own knowledge of God’s word, while encouraging our children to memorize scripture really needs to be a priority.  I mean, what Christian parent wouldn’t want their children to have God’s word stamped on their hearts?

There are definitely awesome benefits to memorizing scripture!

• When we know God’s word, we make better choices for our life because His word gives us wisdom.
• When we understand who God is, we are inspired to emulate His character.
• When we face painful trials, God’s word is our source of comfort and peace.
• When we have scripture memorized, our prayers become more powerful as we pray God’s word back to Him.

So what can we do to help our children learn and memorize God’s word?

We can start by praying for God’s wisdom and guidance, while also praying for our children to embrace His truth into their heart.  Then we need to put together a plan of action.

Here are a few things I’m implementing in our home as part of our plan of action.  What excites me about this plan is that my children aren’t forced to learn a bunch of complicated words alone.  Instead, it’s a family event where each of us will gain the benefit of knowing God and His word better.

Memorize Together.  Turn it into a fun family challenge and encourage one another.  Hold each other accountable.  Have a contest to see who can memorize the selected scripture first.  Allow each family member to choose the reward they will get if they win the challenge.

Study The Scripture Together For Understanding.  Scripture isn’t always easy to understand the first, second, or even the tenth time we read it.  If our children don’t understand it, memorizing it will hold very little meaning or worth.   Have a family scripture study time.  Read, dissect, discuss, and apply it to your child’s daily experiences.  This will go a long way in helping them remember the verse.  Have your child draw a picture of what the scripture means to them.  Then have them write the scripture into their masterpiece and hang it in a special place.

Post Scripture Throughout The House.  Deuteronomy 6:9 tells us to “write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,” so do just that!   Get creative if you like.  Use pretty cardstock or simply hand write it on a piece of scratch paper.  Then tape it to various places within the home where family members are most likely to see it…on the bathroom mirror…the refrigerator door…the coat closet.  You get the picture.  {I’ve also heard of using a dry erase marker on the bathroom mirror, but I’ve not personally tried this method.}

Include It With Daily Homework.  Keep a homework file handy at home.  Place all To Do assignments your child has for the school week within the folder.  Include the scripture needing memorized.  During daily homework time, have your child read the scripture multiple times.  For new readers this will broaden their reading skills and repetition is a great memorization method.  Writing the scripture multiple times will also speed up the memorization process, but this may be viewed more as punishment than something enjoyable.

There are so many ways to assist your child with memorizing scripture…and reap the benefits yourself!  Just be sure to keep at it, lovingly encourage your child, and provide the best learning platform there is – your example.  Who knows…one day you might be pleasantly surprised to witness your child encouraging one of their peers through God’s word.

Rosann is currently residing in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, Mark, and their daughters, Faith and Abigail.  After spending more than 15 years working in the auto finance industry, she now enjoys life as a stay-at-home mom.  Writing for her blog ChristianSuperMom, Rosann has a strong desire to glorify God while sharing the heart of her journey through a life of faith.

{photo credit}