A couple weeks ago we talked about how to apply Scripture to the daily circumstances of our lives. It’s obvious, but difficult. Now these next four are a bit easier:
1. Begin and end the day with prayer. Begin meals with prayer. Punctuate your day with prayer. Ask God for help with big and little problems, and include your children. Every time we turn to God in prayer, we are re-orienting our children and ourselves to His commands. It points our eyes to Him as the source of all good things, and as a God who is both all-powerful, yet intimately acquainted with our daily needs. Pray as a family when you begin a road trip. Pray with your child after disciplining him. Our days should be punctuated with prayer, and when it automatically precedes or follows certain activities, it’s easy to remember. It becomes a part of our rhythm.
2. Keep a handful of verses in your back pocket (literally, if needed) to address issues you encounter on a daily and hourly basis. There are some verses we have to return to time and time again.
-If your child struggles to control his emotions as mine does, Proverbs 25:28 is his verse: “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit.”
-If your child struggles with pride, Proverbs 26:12 is for him: “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
-Is your child fearful? Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
-Lazy? Proverbs 26:14 “As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.” These are just a very few examples, but there are hundreds more.
3. Here’s one that can be easy to forget: use Biblical vocabulary. Does your child need punishing? No, he needs discipline. He needs correction. Is your child strong-willed? No, he lacks self-control. Is your child exaggerating? No, he’s lying. Did someone have an affair? No, they commit adultery. Does it make you happy to see your kids playing nicely together? Yes, but even more than that, it brings you joy. When we use the words God used, it reminds us not to diminish sin, or the blessings of God.
4. And last but not least: Sing Scripture. Of course since I’m writing here at Warhorn, I’ll feel free to put in a plug for My Soul Among Lions, our own musicians working to put each of the psalms to music. My kids love these albums and sing along. Seeds Family Worship is another great resource for Bible verses set to music in a kid-friendly style. Hymns are full of Scripture, too. Pick a few favorites to sing together as a family before bed or in the car.
As we discussed last week, beginning these habits can feel forced or unnatural at first, but most things worth doing feel that way until they’re habit. Let’s commit ourselves as mothers to making Scripture a more ready resource in our lives and homes.
More Resources:
Abigail Dodds recently wrote about how our kids are steeped in Scripture by sitting through a worship service–even when it seems like they’re not paying attention at all.
Our very own Sound of Sanity crew discusses some apps for memorizing Scripture. I’m trying to do more Scripture memory as an adult (it isn’t just for kids in Awana, right?) because steeping my kids in Scripture begins with steeping myself in Scripture. I love the Verses app.
Seeds Family Worship is a great resource for kid-friendly songs that are straight from Scripture.
And let’s not forget our own My Soul Among Lions project–the Psalms put to our kind of music. My kids love these albums, and there is a third one coming out soon.
