Day 26: Repetition
Lord, may my children never forget the lessons they have learned concerning Your love and Your commands. May these lessons prolong their lives and bring them prosperity. Write the message of love and faithfulness on the tablet of their hearts so they may win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:1-4 In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
One way to overcome forgetfulness is repetition.
Over and over and over
teach and review
and model and review
and talk about and review
and sing about and review the truths found in the Word of God.
For younger children, this can be achieved through scripture songs and games; for older children through conversations. One of the greatest blessings of my life right now started with the New Year. Inspired by my friend, Allen, my three oldest children and I set out to read through the Bible in 180 days. Okay, I admit, the challenge is supposed to be 90 days, but that was unrealistic for us, so we doubled the time. That means 8 chapters a day. We don’t take notes, or even try to study it. We just read. And boy, have we learned a lot! The Holy Spirit is pointing out things I have never seen before. And best of all, I am having great, adult conversations with my children! They are pointing out things that I never saw and we are discovering together that the Old Testament is Christ concealed, and the New Testament is Christ revealed.
Ever since my oldest child started school, I have sent them to school with a scriptures in their pocket. It started out as a handwritten note, but I soon got smart and typed out a LONG list of scriptures I wanted them to know and remember. I print out the scripture list, cut them into strips, and send a strip with each child, each day. I am sure there are some days they read them and some days they don’t. But at the very least, after many years of this daily routine, they understand the value of DAILY seeking God and His truth. And this daily routine reminds me of His Truth as well. I know and believe that His Word will not return void in their lives.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on 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 6:5-9
