Raising children can be very interesting, yes I know you want me to say it ‘It is challenging’ but honestly, what in life is not? You see the truth about challenges is that they are agents of change, sent to build us up and not discourage us.
Children are a blessing and like every other blessing, they need nurturing and care to remain a blessing. So it’s like this, they come to us a blessing, but what we do can change that. Hmmm. Let’s pause for a while and meditate on that.
You see, we can make them or mar them, so it is crucial that we, parents and guardians are intentional in raising them. We must ensure that we are not trying to sow a seed we want to quickly harvest but that we are willing to work with our hearts to care for the blessing or should I say “talent” that has been given to us.
So in this article, I will like us to look at the importance of raising children with scriptures. Here are a few reasons why you should teach your children the bible and let them memorise it.
- God says we should do so: It is a command and we ought to obey God and not ignore His command. Deuteronomy 6:6-8 in the Living Bible says And you must think constantly about these commandments I am giving you today. You must teach them to your children and talk about them when you are at home or out for a walk; at bedtime and the first thing in the morning. Tie them on your finger, wear them on your forehead,
- It keeps the word in their heart and provides an avenue for the life of God to grow in them. Jesus said in John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (NASB)
- It helps them to know the way to go; Isaiah 48:17 (The Message): “I am God, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well. I show you what to do, where to go.” and Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to guide My feet and a light for my path.” A time will come when you don’t have to help them make decisions because they will be able to make the right decisions as they Word abides in them.
- It draws them closer to God and away from sin and the world. Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” and 1 John 3:5-6 “You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.”
- It is the key to their success in life. Is it not funny how we spend so much time teaching our children academics, we even employ lesson teachers so they can be knowledgeable and successful abi? Are we practicing what we are preaching? See what God told Joshua is the key to success in life in Joshua 1:8 (NASB) This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. We need to revisit our schedules and that of our children. We need to give time to the right things. The Word needs to take first place in their lives for good.
Many times we mistake the assignment that God has given to us to be our own. It is good to own the work but it is not your work o! What does this mean? It means you should not take the glory. Always point it to God. It is when we begin to use the work to receive glory and praise and forget that it is not about us, that we begin to fall short and drift.
Teach your children to recite the bible so they can know God and build their relationship with God. They should not be learning their bible because they have to recite it in church, school, or for any form of gathering. Teach them the word behind closed doors. It is a private assignment given to you privately by God. And remember the God who sees in secret … It is not for others that they do it, they need to know they are doing it to edify themselves.
Also, teach them to use the bible verses to pray. It is funny that some parents don’t realize that their children’s prayer is very strong and effective. So much more than what they can imagine. So when you give them the scripture and teach them to also pray with it, you are equipping them to be soldiers of Christ as well as a force to be reckoned with by the world.
Fill them with the Word before the world even notices them, so when they begin to shine, they will be so full of the world that there will be no room for the world to come in and dwell.
So let’s be more intentional and yield ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit as we raise God’s children in our care!