Article written by Hannah Holbrook
With fall quickly approaching, parents will soon be sending their little ones back to school. Your child may be advancing to a new grade or even going to class for the first time! It is an exciting time, yet it can sometimes be difficult for parents. Wanting to make sure that your child is making friends and learning is natural. However, this fall, don’t let worry rob you of your peace. While you can’t be with your little ones 24/7, God can. One tool you can teach your children to utilize is Scripture. When you help your child memorize Bible verses, you ensure that they carry God’s Word with them wherever they go. In doing this, when your kids find themselves in difficult situations at school, they can lean on God’s promises.
One of the greatest gifts you could ever give your child is the desire to know the Word of God. Nothing else can give them what the Bible can give them. Developing a culture of memorization within your household creates great habits with eternal benefits. The earlier you establish a habit, the more likely it is to stick. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Teaching your kids the value of knowing and memorizing passages from the Bible can lead to a lifetime of learning and studying God’s Word.
With the school year upon us, you may be wondering how to incorporate scripture memorization into you and your child’s busy schedules. Allow me to share with you a few Bible memory tips.
[Tip 1] Provide a visual aid to reinforce the general idea of the Bible verse
Make some fun note cards or poster boards with the verse your child is trying to memorize. If you use pictures to illustrate various words, your child will be more likely to remember them. Put them on the refrigerator or bathroom mirrors at home so that your child can see them throughout the day.
[Tip 2] Allow your children to see YOU memorizing the Bible verse
As parents, the level of influence you have on the lives of your kids cannot be explained. Parents are the strongest and most present examples in the lives of their little ones. What your children see you doing and prioritizing deeply impacts the choices they make. Observing you trying to fill yourself up with the Word, causes them to desire the same thing! When you give your child a memory verse, memorize it with them and have them quiz you on it!
[Tip 3] Help your children have repeated exposure to the Bible verse they are memorizing
The more exposure your child has to their memory verse, the faster they will retain it. Try and get creative with the ways that you sneak scriptures into their days. Slip a card into their lunch boxes with the verse written on it. They can look over it at lunch and share it with their friends. You can also laminate a verse card and attach it with a hole punch and string onto their backpacks. Every time your kids wear their backpacks, they will be exposed to the verse. They can familiarize themselves with the verse while they are waiting in line at school or riding on the school bus.
[Tip 4] Never forget to pray that your child not only successfully memorizes each verse, but that he/she also understands it and applies it to his/her life
The goal of verse memorization is not for your child to repeat a bunch of memorized phrases. The purpose of memorizing scripture is to establish within your kids the desire to grow closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.
How to Help Your Child Memorize the Word
Children, obey your parents in all things. This pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20
You are young, but dont let any person treat you like you are not important. Be an example to show the believers how they should live. 1 Timothy 4:12
Be careful. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage and be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32
But the Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that can say these things are wrong. Galatians 5:22-23
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