“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.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 6:4-9)
Each January we have the opportunity to join with families in dedicating their children to the Lord, promising to raise them to know Jesus as a church and within each family. One of my favorite parts of this time is giving them the above verse in a frame. We are aware at Northstar that we have very little time each week to make an impact on the children God has entrusted us with. Although we take very seriously the time we do have and try to make it one of the best times of the child’s week, the bulk of a child’s view of God will come from their home.
This verse is a great reminder of how we can teach our children about God in our every day lives at home.
Talk about them when you sit at home
When you are sitting at home, take time to pray before meals. Talk to your kids about what you are doing when you have your quiet time, reading your Bible and praying. If your child is in the Blossoms (Preschool) or Jumpstart (Elementary) classes they have memory verses each month. Talk about these verses and what they mean. The Boulter family at Northstar has a great, simple way of remembering to do this. They tape their memory verses on the wall of their dining room, where they eat meals multiple times a day.
When you walk along the road
We don’t do a lot of walking from place to place, but we do a lot of driving. If your child goes to preschool or elementary school take time to pray in the car before school for their day or pray anytime you’re in the car! Listen to Christian radio or Christian music in your car. Some great places to look for kids’ music are Bethel Music Kids, Hillsong Kids, Yancy and Little Praise Party, and Amber Sky Records.
When you lie down
Bedtime can be one of the best times to really hear about what’s going on with your kids and to pray together. If you need a place to start, you could ask your child to name one thing they are thankful for, one person to pray for and something they want to pray for themselves. If they are hesitant to pray, you can pray for them.
When you get up
The morning can be one of the most hectic times of the day as you get everyone ready, fed, dressed and out the door. This is a great time though to encourage your kids and be a cheerleader for them. Remind them while they are heading out that God never leaves them and is with them all day long.
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.
One great way to be reminded of God’s word is to have verses hanging up in your house, whether it’s art or simply a verse taped to your mirror. Having these reminders throughout the day helps us as parents as well as our kids to know that God’s Word is important every day of our lives.
As we head into another baby dedication coming up this month, this verse is a great reminder whether you are dedicating a baby or not, that our church family along with each individual family can come together to encourage children to walk with God daily.