Hiding His Word in Our Hearts.

For a long time, I have been wanting to do a structured program of scripture memory as a family. But, I don't want it to become drudgery, and it needed to be good for adults as well as young children. I want my kids to grow in their love for God and His Word, and to experience first-hand how the words of God from the Bible are powerful to change our hearts, our thoughts and our lives.

I ran across a little book by Mary Hunt entitled "My ABC Bible Verses." I like a lot of what this little book has to offer. I also have a set of ABC verse flashcards that a local Christian schools uses in their kindergarten curriculum. Combining these 2 resources, we are going to memorize 26 verses over the next year, each corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. This will be especially good for my son, as he is learning letter sounds and basic reading skills, but we will all benefit. The verses are simple, most of them are short, and they are the true golden nuggets of Scripture.

Today's verse, corresponding with "A" is on the chalkboard in our kitchen, and it will stay there all week as we practice it and talk about it's truth. Each week, I am going to make a tabbed "recipe card" for each of my kids, so that at the end of the 26 weeks, they will each have a set of these cards. We will keep them in a specially decorated tin handled box, so that they can refer back to the cards and maybe even someday teach them to their own children.

It is my prayer that when they are afraid, or feel lonely, or are hurt, that they would be able to find comfort and confidence in these words. Even when I or Matt can't be there to comfort and protect them, their Savior Jesus will always be there to meet their need, even before they ask. And truely, I need to be reminded of each of these verses daily in my walk with God, and sometimes I underestimate how powerful scripture memory is in helping us to transform our mind, and thus, our actions.

For those of you who might be interested in doing something like this with your own kids, here are the other verses we are planning:

A=A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17

B=Be kind and compassionate to one another. Ephesians 4:32

C=Create in me a pure heart, O God. Psalm 51:10

D=Delight yourself in the Lord. Psalm 37:4

E=Even a child is known by his actions. Proverbs 20:11

F=For God so loved the world, that He gave his only son. That whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

G=Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

H=Honor your father and your mother. Exodus 20:12

I=I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13

J=Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them. Luke 18:16

K=Keep your tongue from evil. Psalm 34:13

L=Let your light shine before men, so they see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16

M=My son, give me your heart. Proverbs 23:26

N=No one can serve two masters. Matthew 6:24

O=Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Psalm 118:1

P=Pray continually. I Thessalonians 5:17

Q=Quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15

R=Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exodus 20:8

S=Seek the Lord, while He may be found. Isaiah 55:6

T=Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Proverbs 3:5

U=Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks. Psalm 75:1

V=Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth in me will have everlasting life. John 6:47

W=When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3

X=Exalt the Lord our God. Psalm 99:5

Y=You are My Friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:14

Z=Zaccheus, come down! For I am going to your house today! Luke 19:5