Hiding God’s Word in your Child’s Heart

As a homeschooler a common task we encounter each year throughout our homeschool is scripture memorization. The curriculum we use (and love) gently encourages scripture memorization alongside the thematic lessons throughout the year.

In past years, I would start off strong in helping my kids memorize scripture and then as the verses compiled it became more difficult to sustain and I would abandon that part of our curriculum altogether. They were also quite young which posed challenges of its own as well. My attitude was partially that of frustration and partially that of not thinking it was TOO important since they had Bible exposure elsewhere.

However, this past year the Lord has nudged me to really embrace the scripture memorization part of our homeschool and to make it the priority in our day (even if it means skipping Math because we spent too much time on Bible).

Here’s what the Holy Spirit has led me to see: Scripture memorization is not about checking a box off our Teacher’s Guide, it is about building a solid foundation of Truth for our kids to dwell in and on as they grow and mature. We want them to know TRUTH which comes through studying God’s word and memorizing it.

You might ask, why can’t we just study God’s word? Why is memorization so important?

That is a great question and one that I’ve asked myself for a long time (mostly because I wasn’t good at memorization and I didn’t want one more thing added to my kids’ school to-do list). If we take the time to look through scripture we can find many reasons why it’s important. Here are a few I have observed by studying God’s word and observing what is happening in the world.

1.So we don’t sin

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

Actually, all the verses from Psalm 119:9 through 16 really hone in on this point. By memorizing and reciting scripture, we are more readily able to align our lives with God’s word. We can stay on the path that God has planned for our lives. Don’t we want this for our kids too?

We can’t make decisions for them. But we can equip them with a solid foundation and teach them what scripture has to say about obeying God’s word.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Start Children off on the way they should go and even when they are old they will not stray from it.”

It is our jobs to put this foundation in place and give them direction at a young age.

2. So we can have discernment

This is more important now than ever. Scripture tells us that as the end times draw nearer false prophets are going to pop up and try deceive us like never before (See 2 Peter 2:1-3 below). Nobody knows the exact day or time, but we do know that every day is one day closer!

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
2 Peter 2:1-3

I don’t know about you, but I see TONS of false prophets coming out of the woodwork building HUGE platforms on Social Media reaching out to and teaching our children and teens. Growing their following by diluting and warping Biblical truth making it seem like Truth but when in reality, it’s not.

So what does scripture memorization have to do with this??

Well, a lot.

Our kids (and ourselves) need to be able to discern Truth from lies.

Let’s look at the part of the Bible when Jesus was being tempted by Satan. In every temptation, Satan took Truth and twisted it in an attempt to deceive Jesus. Just the way many are twisting Truth today in order to try and deceive the masses. Unfortunately we see it working and people falling into deception more and more everyday.

However, if we go back to that scene of Jesus being tempted by Satan we can look at his response and use at an example of how WE should respond. Jesus recited SCRIPTURE. He knows scripture (duh!) and used it to refute the lies that Satan was saying. He repeatedly responded with “It is written…” and then quoted whatever scripture that appropriately disproved Satan’s lies.

We need to equip our kids and ourselves with this same ability… and quite frankly, ourselves too! We need to be able to know the difference between what is REALLY TRUE and what is a twisted version of the truth (aka a big fat lie). We must be to confidently speak TRUTH boldly!

3. There may be a day we don’t have access to Bibles

How many Bibles are in your home? Maybe just couple or maybe like me you have a dozen or more. Bottom line is if you legally have a Bible in your home, you have a right that many many people across the globe do not have. Many countries are closed to the gospel and therefore it is illegal to have a Bible. Period.

There are many missionaries who make countless efforts to smuggle Bibles into these types of countries. Living in the US we take for granted our ability to have a Bible, even dozens of Bibles of many different colors, sizes and translations on our shelves.

Let me share an excerpt from a book I am reading right now that really puts it all into perspective:

“Years ago a dear friend was minstering in a country taht was closed to the gospel. He assisted in smuggling in Bibles and was meeting with some of the underground church leaders. At one meeting an elderly woman in her late seventies walked up to him and asked him for a Bible. He responded to her request by asking her if this Bible was for her or someone else. The reply back startled and surprised him. She said, “No, our village already has a Bible. This Bible is for the next village near us. I walked for three days to come to you to get this Bible for them.”

An excerpt from Guardians of Purity by Julie Hiramine

It is hard to fathom or believe a situation like this. A situation where we would be arrested or even put to death if found with a Bible. However, with the way things are going in the United States, that could be us one day! We don’t know.

I hate to even imagine that being the case, but in response, my heart wants to memorize scripture with my childre as diligently as I can!

Want to start memorizing scripture, but don’t know where to start?

Here is a quick video that shows one way that really helps my kids (and myself) memorize scripture. The first few minutes is my kids and I demonstrating our scripture memory system and the last few minutes is me summarizing why it’s important!

Enjoy and I hope you find it helpful!

Do you memorize scripture with your kids?? Comment below with what works best for you and your kids. I only shared one way that works for us, I would to love hear more ideas!

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