Disciplines
Posted in Daily Focus on Wednesday, January 8, 2014
"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes" (Psalm 119:71).
Mopping the kitchen floor and washing dishes have always been my two least favorite jobs. Because of the obvious health hazard and the fact we needed to reuse them, I daily set my mind to rid the kitchen counters of the accumulated piles of dishes. However, procrastination would set in when the time came to mop the kitchen floor, especially during the snowy days of winter. I justified my laziness with the demands of homeschooling and counteracted with vacuuming daily and passing the "take your shoes off at the door" law. Unfortunately, even this new rule failed to eliminate the need for a daily or even semi-daily mopping of footprints and sticky patches from spilled food. If the teaching role had been reversed and my young children had graded me on this task, I definitely would have received an "F."
My laziness and procrastination affected other areas of my life as well. Scripture memory was incorporated into my children's Bible curriculum, but disciplining myself to "hide God's Word in my heart" was an area in which I was sorely lacking. Again, I justified myself by saying, "I make time for daily prayer, Bible study, and devotions. I can't do everything. As a homeschooling mom, there isn't time!" However, God simply didn't give me an "F" in Scripture memorization and leave me alone. He challenged me with His truth in Psalm 119:99-104 and led me to a topical system of memorizing His Word. I soon discovered the blessing of really knowing God's Word and its power to change my life and others. In fact, He even showed me how to memorize Bible verses easily — by combining mopping and Scripture memory at the same time!
When was the last time you memorized a Bible verse? You'll never start if you don't make a lesson plan for yourself. Why not find an accountability partner (maybe your own child) to memorize Scriptures with and discover the strength of God's Word in your heart and mind? "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Lord, please forgive my laziness in handling Your Word. Teach me again to love Your Word and meditate on its truths. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(13 comments)
STACY M 01/08/2009 06:16:54
thanks, i think most of the time you are "reading my mail". love the daily focus.
Lord bless in Jesus name,
Stacy
Holley H 01/08/2010 11:47:15
Ouch! This one really hurt because it is so true to my very own life. I have not been as disciplined as I should about hiding His words in my heart. Thank you for the gentle reminder and challenge.
Holley
STEPHANIE Z 01/09/2010 08:53:56
My son and I have been "partnering" together to memorize a verse a week. I choose the verse that most "speaks" to me during my daily time in the word. We memorize and review one verse a week together over breakfast! He loves challenging "mom' to learn. It's been a blessing to our relationship too. Its also a real motivator for me to hear him recognize one of 'our' verses when he hears it read somewhere. The coolest thing of all is he will always have a fond association with those particular verses for the rest of his life...me too! This is one example of the many reasons the Lord tells us to write His word on our hearts, His word has truly strengthened my relationship with my son.
Stephanie Zuck
JOHN & REBECCA B 01/08/2011 04:37:04
Our daughter memorizes scripture from Bible lessons after writing them onto index cards and I in turn learn them also from her reciting all of them. What a joy the scriptures & our daughter are to me..truly a memory to behold!!!
DEANNE M 01/08/2011 06:28:11
This really is me. You have me peg. Please pray that I'll want to mop my floor and most of all learn scripture to hide in my heart. Thanks for this very important reminder.
Blessings,
Deanne
ERICA G 01/08/2011 08:19:17
An easy way to get started is to get a "verse a day" peel off calendar, just keep it in front of the sink and when you know it, no matter HOW many days it takes, peel it off and tuck in your your "success" envelope! Watch how fast your "arsenal" grows!
DENISE L 01/08/2011 11:23:43
Thank you!
ELIZABETH N 01/08/2011 16:07:44
My husband and I were talking about this just this morning before I read the devotional. What a confitmation!!!
Kathy M 01/15/2011 16:56:32
I teach Sunday School as well as home school, and God has been showing me to make verses into songs. I teach them to my Sunday school classes, and I find myself singing them everywhere. It really is a great way to learn. I have over 40 Bible verse songs now, and my own kids know them too, becuase they have heard me singing them. It is so important to learn verses too, because Jesus showed us when he was tempted in the wilderness that we need to quote scripture to combat the devil. How can you fight the devil, if you do not know God's word.
Kathy
DEENA A 03/22/2011 05:48:13
Can someone tell me more about this "topical memory system" that was used?
I have been dreading spending this summer trying to motivate one of my high school daughters to brush up on her Algebra. I know it's a difficult subject for her, and neither of us wants to do this. So I prayed for God to show me a way that would help both of us have a better attitude. After reading this devotional, I am wondering if I should also take on extra studying too. She can challenge and grade me on Scripture memorization while I challenge and grade her on Algebra!
We'll see who makes the best grades...
JANET T 03/22/2011 06:07:22
Deena - This is the topical memory system that was referred to in this devotional. I hope it blesses your family as it did ours. ^ Janet http://www.navpress.com/product/9781576839973/
MARIA M 01/08/2013 04:18:39
God just used your devo to confirm Pastor Luter\'s message given last night ! I will get busy! We will be victorious! Thanks!
01/15/2013 08:05:38
Awesome idea! I\'ve been looking for a way my daughter and I can bond with God\'s Word.