Thursday, December 5, 2013

A Parents Heart: Teach Diligently Deuteronomy 6:7

By Katie Zitelli
December's verse to mediate on is "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:7 ESV
  1. Print out the verse. Half Page or Full Page. (thanks to Katie Zitelli for the printable!)
  2. Post it where you will look at it often this next month. (such as refrigerator or bathroom mirror)
  3. Meditate on it.  In the Bible "to meditate" is to think on and to consider the verse.   It isn't a passive state of thinking, instead you literally “talk to yourself” about the verse. 
Teaching my children the Bible during everyday life, gives me a chance to teach my children how to live God's Word, not just have knowledge about it.  It is the essence of of practical teaching!  During everyday life all the "visuals" are already provided! 

When you think of the different activities that this encompasses, it is really exciting to think of all the teaching opportunities we have as parents.  This helps me to see even more the time I spend with my daughters as such a valuable treasure.
  • "sit in your house" - we sit together when eating meals, watching TV, reading books, playing games.  
  • "walk by the way" - going on hikes, walking in the neighborhood are both great chances to teach the Bible. 
  • "when you lie down" - putting children to bed is another time to teach the Bible as you review the day.
  • "when you rise" - starting the day is another awesome time to speak what the Bible says. 

When looking at this verse from Deuteronomy 6 in the context, it has great guidance for us as parents to prepare to teach in all of these situations.  It has to do with our heart.   "5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:5-7 ESV 
 
Recently I was reminded of these verses while on a long car trip with my daughters by myself.  During the trip I wasn't actively seeking God and putting God's Word in my heart.  As we stopped to eat our lunch outside, my daughters were watching some birds eat crumbs.  I started to think, "What should I teach them from the Bible that relates to birds?"  But then I realized that those thoughts weren't coming out of a love for God, and having God's Word in my heart, instead it was out of obligation. So, while my girls watched the birds, I humbly prayed to God and turned my heart back to His Word.
 
As I love God with all of my life, I put His Word in my heart and live it, then I will know what to teach my daughters in daily life.  What a joy for us as parents, we get to grow in our walk with God while teaching our children.  God's ways are higher than our ways. 


Related Posts  

  1. A Parent's Heart: Love God, Deuteronomy 6:5     
  2. A Parent's Heart: God's Word In Our Heart, Deuteronomy 6:6

  © Brigette Hill, 2013

1 comment:

  1. Thanks Brig! I think about this with all of my relationships. How can we speak the Word in love if it isn't burning in our own hearts? I'm so thankful that the Word is truth and that we get to share and rejoice in it together!

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