Repeating His Promises

Repeat [these commands] again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

“. . . forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you,” one of my older daughters finished reciting Ephesians 4:32 (ESV), voice ringing with triumph.

“Great job!” I cheered. It was Monday, and I’d written a new verse on the black chalkboard inside the pantry. We’d recently started memorizing a new verse each week, with a small prize as an added incentive.

Though the verses were easy for my older daughters to rattle off, their six-year-old sister struggled.

Looking over, I saw her little face droop toward the floor, tears welling.

“I can’t do it! It’s too hard!” she wailed.

“Aww, it’s okay. We can help you,” one of her sisters said, patting her arm soothingly.

The littlest one brightened when her nine-year-old sister bounded out of her chair, saying, “Let’s make up a dance for it!”

Amused, I watched as the two older girls came up with simple choreography to help their sister remember the words. By the end of the day, she had gained enough confidence to approach me and repeat the words to the verse, face beaming with pride.

When I was a child, my dad recited 2 Timothy 1:7 to me each time I was afraid. Now that I am an adult, its words still come to mind whenever I encounter fear. Over time, that constant repetition of God’s truth became my truth.

Though we often brush off moments like these as ordinary, the truth is that repetition is a reason to be grateful. Jesus himself used ordinary parables to help his followers connect with the truth in ways that made sense and were easy to remember. When we spend time each day focusing on the Word of God and talking about Jesus, we gain the knowledge we need to approach situations with holy confidence. Just as children mimic their parents, over time our regular consumption of God’s Word helps us walk and talk the way Jesus would.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Which of God’s truths are you absorbing daily? Write out a verse to memorize.