In this post we will go a step further to discuss how to live in obedience to God’s word always. Remember from our last family bible time that apart from strength and courage, obedience is also an important requirement in taking territories according to Josh 1:6-7.
Talking about obedience, Paul said that the things he wanted to do, he struggles to actually do. Rom7:19
This implies that knowing the right thing to do is a step towards obedience, but having the will to do the right thing is another essential step. Sometimes we know what to do but we are not doing it because the will of God has not taken over our will. James1:22
For God’s will to take over our will, His word (which is His will) must not just be in our mouth and brains, but must settle in our heart, only then can it affect us outwardly.Prov4:20-23, Psalm119:11. Let’s call this “spiritual food digestion”.
So, lets look at the process of spiritual food digestion and compare with physical food digestion..
When we read the word of God it gives us knowledge. It tells us what to do. This is like placing food in our mouth. When we read the word over and over again and memorize it, meditate (think) on it; this process gets the word into our heart. It is only when the word gets into our heart that it can transform us and influence our will.
As physical food is to the body, so is the word of God to our Spirit. Our physical body will benefit from the food we eat when digestion has taken place and our digestive system has absorbed the nutrients in our food.
Similarly, the spiritual food (word of God) will only transform our heart when we have digested it and ensure that the word of God is written on our heart.
Activity 1: Get a picture of the digestive system showing the processes involved in the digestion and absorption of food. Explain to your child how we can digest and absorb spiritual nutrients from God’s word.
| Digestion process | Physical food | Spiritual food |
| Starting point | Place the food in the mouth | Read the bible |
| Chew the food | Read a selected verse over and over again. Memorize it. | |
| Swallow the food–> stomach–> intestines | Think on the verse with the help of the Holy Spirit. Absorb the word into your heart. | |
| Nutrients are absorbed and circulated to the system in the body in a form that is useful | The word of God in your heart is expressed in your emotion, how you feel and behave. It comes up in your thought and it influences your will. | |
| End point | The body is nourished | The spirit is nourished. The heart is transformed ready to do God’s will |
For example, Phi 4:4 says Rejoice in the Lord always;again, I say rejoice.
Step 1: Read it repeatedly and memorize it.
Step 2: Think on the key words-‘rejoice’, ‘the Lord’, ‘again.’ By the help of the Holy Spirit and discussing the verse together as a family, you understand what the word says more and more. Your joy is in the Lord, not in happenings around you, and you have joy always.
This word will come up in your thought during the day/night, it will remind you to be joyful always as your joy is in the Lord and the Lord doesn’t disappear, He’s forever alive and present with us, so our joy and rejoicing is continual.
This word will therefore be expressed in your emotion-you will feel joyful always, sadness cannot persist, you will express a joyful mood towards people around you always. Even when you feel offended or unhappy, this verse in your heart will bring you back to a state of rejoicing.
The word will influence your will. You will choose to rejoice always.
Activity 2: Now it is your turn to pick a verse and try out the steps highlighted above.
*Heart check: If the verse is in your heart, it will come up in your thought, your feelings and your choices will be guided by that verse.
Activity 3: Be intentional about engraving the scriptures on your heart and that of your child. Ps 119:24, Deut6:6-9
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Your child may find it interesting to create their own scripture boards. Print or write scriptures on A4 paper and design it as you like. Then agree on where you would place them in your home-rooms, hallway, landing area etc.
You can place the paper on canvas to make it more beautiful and stick it on your wall with command strips to avoid damaging the walls or you can buy ready made scripture boards.
Family circle: Pray that the Lord will help every member of your family to hide God’s word in their hearts in Jesus name. Amen.
Raising Godly Children 