The Power of Scripture in Parenting

In the Spring of 2014, we were joined by Pam Tebow at a few of our events, and she was an incredible inspiration and encouragement to all who heard her. I have lots of pictures of her with groups of Teach Them Diligently ladies, for she was approachable and genuine and truly a joy to be around. She radiated a love for God and for people that we saw once again when her son Tim Tebow spoke for us several years later.

As she spoke about different things the Lord had prompted her to do while she was raising her children, one of the things that really stood out to me was how she set scriptures to tunes to help her children memorize and remember the truths contained there even from a very young age. In our home, we had always sung scripture songs, but as she spoke, the Lord really impressed on my heart a need to be even more intentional in doing so.

One of the first scriptures we studied after my renewed commitment to singing scriptures with my children was Psalm 62.

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”

I noted the songs we sang as we memorized passages with little music notes in my Bible, which through the years has served as an amazing, heartwarming reminder of great conversations and sing-along Bible times when the kids were younger.

Last Sunday morning, our pastor read from this passage, and seeing the music notes, I sang along with him. (I should have asked my kids if they did as well!) The truths I taught the kids in song all those years ago, calmed my own heart that morning as I thought about how often waiting in silence is my only recourse. How amazing that I can trust my God completely and never be shaken. I left the service with a hallelujah on my heart as I meditated on that great truth.

We live in a world that’s anything but quiet, though. We’re told over and over again to speak up and be heard. Our rights and even our opinions are paramount in this age of so many having a social media microphone and using it often.

But, how often does that noise drown out the peace and direction that comes when we patiently and faithfully wait on God alone?

How often does that noise and chaos impact the way we are parenting and interacting with our children?

When everything else in your life seems crazy, overwhelming, or chaotic, remember that God isn’t! As the cares of this world and even concerns within your family crowd your mind, stop and remind yourself that all power belongs to God. But our great God isn’t just all-powerful! He’s also loving and unbelievably gracious. He is stable and steadfast, constant and sure. He loves you and your children more than you could ever imagine, and He delights when you pour out your heart to Him.

I can’t encourage you enough to utilize scriptures more in your daily conversations with your children of all ages. Set them to simple little tunes to help with memory. Allow your daily time with God to overflow into your time with your children, and you’ll be amazed at how that will help as you try to go for the heart of your children each day.

In your prayer time, use scriptures to direct the way you pray for your children. The Bible truly does offer a wonderful parenting guide, and when you focus on that as you pray for your children, you’ll find that those scriptures naturally overflow into your conversations and influence the way you parent them through every situation.

I put together a prayer guide for parents based on the way I have prayed for my children since they were young, and I invite you to walk through it as well. For a little over a month, you’ll receive an email each morning with a specific scripture to pray for your kiddos and a short devotional to help you see how that prayer can impact the way you parent. Click here to take advantage of that resource now.

If you’re already singing scriptures with your kiddos, I’d love to hear some of your tunes! If you share a reel or story, tag @teachdiligently in it, so we can all enjoy Psalm 62 worshipping God with your family. If you’re not, I encourage you to start now. You don’t have to be a musician. You don’t have to be overly creative—the rhythm of the verses will often inform the tune. Start in Psalms as many of them have been sung for years! You’ll find that both you and your kiddos grow through the process!