Isaiah 55:11 So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

I have a friend who knows about all the "school stuff" the boys and I are doing every week. One of the things we do are letter boards, each week focusing on the next letter of the alphabet. And we have taken some breaks in between and done a Thanksgiving and Christmas board. Each week I put scripture on the board and the boys and I memorize it. Then, we decorate the rest of the board with fun things related to the letter of the week. For example, for our "G" week, we decorated letter G's with glitter and made little goldfish, which we then glued to the board for display. As you might imagine, little kids love displaying their work.

This week my friend asked me why I think it is so important the boys memorize scripture and why it is so important to me in any personal way. I explained the best I could there in person, in that moment. But when I came home I ended up being so happy she asked the question. I think my answers in that moment were honest and valid. But her question spurred me on to sit down and look into the Bible to see what God actually says about His Word and it's importance. I sat down to do Bible study homework and got into this instead. My own personal Bible study! I was on fire finding scripture that I believe applies to this question. What I loved most about it was that I actually felt like the Lord was right there with me, spurring me on to know Him deeper and to really get my mind around how much He wants to know each one of us...

And that is one of the reasons I want the boys to memorize and know scripture: to know God. I don't think we can ever fully know Him, but His Word gives us the opportunity to relate to Him, to know His character, and to have some insight into His plan for us and His plan for creation.

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

I read this verse and then was thinking about how Jesus is called "The Word" in the first part of the book of John. This verse says to me that Jesus is living and active in our lives. Knowing the Word is having access to God through Christ; knowing the Word means knowing His promises to us.

Another reason I cited was that I want them to be able to pray scripture back to the Lord, which is what the scripture from Isaiah is talking about: God's Word will accomplish it's purpose. If we pray it directly back to Him, how much more powerful will that be. And, if we pray it exactly, we will be putting our prayers in line with what God's Word actually says, and not twisting it to fit our own desires.

Next, I want them to have God's Word written on their hearts and in their minds, so it will come to them whenever they need strength, comfort, wisdom, patience, and the list goes on...

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.
You cannot turn from something you have memorized. Many times stuff we learn as children comes back to us at the strangest times. I want the Lord to be able to use what I have taught the boys from His Word in their lives, whenever they need it.

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Deuteronomy 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols to your hands and bind them on your foreheads.