SPIRIT TRAINING: The Thread of Life

Randa Reaves was probably only nineteen years old, but she helped us become better parents. Randa was working as the receptionist/secretary at the church. Bright, friendly, competent, Randa had a relationship with the Lord that was evident. One day, Keith asked her this question: What did your parents do that caused you to follow Jesus?

After thinking a minute, she said something both simple and profound. “My dad read the Bible to us each morning before breakfast. However busy we were, however rushed, we took time to read God’s word.”

A simple routine profoundly affected Randa.

We saw this principle clearly stated in two Old Testament scriptures. The first one was

Deuteronomy 6:6

These commandments that I give you are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along, and when you lie down and when you get up.

Of course, the first thing we saw was that we had to be followers of Jesus ourselves. Then the next thing was that we would impress that on our children. We would talk about God and his ways throughout the day. He would be part of our routine. That idea was reinforced by

Isaiah 28:9-10:

"Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule ; a little here, a little there."

It seemed to be understood in this passage from Isaiah that children learn by doing, by consistent rules, and little by little. If our goal is to pass on the kingdom of God to our children, surely our daily lives and routines ought to reflect that. “Faithful in little, ruler over much.”

We simply added brief moments in our day that honored God and his word.

Scripture before breakfast

A song on the way to school

Saying a memory verse together before supper

Proverbs before bedtime

Prayer before going to sleep

Prayer before taking a trip

Scripture and prayer to settle arguments

As we looked for ways to include God in our practical, everyday lives, we found that He belonged there. Our daily additions were not intrusive but part of our day, part of who we were. They helped to define us and to give identity to our children.

If we brush our teeth two or three times each day because we want healthy teeth, how much more important is it to take care of our souls. You have to build important things into the routine of life. We believed that God’s ways were top priority. So we were encouraged to try to weave the thread of His truth and his ways into the fabric of our days.

WEAVE GOD’S THREAD OF LIFE INTO THE FABRIC OF YOUR DAY.