• Jul. 19, 2006
A Psalm a Day
We've been trying an idea that I read about over at Amy and Stacy's Reforming Motherhood blog. She read about it at Kim's Large Family Logistic's blog. I don't know if it has an "official" name, but I'm calling it "A Psalm a Day".
Basically, we are just reading a Psalm a day at breakfast time. It's that simple. Just think about how many times you'll sit together at breakfast with your family. Now think about reading a Psalm most of those times. Wow! That's a lot of the Word abiding in your heart and the hearts of your children.
But we don't just read the Psalm of the day. We discuss it. I read from an adult Bible. This is great, because having such young children, we are usually reading from a picture Bible. These are great for stories, but they don't usually include the Psalms. Also, I want my children to get used to hearing the actual language of the Bible. So, for this I read from my Bible.
Today, we read from Psalm 19:
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
As we read the Psalm, I would explain what it meant as we went along. Here are some of the things that I pointed out to the children:
*God made the sky and the sun and stars.
*The heavens tell us about God and how wonderful He is.
*God's law keeps us well.
*God's law makes us wise.
*God's law keeps us happy in our hearts.
*God's law gives light to our eyes- shows us the way to go.
*God's law is the most valuable thing, more valuable than gold.
*God's law tastes good.
These were just the things we discussed as we read through, although so much more could be gleaned. What a treasure! Now, what I love about this is that later this morning, when my sweet boy had given full vent to his anger, I discussed with him this Psalm again, the part where it says God's law makes us wise. We compared that to what the Proverbs say: that a fool gives full vent to his anger. Was he going to choose to be wise or foolish? Because we had started our day with the Psalm, I had something to "impress upon my child as we are sitting at home." (Deut. 6:7) Had we not read our Psalm today, it would not have been so fresh in his mind and his brain wouldn't have made the connection well with what the Bible says and how he could actually live it out.
I can't speak enough about my excitement over this new practice in our lives! In fact, even as I've been writing this post, God has impressed upon me all the ways in which my children and I have benefitted from it in such a short amount of time. I love it because it's simple, it fits into my schedule to create a "rule of life", so to speak, and because God's Word is being allowed to live in my heart and the hearts of my children as we go about our daily lives, learning to live like Him.
