When I was about six or seven, there were several nights at dinner when my Dad would have my brother and I read from The Book of Virtues by William Bennet. This was an attempt by my father at trying to instill values and principles in us. The routine lasted for only a few months before our schedules became too busy to continue. This may have been the experience that we had as a child, in which your parents had some forum, such as dinner, to pass on wisdom and knowledge to you.  Or as a parent you may have times set aside for you family to have a daily dose of God’s word. We want to have God’s values in our hearts but our best intentions get lost in the business of our lives.

God however, views our commitment to his words seriously. In Deuteronomy chapter six he says through Moses, “Always remember these commands I give you today. Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

David talked about God’s word like this, “Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). When David penned these words he was speaking from experience. He knew that throughout his life the word of God had guided his steps and thoughts. He also knew that when the way seems dark our knowledge and reading of the word has a profound impact on our course. Why then is it so difficult for us to have this practice in our own life? Getting into the Word is one area that we can really excel at, when we make the decision to do it.

One of the reasons why we often struggle at getting into the word on a regular basis (I know that I do) is because it is not something that was instilled in us when we were growing up. As a child and as a teenager I knew the importance of the Bible, but I often did not see its role in my daily routine, as I should, despite my father’s encouragement. I knew that I was expected to know the Word, but practically I lived as if the Bible is really nothing more than a bunch of stories.

In an effort to instill kingdom values in our lives and the lives of our children we need to continue to be proactive about giving ourselves a reminder of God’s word everyday. God knew this would be a struggle for us. This is why he told his people to talk about them all the time. Without that constant reminder of the heart of God, it is easy for our thoughts to become overwhelmed with the immediate situations facing us.