If you’ve listened to us, chances are you’ve probably heard us say that WORDS MATTER. Yes, we both read a lot and love it when a good sentence comes together, but that’s not what we mean.
What we mean is that the things we say make a difference in the world. Our words can literally SHAPE OUR REALITY.
Genesis: God SPOKE the world into existence. John: the WORD was with God and the WORD was God. In a spiritual sense, WORDS obviously carry weight!
What does it mean that Jesus was the WORD? Isn’t that what we call scripture—“the Word?” The word used by John is LOGOS (Gr.), which means mind, reason, wisdom. John is saying Jesus is the total message, all that God wants to communicate to us—in an embodied form.
All of that is to reiterate that WORDS MATTER. Our message matters. Our language matters. The way we speak to one another & to ourselves matters.
Do we speak with harshness or gentleness? Do we speak with truth or with lies? Do we speak with encouragement or criticism? Do we lift up or tear down? Is our language filled with sarcasm, jokes at another’s expense or is it full of grace?
Don’t speak negatively about yourself, even as a joke. Your body doesn’t know the difference. Words are energy & cast spells… that’s why it’s called spelling when we make a word. Change the way you speak about yourself (and in general) and you can change your life. What you’re not changing, you’re also choosing.
One way to change our focus (with language, words) is to intentionally create an environment where the WORDS we focus on come from THE WORD of God, or scripture.
This episode is from a listener’s suggestion. She asked for tips on ways to infuse her home with scripture. I happen to know this a fairly young listener—in her early 20’s—with a young marriage & young child. It struck me what a WISE pursuit this was, and what an unusual question for someone at this stage & in our culture.
I wish I’d had this foresight and wisdom at that age to deliberately work on the focus in my home. I don’t know WHY she asked this question. Maybe she knows herself well & knows she gets easily distracted or off course in any given week & wanted some ways to course correct? Does she have a habit of negative self talk or is she trying to break a tendency to be critical or harsh? Maybe she already understands the power that words have and wants to strengthen that & invite even more positivity and power into her family.
Whatever the reason—and whichever one(s) you might relate to, here are some ideas we came up with on how to incorporate more scripture/the power of words into your home.
- Songs: Big fans of Seeds Family Worship. We’ve had Jason Hauser on to talk about that ministry & the motivation behind it. Just setting scripture to songs appropriate for little ones (but catchy enough for parents too). Songs stir our hearts, lift our moods, and stick in our neural pathways. Your home doesn’t have to be wired with Bose speakers & fancy woofers…just get a central portable speaker & fire up the playlists. Songs don’t have to be just kid-related. POOR BISHOP HOOPER is a group that does some beautiful scripture set to music material that’s beautiful to just have playing in the background of your day.
- Memorization. Take a minute each day as part of your reading a verse of the week to memorize it. Include your kids in this. Help each other & encourage one another when you’re stumbling through at first. Memorization isn’t necessarily to keep it in your head forevermore…. It just helps create a storage area for the HS to pull out scriptures when they’re needed.
- Verses on a central spot (white board, fridge). Want to focus on improving in a given area? Maybe your kids are struggling with complaining. What a great opportunity to pull in what God says about our attitudes: “Do everything without complaining or arguing” & put it front & center where everyone glances at it regularly. That way it’s not mom or dad who’s always saying it….they can read it themselves.
- Verses on back of car seats in car? How about another front & center idea? So many of us find ourselves in the car (to & from school, activities, errands etc.) a lot of the day. Stick a picture or verse on the back of the driver’s seat so your child can look at it as you’re driving around. Ask them questions about it.
- Building or additions to the home. If you’re building a home or adding on, or maybe adding a deck or new playset or patio…. Consider writing scriptures on the structure, and enlisting your kids to come up with some appropriate ones to add. We’ve done this a few times & then had a family prayer of dedication. In the kitchen: taste & see that the Lord is good; above the door: you will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out (Deut)…
- Scrabble word We have some scrabble tiles & a little stand on a bookshelf near the coffee pot in our house. Every month or so, I change the word. For November, it was thankful; for December, Emmanuel. Sometimes it’s more frequent depending on what I’m thinking about or praying about, but it’s a daily reminder (first thing since it’s by the coffee!!) what to focus on. You can do the same thing with a white board or sticky note on the fridge or bathroom mirror or car visor.
- ART. There are so many framed scripture variations available these days, and I think it’s totally cool to use those as part of your home’s décor. Does EVERYTHING you hang on your walls have to be scripture related? No. But you could do a blessing—the Lord bless you & keep you—somewhere like a mudroom where you hang backpacks & coats and will see it as you come & go. You could do a picture frame of your child with the verse from Samuel “For this child I have prayed.” You could hang the verses from Ruth over your bed “Where you go, I will go; where you stay I will stay….) or 1 Cor 13…the love chapter… (or song of Solomon for that matter!).
That’s actual scripture, but there’s also art that depicts scripture. Our artist friend Sara Bryson uses her creativity to come up with abstract depictions of verses. There’s also photography with scripture, sculpture, needlepoint, … One of my favs has lately been a painting of a lamb in the forest all alone and in the background there’s a fuzzy image of Jesus with a staff (the Good shepherd) running as hard as he can towards it….leaving the 99 to come after the 1. It gets me every time. Check out @shopbiblesketches on Instagram for some beautiful art featuring scripture.
- Scripture Garden. Have you thought about including scripture in your yard? I’ve been to several botanical gardens that dedicated space to plants found in the bible. So there might be an olive tree in a pot next to a fig, grapevine, mustard or mint plant. When you’re working in the garden with your kids, you can tell a story or have a verse ready about where this or that plant is mentioned.
- Toys. We mentioned last month at Christmas about the fisher price nativity set—which is a great way for toddlers to be introduced to the Christmas story. You can also find Noah’s arks or little fishing poles with magnetic fish that can teach scripture to kids.
- Framed list of “What Does God Think About When He Thinks About You?”. This is great for elementary to teens, and it’s just a reminder that sits on their nightstand or dresser… a list of WHO THEY ARE as God sees it. When they’re tempted to listen to lies or start that cycle of negative talk, a list like this can bring them back to the truth of the matter.
unlimited potential
armored & protected
one of my flock
made for my great purpose
fascinating
owned
forgiven
worth dying for
planned for
valuable
my child
loved
heir
vessel of my spirit
a pleasing aroma
a living sacrifice
MINE
my handiwork
Son of the king
made in my image
loved–no matter what
belongs to me
captivating
a blessing to others
my witness
saved
healed
destined
part of my kingdom
warrior
uniquely gifted
my salt
precious
my poetry
my masterpiece
my worker
worthy