There’s so much I carry in my head. Most of it would seem useless to many people. But I can tell you exactly which stores have two seats in the cart and how prices of diapers on Amazon compare to prices at Costco. I remember my son’s fire truck pajamas need to be washed because otherwise the tears will flow at bedtime. And, not that you’d ever want to know this, but I could tell you the last time each one of my three kids pooped.
Somehow over the years the practice of memorizing Scripture has been pushed aside in my brain to make room for remembering where my twins’ shoes are or how long it’s been since I last fed the baby. But in the last six months, a couple friends and I have been slowly memorizing Romans 8 and it’s been nothing short of life-changing, especially during the most wearying days of motherhood.
I try to at least read through the chapter everyday (many days I fail at this), and when I can steal away for longer I practice memorizing one phrase at a time. There’s a richness that develops when we dwell on a passage for awhile, like a good beef stew. You spend a few minutes adding carrots and potatoes and beef to a pot, and maybe it’d taste okay after a half hour. But oh how much better it is when it simmers all day long! There’s depth and flavor and beauty that can only happen with time (yes, the Instapot ruins my analogy).
It’s been like that for me with this passage. I’ve glossed over sentences in the past that I now savor and cling to daily. The words return to my mind after I’ve lost my patience, when I feel at a loss with how to discipline, or I’m anxious about how I’m messing up my kids.
Tucked away amongst the cache of information that comes with parenting young children are phrases like, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (v. 1) and “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (v. 18) and “the Spirit helps us in our weakness” (v. 26) and “nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus” (v. 39).
God’s words remind me I can walk through hard days with joy and rest in the finished work of Christ.
Maybe there’s only so much I can remember, and maybe as I memorize Scripture a few other things will be forgotten. But even if I forget to order diapers or where I left my phone, may I never, ever forget the truth of God’s Word.
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Romans 8 in the folds of your brain will be a gift to you for the rest of your life. I also worked on it when my kids were small — so many long sentences to cram into a tired brain, but such glorious truth! You are reminding me that it’s been a while since I reviewed it, and since I want to “keep” it, this is something I have to do from time to time.
Amen! Just remember in the days of exhausting little ones, how FAST it goes honey! My second child just turned 30 and I have no idea where the time went!! Be blessed and fulfilled as you do a job only YOU can do!
I echo that remark. My youngest will turn 40 in May, and I just can’t believe TIME…. seems to liquidate before our eyes, almost like we’ve been dreaming for many years only to wake up and wonder where it went? I’ve been blessed with 2 children (oldest 43) who have blessed our lives and I pray they will continue to live according to God’s word. My son memorized Luke 2 when he was 5, and he is helping his son (3) remember scripture from Sunday school class. Keep memorizing and training up your children in God’s word.
Sarah,
What a beautiful chapter to let “stew” in your brain. What ever is pure and lovely – think on THESE things. Oh how many times I’ve had to return to Romans 8:1: Therefore, there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. No condemnation…none…nada….no matter how many times we screw up. If we are in Him, our sins and shortcomings are covered. This is great news for young moms. I used to pray over my kids at bedtime, “Lord, thank you for getting me through the day. I tried my best with my children, but where I fell short, would you please fill in the gaps with your love and perfection?” I prayed this every night as they slept. My kids did not turn out perfect – no one’s kids do, but I still trust God to fill in the gaps. They were and are HIS children before they were ever mine. Lovely post.
Blessings,
Bev xx
My brain does the same thing, a blessing but also not. Maybe it can be more of a blessing if I keep reading Romans 8 too…..tho at my age I find memorization of something I choose to remember harder to do than it used to be. The rest just happens without volition.
This is such practical and powerful encouragement. It’s been a while since I memorized Scripture. . . . thinking on that now.
Thank you……memorizing scripture is something I need to do. 🙂
Excellent morning Devo! Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you so much for this devotion. Faith and trust in God’s love and forgiveness have been my battle for the last several months as I try to work thru some difficult memories of what happened to me in my past. Perhaps memorizing Romans 8 will replace other memories in my mind or at least help me in keeping memories of my past in the right perspective which hopefully will lessen my anxiety and depression.
Dear Sue, I’m praying for you today. Jesus is swaddling you with His love and rejoicing over you with singing. When I went through my dark time, sometimes the only prayer I could pray was “Jesus!!” I felt very desperate, but he preserved me from myself and my dark, muddled, conflicted, and desperate thoughts (and they ran the gamut!), so I prayed for truth and clarity.
Besides ruminating on Scripture, consider also reading anything by or about Corrie Ten Boom. Some of her quotes:
“Today I know that such memories are the key not to the past, but to the future. I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work he will give us to do. ”
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.”
“Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.”
“Now, I know in my experience that Jesus’ light is stronger than the biggest darkness.”
Be encouraged. I’m praying for you today.
Thank you for these words.
I find that although sometimes I can’t even remember what I had for yesterday’s dinner and, sadly, cannot recite aloud the parts of the bible I love, I can still read it and especially when reading through Romans 12 – 9 I find I have lived my long life according to what I read there many, many years ago. So I do encourage you all to try and memorise the passages you love. I promise they will come back to you sometime in the future and bring comfort.
God bless you.
Some of those thing would only matter to a mother, but God understands, still He needs to be first, I incorporate verses into everything.
Yes and yes! I fell into memorizing scripture by happy accident because I wanted my kids to know it. Almost 20 years later, memorizing whole chapters with my children has provided such a window into scripture IN context, helped me mull over rich truths, and given the best shared memories ever with my kids. Thank you for writing and encouraging this!
Love this ❤️
Sarah,
I’m like you in that I can remember odd things like people’s social security numbers, prices, etc. It takes work to memorize scripture-especially whole chapters. The work important. It helps us to gain the truths of Jesus. We all have hard times in our times in our lives. If we put scripture in our hearts & minds it will help us when those times come. We can readily reach into our vast storehouse & defeat the evil one. Keep up the good work-both in parenting & memorizing scripture!
Blessings 🙂
I too have memorized Romans 8. So much strong truth in one chapter! As I continue to review it, the words continue to minister encouragement and uplift. God does indeed preserve our lives according to his Word (Psalm 119:25).
This weekends sermon was directed at Romans 8:26-30
God’s purpose- building an eternal family of children that look like Jesus..we are co- heirs in Christ indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may share in His glory! He uses suffering to prepare us for His purpose…who so ever will may come, our suffering is related directly to God..& God’s provision is..Praying for us through His Spirit! It’s an auto correct feature! The Spirt intercedes for us according to the will of God! And works it to good….To make us to the image of His Son Jesus… Amazing Love, Amazing Grace!!!
Amen! This is what matters most.