By Kim V., mama of three young, energetic boys
When you think of God and what He is like, what comes to mind?
Well, when I think of God, I think of my ABCs.
I am a simple woman with three young boys and a busy schedule, and I want to know God better and grow in my relationship with Him. In order to do that, I simply go to the basics—and for me, that means the ABCs. I am pretty proud too. I just got “N” down, and now I am working on the letter “O”!!
So, what are my ABCs?
For each letter of the alphabet I find one of God’s characteristics that means a lot to me. Then I memorize a little phrase that helps me apply it* and I memorize the Bible verse that made me notice the characteristic in the first place.
Let’s take the letter “A” for example. God is ABLE to do anything. Because God is able to do anything, I can look beyond my circumstances. Along with that, I memorized Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.
Then there is “B”. God is really, really BIG. Because God is really, really BIG, I don’t need to be afraid of anyone or anything. I memorized Psalm 8:3,4. “ When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”
And then there is more. God CARES for me. He DEFENDS the weak. He is ETERNAL. God is FAITHFUL. He is GOOD. He is HOLY. He is the great I AM. He is JUST. He is KNOWABLE. He is LOVING. He is MERCIFUL and He is NEAR. And, well, that’s my alphabet so far. Like I mentioned, I am still working on it.
When I am stressed, I go through my ABCs. When I am afraid, I go through my ABCs. When I am worried, I go through my ABCs. When I pray, I go through my ABCs. When I am grateful, I go through my ABCs. When I want to worship…you guessed it….I go through my ABCs.
My ABCs remind me of who God is. When I go through them, all of a sudden everything seems o.k. My heart rate slows down and I am at peace again.
About three weeks ago one of our sons had a nightmare. Nothing was working. Every time he shut his eyes he started crying. I didn’t panic. I just snuggled up with him and recounted my ABCs tenderly in his ear. It didn’t take long before I heard heavy breathing. The next morning he said, “Mom, thanks so much! That really helped me.”
I love those ABCs!! Those ABCs are helping me and my family know God better. God’s word says “…the people who know their God will display strength and take action”—Daniel 11:32 (NAS) Hmm, that kinda sounds like devotion in motion to me.
So mamas out there, how well do you know your ABCs?
* The phrase idea came from Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ. I read through his personal list of God’s attributes, but realized I didn’t think I could remember them. I figured if I attached attributes to the alphabet, I could remember them. That’s when I made up my own personal list.
Kim V., who works with a campus ministry at the University of Arkansas, lives in Fayetteville with her husband and three sons. She says one of her favorite things about working with college girls is that they tell her when she’s wearing something out of style.
