The Best Treasure
“I have treasured your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 CSB
Several years ago, we planned a big trip for vacation. It was the year our daughter was graduating from high school and turning eighteen, and it was our twentieth wedding anniversary. So, we booked a Disney cruise and counted down the days until it was time to board the ship and set sail on the ocean. My husband and I had gone on a cruise for our tenth wedding anniversary, but this was the first cruise that the kids had ever been on, and they were both excited.
On one of the days, we stopped at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. The island was beautiful! One of the activities that I remember that we attempted to do was the treasure hunt that consisted of looking for the missing Mickey’s. All over the island, there were “Mickey’s” hidden all over the place and the challenge was to find them. So, we decided to try to jump on the challenge to see how many of the missing Mickey’s we could find. However, we quickly lost interest. Try as hard as we might, we just couldn’t find any and our interest was being pulled in a million different directions.
Thinking of that treasure hunt made me think of our key verse. “I have treasured your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11
There have been many times that I have tried to develop the importance of a quiet time with God not only for myself but for my children as well. It went well for a while, but then sadly we got busy with other things and lost interest. Do you ever struggle with that?
I honestly think I was going about it all wrong though. See, I looked at it more like something that I had to do to be a good Christian. It was the right thing to do. Something I could check off that I had done. Or possibly that my children could check off their to-do list. I knew that it would make me a better person, but I didn’t realize just how much of a treasure it is to be in God’s word and to allow God’s word to get into me. When we shift our perspective about spending time with God, it changes the whole thing sweet friend.
It truly is a treasure worth searching and seeking for. It’s an awesome thing that I have discovered this concept for myself – but what about my children? How am I helping my children see that spending time with God and being in God’s word is the most important treasure they could ever search for? This is an area that I need to improve on and one that I’m not giving up on.
Psalm 119:9 tells us that the way that we can keep ourselves pure is by keeping God’s word. We can’t do that if we aren’t in it – allowing it to transform our mind and our actions. And neither can our children. One of the most important things we can do as Mamas is to show our kids by example the importance of seeking God with all our hearts and to teach them how to have an intimate relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
One of the things that we must remember is God’s word is living and active. We don’t have to wait on the perfect time or the right formula. We just need to start getting in God’s word with our kids. The Word will do the rest. It will speak, lead, and convict on its own without our help. So, if you have struggled to be consistent like I have, don’t stress it anymore. Just start right where you are. The key is just to start. Read a passage or just one verse. Make it a fun and interactive adventure with the Almighty King. If you already do this, pray specifically for God to show you how to use these moments to speak His truth more clearly and powerfully to you and to your children. One prayer to pray is for God to give us and our children a hunger to know Him more. If you don’t know where to start, start with that prayer and watch what God will do. This is the prayer that I have been praying and it has dramatically changed the way I view my time with God. And honestly, I can’t think of a better way to start.
Will you join me?
Heavenly Father,
I love you so much. Thank you for my kids that you have blessed me with. I am in awe that you chose me to be their mother. Lord, you know how much I have failed - please forgive me of all the times I have not shown them by example how to seek you. Help me Lord to show my kids how spending time with you is the best time spent. Give me a hunger to know you more and know you deeper. Give my children that same hunger and thirst for you. You are truly all we need. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Dig Deeper:
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.” Psalm 119:9 CSB
“I have sought you with all my heart, don’t let me wander from your commands.” Psalm 119:10 CSB
Reflection:
Do you find that it is hard to stay consistent with a quiet time with God?
What can you do today to show your kids the importance of spending time with God?
Find ways to make it fun and interactive – feel free to share any ideas on our Facebook page.