“Your word I have treasured in my heart…” Psalm 119:11a (NAS)

A few years ago, my husband planned a father-son camping trip with a group of friends that included a Friday night treasure hunt. The week before, I found my sons mysteriously searching our house for cardstock paper. The next morning I discovered a few soaking wet pieces hanging to dry in the shower. After further questioning, they told me they were making secret treasure maps.

Of course, the treasure hunt wouldn't be complete without the reward of what they’d find. Two days before departure, my husband took our boys on a preliminary treasure hunt to the Dollar Store to buy water guns and other trinkets for eleven little pirates. That Friday, my husband took half a day off work so they could get to the campsite early and bury the treasure box. I’m convinced they spent more time planning and anticipating the treasure hunt than they did the camping trip.

I loved seeing how excited my boys were, and I couldn’t help but wonder how I might tap into that excitement. As a mom, I’m always looking for ways to weave spiritual lessons into everyday life experiences. I want my kids to see the Bible, not as a book of rules to follow, but like a map that leads us on God’s great adventure.

I started praying about ways to get creative and connect my kid’s interest in treasure hunts to my desire for them to treasure God’s Word in their hearts, like King David describes in today’s key verse.

King David was a man who searched God’s Word for wisdom and treasured it in his heart like gold! He depended on God’s promises and was personally guided by God’s precepts. Although David had countless worldly riches, God’s Word was his greatest treasure, so much that he would meditate on it and write it deeply into the fibers of his thoughts.

I don’t know about you, but I want to have the passion David describes and the anticipation my kids displayed when planning that treasure hunt. I want to be so convinced that if I make plans and set aside time to read God’s Word, I will be rewarded with promises and insights I can depend on. Instead of reading my Bible because I should, I want to search through it each day like someone looking in a field for a treasure.

As a mom, I want to instill that same desire and confidence in my kids. I want them to see me anticipating all that God has for us, and then follow my lead as we begin each day in His Word on our own treasure hunt for Truth!

Lord, You are my greatest treasure! Your words are more precious than gold. I come to You with a renewed desire to search the scriptures for nuggets of truth, and apply Your wisdom in my daily life. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Related Resources:

Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Chart and CD: Wisdom and tools to help parents search for and store up treasures of Truth in their children’s hearts. By Renee Swope

Visit Renee’s Blog for practical ways to connect spiritual truths to your everyday life, for you and your kids. And sign up to win some great give-aways for moms.

A Walk to Remember: Living and Leaving a Legacy – 2 Session DVD taught by Renee Swope

The D6 Conference – helping parents and churches raise spiritual champions!

Application Steps:

· Buy or make a treasure box to hold index cards. If you have children, they’ll love decorating it.

· Write Bible verses and promises on index cards and put them inside.

· Choose a treasure of Truth to read, reflect on and hide in your heart daily or weekly.

· Carry your treasure with you. Write it on sticky notes and put them on mirrors, in lunch boxes, on the fridge, etc.

· At mealtimes, share how the treasure of truth applied to life that day.

Reflections:

Do I read God’s Word like I am looking for treasure, or do I skim over it to fulfill an obligation?

Do I believe there are rewards in seeking God, or do I fear He’ll just give me more rules to follow?

How does my mindset influence my children’s perspective of God’s Word?

Power Verses:

Proverbs 2:1-6, “My child, listen to Me and treasure My instructions. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the LORD grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. “(NLT)

Psalm 19:9-11, “The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (NIV)

© 2009 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.