APRIL 20, Psalm 119:11 

“...forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty,” Dad counted loudly. “Ready or not, here I come!” Zach scrunched sideways into the small opening under the couch and pulled his knees up to his chest. “No!” he exclaimed as his little sister tried to wriggle in with him. “Go away! There’s not enough room here, and if Dad sees you, he’ll find me, too. Go find your own place.” But Zach’s warning was too late.

“Gotcha!” cried Dad. He swooped down and swung Katie off the ground. “Not fair!” protested Zach as he slowly crawled out. “Katie gave me away.” “You could have let her hide with you instead of pushing her out where I could see her,” Dad said. “There wasn’t enough room,” replied Zach. “That space is so small that there’s room for only one person.” Dad stooped and poked his head into the opening. “It is small,” he agreed.

“Yeah, If I’m in it, there’s no room for Katie, and if she’s in it, there’s no room for me,” said Zach. “It’s like what we learned in science class-two things can’t be in the exact same space at the exact same time.”

“You know what?” asked Dad. “That’s kind of like your memory verse last Sunday.”

“It is?”Zach frowned as he thought about it.“I remember,”he said.“Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Dad nodded. “Let’s think about the space under the couch as being a heart, and you as being God’s Word,” Dad suggested, “and you, Katie-sorry, honey, but can we let you stand for sin for a moment?” Katie nodded, and Dad continued. “If God’s Word-you, Zach-is really hidden in the heart...” Dad motioned toward the small space, “there won’t be room for sin.” He motioned toward Katie.“There won’t be room for anger or lying or fighting.”

“So we should memorise lots of verses,” said Zach.

“Yes,” said Dad, “but to really hide God’s Word in our hearts, we need to be committed to God and willing to do what He says, okay?” “Okay,” Zach said thoughtfully. “Memorise verses and obey them, right?” “That’s a good plan,” agreed Dad. “Read, study, memorise, and above all, obey!”

Thought: Are you hiding God’s Word in your heart? Are you committed to both memorising God’s Word and obeying it?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, when temptations come, help me remember what the Bible says. This will enable me to do what pleases You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.