Storing God’s Word in Young Hearts

Back when I was on my feet and used to play field hockey in high school, our coach had a thing about running laps after practice. But after a full day of classes and hockey practice, there was not an ounce in me that actually wanted to run. Often times, by the fifth lap, my legs would be dragging — but that’s when I’d kick in this little “habit” of mine to help keep me focused. As I would run, I would pace myself, half-singing the verse from 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Silly as it may sound, something about running to that verse kept me going. And while today I can’t use my legs to run a race track, I do have a race to run in my journey with Christ. And the truth is? Much hasn’t changed. I don’t always feel like running this race called “life.” But when my days get tough — when I feel like I’m running in circles trying to juggle work, marriage, and life with quadriplegia? This little verse comes back to mind. And I have to tell you, my parents and youth pastor get a lot of credit for having helped me memorize God’s Word from an early age. Because now, it’s Bible verses like these that help me “run with endurance the race set out before me” (Hebrews 12:1).

I guess that’s why I love seeing young people store God’s Word in their hearts. Because life can get so hard — but with God’s promises at hand, we can tackle any challenge that comes our way. It’s why I’m so excited for this year’s National Bible Bee Summer Study. Across the nation, children and teens are encouraged to spend eight weeks studying the Bible and memorizing Scripture — all leading up to the National Bible Bee Competition. Not only will these kids grow in God’s Word, but it’s also an opportunity for them to make new friends at local host groups, improve their learning and memorization techniques, and have a chance at a grand prize. So, learn more by watching this video and visiting the National Bible Bee website — and please consider encouraging a child in your life to join in this year’s Summer Study. Trust me — the truths they will store in their young hearts will surely guide them through life’s ups and downs. As Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”