By: Lauren Maloney 

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:10-11 

There was a time I dreaded having to study. Just knowing there was a test coming up was so worrying that it was easier to pretend I didn’t care if I passed. I would always wait until the last minute, telling myself I still had time. Then, I would spend the night before stressing more than remembering what I needed to know. It’s too late now to change the study habits I had in high school, but I now see the importance of focusing my time on studying—especially when it comes to God's Word.  

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 119:10-11

Studying for me would usually involve short-term memorization, just enough to get through the semester. But, when it comes to remembering what God had written down for us, it's not a matter of having to remember but wanting to remember. Consistently engaging with His guiding principles should be so significant that when this engagement lapses, it can create a sense of disorientation or isolation. The more you study God's Word, the straighter your path will become. You will no longer be able to tolerate the sins of the world.

“I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore, I hate every wrong path.”

Psalm 119:104

His Word is a guide for our lives. It was written many years before we were born, yet it still fits perfectly for our ordeals. When we are lost, He is our shepherd. When we are in the dark, He is our lighthouse.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105

It is also imperative for our children to know where to turn when they find themselves lost and feeling alone. When we turn to Him for our trials, so will our children. When we call to Him through prayer, so will our children. We must show them we too are children in need of our Father. We do this by putting down our pride and shame and picking up the Bible. We should speak verses over our children through prayer, guiding them with the wisdom we have gained through studying His Word. We should be so focused on God's Word and living by it that our children’s children will also reap the benefits of living for God.

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity?”

Psalm 119:9

Studying God’s Word will always be a valuable and meaningful way to spend your time. It’s a guide for how to live your life, how to treat others and how to put God first in all you do. By doing this, you’re not promised a perfect life on earth; but you are promised a perfect eternity with Him in Heaven. The closer you are to Him, the more you can feel the presence of His Holy Spirit moving in your life. Trust Him with every decision by letting go and letting God.

“‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’”

Matthew 11:28-29