Background: The book of Psalms was written by at least 7 authors. It expresses a range of human emotions from praise to God in good times, fear of enemies in bad times, guilt, anger and an overriding confidence in God’s goodness, majesty and power.
Life is full of distractions and can keep us from spending time with God. How important is that time?
Ask the children…
How important is spending time with God according to the Psalmist?
“A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!” (Psalm 84:10a)
Spending time in the courts would refer to the courts of the Temple where God’s people went to be in God’s presence. What was the Psalmist willing to give up to spend time with God?
“I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.” (Psalm 84:10b)
Ask your children what it means today to spend time with God? They will probably say things like reading their Bible, praying, singing worship songs, going to church, etc. Remind them that since God lives inside us because we are now the temple of God, we can spend all day with Him no matter what we are doing. It only takes us to remember Him in every circumstance. Make this a family memory verse and see if you can catch yourself thinking about and enjoying God at times that you normally wouldn’t.
Note, there is a song called “Better is one day in your courts”. See if you can find it and sing it.
Feel free to share your own stories below in the comments section.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w_ePjJlPrM
If you like what you read about ways to teach children the Bible, check out the children’s book, Hooked on the Book, on this website. It is great for parents and kids because it provides the Big Story of God’s miraculous plan for His children in all 66 books in the Bible. CHECK OUT A FREE SAMPLE OF CHAPTER ONE BELOW.
Hooked on the book -First Chapter from Liz and Jack Hagler on Vimeo.
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