HIDDEN TREASURE

Thy word have I hid in mine heart,

that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:11

The day is as clear to me as if it were yesterday. I was attending VBS at our church and sat in the side room just off our auditorium. Ruth Young was our teacher as she usually did every summer about the same time. We were at the part of the morning I really loved. It was Bible memory time and I clearly remember memorizing the above verse that day. Through the years, this verse and others I memorized, even to this day are among the hidden treasures of Scripture I have packed away in my heart.

These treasures aren't meant to stay hidden. Years and aging sometimes push such nuggets to the back of one's memory, but are never meant to stay hidden. For sure, they are treasures to be brought forward to bless and encourage even if sometime we can't recall the “Bible addresses” of the verses. The Holy Spirit has a wonderful way of bringing these treasures to the forefront of our hearts whenever He sees fit...when He knows what we need better than we know. He can even bring things of Scripture to our minds when we might wonder “where did that come from” moment.

Such happened to me a few days ago. All I will say is that it was a gray day. I woke up, got in my cozy chair and sat glued to it most of the day. I managed to make a sandwich and go to the bathroom a couple of times but I was stuck. I had no energy physically or spiritually. My Bible sat on the arm of my chair, but I felt no desire to open it or even read anything in it. Maybe it was a culmination of things from past months. I didn't know and didn't care.

About five o'clock, suddenly to mind came “Psalm 73: 25,26”. I recognized Psalm 73 but not the verses. In curiosity, I opened my Bible to those verses and read:

Whom have I in heaven but thee?

And there is none upon the earth

that I desire beside thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth:

but God is the strength of my heart,

and my portion forever.

I had the feeling that someone must be looking through my kitchen window. In reality, it snapped me to attention. It had been awhile since even thinking of these verses, but the Holy Spirit knew what I needed in the moment. I don't know how many times I sat reading those verses over and over, but I was strengthened and encouraged more than I can say. When we have the hidden treasures of Scripture in our hearts, they aren't meant to stay hidden but to be used to bless us in every way. It's another reason for us to be in the Word, saving it so it is available for the good and tough times whether our days are bright or gray.

Father, thank You for Your Word and for Your Holy Spirit who knows our every need and can minister to us at any time from it. We don't deserve Your love but grateful You love and care for us as no one else can. Thank You for Your guiding Spirit and Son Who gave all that we might really live. In Jesus' precious name...Amen