"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

-Jesus

At night, I often fall asleep to some sort of media. It used to be criminal minds on television, because that show is so intriguing, and I sort of maybe have a crush on the guy who plays Derek Morgan. 



Unfortunately that show gave me nightmares. Not to mention that every time I pass a van that has no windows, and is painted in all white- I think there is a bomb in it. 

Most of the time I watch a movie or get on hulu.com and watch a million episodes of some gem of a show that was underrated.

Then, as I drift off to sleep I throw some Mark Driscoll or Francis Chan because I like having the noise and I love their preaching.

I asked God a couple of weeks ago to really impress upon my heart the need for prayer. I asked for the Holy Spirit to weigh on my conscience when time being wasted would wisely be used in communication with my Father.

And He did. And I didn't like it.

In fact, if I'm honest- I ignored it.

I think I fill up my nights with stuff like movies and podcasts because I don't want to face the Lord- just me and Him. I'd rather distract my mind then let God reveal to me the truths about my soul and ask me to change.

One night I actually listened to the tugging on my heart where God was asking me to pay attention to Him. He brought me to Matthew 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." I am still trying to wrap my mind around this verse.

So I sold a ton of stuff. I don't know that the direct application of this particular parable of Jesus is to literally sell everything you have, but I've been short on cash and God was asking me about what I valued. So I went a little nuts- sold all my dvds and a bunch of other miscellaneous things.

The point isn't what I was getting rid of though. The point was in what I valued. I want to be like the man who treasured the kingdom so much that his joy was rooted in it.

This is partly what I'm hoping to chase after this year on the world race. My friend Dave (world race January 2009) told me he would be willing to pray bold and dangerous prayers for me this year. I'm asking for those of you who read this blog to do the same- because sometimes I'm not willing to pray them for myself. At the heart of this journey, though, I want to find out a little more about true joy. I want to know what it means to value God's heart, which is His kingdom, more than anything.