A lot of my time at work is spent with teachers trying to come up with ways to help kids become better readers and writers.

I often hear about the struggle teachers have with filling in the gaps from what children missed out on at home before starting school.....

learning their colors

learning their alphabet

learning to count

These use to be things that all parents spent time teaching their children before they even walked into a school building.

Today, this isn't always true.

I think it's a mixture of technology, television, and lifestyles that has distracted many parents from giving their kids undivided attention at home.

I believe I was more distracted when Olivia was young than I was years ago when I became a mom for the first time.

Oh, to have a chance to go back and do some things differently!

Anyway, as we met with teachers yesterday and talked about the reality that kids should have 1,000 hours of laptime reading with an adult before the age of five in order to develop a love for reading, I was struck with the truth that the same goes in our spiritual walk.

We need laptime with God every single day in order to learn to love Him and trust Him completely and fully.

He needs to not only be our King of Kings but also our friend of friends.

Today, I challenge you to take some time just to talk to God as your best friend.

Tell Him what is on your mind.

Be honest (He already knows anyways!).

Ask Him to help you.

Tell Him where you're weak and struggling.

Just as moms and dads need to give undivided attention to their children,

we need to give undivided attention to God.

He's always ready and willing to pull you up on His throne and listen.........

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,

so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16