Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 18:3
REFERENCE
Matthew 18:1-5
Do you remember when you were a child? The hopes, the dreams, the innocence, and living in a world of possibilities? You believed you could be anything and have anything; you were freely forgiving and easily trusting. Your father was your hero (or any adult that occupied the position) and you dreamed of days you would ‘spread your wings and fly.’
Unfortunately, many of us lost that glow, that sense of wonder and openness to possibilities as we grew up. We met with obstacles and we ‘woke up to reality’. We discovered the impossible, the unaffordable and the irrational. We lost that childlike innocence after many disappointments, heartbreaks and failures. This has affected the way we relate with God.
But God does not want us to lose those childlike qualities. They are what continually say to Him that we are His children and He is our Father. We must not allow past failures and the disappointments of our adult years make us relate with God from afar, with caution and hesitation, wondering if He cares and if He can use us at all. Jesus, painting the quality of a kingdom-minded believer, said they must be like a child – believing, trusting, without a care in the world, forgiving, loving and kind.
Can you still say that you have these qualities? What kind of a ‘child of God’ are you, if you cannot effectively trust your Heavenly Father to take care of you? What kind of child are you, if you find it hard to forgive those who have offended you, if you are unloving and if you live your life without dreams of God accomplishing the impossible through you?
Paul Coelho said, “A child can teach an adult three things: To be happy for no reason. To always be busy with something. And to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.” Aren’t these virtues true of children? God wants your joy restored and He wants that when next you come to pray, you will approach Him like a child and demand with all your might that which He has promised you in His Word.
Let it be a reminder to you that God wants you to be His child – stop running away from Him and trying to do things your own way and by yourself. Let Him be your ‘daddy,’ let Him provide for you, let Him take care of you, and let Him protect you. Remember, when ‘Daddy’ is around, all bullies (devils) go into hiding. So, when you talk to Him, say, “My Father, who is in heaven…
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY
Matthew 7:7-11, Mark 10:13-16, & Luke 11:2.
PRAYER POINT
+ Ask God to once again make you child-like (not childish) in your walk with Him. That you will trust and rely on Him as a child would do.
+ Ask God to restore your dreams and to fulfill the desires He placed in your heart when He sent you into the world.
