He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,

 you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child

is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:2-4

 

 

Having been surrounded by ALL my children ALL summer, I have had a lot of opportunities to observe the nature of children. As I was praying for a devotional for today, I was interrupted several times by one child or another. When the scripture Matthew 19:14 came into my heart.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:14

 

“BUT God, children are so demanding and never leave me a lone”  I confessed. “Exactly”, God replied.

 I began to write down points on the nature of children only to have tears fall and my heart began to get understanding on that verse.

God wants us all, unfiltered, uninhibited, dependant and totally in awe of him.  

Here are 7 ways to become more childlike in our faith

1. Children know who their father is.  That’s why kids run to the door yelling  “Daddy’s home!” They know the sound of his key, and his footsteps up the stairs in the morning. No matter how quiet my husband is, or how early he wakes up in the morning. The kids hear their daddy, they know it’s him and they race to have breakfast with him, no matter how tired they are. 

Do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Matthew 23:9

 

2.  Children run to their fathers (or mothers) when they have a problem or are in distress. You’re at a family BBQ and little Johnny falls and scrapes his knee, 3 caring adults kneel down with arms wide open to comfort Johnny but he beelines past them all, knocking Grandma over just to get to Dad. 

In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. Psalm 18:6

 

3. Children are totally dependant on us for survival. Food, shelter & clothing. We can’t abandoned them, or leave them alone. Children need their parents for survival.

 

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

 

4. Children ask questions ALL the time. “Mom, how old was Darth Vader when Princss Leia was born? If you poop too much, can you die?” No question is too dumb to ask for a kid. They want knowledge and they are always seeking understanding on how the world works. We should be seeking to discover how the kingdom of God works.  

 

If you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:2

 

5. When a child wants something he or she will not back down until they get what they want. Children are persistent to ask for what they really desire. Why are we so afraid to ask God, when he has commanded us to continually go before him? Kids get this totally!

 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

6. Kids LOVE to climb on their parents and touch them ALL the time. (my personal petpeeeeevvvvve!) God’s 1st desire was to be in total connection with us. He wants us to desire and crave his presence, he wants to touch us.

 

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11

 

7. Children are hungry and thirsty EVERY waking moment! (grrr, K- I’m totally singing the back to school song right now) Joking aside, this made me tear up. God wants us to be more childlike because he WANTS us to need him, to thirst and hunger after him. He is never annoyed when we need a snack, or more bread. He is abundant.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  John 6:35

 

 

Faith Challenge:  Instead of going before God and praying “Dear God, Or Dear Father” Pray “Hi Daddy” and rest a moment. You will be surprised how hard that is to pray but how close that is to His heart. 

 

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