Glad to be back after a few days preparing for Design for Life 1.3 (final message in that series…God Rocked it out on Sunday! Praise God!
About two weeks ago my youngest daughter (Addie) was sitting in her recliner (a child sized one for 50 lbs or less) talking to me about random things. Then she heard Ash and I start to discuss dinner.
So Addie said, “We have enough food, right?”. I said, “Yes sweetie”. She said, “We always have enough food, right?” Again I said, “yes, God takes good care of us”.
Third times, a charm. She says, “Dad, we have enough food right?”
So I walked over to her recliner and knelt down to rub noses with her, and said, “Sweetie, come over to the couch and chat with me.” So we walked over to the couch and I pulled her up into my lap and rested my cheek on the top of her head. As I did this, I began to explain that mommy and daddy discuss how much money we want to spend on things, because we want to be a good steward. I then explained that God blesses us by taking care of our needs. Finally, I spent a few minutes building her up and praising her for how good she has been doing in dancing, cleaning her room, and learning new things. Then as I was putting her back down on the ground I told her beautiful and smart she was, and that God had such a wonderful destiny for her life as she grew into a smart, intelligent, beautiful young women! She said, “When I get bigger, right?” (A common discussion at my house)
Well, later that day I was in my office talking with God about something’s. That is when God reminded me of my discussion with my daughter earlier that morning. I immediately, was reminded specifically about how the conversation ended. It ended with me speaking life over my daughters future, and her receiving it without question. Well, she did question if it was when she got bigger, sort of. (She ends 80% of things with ,Right? )
During this time, I just began to understand that God wanted me to accept somethings He had been explaining to me in the same way Addie accepted my words of live over her future. I was supposed to accept it without question, not knowing when or how, but the fact that FATHER said it. You see Addie does not question if I am right or not, she simply wanted to know is this now or the future? “When I am bigger, right?”.
Jesus describes this type of situation in Mark 10:13-16
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Jesus is describing that we should receive the Kingdom of God in the same manner as a child. Not that we should become like Children, but that we should receive the Kingdom of God like children.
Sometimes God wants to sit us in His lap and just tell us about His plans for us, and to listen to Him talk about His Kingdom. Basically to act like a 3 year old girl listening and reacting to her Earthly father, when our Heavenly Father is speaking to us. Here are the things God showed me through Addie.
- Trusting that what is being said is 100% true with out doubt!
- To be straightforward with our questions. Addie did not care about money or cost, she just wanted me to tell her there was enough food. Sometimes we get carried away with the why and how. Addie did not care about that, and when Father God tells me something, I should not be either.
- Addie obeyed my every word fully. When I called her to me, she ran expectantly to sit with me. It started though with me getting down on her level and rubbing noses. You see Father God is trying to pour out His love on you. Are you rubbing noses back or turning away?
- To live life with a sense of Awe and Wonder! You see, Addie was tuned into every word I was saying. She was in awe of the words I was speaking. I was speaking life over her, and she was taking in what her daddy was saying for all it was worth. Are you?
My final thought is this: I expect my children to act this way when I want to speak with them to speak life over them, why should I think that God would expect anything less of me?
Is there something God is trying to teach you through your children?
Has God taught you something recently through a child’s eyes?
Posted by kevinjbradford 