Devotion: Little Children

I saw a little girl at the top of a small hill and her mom was walking away with a younger sibling. The girl called out to her mom. Her mom quickly turned and waved for this child to come with, to follow her. The child on the hill smiled the biggest smile possible and full out sprinted to her mom.

Why are we not that way with Jesus? As enthusiastic as a small child?

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

Just imagine standing alone somewhere and calling out to Jesus then have him respond by him waving to you, to run and follow Him. Shouldn’t our first reply be to express the hugest smile? But is that our reaction when we are reminded to run to the Lord? It’s not necessarily the first thing on my face when I am reminded by others that I am not doing the “job” I should be doing in my relationship with God.  I have asked others to hold me accountable in my actions except that it isn’t always fun to hear that you are lacking in any of our relationships. Missing time with the Lord breeds bad attitude especially when we are walking through trials in our life. I needed joy as I walked out of a desert this last year. God was my strength through that dry time. But as soon as the trial seemed to lessen, a battle of wills had begun in my heart.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 2 Peter 4:12, 13 NIV

I had been miserable during the previous months just in a survival mode. Reading God’s word to even get through the day, praying to make it, asking for strength and help to walk through my everyday life. When my life got easier I quit relying on God as much as I had before. Then why if my life was going better why was I still not happy? JOY! I realized I was missing godly joy. I have been missing the joy of the Lord quite a bit in the last few months. Now I am getting it back by being in the word and praying on a more consistent basis. For me it was a change of actions before a change of attitude happened. I may have not felt like doing the work God had given me to do but I started to do it anyway. My heart is changing to more of a servant’s heart and that is not me at all. I have been more loving to my family and trying to be helpful and obedient to those around me.  Just a couple of side effects of God’s amazing joy that has been popping out. 

Written by Sarah Read
 
I am a native to Salt Lake City and am glad to still call it home. My husband and I are raising a blended family with three daughters and a son.  As a recent graduate of She Speaks with Proverbs 31 Ministries, I am excited to share about the Lord through my stories. I came to know Jesus when I was five and have walked on my journey with Him ever since.