Have faith like a Child

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” – Hebrews 10:36-38

You can make up a story for a child and they will believe and run with it. The thing that the child is looking for is who the story is coming from. Do they trust that person? It could be a parent or teacher. Or it could be a character from their favourite cartoon. If they trust the person sharing the story they will believe it and act like it’s true. When it comes to adults, we have to believe when God puts something in our spirits. We have to believe that He is able to do it. Sometimes it’s so big that it’s hard to believe but that’s because it will take God to bring it to pass. But we need to remember the one who spoke it to us and trust God to bring it to pass.

Imagine like a child

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. – Mark 11:22-24

If a child heard Jesus say this I think he would close their eyes and picture themselves picking up a mountain and throwing it into the sea. There are a few spiritual principles that are involved with what Jesus mentions in this verse but at the very basic level, can you imagine something that you think is impossible happening. Can you close your eyes and see it happening in your mind. When God plants a thought for something big in your mind can you imagine it happening. This is the first step in believing for something impossible to be made possible through God.

Praise like a child

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. – Psalms 150:1-2

Music is powerful and moves people regardless of what kind of music. Children are really amazing for this. If they hear a song that they like they will sing, get up and dance and do it like nobody else is on the room. We need to be free to worship during a church service or wherever you are when God touches your heart. As most people get older we begin to get self conscious and aware of what’s going on around us. We think about what people will think of they look at us. This hinders our worship and we don’t fully express ourselves like a child would when their favourite song comes on. Think about this the next time you are in church.

Ask like a child

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! – Matthew 7:7-11 NIV

Children will say what’s on their heart when it is on their heart. When we go to God in prayer, this is our opportunity to fellowship with him and bring our request to him in faith. If you need something God already knows. I believe God allows us to have needs and puts desires in our hearts so that we have something to apply our faith to and bring to him in prayer. If a child needs something they ask right away. Most of the time it doesn’t matter what you are doing or what’s going on. They will ask and we need to remember God is waiting for us to ask him as well.

Follow their parents voice like a child

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. – John 10:3-5

A young child will hold their parent hands until they are able to walk on their own. As children grow that time of hand holding ends and children learn to recognize their parents voice. They are not only able to pick out their parents calling them from other voices but they will even be able to identify the tone in the voice. Likewise we need to mature as Christians to where we recognize Gods voice directing us even when there may be distractions all around. Learning how to shut out the noise and hear his voice direct us.

A child will trust their parents

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me! – Matthew 14:25-30

Because of the relationship that children have with their parents, they trust them more than anything. I’m sure any parents listening may remember encouraging their toddler to go down the slide by themselves. And when they did it their child loved it. The same should be applied to us when God speaks to us. We need to trust him as he encourages us to step out of the boat of our comfort zone. God is so faithful that even if you need confirmation, he will give it to you and then encourage you to step out and do something amazing like Peter did here by walk on water.

Have excitement like a child

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. – Psalms 95:1-3

I remember when I was young I was always excited when I saw my dad driving around the corner from work in the evening. Likewise I see my son acting the same way when my wife pulls into the driveway. Children genuinely miss their parents and are excited to see them return. The same should be true with us when we go into the house of the Lord. We should be excited and in expectation for a great time in his presence. We should be in expectation for an amazing time in Gods presence.