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Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14
Why is it we adults have to lose the innocence of youth? Why do we lose our trust in others, and create a wall of self-protection that often keeps us living within the prisons of our own minds? When we become children of God, Jesus instructs us to return to the innocence of our youth. He wants us to trust Him with total abandonment and joy, free from the worries and concerns that can so easily dominate our lives (especially since most of what we worry about are things we cannot change!). Being free from concerns is not the same thing as abandoning responsibilities. It is learning to tell the difference so we can give our concerns to the Lord
I remember when my children were young, they jumped out of the bed each day with such enthusiasm anticipating what activities they could enjoy that day. They did not worry about what they would eat or whether they would have clothes to wear. They had a home where they knew that everything that belonged to their parents belonged to them as well. They trusted their parents without hesitation and depended on their love at all times. A Christian who will come to Jesus with this kind of freedom and trust will experience an abundance of love, joy, and peace each day.
To know the abundant life Jesus offers, we need to stop protecting ourselves so much, for Christ is our defense. We must stop trying to worry about providing for ourselves, for Christ is our provider. The path back to innocence and child-like trust is risky and sometimes scary, but it begins with allowing God to be our Father and let Him provide all we need.
With regular obedience to the Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, lean not on your own understanding. Instead, lean on the love of your Heavenly Father (Proverbs 3:5-6). You will
rediscover the amazing joy of being absolutely free from concern. And you may even regain the joy of your youth.
Heavenly Father, Help me grow up before I grow old. Help me to become more trusting, more innocent, more willing to follow, more ready to express joy. Help me to lean on you with childlike faith. Amen.
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