Luann Prater
"Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest." Luke 9:48 (NIV)
"Look grandma, this makes super-duper bubbles!" my grandson squealed. The new bubble gun I bought him at Cracker Barrel was indeed a marvel at propelling hundreds of soapy spheres at the touch of a button. He entertained himself for hours, shooting bubbles then chasing them across the yard.
At some point he decided catching them in his mouth might be fun, to which I warned it might make him sick. Grandpa chimed in, "That bubble might go down in your tummy and get bigger and bigger!" Matt stopped in his tracks, fixated on my husband, and replied, "Is that what happened to you grandpa?" This four-year old comment made me chuckle and then ponder.
What does God see when He looks at me? Does He see a wide-eyed child who simply believes Him? I'm afraid that innocent, uncomplicated girl got lost. And I don't think I'm alone in this. Simple faith is a rare find.
In this information age, the journey for knowledge has become the driving force in our society. As Dragnet's Sgt. Joe Friday always said, "Just the facts, ma'am." Faith gets pushed aside in exchange for internet wisdom. If you haven't been bitten by the know-it-all mentality, you simply haven't let your fingers do the walking across your keyboard! Do you want to find out how to build a house, take apart an engine, or stay up on the latest news? Google it. You can instantly become an expert in almost in field! So if God tells me to, "Go," my first instinct is to research the web for direction, instead of trusting His voice.
During a concert performance recently, our church choir wore costumes from Bible times. It struck me as I watched and saw only their faces showing, how each one had a childlike image. No one out-dressed the other. No one was thinner or heavier. No hair was perfectly styled. They all had rosy cheeks, bright smiles and joy in their eyes. The prevailing trait we find in children - innocence - shone through. I found myself wondering if that is what God sees when He looks at us, simple children.
When we come to Jesus it is critical to come like a child, innocent and amazed. My grandson simply believed his grandpa. When was the last time you simply believed God? No analyzing the situation. No studying alternative theories. Plain and simple, childlike trust in the One who created the heavens, the earth and you. Today, I want to focus on coming to Him as a child. I want to stop the grown-up worry and gaze lovingly into His Word.
Today, I want to enjoy being "the least among you all" so I can spend time with the greatest, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord, You made the heavens and the earth and all that is in it, even the brilliant minds that created computers and the Internet. Yet none can match Your wisdom and splendor! No one has the knowledge that You possess. So I lay down my quest for seeking answers from this world and exchange it for Your simple and glorious truth. Impress Your words on my heart today I pray. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do you know Him?
Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear by Max Lucado
Fresh Grounded Faith: Devotions to Awaken Your Spirit by Jennifer Rothschild
Visit with Luann on her blog
Application Steps:
Find quiet time today. Turn off the computer, the radio, and television. Silence your phone and go into a room with no noise at all. Speak out loud to the Lord. Then read His Word to hear Him answer.
Reflections:
What pulls me away from simple faith? Will I trust my grown-up life to an Almighty God who loves me as His child?
Power Verses:
Matthew 11:25-26, "At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.'" (NIV)
Isaiah 54:10, "'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has compassion on you." (NIV)
© 2009 by Luann Prater. All rights reserved.
"Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest." Luke 9:48 (NIV)
"Look grandma, this makes super-duper bubbles!" my grandson squealed. The new bubble gun I bought him at Cracker Barrel was indeed a marvel at propelling hundreds of soapy spheres at the touch of a button. He entertained himself for hours, shooting bubbles then chasing them across the yard.
At some point he decided catching them in his mouth might be fun, to which I warned it might make him sick. Grandpa chimed in, "That bubble might go down in your tummy and get bigger and bigger!" Matt stopped in his tracks, fixated on my husband, and replied, "Is that what happened to you grandpa?" This four-year old comment made me chuckle and then ponder.
What does God see when He looks at me? Does He see a wide-eyed child who simply believes Him? I'm afraid that innocent, uncomplicated girl got lost. And I don't think I'm alone in this. Simple faith is a rare find.
In this information age, the journey for knowledge has become the driving force in our society. As Dragnet's Sgt. Joe Friday always said, "Just the facts, ma'am." Faith gets pushed aside in exchange for internet wisdom. If you haven't been bitten by the know-it-all mentality, you simply haven't let your fingers do the walking across your keyboard! Do you want to find out how to build a house, take apart an engine, or stay up on the latest news? Google it. You can instantly become an expert in almost in field! So if God tells me to, "Go," my first instinct is to research the web for direction, instead of trusting His voice.
During a concert performance recently, our church choir wore costumes from Bible times. It struck me as I watched and saw only their faces showing, how each one had a childlike image. No one out-dressed the other. No one was thinner or heavier. No hair was perfectly styled. They all had rosy cheeks, bright smiles and joy in their eyes. The prevailing trait we find in children - innocence - shone through. I found myself wondering if that is what God sees when He looks at us, simple children.
When we come to Jesus it is critical to come like a child, innocent and amazed. My grandson simply believed his grandpa. When was the last time you simply believed God? No analyzing the situation. No studying alternative theories. Plain and simple, childlike trust in the One who created the heavens, the earth and you. Today, I want to focus on coming to Him as a child. I want to stop the grown-up worry and gaze lovingly into His Word.
Today, I want to enjoy being "the least among you all" so I can spend time with the greatest, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord, You made the heavens and the earth and all that is in it, even the brilliant minds that created computers and the Internet. Yet none can match Your wisdom and splendor! No one has the knowledge that You possess. So I lay down my quest for seeking answers from this world and exchange it for Your simple and glorious truth. Impress Your words on my heart today I pray. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do you know Him?
Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear by Max Lucado
Fresh Grounded Faith: Devotions to Awaken Your Spirit by Jennifer Rothschild
Visit with Luann on her blog
Application Steps:
Find quiet time today. Turn off the computer, the radio, and television. Silence your phone and go into a room with no noise at all. Speak out loud to the Lord. Then read His Word to hear Him answer.
Reflections:
What pulls me away from simple faith? Will I trust my grown-up life to an Almighty God who loves me as His child?
Power Verses:
Matthew 11:25-26, "At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.'" (NIV)
Isaiah 54:10, "'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has compassion on you." (NIV)
© 2009 by Luann Prater. All rights reserved.
Labels: God's Perspective, Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Trusting God, Waiting On God, Walking in Faith
5 Comments:
Isn't it great to get older and wiser! Great wisdom... thank you.
Yes the innocence of young children is priceless. I work with young children daily and realize however that many children's innocence is taken from them earlier and earlier. The Lord has to be concerned about this and your verse today Luke 9:48 is what I needed to hear. These children are God's reminder of where I fit in with God's plan. Thanks Luann
I liked your devotion but i don't think i completely agree with you saying "Don't study alternative theories" For if i personally would not have studied other alternative theories i would not have see how much Christianity makes sense. I would have just compiled it all together with all the other thousands of beliefs.
I get what your trying to say - and i guess i just took it the wrong way but i definitely don't think people should just except a belief b/c someone told them to. I think its great to see what's out there God will show them the right way - just as he did me!
God bless!
Thanks for the insight and thoughts!
I do have a nonspiritual comment for you and tried to leave it on your personal blog but the catche thing wasn't working correctly. You should totally submit your 3rd paragraph to Readers Digest regarding the bubbles and your grandpa! That's hilarious and it might get accepted for one of their joke columns (and even better might make a few hundred bucks Nice date night! yay!). ha ha
Anyway, thanks for being a part of Prov 31 ministries and have a blessed week!
Luann, I just want to thank you so much for allowing God to speak through you directly into my life this week.
My husband and I are embarking on a new ministry adventure of working for an organization called Apartment Life. Long story short we will be working to build community and minister to people in an apartment complex and in exchange we get really cheap rent.
Well we just interviewed last week and got news this week of where they want to place us and I, of course, turned to the internet to find out about the complex where we'd be living... and that's when my childlike faith flew right out the window. I was reading horror stories about this complex and the management and that's when like you said my "faith got pushed aside in exchange for internet wisdom."
Literally THE VERY day before I ready your devotion I was online for hours letting worry creep in. Thank you so much for this great message in God's perfect timing. After reading it I was able to turn things around and just re-trust God that he knows what he's doing and recommit to following him and listening for his still small voice to calm the storm in my heart. Thank you.
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