Being a Child Again

Introduction

“Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in.” (Matthew 18:3) TPT

Why do adults make things so complicated? Do they want people to think they are intelligent and wise? If so, they are failing miserably. In trying to understand they make things much more complex than they need to be. In trying to unravel the Gospel’s simplicity, they read things that simply are not there. Why would God, our creator, give us a Gospel we cannot follow? It would defeat His purpose. Truly the Gospel is full of mysteries and requires an absolute commitment, but that is part of the wonder that draws us closer to Him. These are things we have to continuously need to work out by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s called the renewing of our mind. Why does our mind need renewing? The answer is obvious. Our minds have been filled with garbage. Remember what we learned about computers, “Garbage in garbage out”? We need to throw the garbage out – so throw it out. Children, being young, don’t have much garbage. We need to become children again.

Notice: I am not writing on how to train a child to be a Godly adult. Scriptures on how to train a child do not apply. I am speaking of teaching an adult how to become a child of God. To do this the adult must be teachable. We should never approach God, or anyone, with the attitude “I understand what you’re talking about”. There is always something to learn along with various perspectives to learn from. I cover this in my blog “Perception” click here.  We must be teachable. Even a child can teach. My wife and I fostered children for 11 years. They taught us a lot. If we are not open to being teachable we are forever closed to the ways of God.

The Way of a Child

Children need a mother and a father. They are dependent upon them for shelter, clothing, food, and love. If any of these are missing there is a lacking in their upbringing. We, as children of God, also need to be dependent upon God for shelter, clothing, food, and love. We must become as little children always seeking our Father for all our needs. God requires this of us.

“Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:14) ESV

“This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing—everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing?  “Look at all the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they? So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life? “And why would you worry about your clothing? Look at all the beautiful flowers of the field. They don’t work or toil, and yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was robed in beauty more than one of these! So if God has clothed the meadow with hay, which is here for such a short time and then dried up and burned, won’t he provide for you the clothes you need—even though you live with such little faith? “So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require? “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. (Matthew 6:25 – 34) TPT

We can never fulfill these Scriptures as an adult full of garbage but only as a child EMPTY and dependent on his creator.

To a child everything is new and there is no object obstructing input into his conscience. He is in wonder, sucking up everything put before him. Life is an adventure, exciting, and full of awe. Children are often fearless trying out everything from a hot stove to spinach to an ice cream cone. We adults avoid what we don’t like and overindulge in what we like. Through our ignorance and mistakes, we become obedient to life and those around us who are teaching us. We become teachable, learning with “wild-eyed wonder.” Life is exhilarating. It’s fun. It’s an exploration of the unknown. A child doesn’t know what is going to happen but wants to find out. Explore the unknown. Avoid closed-mindedness, that is, avoiding things that are different just because you can’t see. You must open your eyes to see everything even though you don’t have to look at everything. The whole world is vast, and exciting, and was created for you. Don’t miss out on anything just because you are motivated by fear and are afraid to try.

How Does a Child of God Behave

A Child has the attributes of a child. Behaving like a child. Full of wonder about God. Never thinks he knows much but always seeking. Would’a, could’a, should’a, should not be in our vocabulary. If you fall, He will pick you up – always. If you’ve never fallen, you’ve never tried. When faith is too scary to explore you will never enter the adventure. You’ve never explored the things of God but only explored the sure things where you are not humiliated. Interesting thought isn’t it? Do not be afraid of being humbled. We should always stand before God as humbled, submissive, abandoned, and teachable children. A Christian, as a child of God, should have the most exciting, adventuresome life available on earth. If you are not there you are not a fully (grown) child. I am not there but I am continuously seeking.

What Happens

How Did We Accumulate so much Garbage

We should be able to answer this question. Garbage came into us at an early age. Read my paper on “Everyone is a Teacher” to get a good perspective on this. Click here.  The answer is very short. Schools, media, and people feed us all kinds of garbage. At an early age, we are innocent and believe almost everything including the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. As we grow older this changes. We believe in misinformation because it makes human sense, sounds good, and feels good. We are fed information that makes us believe in such things as “My body is my right”, and “If God is love and I love someone and want relations with them what’s wrong with that? It doesn’t make any difference if it’s a man or woman. It’s love therefore it must be God.” “If it feels good do it.” And, the list goes on. All garbage.

We start getting input from people in our surroundings. Parents, relatives, school, media, etc. telling us what we can do and what we can’t do. Those “teachers” often have no guidance themselves other than life’s experience. Many are clueless looking only for wealth, power, and pleasure through self-gratification. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone say “I’m trying to find myself”. They are God seekers but seeking in all the wrong places. They prefer to go to some Guru in Tibet rather than their corner church. They are blind and lead others down troubled paths. But not all! Those of us who are fortunate to have a righteous guide go down a different path. And there are those among us who find a way, by the wooing of the Holy Spirit, that leads down a path to righteousness. They must unlearn the old ways and become a child again enjoying the pleasure and protection of our Savior.

A Fix When the Path Becomes Troubled

Time for Alt Control Delete

What some of us need in our lives is an “Alt, Control, Delete” button. Some people, like myself, have done that. It can be a good thing. There was a time in my life when I became so overwhelmed with Church, People, jobs, and things that I needed a complete overhaul. I was a Deacon at my church, and I resigned. I was a counselor at church, I stopped counseling. My wife and I fostered many children, and we stopped. I had a “Home Group” for approximately 12 years and I gave it up. I lost my job. I took everything I had learned in Church and threw it out to start over. However, I never threw God out. I needed Him to reboot. I reread the Bible, several versions, and took my notes rather than study the footnotes of other people. I need Him to speak to me and set me straight. It worked. I began seeing things through God’s eyes. Wonder came back into my mind as the Holy Spirit began teaching me. This has not stopped. It continues, even through my writing these papers. I was Born Again and I became born again.

Now I don’t suggest everyone do what I did. It can be very dangerous. What we all need is a guide or guides and we need to learn how to follow that guide.

My Guide(s)

Now to be honest with you I needed more than one guide. God, to be sure. His Word, certainly. But, there was one person that always was by my side. My wife. I can never give her enough credit. She guided me indeed but she also tolerated me, even today. Her wisdom, which I fought many times, was straight from heaven. I am here today because of my Father and my wife.

My point is that this is not a complicated thing. We must realize God has provided all we need we just have to get rid of garbage so we can see what He has provided. We need to make the time to smell the roses. It’s always right in front of us. It’s simple. Don’t be afraid to be a child again. Ask stupid questions you were always afraid to ask because you want people to think you’re intelligent. There’s an oxymoron for you. To read about “The Journey” click here.

Believe it or not, we were not born for trials, troubles, and woe. We were born to know Him, Love Him, and Serve Him. That doesn’t mean we won’t have trials, etc. They are there to make us stronger. And they do, if we keep it simple, don’t fight it, and let Him carry us through.

Stop the macho, combative, verbose attitude. It doesn’t impress anyone except the simple-minded. The only way you can impress God is to obey.

Make Life Fun Again

Along with Jesus Himself, find a guide to help you in your walk of becoming a child again. They, like Christ, will pick you up when you fall. They will set you on the right path again. They will hold you close when you need a hug.  Love you when you’re unlovable. They will always be present, always love you, and will always have your best interest in mind.

Do something new. Hit Alt-Control-Delete if you have to. Get your input from your Father alone without outside commentaries. Don’t be afraid to be discipled. This takes humility, discipline, perseverance, and hard work. A child of God has Heaven as his objective and nothing will get in the way. Your Father’s joy will be your strength. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Believe in God Who is in you

“You must allow Him to have His way with you, staying in perfect oneness with Him.” OC This requires total abandonment (click here).

Conclusion

I overheard someone speak of me as ” innocent ” some time ago. I don’t think it was meant as a compliment but I took it as one. What an accomplishment it is to be thought of as a child and innocent. OC calls it a holy innocence. That’s what God wants and I’m working on it. I hope you do too.

“We must exercise the right of a child – the right of always being face-to-face with the Father through prayer” OC

Enough said

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.”  (Jeremiah 15:16) ESV

OC reflects quotations from Oswald Chambers