Don't Lose Your Childlike Faith

You're listening to the My Morning Devotional Podcast, and today is episode 1583. Today's Devo is called Don't Lose Your Childlike Faith.

Hey there, we're the Alessies, a ministry family working together in our church in Miami, Florida. And if you're like us, when days get busy and to-do lists get longer, it can be hard to find devotional time. That's why we've partnered with our friend Allison to produce a five-minute daily dose of heaven. This is the My Morning Devotional Podcast.

It's possible to get older in God without actually getting softer, simpler, and more trusting in God. And I think as you can see this week, we're kind of on a theme about making sure that our hearts are soft, trusting in the Lord, staying in our lane, staying focused on what God has called us to. So here's your scripture for today: Matthew 19, 14. Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Now, if you're like me for years, I did not understand that verse. Let the little children come to Jesus. Maybe you saw that poster on the wall in Sunday school that had Jesus sitting on a rock and all the little kids around his legs. And we think that just means, I don't know, that children are welcome to come around Jesus. But the truth is there's a verse for you and I that Jesus wants us to understand because he puts it in regards to the kingdom of heaven. And he says, Let me say it again, let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Now, we tell you to grow up. The word of God wants us to mature in God. Everybody around you is like checking you for uh how mature you are, or you still immature. And yet Jesus tells us to come as little children. This powerful statement is something that we have to get clarity on because children are trusting, they're dependent, they're open, and they're uncomplicated. They don't really think before they react. They come in childlike faith. I have four beautiful grandchildren, more on the way, and the three that are toddlers, I see this in them every day. The childlike faith to trust, the childlike faith to just say, Where's Jesus? He's in my heart. They don't question it, they don't doubt it. And that's what Jesus is telling us that the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who come to him like little children. They just accept it. Now, they don't come trying to impress him, they don't come in the works that sometimes we come in. If I work hard enough, Jesus will accept me. They come because they know they need him. Maybe that's how you need to come to him today. Just tell him, I need you. Lord, I need you right now. That's a sure way to soften your heart and to open up your heart to trust him more. Because if we're not careful, life can strip us of that. It's very attempt with pain and frustration and discouragement is to take away that childlike faith. Pain makes us cynical. Oh, wow. Disappointment can make us guarded. See, it starts to harden our heart. Delay can make us skeptical. We think he'll never do it. It's not possible. There's not enough fish in the sea for me. Leadership can make us self-reliant and familiar, familiarity, that's a hard word, can make us lose wonder. But Jesus says the posture of the kingdom is still childlike faith. It's the original design, and he's never changed the original design. We go back to the beginning of what Jesus' intent was, what God's intent was for his people. And here's some truths for you today that you can go back to. Number one, childlike faith is not childish faith. It's not immature faith. It's trusting faith. It's dependent faith. It's saying, Lord, I need you and my heart is open to you. Number two, God is not asking you to impress him. Oh, if that's one thing that I think women really deal with is the works-based faith. We think we have to impress God. We have to come to God with some kind of gift or talent. But he's not asking you to impress him. He's asking you to trust him. You don't have to perform your way into his presence. And number three, the longer you walk with God, the more tender your faith should be, not more cynical. Maturity in Christ should deepen trust, not replace trust. So here's our prayer today. Jesus, restore childlike faith in my heart, where life maybe has made me skeptical or cynical or not trust you. Lord, I don't want to be overly self-sufficient. I want to rely on you. I want to put all of my dependence, all of my hope, all of my faith, all of my trust in you. And I want to walk closely with you today. Thank you for making yourself real to me through this verse. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen and Amen. Hey, here's your closing challenge. Come to God today without performing, without having to do, without having to present. Just be honest. Tell him you need him today. Be dependent upon him. Just come. Hope you have a great day.

So there you have it, your five minute daily dose of heaven. Thank you so much for tuning in today. We pray these devotionals empower you to take on your day. If you found value in this devotional, share it with a friend. Leave a comment or review for us on the app you're using right now. Until tomorrow, we pray that your latte is strong, but your love for Jesus is stronger.