God's Thoughts about You

God's Thoughts about You

Many years ago the Lord began speaking to me at the conclusion of a Sunday evening service. It was in a very large church where the worship team continued an extended time of worship for an hour or so after the meeting each week. The children would reenter the sanctuary from the nursery and children's church. Everyone would mingle or soak in the worship or dance before the Lord. It was a very informal atmosphere.

The little ones would be climbing up and down the steps of the big circular platform, watching the musicians and investigating the equipment. Some would pretend that they were performing along with the musicians. Some would jump off the steps, or roll down them playfully. One little guy about 3 years old would challenge himself, week after week, to see just how high he could throw his baseball cap into the air and catch it as he danced with the music before the Lord.

It was a delight to watch these innocent little children, just freely expressing their unique little personalities, and celebrating their freedom, in the presence of Holy God. There was no piety, no pretense, no posturing to appear reverent, no holy facade. They were playing as children do in their Daddy God's house. It was a natural as though they were at Grampa's house. There was no religiousness in them.

The freedom that these children took for granted and the unbridled exuberance for life which they exuded was a delight for me to watch each week. There was no fear in them in the Lord's presence.

As I watched them, marveling at their innocence, and freedom to express themselves so uniquely, the Lord interrupted my thoughts.

He said, "You really delight in these little children don't you?"

I answered, "Yes, Lord. It's beautiful to watch them."

The Lord responded, by saying "That's how I see all of you. You are all just like these to me. You are delightful children to me."

Embracing that truth I began to ponder. Could it be that in our grandest Kingdom exploits, we are as little ones throwing our baseball cap in the air and catching it? Could it be when we perceive that we have made some other glorious achievement in His behalf, we are really more like that little one singing on the platform, with the big guys holding an imaginary microphone?

Could we be like that 5 year old determined to help dad repair the car? Or like little Suzie insisting on doing the dishes before she can reach the sink? Could we possibly believe that we are far more independent in our service to the Lord than what we truly are?

Early in my relationship with the Lord I was rejoicing in some kingdom exploit that I thought I had accomplished in His name. It suddenly occurred to me that He could do whatever I had done, just by His very thought. He could change the world in an instant without my assistance. Realizing that I wasn't all that big a deal, after all, I said, "Lord you don't need me. You don't need any of us. You can do all of these things without me."

He responded, "No, I don't need you. I purchased you not because I need you but because I want you."

That meant far more to me than being needed. Being wanted just for who I am. At that moment I realized that all that I do in His service, is the privilege of being His child. He delights in having me along with Him when He does Kingdom exploits and He allows me to share in the pleasure of His heart. These are precious Father daughter moments. I simply get to go to work with Daddy on some days.

Often I must remind myself of this truth when I begin to take myself too seriously. His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never see the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." ~~ Matthew 18:1-4

Perhaps we all take ourselves far too seriously in our pursuit of being good and faithful servants, to the point of striving? Perhaps, becoming like children is celebrating this life a little more, so that we can really appreciate what He has purchased in our behalf. That is freedom from condemnation, as well as, eternal life.

Perhaps, we need to reconnect with that part of our soul, that accepts our dependency as children do. Relying on His strength rather than denying our weaknesses, is certainly a part of that childlikeness He desires of us."

He spoke to me through little tykes, that were completely unaware that they were being used as His instruments. Perhaps, if we were a little more free to be children, He could speak to others through our unbridled joy, even better than we can evangelize, with our own lips.

Perhaps, in becoming more accepting of our own limitations, we might have more compassion for others. Perhaps, others who see our exuberance for life would desire to know the awesome God, that gave us such full and exciting lives.

Reveling in that childlike innocence, that He purchased for us, might even be that stealth weapon, that would overturn the powers of darkness, to establish His kingdom on earth. Did He not say that He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong?

Oh, that we could be both mature in our disciplines and still retain the childlike expectation, and trust in Daddy. Oh, that we could be both mature in obedience and still full of childlike wonder. Oh, that we might be mature in accepting the truth when we are just a little too short to reach the sink, but childlike in dependance upon Daddy, to lift us up to accomplish the task.

Oh, that we might return to being just the child that He created us to be and not pretend to be more mature than we truly are. For in our weakness He is strong.

It is my belief, that the greatest anointing for any ministry is in the believer's dependence upon God. Once one is convinced that he can do nothing without God, God's power is then made manifest that no one can boast in himself but boast only in God.

Holy Spirit, come! Teach us, Lord, how to become as little children. Take away the pretenses and the posturing of imagined strength. Come and take from us the pride that would cause us to esteem ourselves higher than we are. Pour out your perfect love that will wash away our fear of weakness and dependency. Remove from us the pride that results from our striving. Melt away the religiosity. Empower us to cast our reputations on the Cross. Forgive us for that pride and fear of man, that motivates us to strive, rather than rest in your accomplishments. Help us, Lord, not to get out ahead of You, but to lean on Your wisdom and not our own understanding. Teach us how to be free again, as we were when we were children. Teach us how to walk in the truth of who you created us to be. Let our boast be of you, oh God. And not in ourselves. We are willing to lay down our striving and rest in your provision. Show us how to celebrate the innocence You imputed to us by the Cross. And put the enemy to shame, as we glory in what You have done for us, not what we have done for You. Your Kingdom come in us, that Jesus may be glorified in all that we do. Let us see ourselves as You see us, Lord. We want to walk in that innocence once again as your cherished child. Thank you, Lord!