We are all the children of the Almighty. To be clear, those who are rescued are actually God’s offspring. He created us all, and even if some of his children are still wandering in the desert, he considers them his children. God will never abandon what he has made in order to commune with them.
It is critical that we not take our childlike spirit for granted. We can’t keep saying with our tongues that we’re old, that it’s too late because we’re not young, or that it’s for kids, not for adults. Your lips must be brought into submission to God’s word. He claims we are his children. He sees no signs of aging, decrepitude, or infirmity. God sees us as the spiritual children we are. We must return to remind ourselves that we are still young at heart and mind. We have the imagination to believe that we can do anything and learn to be venerable so that we may learn to trust fully again. The word says to protect our hearts. That is always going to help us to navigate with consciousness and with sober-mindedness. When I say learn to trust, I mean to fully trust God and trust the process of being like a child so we can hear, see and know that we can do everything through Jesus Christ, who strengthens us.
God is extremely clear when it comes to children. He gives a perfect example of what a child is, how the child conducts, and how their innocence helps them to trust without reservation. This is a very tender and sensitive moment for children. In Matthew 18:1-5 it tells us that the disciples came to Jesus, saying, who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Then Jesus called a little child to him, set him in the midst of them, and said, assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven; therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me.
It is fascinating that humility is constantly presented in God’s word. Consider this for a moment. There is a significance to humility that God wants us to comprehend and grasp. Humility is defined in the Bible as the fear of the Lord Proverbs 22:4. To be humble is to be face down in the dirt, submitting to the authority of another, without personal pride. In Greek it refers to making oneself low or close to the ground. So the word of God tells us in Matthew 23:11-12, that whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humble himself will be exalted. So basically, when you have spent time with the Lord with open hands and a receiving heart, only then will you be humbled for God to maneuver however he pleases. That demonstrates the peace and quietness of your spirit and soul joining together to be like Mary when she sat at Jesus’ feet like a child yearning to be educated and fed with the living water who is Jesus Christ. So, as you can see, humility can be our most powerful ally. We must obtain this family.
God wants us to have the spirit of a kid and the heart of a child so that he might be the driver of our soul and spirit. To be like a child, you must reintroduce your mind to becoming the childlike character that is so ready to be obedient because of the innocence within that; God can truly move in us and through us to bring forth the path that he wants us to be on. So when he gives instructions, direction, and guidance, we will do it instead of complaining and allowing the world to taint us so that we block God from having full access to our childlike character. In the word of God, it tells us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:4-6. There it comes again: childlike humility devoid of self-righteousness and vanity. God desires complete surrender of our hearts so that the soul within us might bear fruit that will nourish us.
God doesn’t mess around with his words. His statements are always strategic. It has a reason, a purpose to teach, prompt, and guide us to what is next, what needs to be done, to prepare, to be positioned, and to execute when he gives the green light. It is critical that we, as God’s children, do not allow anything to come between us and God. Matthew 19:13-15 tells us that the little children were brought to him that he might put his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, let the little children come to me and don’t forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them and departed from there. We know that a lot of life’s hustle and bustle will stop us from going to God. There will be people of God who will also prevent your blessing by their mere words of negativity. Jesus rebuked the disciples for hindering the process of what is truly important to God and that his love for his children keeps us knowing that he truly loves us and his grace abounds. We are to walk by grace and truth. Family stay focused on what is right and true. Your child-like spirit needs to be rejuvenated, revamped and restored only than we will truly be in the heavenly places.
Family, we must follow God’s instructions for raising and guiding our children. They are valuable to God. They certainly are a blessing to us. They are our responsibilities, and we will be held accountable to God for how we raised our children, what we taught them, how we spent time guiding them, how we conducted ourselves in our homes, praying over them, and teaching them that they have a Father in heaven who loves them and has a plan for them. We must be aware of what they see, hear, and learn at school. We need to know what interests them and who are the friends that they are surrounded with. We need to lead our children in the path of righteousness. We are to install the word of God so that it will not depart from them. We need to pray over them. We will always be in warfare for our children. They are the future. We need to listen to our children because God will use them to speak to us, because they have a voice, and they deserve to be heard and respected. It is vital for our children to know that we have them covered all around In the name of Jesus. The word of God tells us in Proverbs 22:6, train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. Psalms 127:3-5 tells us that children are a heritage from the Lord. As parents we are told by the word of God that we are to discipline our children as God does with us. Hebrews 12:7. Family, please don’t take this and misunderstand what is being said. If we spank our children, it does not mean we are abusing them.
Feel free to do your parental duties. Please, please, please, let’s get back to basics. How many of us got a spanking, and we came out okay? Disciplining your children does not mean abusing them. By disciplining them, you are rearing them on what is right and wrong. Only an uncaring parent will let their child do whatever they want without reproduction. We need to teach them manners and teach them how to conduct themselves. As parents, we should not let them do whatever they want. I am sorry, who is the parent in that house? Last time I checked, the parent was the parent, and the child was the child. This world has tainted every good thing that is from above. We, as believers, should stand up for what is right and true. Remember, we have to answer to God, not man. If we cannot discipline our children, we will truly lose them to society because the foundation was not built, rooted, and grounded from home. The child that has no discipline as they grow up, it will be challenging to teach them what they should have been taught from jump.
As my Bishop, Bishop Ulmer used to say, it’s tight, but it’s right. That is why you teach them when they are young: whatever you do, they will mimic and absorb what they see, hear, and are taught at home. In Hebrews 12:6 says, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives. Leave a blessed legacy for your children, not a curse. Be the parent that leads by example. Family, please be careful who you leave your children with. It is vital and crucial. Just because it’s family or a close friend, it does not mean they can be accountable to your children’s well-being. Please use wisdom. Our children are trusting us to make the right choice and decisions on their behalf. Continually have consistency in their lives to develop them to take the road less traveled.
Here are prayers that you can pray over your children:
Blessing for Obedience
Deuteronomy 28 says, Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:
Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.
Blessed shall be the [a]fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord [b]swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
Proverbs 2:1-9 says, My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
Discretion will preserve you;
John 10:27-28 says, Lord I pray my child would listen to your still small voice. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hands.
Psalm 23 says, The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in]green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.