Have you ever heard the phrase, “I wanna be a kid again”?
I hear this phrase often when adults refer to the absence of bills, stress, and major responsibilities that children have.
Hmmm....that would be nice in some ways.
Interestingly, the Lord is beckoning us to become like children again—not for the aforementioned reasons. Nor in terms of returning to the little wisdom, knowledge, and discernment we had as children.
The Lord is wanting us to become like children again through our disposition towards Him.
“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
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Recently, while at the park with my kiddos, I observed my three-year-old and twenty-month-old running on the asphalt.
Their expressions pinpointed a joy and a looseness that I craved.
Their movements lacked a sense of awareness and need for perfection that I coveted.
They simply ran.
Coats hanging half off. Arms swinging awkwardly. Feet shuffling this way and that.
When they ran, I didn't see worry etched across their faces. I didn't see doubt. I saw very little self-consciousness.
Instead, I witnessed a beauty within their displayed confidence in simply being able to run.
I saw freedom, y’all.
As an adult, I’ve learned the social cues, the proper responses, and the ability to maintain control in both movement and word.
I’ve learned the right moments to laugh, the perfect moments to smile, and the appropriate gestures to make in order to appear mature.
I don't run with the sense of freedom my children possess.
Yet, when I come to the throne of mercy and of grace, I sense the Holy Spirit beckoning me to strip off my clothing and to allow His presence to burn away that which I most want others to see—my very adult-like exterior shell.
When He does so, I feel naked and exposed. My eyes suddenly become open to the wickedness that lays in my heart, and I become ashamed. He reveals my hidden thoughts and my hidden motives. The “adult” in me wants to quickly put my clothes back on. I want to leave His presence and come back with thicker clothing—harder to remove.
I find justifications.
I deflect.
I push away- afraid of the light that burns away the carnal. I frantically look for the strands of thread that I think are somewhat clean.
But right before I resort to running away all together, God's manifest presence overwhelms. Suddenly, I'm reminded of what it feels like to be a child again.
I'm reminded of the inexpressible joy and freedom obtained in His Presence when I relinquish my wants and desires through surrender and trust.
He's a Good Good Father.
I remember the warmth....yes, the warmth when I replace my substandard clothing in exchange for His royal clothing of righteousness.
Why do I forget this feeling? Why is it so hard to answer the call when God says, “Come to me, Jessica, like a child?”
Because in every part of my life, I’ve tried to hide being like a child. I’ve mistaken maturity for a lack of excitement, for a lack of making mistakes, for a lack of being vulnerable to exposing that I’m fallen and in desperate need of a Savior. For the sake of being mature, I mask pain. I find remedies.
Why do I do this??
I’ve learned that there are little avenues in life in which one can appear weak, incompetent, unstable...and broken—in need of assistance.
Ohhhhh…But there is one. It's in His Presence.
Children are dependent. Despite their obvious inadequacies, to others and to even themselves, they are still able to run freely in the fields of the unknown, completely comfortable. Why? I think it’s because they know that they still have time to grow. I think as long as they know that there is One who knows the way, they rest in simply enjoying the ride.
Prayer: Make us like children, Abbah. May Your Holy Presence burn away the fake clothes that we wish to put on in order to cover the scars, weaknesses, and even our own wickedness. We stand before you naked—in full belief that if we are Your children, You clothe us with Your own clothes of righteousness. Clothes that can never be removed, replaced, or altered. Make us like children again, where we can run through the fields with You, unashamed, and in full trust that the work that You began in us..You will complete.
I challenge you to pray to Him as a child, in complete need of the Father—knowing that He already knows of your your sin, your impure thoughts, your impure motives—and yet He still loves. His presence is the safest for confession and repentance. He’s a Good Good Father.
Confess sin as sin in His presence and be oh so thankful for the reality of Christ’s forgiveness. Be oh so thankful that as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed your sins from you. Be oh so thankful for your imputed righteousness. Be oh so thankful that YOU ARE the righteousness of Christ. YOU are a co-heir with Christ! YOU are wrapped in His glory. YOU ARE a new creation! You ARE already seated with Christ in heavenly places.
Simply come to Him and don’t be ashamed of your great need to do so. In doing so, You will experience the utmost freedom. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). “
Blog Post Inspired from the following passage:
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”
My sexy husband and our son.
