Ministry

The Heart of a Child: Learn to Pray
by

The Heart of a Child: Learn to Pray

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is the final day of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day thirty-two with an important reminder to let God’s Word teach you to pray as a way of life.

Learn to Pray

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’“
Luke 11:1 (NIV)

How do you view prayer?  How much is prayer a part of your life?  Are there things that you don’t pray about?  Why?  Does prayer feel as natural to you as breathing?  If not, why not?  Do you ever feel that the prayers of someone else are more effective than yours?  Why?  In a healthy relationship, what do little children tend to talk about?  Would becoming “like a little child” before God change the way you pray?  In what ways?  Who could you learn from about prayer?  Who could you teach about a lifestyle of prayer?

If children trust you, they will often volunteer information that you may not even want to know.  Their honesty and transparency comes from a pure heart that hasn’t been taught there are some things you just don’t talk about.  It is that heart that I go to when I want to learn, and teach, about prayer.  Somewhere along the line, many of us have been taught proper discretion in our conversations with others and somehow we have applied that to the things we will talk to God about.  A lifestyle of prayer recognizes that nothing is hidden from God and frees us to be in communication with Him about everything.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help them know His understanding of whatever is on their mind.  Pray that He would help you to examine yourself for anything you’ve been afraid to talk with Him about.  Pray that He would increase your desire to build your relationship with Him through the conversation we call prayer.  Pray that God would surround you with people that you can learn from, and that you can instruct, in a lifestyle of prayer.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Walk In Truth
by

The Heart of a Child: Walk In Truth

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is day thirty-one of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day thirty-one with an important reminder to let God’s truth be your guide for every aspect of life.

Know the Greatness of God

“It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.“
3 John 1:3-4 (NIV)

How do you determine what is true?  Is there a difference between knowing what is true and walking in the truth?  Explain.  How truthful are you?  Would the people who know you the best agree?  Would God agree?  Why?  How much effort do you put into pursuing truth?  Does your pursuit of truth inspire others to seek God’s truth?  How do you feel when those you have instructed no longer live in the way they were taught?  Why?  Does your life bring joy to the people who shared the truth of God with you?

In a culture that seems to thrive on half-truths, deceptions, and straight out lies, choosing to walk in the truth can be a very lonely path.  As children of God, His desire is that we would not only know His truth, but that we would apply it and live it in everything we do.  Our adherence to the truth of God’s Word sets an example that those being born into Christ will take notice of.  Just as we want people to accept the instruction we give them, we rob God of joy when we choose to not walk in the truth that He has given.  Our greatest joy can be had when we see people walking in truth because of our example.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help you examine how diligently you pursue His truth.  Pray for the courage to proclaim Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life” in a world that rejects absolute truth.  Pray that your obedience to the truth would bring joy to those you have learned from.  Pray that the children around you would learn of God’s truth from both your words and your actions.  Pray that you would be filled with joy as you see children walking in the truth.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Know the Greatness of God
by

The Heart of a Child: Know the Greatness of God

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is day thirty of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day thirty with an important reminder to know the greatness of God and then live according to His definition of greatness.

Know the Greatness of God

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.“
1 John 4:4 (NIV)

What makes a person great in the eyes of the world?  In your eyes?  In God’s eyes?  What ways are those responses similar or different?  Why?  Do you believe greatness comes from a person’s physical body or from something inside them?  Explain.  Has your view of what makes a person great changed from when you were a child?  In what ways?  Have others ever considered you greater than you view yourself?  What do they see that you don’t?  How will knowing God’s greatness, and seeing it in His children, change the way you live?

Ask most people what makes a person great and you will likely receive as many answers as the number of people you ask.  Some view greatness based on physical, mental, or even social ability.  Others see it as a product of the influence you have on people.  God actually defines His view of greatness when He says, “Whoever would be greatest of all must become servant of all.”  When God’s Spirit lives within us, not only should we recognize the greatness of God but we ought to be exhibiting that greatness as we serve others.  When we view God from the eyes of His child, we find the greatness that we need.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help you recognize His greatness dwelling within people.  Pray for the courage to understand greatness from God’s perspective.  Pray that you would be an example to the children around you as you live in God’s greatness by serving others.  Pray for the humility to serve God, and serve people, when the world wants to convince you that you ought to be served by others.  Pray for a child-like heart that can see the greatness of God.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Know Real Love
by

The Heart of a Child: Know Real Love

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is day twenty-nine of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day twenty-nine with an important reminder to let God’s love shape both your words and your actions.

Know Real Love

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.“
1 John 3:18 (NIV)

How do you know if someone loves you?  If someone says they love you but they don’t act like it, do you believe them?  Why?  What does genuine love look like?  What is your criteria for the answer given?  In what ways has God expressed His love for you?  Do you believe Him?  Why?  Do you think the children (of any age) around you believe you love them?  Why?  When you have been corrected, by people or by God, has that been done in ways that you knew you were still loved?  How?  How will you love others in a way that they will know it to be genuine?

It seems that words only go so far when it comes to expressing love.  We can say it all we want, but if our actions do not show love to others they will soon doubt our words.  Children seem to be especially vulnerable as they try to determine if our words are true.  Training up a child in the way they should go will generally require a good amount of correction.  God’s training and discipline of His children is always done in the context of His love.  When our service and sacrifice for others remains visible in the midst of correction, we help them know genuine love.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help you know the depth of His love for you and for them.  Pray that you would learn to love others with deeds and actions, in addition to words.  Pray that you would pay attention to God’s discipline of you so you would know how to love others even in the midst of necessary correction.  Pray for the courage to love fully, just as Christ has loved you.  Pray for eyes that would see those who feel unloved and then pray for the wisdom to love them with the genuine love of Christ.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Live Obediently
by

The Heart of a Child: Live Obediently

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is day twenty-eight of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day twenty-eight with an important reminder to live as children who are obedient to God.

Live Obediently

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.“
1 Peter 1:14 (NIV)

How obedient are you?  Why?  Would the people who spend the most time with you agree?  Why?  What level of obedience do you expect from others?  Does it differ depending on who the “others” are?  Why?  How much disobedience to you find acceptable in your own life?  In the lives of others?  How does knowing that something is right affect your desire to do it?  Why?  How does love change your desire to be obedient to someone?  Does it change how you view the disobedience of someone?  How?

Life is filled with rules, laws, and instructions that each of us have to choose our level of obedience to.  Often our expectations of obedience by others exceeds our own practice of obeying.  As Christians, we expect children to obey their parents because God says so but our lifestyle may not always reflect our obedience to God even though He calls all of His children to the same obedience.  Fear of punishment can be a motivation to obey, but God’s expectation is that we would be obedient because it is the right thing to do for people who love Him.  When we obey because it is right, we help others learn obedience.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help you evaluate your own level of obedience.  Pray for the humility needed to model an obedient life that others can see.  Pray that your love for God would compel you to do what is right.  Pray that God’s practice of forgiveness would be your example when the children (of any age) around you fail in obedience.  Pray for the courage to do what is right, and lead others in that direction, even when it seems no one else does.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Live In the Light
by

The Heart of a Child: Live In the Light

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is day twenty-seven of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day twenty-seven with an important reminder to live as children of the light.

Live In the Light

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.“
Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV)

What things do you typically associate with light?  How about with darkness?  Why?  Which do you prefer?  Why?  Do you know children who are afraid of the dark?  Are you one of those children?  What things help to dispel, or at least lessen, that fear?  Do you always want light to expose everything that is hidden?  Why?  Does being reminded that the light will always expose things hidden by darkness influence the choices you make when it appears no one is watching?  Why?  How does God’s love make being exposed by His light a desired thing?

Many children are afraid of the dark because it hides the reality of a safe environment, and may even contain unseen dangers.  When we live as children of the light, we allow God’s light to assure us of the safety He provides and to reveal to us the dangers of the world we live in.  Even while the light may expose our sin, we can be confident that God’s love is great enough to offer forgiveness and restoration when we turn to Him.  Choosing to walk in the light not only helps us to see where we are going, that choice serves to remind us that we don’t walk this life alone.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help them pursue a life that is lived in the light of His Word.  Pray that you would trust God enough to seek His light both for clarity and correction.  Pray that you would know true freedom from living in the light and that you would apply that freedom to those who need to move from darkness into light.  Pray for the courage to change when God’s light exposes that need.  Pray for humility as you shine God’s light without condemnation.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Imitate God
by

The Heart of a Child: Imitate God

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is day twenty-six of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day twenty-six with an important reminder to live a life which imitates your Father in heaven.

Imitate God

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.“
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

Have you ever visited the reenactment of an event or seen a replica of a historical item?  Why would a person do that?  Have you ever tried to imitate someone?  Why?  Were you successful?  What makes you want to imitate someone?  Does the level of someone’s love for you influence how much you want to be like them?  Why?  Do the people closest to you ever say you look, act, and/or sound just like your parents?  Are they right?  If you could choose one characteristic of your life that you would want others to imitate, what would it be?  Why?

The value of the reenactment of an event, or replica of an item, in learning about the real thing is dependent on the accuracy of the imitation.  As His children, God calls us to imitate Him because not only is it good for us, doing so is what allows the people around us to see Him in us.  When we encourage the children around us, and the child within us, to imitate God, we show the world whose child we really are.  It is God’s immense love, demonstrated through His Son, Jesus, that ought to motivate us to be filled with a great desire to imitate Him.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to fill them with a desire to imitate Him.  Pray that you would be a student of God’s Word where He reveals Himself through its pages, as well as through His Son and His Spirit.  Pray that you would live a life worth imitating as those watching you see Jesus represented well.  Pray for a spirit of discernment that leads you to imitate the things of God you see in a person rather than simply imitating that person.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Put Away Childish Things
by

The Heart of a Child: Put Away Childish Things

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is day twenty-five of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day twenty-five with an important reminder to remain child-like even while putting away childish things.

Put Away Childish Things

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.“
1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

When was the last time someone told you to grow up?  Why?  What is the difference between childish ways and child-like actions?  Is the difference more about the action or the attitude?  Explain.  How does the normal growth from infancy to maturity relate to what should happen after we are born into God’s family?  What are some things that keep people from growing up?  Are there things you hold on to that God would view as childish?  What are they?  What should you do about it?  What will you do?

We typically don’t fault an infant for crying when it is hungry or in need of something.  We understand, and hopefully teach better responses, when they take what they want with no regard for others.  However, when they carry that type of behavior into adolescence and beyond, we consider the selfishness to be very childish.  When God instructs us to put away our childish ways, the starting place is usually with our attitudes.  When we replace the childish attitudes of selfishness and entitlement with the child-like attitudes of sharing and generosity, we find the child within us grows toward maturity.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to give you patience with them and an understanding of their process of growth.  Pray that the childish things in their life, and yours, would be identified so they can be put away.  Pray for wisdom in knowing how to keep a child-like faith while putting aside childish ways.  Pray for a spirit that longs for a maturity that seeks the good of others.  Pray for the humility necessary to both change and gently guide others to growth.

In prayer,

Tom