Ministry

The Heart of a Child: Put Away Childish Things
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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  

The Heart of a Child: Respond to God’s Call
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The Heart of a Child: Respond to God’s Call

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-four 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-four with an important reminder to respond appropriately to God’s call.

Respond to God’s Call

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.’“
John 1:12-13 (NIV)

Are there certain invitations that you are more likely to accept than others?  Why?  What makes an invitation “acceptance worthy” to you?  Have you ever been invited to an event that you knew was way above what you deserved?  How did the invitation make you feel?  Did you accept it?  When you have an open invitation to bring others with you, do you?  Why?  How much do you want others to enjoy the best things you have been able to experience in life?  How has responding to God’s calling impacted your desire for others to know Him?

I have had opportunity to do ministry with people that I felt were way ahead of me in just about every way possible.  Being invited to join them was both a great privilege and very humbling.  Many times when we share God’s calling of people to Himself, the initial response may be one of unworthiness.  Yet God makes it clear that His invitation and promises are for everyone, the “whosoever” part of John 3:16!  As we work and interact with children of all ages, our presentation of the gospel with our words and life ought to lead them to respond to God’s call.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help them recognize, and respond to, His calling.  Pray that you would understand the wonder of God calling people to Himself.  Pray for the humility needed to respond to a calling you don’t deserve.  Pray about how you will be involved in helping children know that God’s calling is for them.  Pray that your response to God’s calling would be shared with the children around you, even as the child within you accepts it.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Live As God’s Child
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The Heart of a Child: Live As God’s Child

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-three 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-three with an important reminder to live as God’s child.

Live As God’s Child

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.“
John 1:12-13 (NIV)

What are some values, qualities, expectations, or characteristics that represent the family you belong to?  How well do you reflect them?  Are there attributes that others see in your life that identify you as coming from a specific family?  How would you describe God?  What are His characteristics that you appreciate the most?  What are some benefits that you normally expect to experience as part of a family . . . especially as a child in that family?  What does living as God’s child mean to you in terms of both responsibility and privileges?  Why?

Like it or not, people that know your parents tend to have certain expectations of you based on whose child you are.  When we claim God as our Father, people who know God, and even those who don’t, have certain expectations of what a child of God should live like.  But it is not just people.  As you read God’s Word you find He has set forth the standard for how a child of God ought to live.  Living as God’s child gives us a combination of great responsibility and great privilege.  When people observe how we live, there ought to be a family resemblance to our Father.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to assure them of their value as His Child.  Pray that you would live as a godly example of what a child of God should look like.  Pray for the humility to lead others toward a life that seeks to imitate Jesus in both attitude and action.  Pray that each child would know the joy of living as the child of a Father who loves them beyond measure.  Pray that God’s presence would be seen in each of His children, including you.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Live Unhindered
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The Heart of a Child: Live Unhindered

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-two 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-two with an important reminder to let nothing hinder you in your pursuit of God and to not be a hindrance to someone else.

Live Unhindered

“Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.  Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’“
Matthew 19:13-14 (NIV)

Have you accomplished every thing you had hoped to by this stage in your life?  Why, or why not?  What are some hindrances that either stopped you or seemed insurmountable at the time?  How does the attitude of people around you influence your willingness, and even ability, to press on when things become difficult?  Does the level of that influence change based on who the person is?  In what ways?  Are there ways your words or example may be hindering a child from approaching Jesus, or even wanting to?  What will you do about it?

As a child of any age, we all have people we look up to that likely have more influence on us than they even know.  Likewise, there are people looking to each of us as examples, and how we represent Jesus will either encourage or hinder them from seeking Him.  Our words, both in content and tone, can either lift someone up and point them to Christ or knock them down with such discouragement they feel they have no hope.  God’s desire is that we would build up and welcome one another so we would not become a hindrance to anyone’s faith.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to remove anything that would become a hindrance to true faith.  Pray that you would be an encourager of children as they seek to know God.  Pray that you would examine anything in your life that has been a hindrance to you having the vibrant relationship with Christ that He desires.  Pray that the lies of the enemy would be defeated so that you, and children of all ages, would know the value each person has to God.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Enter God’s Kingdom
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The Heart of a Child: Enter God’s Kingdom

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-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 twenty-one with an important reminder to become like a little child in order to enter God’s kingdom.

Enter God’s Kingdom

“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 enter the kingdom of heaven.’“
Matthew 18:2-3 (NIV)

What is the most exclusive place or event you have been to?  Were there requirements or expectations you had to follow in order to gain access?  What would have happened if you had chosen not to accept the conditions of entrance?  What makes humility so valuable when you approach situations that are above what you know you deserve?  Do you think children are more likely than adults to freely accept gifts they know they haven’t earned?  Why?  In what ways do you think we must become like children in order to enter the kingdom of God?  Why?

Entering an exclusive event or location usually requires at least two things — an invitation and an agreement to abide by certain expectations set forth by the host.  There is good news when it comes to entering God’s kingdom; He has issued the invitation to “whosoever will” and made it possible through Christ for anyone to meet the requirements of entrance.  In fact, the expectations are easy enough to grasp, that God tells us we must become like little children in order to have the humility necessary for entrance into His kingdom.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help them know how welcomed they are in His kingdom.  Pray that no one would view God’s kingdom as being out of reach for them.  Pray for the humility to become like a little child so that you may enter the kingdom of God.  Pray that you would be welcoming in the way you interact with children so they would grow in their sense of belonging.  Pray that you would always be truthful about the simplicity of God’s invitation.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Accept What God Has Revealed
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The Heart of a Child: Accept What God Has Revealed

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 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 with an important reminder to know, believe, and trust the things God has revealed through His Son, His Word, and His Spirit.

Accept What God Has Revealed

“At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.’“
Matthew 11:25 (NIV)

What are some things that you find difficult to understand that seem easy for others?  How about things that are easy for you yet others struggle with?  Why?  Have you ever been in a group where it seems everyone except you understands something that is going on?  How did it feel?  How do you feel when you learn a “secret” that opens up a pathway to greater understanding?  Are you likely to share that knowledge with someone else who is struggling to understand the same thing, or keep it to yourself?  Why?

In my hobby of wildlife photography, it is often someone’s willingness to reveal location information that leads me to be able to photograph a specific animal I am looking for.  Most of the time, though, that information only comes when I admit I don’t know everything and ask for help.  I suspect it is an element of pride that keeps the things of God hidden from the “wise and learned” even as those things are revealed to those with the faith of a child.  When we trust the “inside information” that comes from God’s Word and His Spirit, we open our hearts to a greater understanding of the things of God.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask that God would help them have a greater understanding of His kingdom and righteousness.  Pray that they would be open to God revealing Himself in ways they understand.  Pray for the humility to go to God with the child-like faith He requires.  Pray for an understanding of the things of God that would exceed that of those who think themselves to be wise.  Pray that you would be generous in sharing with others about all that God has revealed.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Know the Goodness of God’s Gifts
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The Heart of a Child: Know the Goodness of God’s Gifts

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 nineteen 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 nineteen with an important reminder trust God to give good gifts.

Know the Goodness of God’s Gifts

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!“
Matthew 7:11 (NIV)

What is the best gift you have ever received from a person?  What is the best gift you have ever given to someone?  What makes a gift “good”?  Have you always received what you have asked?  Why?  Have you ever received something better than what you asked for?  Did you recognize it as better immediately, or did it take time to learn the real value of the gift?  How does love influence the gifts you give and receive?  When love is the motive, are the gifts you give and receive more about what is wanted or what is best?  Why?

Some of the greatest gifts I have received did not seem that great at first glance.  As I look back on life, I realize I have learned to trust the goodness of God’s gifts, even when I don’t understand them, because I had parents who gave of themselves out of love.  We didn’t have everything that others had, and there were times when I didn’t think what I had been given measured up, but I generally understood (eventually) that the gifts given to me were both good and for my good.  God makes it clear that whatever ability we have to give good gifts pales in comparison to His ability and desire to do so.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help them understand the absolute goodness of His gifts.  Pray that you would know the goodness of God so you can share of that goodness with others.  Pray that God’s love would be expressed by you in the way you love others.  Pray that you would give of your best as you represent the goodness of God to the people around you.  Pray for a heart of understanding when the goodness of God’s gifts take time to recognize.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Have Hope For the Future
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The Heart of a Child: Have Hope For the Future

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 eighteen 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 eighteen with an important reminder find hope for the future through a complete trust in God.

Have Hope For the Future

“Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD. “They will return from the land of the enemy.  So there is hope for your future,” declares the LORD. “Your children will return to their own land.“
Jeremiah 31:16-17 (NIV)

How do you feel when you think about your own future?  Does that answer change based on the length of time you define “future” as being?  Why?  When you think of the future that the children of today will face, how hopeful are you?  Why?  What role does faith have in your level of hope?  What is it that you’re really asking God to provide when you pray that a child of any age would have hope for the future?  How can you be more involved in helping others see Jesus as the only real hope for both now and the future?

Hope seems to be one of those words that either has great meaning or no meaning depending on how we define it.  Some of our “hopes” are no more than wishful thinking and we know it.  But when we place our hope in the promises of God, we find a confidence in the future that comes through faith in a God who views eternity as easily as we view a single moment.  It is in Christ that hope for the future exists.  That means a huge part of our prayers regarding hope for the future must center on people living in relationship with Jesus.  It is this hope that not only helps us now, but prepares us for eternity.

As you pray for a child of any age, pray that they would know a hope that is more than wishful thinking.  Pray that they would allow God to open their heart and mind to the wider view of eternity that allows them to see beyond today’s struggles.  Pray that your hope would be centered with confidence in the promises of God so that your message of hope to others would be believable.  Ask God to help each person you are praying for cling to an everlasting hope that cannot be taken away.

In prayer,

Tom