Yet again our car wouldn’t start due to a mechanical problem. The rain was beginning to come down and quickly escalating. Priya had just opened her window wide open and now it wouldn’t close. There we were stranded in our car in the middle of a downpour. My friend Tim had just arrived to look at it when it unexpectedly started. However the window was not as kind.
Driving to the grocery store, Elijah said, “Dad try it again.” I asked “Why?” As I pondered my own question, the Spirit quickened me. “Elijah, did you pray?” “Yeah, try it again.” I tried but nothing changed. “Still not working.” A few seconds passed. “Okay try it again.” In my head I’m thinking: did he not hear me? Then the Spirit quickened me. “Did you pray again?” “Yeah Dad, try it again.” Still no movement. As we’re pulling into the parking lot he asked a third time: “try it now.” I didn’t need any more quickening, this boy that I had been teaching to pray is now teaching me to pray and never give up. I felt faith welling up in me stoked by the overabundance of the same that he was already working with! “Still nothing bud.” Let’s just pray that no one steals from our car while we’re in the store.
It may seem small, but who was teaching who?
Coming out of the store Priya breaks out into spontaneous worship singing “Jesus break every chain, break every chain” the whole way back to the car. I was nervous the car wouldn’t start again and we’d be stranded again. While I’m worrying, Priya is still singing. The Spirit quickens me (see a pattern here), “this isn’t a random song, this is intercession through worship.” Okay God let’s see. Zzzzz I hear the hum of the window motor. Outwardly I was praising God but inwardly I can’t express what a sobering moment this was in the Lord.
Now I know I have a lot to learn that these children seem to already understand in their childlike faith. I’m trying to learn what they’re already walking in: persevering in prayer, moving mountains, worship as a weapon. I wonder if it really is that easy that we just walk in it instead of over-complicating things and thinking we need it all figured out before we can walk in it?
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him… Mt 18
We all know looks can be deceiving. The title of this post is a bit of a misnomer. Maybe you pictured a child care filled with little children speaking in tongues and prophesying over one another. While that sounds both hilarious and awesome and not the least bit out of God’s reach, it isn’t quite my intent. Similarly, the cover photo is equally easy to misjudge. It invokes thoughts of teaching children about fitness or possibly just being burdened (literally) while trying to carry on my own exercise. But the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. The Lord has been opening my eyes to the powerful ministry of children in the life of the believer and the world.
-
- We must
-
- become
-
- child like
God created these beautiful children for His glory and they are busy serving Him and growing me here and every other moment. Their ministry is simply to love and be used of Him to help adults reach our full potential!
The Spirit uses children to care for adults and take us deeper into His fullness. Indeed, they play a pivotal role in bringing us to new levels of revelation in scriptural truths and push us past our natural limits to grow into the likeness of Christ!
Jesus values children. Check out this quote in Luke 9:
“Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”
A Powerful Encounter with God
Check out this great story in Part 2 of this post.