1 00:00:02,630 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: Life Audio Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We are so 2 00:00:13,220 --> 00:00:16,900 Speaker 1: glad to have you listening. I'm Michelle Lazarek. Today's topic 3 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,380 Speaker 1: is Restore Your Childlike Wonder. We'll be back after a 4 00:00:20,390 --> 00:00:37,020 Speaker 1: word from our sponsor. Restore Your Childlike Wonder. Written and 5 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:41,470 Speaker 1: read by Michelle S. Lazarek. When Jesus saw this, he 6 00:00:41,490 --> 00:00:44,610 Speaker 1: was indignant. He said to them, Let the little children 7 00:00:44,670 --> 00:00:47,390 Speaker 1: come to me, and do not hinder them, for the 8 00:00:47,409 --> 00:00:51,220 Speaker 1: kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10, 9 00:00:51,220 --> 00:00:55,180 Speaker 1: verse 14. As I wrote in my dad's 80th birthday card, 10 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,620 Speaker 1: I wanted to commemorate the milestone. I thought of 80 11 00:00:58,620 --> 00:01:02,510 Speaker 1: reasons why I love him. Immediately, I began recalling happy 12 00:01:02,550 --> 00:01:06,209 Speaker 1: childhood memories. As I composed my list, which took me 13 00:01:06,270 --> 00:01:09,730 Speaker 1: less than an hour, I realized something. I may not 14 00:01:09,750 --> 00:01:13,210 Speaker 1: have had the fanciest possessions, gone on the fanciest vacations, 15 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,580 Speaker 1: or had the biggest home of my classmates, but I 16 00:01:16,620 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: had a good childhood. My dad often took me to 17 00:01:19,180 --> 00:01:22,060 Speaker 1: the park in the evenings, took me to McDonald's, or 18 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: even just spent time talking with me. Those memories make 19 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:27,610 Speaker 1: up most of my childhood, and I was able to 20 00:01:27,670 --> 00:01:32,550 Speaker 1: keep my childlike wonder. In contrast to today's childhoods, where 21 00:01:32,580 --> 00:01:35,990 Speaker 1: many kids' innocence is stolen and their young, formative years 22 00:01:36,050 --> 00:01:38,990 Speaker 1: are exposed to adult material, I was able to keep 23 00:01:39,030 --> 00:01:43,050 Speaker 1: my innocence about many adult topics. My parents protected me 24 00:01:43,090 --> 00:01:44,530 Speaker 1: and did the best they could to be the best 25 00:01:44,569 --> 00:01:48,530 Speaker 1: role models. Additionally, even when my parents didn't have much money, 26 00:01:48,850 --> 00:01:52,930 Speaker 1: we often had the latest fad or toy. Today, I 27 00:01:52,970 --> 00:01:55,890 Speaker 1: look fondly on those toys and fads. When times get tough, 28 00:01:56,570 --> 00:01:58,590 Speaker 1: I often want to revert to being a kid in 29 00:01:58,610 --> 00:02:00,550 Speaker 1: a simpler time when I had no cares in the world. 30 00:02:01,310 --> 00:02:03,750 Speaker 1: could play and be a child, and live life as 31 00:02:03,790 --> 00:02:07,050 Speaker 1: fully as possible. We all want to remember our childhoods 32 00:02:07,070 --> 00:02:10,590 Speaker 1: in this way. Similarly, God wants us to live in 33 00:02:10,620 --> 00:02:13,260 Speaker 1: this way today. He doesn't want us to look upon 34 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,700 Speaker 1: life with anxiety or anger. Instead, He wants us to 35 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: reclaim that childlike wonder, reminding ourselves that our identity is 36 00:02:20,260 --> 00:02:23,679 Speaker 1: solidified in Him and that we are His children. Part 37 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,180 Speaker 1: of experiencing freedom in Christ is to trust God with 38 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,739 Speaker 1: our whole hearts. Recall some of your favorite pastimes as 39 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,510 Speaker 1: a child. Did you enjoy coloring in a coloring book? 40 00:02:33,169 --> 00:02:35,750 Speaker 1: Did you like riding a bike? Did you enjoy skipping 41 00:02:35,810 --> 00:02:39,100 Speaker 1: rope or playing frisbee? Nothing is stopping you from enjoying 42 00:02:39,139 --> 00:02:43,260 Speaker 1: those things today. Invest in an adult exercise rope, buy 43 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,579 Speaker 1: a frisbee, and have some fun. Spend time outside just 44 00:02:46,620 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: playing catch with a loved one. Go to the beach 45 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,970 Speaker 1: and take a walk. Enjoy nature to the fullest. When 46 00:02:52,990 --> 00:02:55,070 Speaker 1: you enjoy all the things that God has created, it 47 00:02:55,090 --> 00:02:58,290 Speaker 1: will help you reclaim your childlike wonder. Set aside time 48 00:02:58,330 --> 00:03:00,740 Speaker 1: each day to take your mind off your cares. and 49 00:03:00,780 --> 00:03:04,630 Speaker 1: focus on simpler, more fun activities. God wants us to 50 00:03:04,669 --> 00:03:08,370 Speaker 1: live like kids. However, tough circumstances can harden our hearts 51 00:03:08,590 --> 00:03:11,930 Speaker 1: and make us think about ourselves rather than others. What 52 00:03:11,950 --> 00:03:15,109 Speaker 1: you live for others is a life well lived. What 53 00:03:15,150 --> 00:03:17,410 Speaker 1: can you do for others to make life less about you? 54 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,139 Speaker 1: Can you donate money to a worthy cause? Can you 55 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,820 Speaker 1: give to those who are in need? Make some cards 56 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,180 Speaker 1: and send them to the local senior center? How do 57 00:03:27,220 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: you need to proclaim your childlike wonder? How can you 58 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,139 Speaker 1: come to Jesus like a child? Perhaps that means trusting 59 00:03:33,180 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: him explicitly, even in situations that look impossible for God 60 00:03:36,220 --> 00:03:39,220 Speaker 1: to redeem. Maybe it means giving him all you have 61 00:03:39,260 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: during your prayer time, pouring your heart out to him, 62 00:03:41,980 --> 00:03:43,839 Speaker 1: and asking him to help you as a good father does. 63 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: Whatever you choose, God wants us to come to him 64 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: like a little child. When we lower our inhibitions and 65 00:03:50,460 --> 00:03:54,980 Speaker 1: trust him completely, God shines in our lives the most. Father, 66 00:03:55,140 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: let us remember that we are your children. Just because 67 00:03:58,140 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: we are adults does not mean we need to lose 68 00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:02,540 Speaker 1: that childlike wonder. Let us come to you as we 69 00:04:02,580 --> 00:04:05,220 Speaker 1: did as children. Let us come to you in full 70 00:04:05,250 --> 00:04:08,490 Speaker 1: trust and surrender. Let us believe that you will turn 71 00:04:08,530 --> 00:04:10,590 Speaker 1: every situation around for our good and that you have 72 00:04:10,650 --> 00:04:15,550 Speaker 1: ultimate control of our lives. Amen. Intersecting faith and life. 73 00:04:16,350 --> 00:04:17,969 Speaker 1: What is one way you can come to faith like 74 00:04:17,990 --> 00:04:26,650 Speaker 1: a child? Further reading, Matthew 19, verse 14. If you're 75 00:04:26,670 --> 00:04:29,230 Speaker 1: looking to grow in prayer or start your day with 76 00:04:29,250 --> 00:04:31,110 Speaker 1: your heart focused on the right things, search for Your 77 00:04:31,190 --> 00:04:33,390 Speaker 1: Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app and be sure 78 00:04:33,410 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: to follow the show so you get a new prayer 79 00:04:57,779 --> 00:05:00,130 Speaker 1: delivered straight to you each morning.