1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Thank you for listening to your daily prayer, 2 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: where we help you find the words you need to 3 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: connect to your Father in Heaven. No matter what's happening 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: in your life today, you can trust that God wants 5 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: to hear from you. Right after this short word from 6 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: our sponsors, we'll pray through today's prayer to experience childlike wonder. 7 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: A Prayer to experience childlike Wonder written by Whitney Hoppler, 8 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: read by Leah Gerard. And he said, truly, I tell you, 9 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: unless you change and become like the little children, you 10 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew eighteen three. 11 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 1: Have you ever noticed how often children are excited about 12 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 1: something simple. They can splash into puddle, sing a song, 13 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: or laugh at a silly joke over and over without 14 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 1: getting bored. They often feel amazed as well by lots 15 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: of experiences, such as playing with a pet, watching a sunset, 16 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: and eating their favorite foods. But somewhere along the way, 17 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: when children grow up, they can lose their sense of wonder. 18 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: As adults, they often focus too much on responsibilities and routines, 19 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: missing out on the wonder happening around them. Their lives 20 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: shrink down to the level of their to do lists, 21 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: even though God wants them to enjoy much bigger lives. 22 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: Have you lost your sense of wonder too? If so, 23 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: Jesus's words in Matthew eighteen three invite you to reclaim 24 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: a life lived in childlike wonder, which is the key 25 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: that unlocks the kingdom experience he wants you to enjoy. 26 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,119 Speaker 1: You can start by choosing to live a life of humility. 27 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: Doing so can help you learn much more about God's 28 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: wondrous love and power. When you're humble, your perspective expands, 29 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: allowing you to see how God is infinitely big, yet 30 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: He's also close to you because you're one of his 31 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: beloved children. Standing in awe of God expands your ability 32 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: to trust him, so you can rely more on God's 33 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: strength working through your life. Just like children have faith 34 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 1: that what a trusted person tells them is reliable, Jesus 35 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 1: wants you to trust and rely on his promises to you. 36 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: You don't need to try to go through any complicated 37 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: analysis that leads you to doubt or worry about what 38 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: Jesus tells you. When you have child like wonder, you 39 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: can just look forward to Jesus keeping his promises you 40 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: can expect the best from God in all circumstances you face. 41 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: When you stop and wonder at the magnitude of how 42 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,079 Speaker 1: God has saved your soul for eternity, it becomes easy 43 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: to trust Him with your life right now. Since God 44 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 1: conquered death, can't he conquer any situation where you need 45 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: his help. Wonder changes your focus away from your challenges 46 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: and toward God's immeasurable power. It gets you excited about 47 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: what amazing way God will show up for you next. 48 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: Childlike wonder leads to joy. Children find joy in the 49 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: extraordinary that's wrapped up in the ordinary, and you can too, 50 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: at any age. Consider the Christmas season as an adult. 51 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: It can be stressful because of pressures with time and 52 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: money and family issues, but remember the pure joy you 53 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: felt during the Christmas season as a child. Jesus invites 54 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: you to focus on this simple yet profound wonder of 55 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: the Gospel. He loves you so much that He made 56 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: the ultimate sacrifice to save you. When you truly wonder 57 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: at what this good news means, it can give you 58 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: lasting joy that nothing can take away. So let wonder 59 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: become part of your worship. Become like a little child again. 60 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 1: Let go of trying to be the adult in charge 61 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: of everything and put your trust in your amazing Father God. 62 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: Let's pray. Dear God, I confess that I've let my 63 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: life shrink down to the level of my to do list. 64 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: I've focused so much on my routine and responsibilities that 65 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: I've lost the simple joy and open hearted trust that 66 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: comes from living in wonder of you. Please change my heart, 67 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: reawaken the spirit of the child within me so I 68 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 1: can fully enter into your wonderful kingdom here on earth. 69 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 1: I pray that wonder will lead me to humility. Help 70 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: me to stand in awe of your unlimited love and 71 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: power so I can see how much I can really 72 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: depend on you to help me with whatever I need. 73 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: I choose to depend on you completely. Let me reflect 74 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: on the miracle of Jesus saving my soul and everything 75 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: You've already done in my life, and let that inspire 76 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: me to expect the best from what you will do next. 77 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: Let me stop over analyzing and simply believe your promises. 78 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: I pray that wonder will restore my joy. Please help 79 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: me strip away distractions and fully appreciate the simple truth 80 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: of your love. Let me feel the excitement of being 81 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: your child and discovering the wonder of your work in 82 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: my life. Every day, live a life that's full of 83 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: wondering gratitude as I experience your amazing presence. Thank you God, Amen. 84 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: Your Daily Prayer is a production of Life Audio and 85 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: Salem Media. If you liked what you heard today, be 86 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: sure to follow our sister show your nightly prayer. You 87 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: can find your nightly prayer at lifeaudio dot com or 88 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: in your favorite podcast app. By following your daily prayer 89 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: and your nightly prayer, you can be sure that your 90 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: day begins and ends centered on the Word of God 91 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: and prayer.