Finding Childlike Joy

 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 

  

  I listened as a little girl in my doctor’s office made up songs about random things that came into her head. She was perhaps five or six years old, and full of joy. It was not hard to consider the contrast of people who typically fill a doctor’s office. Weighed down with care, impatient, wishing they were anywhere else. The comparison of her sweet signing and joy-filled heart with the typical grim adult was a stark contrast. 

 

  I remember years ago when I was a teenager and became a born again Christian. The first overwhelming emotion I felt was pure joy. I could hardly contain the joy I felt upon accepting Jesus into my heart. 

   

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3 

  

  As adults too often we are expected to be serious, thoughtful, pragmatic, and even solemn.  

 

  As children we found joy so easily. We were not weighed down by cares. We knew how to have fun. We were easily excited. Likewise, are those believers who will be in the kingdom of God.  

 

  Of course, there is a difference between being childlike and being childish. I fear too many adult Christians act childish, being easily offended, immature, demanding their way, and being foolish. We can avoid being childish and instead be childlike in our attitude. 

 

  Stir up your childlike heart. Find joy in the things of God. remember how you felt when you first believed. Remember how the love and joy of God flooded your heart as Christ came to live within you. 

 

  Believer, there are many opportunities in life to be grim, solemn, and filled with cares. I challenge you to reawaken the childlike heart Jesus gave you when your faith in Him came to life. Heaven will not be filled with grim faced Christians, but rather joy-filled believers worshiping their loving Father. 

 

  Hold on to your inner child and keep it strong by stirring up your joy in the Lord. 

 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, life makes us overly serious and filled with cares. We give our cares to You and ask for Joy instead. Amen.