Following His Call to be Childlike: Preparing Our Hearts to Receive
My time with God rarely ever looks the same! Sometimes, I do a bible plan or devotional, other times, I focus on prayer and meditation. Then there are times when I just don’t know how I should spend my time with God, so instead of forcing an action and making our time a task, I reflect. I recently decided to look back at my prayer journal from the end of 2023/early 2024. As I began reading through pages filled with prayers, declarations, and words from God, I couldn’t help but smile. I was in awe at how transformational this year has been through the fulfillment of His promises.
As I continued reading through the pages, I remembered a word that God spoke to me last year that was part of what transformed my life. This particular day, I remember sitting on my bed facing my open window, meditating and listening for God’s voice. I heard His voice so clearly within my spirit. He told me, “Hold out your hands like a child in faith to receive what I have for you.
I remember feeling like a child; I was filled with so much hope and excitement. I held those words in my heart and physically held my hands out in faith anytime I felt discouraged. I began to walk in this truth daily and opened my heart to receive. As I continued to exercise my faith and belief in what God spoke to me, He began pouring into my life and fulfilling His promise to me. I'm talking about prayers being answered that I had been believing for for years. I was honestly in disbelief at how quickly He moved and how much He has done.
Although I was grateful, I began to feel like it was all too good to be true. I started having defeating thoughts, and those thoughts started to become validated by the enemy's deceptive whispers. “You know this won’t last,” or “ You know when good things happen, something bad will follow.”
I went to God, reminding Him of what He’d spoken to, and I’ll never forget what He said: “I am not done yet; keep your hands open wide and don’t close them. Stay in expectation to receive.” That word gave me all of the reassurance I needed. As I continued to believe God’s word, I continued to see Him move radically in my life. I believe that God wants to move in your life just as He moved in mine. This season has been the most fruitful since I began my walk with God, and He is not done.
God wants to move radically in your life. He has so much ready to release to His children, but we have to be in a position to receive it. I want to encourage you by sharing How God prepared me for this season.
Understanding who God is: God is not a genie; He doesn’t grant wishes upon request. He is a loving God who values true relationship with His children. The scripture that brought this truth into focus for me was Matthew 6:30-33, which states, “So do not worry about these things. Do not always say, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” 32 People who do not know God are always trying to get these things. But as for you, your Father in heaven knows that you need them. 33 Instead, always think about the things that are important in the kingdom of heaven. Always do what God shows you is right. Then, he will also give you the things that you need each day. 34 So, do not have trouble in your mind about what might happen tomorrow. Tomorrow will have its problems. It is enough for you to be thinking each day about the problems of that day.’ It’s important to understand that as we live out this scripture, we are not seeking God to receive but rather seeking Him with our entire hearts and surrendering our desires to him, knowing that everything we need will be provided. There is so much peace that comes when we take on this heart posture. It gives God room to move within us and prepare us for all of the beautiful things He desires to do in our lives. He is a good Father and knows how to take care of His children; we just have to let him.
Understanding that you have a part: Although God wants to move freely in our lives, He is not a controlling God. He wants to do life with us, which requires that we do our part. Sometimes, doing our part is as simple as having a measure of faith that allows Him to move. While other times, it requires doing scary things. This year, God challenged my faith! He required me to get uncomfortable to grow into the person He desired me to be. For example, at the beginning of 2024, I wrote a prayer to God in detail, asking for Him to bring me married Christian friends who were moms, didn’t gossip, were pure of heart, and were boldly in love with Jesus. I also prayed that I become the friend I was asking for. Well, shortly after I wrote that prayer, there was an opportunity to join a small group at my church. I went back and forth for days. I talked myself out of joining several times and gave God excuses for why I couldn’t join. He then spoke this truth to me, “You're not going to make friends hiding.” Whew, that got me. I signed up for the small group, and on the first day I went, I met three women who were exactly what I prayed for and more. The funny thing is, we all had the same prayer for Godly friendships at the same time, and God answered that specific prayer for all of us through that small group.
Understand your role as a child of God: God is our Father, and He wants us to allow Him to be just that. As you read my blog entries, you will find that I always compare my relationship with God to that of a parent and child. It helps me understand His perspective in a way that just makes sense. Anytime I have a conflict or I don’t understand something that is happening in my life, God gives me a parental perspective. For example, When God told me to hold my hands out to receive what He has for me, this is what visually came to my mind. Imagine a parent wanting to surprise or present a gift to their child. They tell their child to put their hands out and close their eyes. They expect their child to trust them and do as instructed. Sometimes, children listen, but oftentimes, they try to peak or pull their hands back in anticipation. This is how we are towards God; We often pull back because of our lack of faith. But like any parent, He desires our faith in Him to be immovable, for us to trust Him with our entire hearts, just as we desire from our children.
I believe that understanding who God is and His desires for your life, understanding that we have a part, and understanding our role as a child of God allows Him to move freely and abundantly. He needs an open and willing heart to receive all He has for you. If you are ready to allow God to be the Father He desires to be in your life, pray this simple prayer with me.
God,
You are a wonderful Father. You are intentional, and so are your plans for your children. Your plans were written before we were in their mother’s womb. You tell us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Today, we will walk in your truth and open our hearts to be prepared by you to receive all you have for us. We will seek you first, above all, with our entire hearts. We choose to do our part in obedience, and we will invite you to be the Father you desire to be in our lives. We will hold our hands out in expectations, and we thank you now for all you’ve done, all you are doing, and all that is to come.
In Jesus name, Amen.
