God's Voice Through a Child

When our children were at home yet, there were times when Rose and I were having a hard time communicating with each other. Our children would beg us to go and be reconciled with each other. Our conflicts made it difficult for them to be happy, so they were used of God to speak to us. It’s an amazing experience to hear God speak through our children. 
As I was in the middle of writing this devotional, a friend called to say his forty four year old daughter Kim died of pneumonia last night. I’m sure there were many thoughts racing through his mind of her childhood up to the present. Children have a powerful impact on us as parents, just as surely that parents impact children.
We have some good friends that told us they had never been used to “going to church”, but they took their only daughter because they thought it would probably do her some good. One day their daughter begged them to come to a revival meeting at the church. They didn’t really want to go, but since the sun rose and set on their only child, they got dressed and went with her. When the alter call was given, they felt God tugging at their hearts and both received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. After they took a tour of their daughter’s Sunday school room, they saw their names on the chalk board. The class had been praying for this mom and dad’s salvation.
Children often have a tremendous impact on God’s kingdom, so let’s not underestimate the power of taking time to train them and listen to them. Little children have qualities that Jesus places high value on.

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Mark 10:15  NIV

Max Lucado tells of a father and mother that came home feeling grumpy because of things that happened to them during the work day. Each wanted a little sympathy from the other, but neither got any. So as they sat down at the supper table with little five-year-old Emily, she folded her hands and began to pray. The mother and father bowed their heads, but not their hearts and listen. To their surprise this is the prayer they heard: “God, it’s Emily. How are you? I’m fine, thank you. Mom and Dad are mad. I don’t know why. We’ve got birds and toys and mashed potatoes and each other. Maybe you can get them to stop being mad? Please do, or it’s just gonna be you and me having any fun tonight. Amen.”  The parents looked at each other in the middle of her prayer and at the end they laughed and said they were sorry for their grumpy attitudes. They were thankful for the little voice God used to speak to them about what really matters in life.

How are we reacting to the pressures and problems we are having in life? Do we let God speak to us through these little people, like this couple did? Not only can we not come into the kingdom of God unless we have the humility of a little child…we can hear God’s voice more clearly when we pay attention to children.  Let’s lighten up and laugh more often. Let’s forgive each other more quickly, and let’s remember that the urgent is not always what matters the most!

Selah…

Al Yoder

3/02/2011