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Listen while you read: "O Happy Day"1 (Lyrics) |
Little children are just amazing. I've always loved being around them. I've watched them learn to walk, and I've seen the joy and delight in their faces as they play and learn. I've seen how they live in the moment and experience new things with wonder. Jesus used the simple sincerity of a child to describe those in the kingdom of God. A little child is dependent, trusting, needy, and anxious to grow and learn and love. A little child awakening to see a new day doesn't need to look at the clock, check the calendar, or get coffee or the latest news. The little sleepyhead wakes up just trusting that the day will be good.
Matthew 18:2-3 – [Jesus] called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (NIV)
Many years ago, I learned a simple song to teach a little child. Often, the simplest things are the most profound! It has only four lines, and yet it acknowledges so much of Who God is and who we are.
How can a grown-up person who has experienced 80-plus years of life change and become more like a little child? How about setting aside all the accumulated opinions and pride of knowledge and learning and ego-filled assumptions? Add to this list just going back to square one and reviewing the basics.
My pastor encouraged me to begin a simple daily discipline: start my day at the very beginning awareness of the morning by praying the Lord's Prayer deliberately and slowly, meditating on every word. Jesus taught us to pray these words. I'm realizing that the purpose of prayer is not to get what we want, but to learn what God wants. I need to remind myself of Who God is. He is my Father. I am His child. His name is hallowed and holy. I want His kingdom to come, and I want His will to be done here on earth, just the same way that it is done in heaven. I humbly ask for and depend on Him to give me today's bread, and I ask for forgiveness and for His strength to help me to forgive everyone who owes me or who stepped over the line with me. I need to be pulled away from things that are bad for me, and I need powerful protection from the evil powers surrounding me, because the kingdom belongs to our God, Who is all-powerful and full of glory today and forever! Amen.
Dear friends, today is the time to rejoice and be glad like a little child and to realize anew this fact:
Psalm 118:24 – This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (NIV)
Prayer: Our dear heavenly Father, thank You for creating this new day and for giving us the life to live in it. Thank You for re-making us as Your little children and for patiently feeding us, lovingly forgiving us, constantly teaching us, and carefully leading us in the way everlasting. Amen.
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Amen Sharon!!!!!
God bless.
I loved your thought, Sharon, of how children simply wake up on the morning, trusting that it will be a good day without worrying about a schedule or the cares of the day ahead of him. I also love the children’s song. What a great way to start the day!
Greetings Sharon. It was a delight to reread the devotional you had previously written. The Lord’s words are so precious no matter what age we get to and so important that we pay attention to them in our daily lives. Always good feelings thinking back on the Sunday School songs we used to sing and joy to our hearts repeating those words now in our “older” years. It has been a true blessing to reread your devotional.
Great devotional! Thank you!
Thanks for the good word, Sharon.
One word – Beautiful.
Thank you.
AMEN! Thank you!! This message is exactly what I needed to hear and do!!
Thank you, Sharon, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us.
Blessings.
Thanks so much for your great message. Keep up the good work.
(Ontario, Canada)
Thanks Sharon.
Great reflection.
(CA)
Good morning, Sharon,
Thank you, I needed this today.
God bless.
Dear Sharon
that was one of the most beautiful devotionals I ever read. Thank you so much.
Good morning, Sharon,
What a good Devotional this morning.
Thank you and I hope you have a good Sunday.
Love your writing, Sharon! You bring me to a place to boldly declare, This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Thanks!
Hello Sharon.
Thank you for passing on this encouraging and beneficial word.
Blessed on your day! Yes, our Lord is so good!
(BC)
To Sharon,
This is a beautiful tender expression of child-like trust in our Lord. It reminds me that I need not run God’s program for him, as if he has some deficiencies. He is altogether trustworthy, capable, and pure.
Sharon:
I just read your “rendition” of the Lord’s Prayer. It is so powerful. You said it in language that impacts. Thank you for this. I will print it out and read it over and over.
Blessings.
Thank you, Sharon, for your devotional. Mine consists of reciting the 23rd Psalm and The Lord’s Prayer and then because I believe prayer is a two-way street I say, ” Now you speak Lord, and I will listen”. Then I spend the rest of the day looking for ways God is trying to speak to me. God bless you.
Thanks Sharon, truly, children are amazing and bring such joy and delight into the/our world, never heard this song but it is good, simple, easy for a little child to sing. One of my very favourite hymns is “This Is The Day The Lord Has Made”. Thoughtful and comforting. Again thank you. Blessings.
What a lovely, meaningful devotional today. I love the little song to teach to the children and although I have not been a young child for many, many, many years – I intend to say it to myself as I start each day.
Thanks again,
(Ontario)
Thanks, Sharon, for another of your very encouraging and special devotionals. Yes, it is so delightful to be around little children and see how joyous they are over very simple things and yes, we need be so very thankful for each day the Lord gives us to enjoy the beauties of this world and not dwell on the negative.
Blessings for these writings you prepare.
Thank you, Sharon. I too start my day by saying thank you God. Some days when I repeat “This is the day the Lord has given…” the emphasis is on the word ‘Will’ as I struggle to get up and start the day. More often, it’s on ‘Rejoice’. Praise God for His Wonderful Awesome Love.
Have a Blessed day.
Thank you for the devotional on the Lord’s Prayer. I love practical and simple Christian practices that we can put into action in our lives. I will be adding the idea of starting the day with the Lord’s Prayer to the monthly newsletter I create for my church here in Ontario, Canada. I have read your devotionals and appreciate them and the effort you put into each devotional.
Thank you, Sharon, for writing to us!
You said in today’s devotional so clearly many things I do, think, and believe. You touched on many things I ponder and value, then added your 10 more years’ experience to the summary.
Your writing encouraged me on my journey with Jesus through this miraculous life.
Please be encouraged in your continued journey with Jesus. With a Blessing Prayer for you.
Good morning, Sharon,
Thank you for the most encouraging devotional. I loved reading your view on the beauty of being a child. I listened to the song, Good Morning, God. I am inspired to enjoy the wonder of the day ahead of me that God has given me.
As a person of over 80 plus years, you have a gift of sharing your faith with others in a very special way. My brother always started the day saying, “I am a child of God” and knowing how special that is.
May you have a blessed day as you enjoy this day with the eyes of a child.
Beautiful rendering of Lord’s Prayer Sharon! Blessings.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.
Thank you, Sharon, for such a meaningful and challenging devotion today.
Good food for thought, Sharon! Thanks for sending it to me. I am encouraged!