Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Faith of a Child" Friday, 2 May 2014 - Read Mark 10:13-16

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Faith of a Child" Friday, 2 May 2014 - Read Mark 10:13 They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these. 15 Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.” 16 He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.--Mark 10:15 (NRSV)
When my daughter was four she came to me with a broken toy and asked me to fix it. Often when her toys would break I would be able to snap or glue a piece back on. However, this time she had snapped a piece in half. “I’m sorry honey; I can’t fix this,” I told her. She responded, “Mom, let’s pray to Jesus to fix it.” How do you explain to a child who believes that Jesus can do anything that the toy will still be broken? Yet, when I told her that we could pray but that Jesus probably was not going to fix her toy, she simply responded, “Let’s pray anyway.” At that moment I understood why Jesus told his disciples that to enter the kingdom of heaven you must become like a little child. At the age of four, my daughter understood that God loves us and wants us to pray even if we do not think we are going to get the answer we want. I often think I need to handle my problems on my own, that they are too small for God. However, my daughter reminded me that nothing is too small for God. God wants us to lay all our burdens down and trust in God’s love for us.
The Author: Debbie Herrington (Michigan, USA)
Thought for the Day: Today I will pray with the faith of a child.
Prayer: Dear loving God, help us remember that nothing is too small to bring to you in prayer. Help us bring all of our burdens to you with the faith of a child. Amen.
Prayer focus: Children
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