JUST LIKE HIS DADDY!

I love watching children “come into their own”, but often that doesn’t seem to be the case. Many times the little ones are told they are “too little” for something and cannot do things until they are “bigger” or until they “grow up”. I know I slipped into that myself sometimes when my two daughters were small. It was just easier to tell them that when I wanted to do the task myself and not use the situation to make it a teachable moment for them. Granted, there are time factors and other circumstances where it would be more difficult or impossible for a child to be involved in an activity. For the most part, however, I believe kids CAN be used of the Lord and trained for many things that will bring about growth in the Kingdom and in the lives of the children AND adults involved.

What would happen if God our Father decided that we adults were too young or too immature to minister? “Sorry, son, that mission trip will just have to wait until you are ready for it – you don’t know how to pray right” or maybe “you can’t get up in front of those people, daughter, because you haven’t learned how to speak well enough yet”. How ridiculous is that? What does Philippians 4:13 say – “I can do ALL things through Him who strengthens me” (NASB) God gives us the strength when we don’t have it. He is the One who speaks and works through us “to His good pleasure” (Phil 2:13) when we are yielded to Him.

God is not a respecter of persons, so children are included in His plan and in the promises He gives us through His Word. Jesus empowers and uses those innocently surrendered young lives to not only effectively accomplish His will time after time, but to also teach us lessons in what it really means to have a child-like faith and to be abandoned to His will totally and with joy! The Lord shows us, if we will are willing to work with Him and have that teachable spirit, that kids are NOT too young to hear His voice and do mighty exploits for Jesus!

A good example of this is my young friend, Logan, a six year old boy in our church. Several times now, Logan and I have had the privilege of going to Jesus in soaking prayer, and he absolutely loves it! He’s drawn several pictures showing us what God’s shown him during his prayer times, and is always asking me, “Are we gonna soak again today?” when we meet on Sundays! He hears from the Lord, and has recently received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the gift of speaking in tongues, which he calls “talking funny”. What an incredible young man!

Our church and leadership believe in the concept of allowing our children to lead, and regularly encourage them to participate during services. I believe because of that level of understanding and release, there is a particular favor on the children to grow and hear the Lord clearly. This enables them to not only begin to mature in the ways of the Lord, but to minister with excellence. That, in turn, blesses the church, the children, the parents, and of course, Jesus!  

Logan’s father is the drummer for our worship team. With permission from leadership, he placed a set of headphones on Logan and put him on the platform to worship with us on Sunday mornings. Logan and his awesome green headphones (gotta love the kid in him!) hear Daddy’s leading on the drums and follow along with the tambourine, keeping time during worship. He loves being part of the team, practicing, and praying with the team before the service each week, and understands his position – paying close attention to what he’s expected to do.

Logan loves being just like his daddy, worshipping and serving Jesus at church, and we give him that opportunity. He’s also a great example to the rest of the Body – encouraging others to put on their “headphones” and listen for the beat of their Father, keeping rhythm with what HE gives them, then playing what He tells them. “ Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.’” (John 5:19 NASB) What a picture of Daddy being right there behind you as you serve.

What an example, and what a lesson for all of us. What we could learn as a little child leads us – if we let them! Open our eyes, Lord, and let us see. Open our ears, Lord, and let us hear. Take us out of the box we’ve been placed in by the world and bring us out into the light and freedom of YOUR freshness! Make us as little children so we can see through Your eyes and feel the beat of Your heart!

Karen’s calling is to bring children into the manifest presence and glory of Jesus, lead them in experiencing His deep abiding love, clear unmistakable voice, wise Godly direction for their lives, and to ignite a spirit-led passion for serving Him in many ways at any age.

She is available for children’s and adult conferences, retreats, church dates, camps, leadership training and regional equipping sessions. Fire For the Nations hosts a summer camp for kids and periodic kids mission trips during the year. Her first book, KIDS CAN is now available. For more information on the book or to schedule dates, check out the website (www.fire4thenations.com),  or email her at karen@fire4thenations.com.