child-like innocence.

Child-like innocence is the attitude of heart where one is untainted by pride, self importance and open to the good with a pure heart. Children are naturally pure, innocent and trusting, and these are characteristics of childlike innocence.

Jesus Christ stated that, "... unless you become like little children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). So to be childlike is simply to be open and trusting, with no ill will or evil intentions.

Jesus knew the importance of children. They may be hard to deal with some days, but they bring joy, hope, fun, happiness to any situation, and they are the future, and one thing that stands out to me is their innocence.

The innocence I mean is a little different than you may expect. Part of it is just wondering about things you don't understand, and I have witnessed this over and over again. Why don't we just look around and wonder about the world: the beauty of a flower, the joy of just listening to things at night, the desire to just understand everything.

Then I thought of something else, why don't we have an innocent desire to try to understand as much as we can about God. We know things, but how often do we dig even deeper to discover even more. Being around children as much as I have has shown me this. I mean just being in the streets of Costa Rica playing and running around with those children, and seeing how they just love to be loved, and how they want to just be around you all the time... how they appreciate everything... and how they're just so innocent, so pure.. the world hasn't gotten them yet.. I want my life in Jesus to be like that.. I want to have that desire to understand Him and His word more and more...

And then, I look at my niece, and I just love to watch her learn and discover new things. She just has this sweet, sweet spirit about her. She's excited about everything. I love to just sit back and watch as she tries new things. She has this passion for life. So alive and filled with joy! I also love how trusting she is, and how much she relies on us, and how much she just loves. I can only wonder how my life with Jesus would be if I could have that child-like innocence about me... that passion to really learn and grow. That love, that desire to just be free in Him, just like little children. I love how free my niece acts.. so alive. I want to trust Jesus, like she trusts.. I want to give Him everything without worry or fear.. I'm longing for Jesus so much more lately, and I was watching my niece today, and I was praying earlier, I realized that I want that child-like innocence. I want to portray that never-ending joy that I know I do have in my Jesus.. I want others who do not know Him to see me so passionate and alive in Him. I'm praying that I will appreciate everything, and that I will be excited to learn and grow in Him, just like children are excited to learn new things... and I want to trust, just like my three year old niece trusts.. I just want to jump into the arms of Jesus completely and fully without any worry or fear.

So I'm praying for child-like innocence, and also when in comes to the trust thing, for faith a like a child.. and just to be free in my Jesus, and just like little children are passionate to learn new things, I want to have that passion always to learn new things about my Jesus.