Never Lose Your Wonder!

Written by Ali Baxter | 15th April 2023

One morning, as I was sitting quietly having my coffee with Jesus, I began to praise God and thank him for being my Father, all of his goodness towards me, how much he loved me, keeping me safe, his provision, his power and authority and his love of his beautiful creation and the human race he has created and placed within it. And just for a moment or two, I was lost in the wonder of it all. I was just about to move on and have a bit of time in God’s word when I was halted in my tracks by that still, small voice that I have got to know well by now - Father God had something to say to me….

“Ali, I love that you know me as Father, you have been in that place for sometime now and there is still more to know. Yes, I am your Father but are you my child? Have you grown up too much?....”

I have learnt that for me to know God’s voice, is to hear something or sense something that wasn’t there before….it’s not one of my thoughts, it just pops up out of nowhere and is unrelated to what has gone before. That can often be a sign that God has something to say to us. So I stopped and began to think and began to wonder just what he meant.

Some definitions of the word ‘wonder’....

A feeling of amazement and admiration caused by something beautiful, remarkable or unfamiliar.

A person or thing regarded as very good, remarkable or effective.

A desire to know something or to feel curious.

So the next thing this led me to was a bit of bible study. I’m sure we could all quote a verse or two about some of the things Jesus said about children or being childlike but I had a feeling there was just a bit more to discover. Here are just some of the phrases I found:

…unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18)

…we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3 v 1)

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love. (Ephesians 5 v 1-2)

But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. (Psalm 131)

…the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. (Luke 22 v 26)

To quote just a few!

So……had I grown up too much? Well, when I really began to think about it - I probably had! Don’t we have to be so wise sometimes, be ready to answer questions from others, whether that is in the workplace, in our homes and families, in our relationships with others? I realised that I was often studying, writing and preparing for something. I'm busy and tired sometimes and probably don’t get enough rest, feel responsible for things, make things happen and hopefully impress others with whatever I do. I have to make a real effort to put in rest and relaxation somewhere, I provide, I organise, administrate and at times I need to be conservative and tactful. In short….I have to be a Grown Up!

Some attributes of being childlike….

What have we lost sight of in our busy, grown up world? Think for a moment about a child who is loved, cared for, has nurturing parents and a safe home - a child just like us when we are in our ‘Father’s House’. What could that child look like?

Easily comforted

Content with simple things

Invincible - feels they can do anything

Wonders, asks questions, is imaginative

Follows parents everywhere - wants to be where they are

Can ask for anything

Cannot provide for themselves

Needs protection

Loves to play

Takes much for granted

Full of energy

Sleeps soundly

Easily pleased

Needs discipline

Imitates their parents

Loves unconditionally

Speaks honestly

Fears nothing

Has an insatiable appetite to know things

Has a spirit of adventure - loves new things

Loves presents & expects them

Excited by many things

Shows emotions freely

I began to realise that even if I knew God as my Father, it was just as important for me to understand what it meant to be his child. Going on a journey through some of the following has really helped me to become a little more childlike again. I hope it will help you too.

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Let’s do this

• Can I encourage us to take a moment or two and to think about where we have grown up too much?  Have we lost that wonder, that curiosity about life, that ability to rest well in any circumstance, to rely on Father God to provide for us, to be honest and authentic with ourselves and with others? Have we become unexpectant, fearful, unemotional, unadventurous and tired! Just take a moment to come to Abba Father and have some time with him…..

What would you like him to do for you?

What do you need?

How much fun do you want to have with him?

What would you like to know?

If you were to climb up on his knee, what would you whisper in his ear?

What wonders would you like to see - where can your imagination take you?

What do you want to stop fearing?

What would make you content?

How much can you trust him?

What burdens would you like him to carry for you?

And??

●      Never Lose Your Wonder about Father God, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit! Just how big is our God! Maybe you are a bit like me and have known God as your Father for sometime now. I’m beginning again to discover so much more about God, the many sides of his character, his names, his greatness, The I am God. The God who defeats our enemies, who defends us fiercely, who is Holy, all knowing, all seeing, everywhere, The miraculous, powerful and almighty God, What more can we discover about HIM?

●      Never Lose Your Wonder about You! I know, you’ve heard it before, ‘you are fearfully and wonderfully made’! But think about it, you are God’s ‘workmanship’ (a beautiful poem written and designed by him), you are unique and HE wouldn’t change a thing about you! Just the human body is a wonder, discover something unique about how we function physically, then have a think about your unique personality and how you operate emotionally and spiritually - all that is you!

Rick Warren in his book ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ helps us to think about our S.H.A.P.E. He uses the acronym like this…

S piritual Gifts	What do you move in already, what do you desire?
H eart	What are you passionate about?
A bilities	What can you do already, what can you grow in?
P ersonality	How do you respond to the world around you?
E xperience	Positive or negative, life's experiences have shaped you? And God holds each and every one so nothing is wasted.

“Using your S.H.A.P.E is the secret of both fulfilment and fruitfulness in God’s kingdom. You will be most effective when you use your Spiritual gifts, and Abilities in the area of your Hearts desire, and in a way that best expresses your Personality and Experiences”

Rick Warren

 Find some moments this week to become just a little more childlike. Enjoy the wonder of many things, be curious, love, laugh and trust outrageously, be content, be expectant, take some risks, live fearlessly and I’ll join you!

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