The words popped out of her four-year-old mouth at the right moment: “The Lord is my shepherd.”
A friend and I were talking in my living room. Tears streamed down her face as she confided in me about a burden she had carried for many years.
Seeing my friend cry, the little girl I babysit rushed over to her, gently stroked her face, and quoted the opening phrase of Psalm 23. My friend smiled and my heart overflowed.
Every day of caring for this little girl, I helped her memorize phrases from the Bible. I hadn’t focused on the meaning of the verses; I merely tried to instill Scripture into her long-term memory, figuring she would learn the meaning later.
Now I knew the truth of Scripture had become real to this little girl even though in her young mind she had no idea what a “shepherd” was. She found comfort in her spirit from the timeless words of the Shepherd’s Psalm. The Holy Spirit Himself had revealed the truth of this Bible verse to her.
Jesus said we must be like little children—simply believing and eagerly learning. As adults, we often ignore Christ’s charge to be childlike. We wring our hands instead of trusting God. While the Holy Spirit wants to comfort us, we persist in carrying our burdens. As a result, our spirits are weighed down and our hope is crushed.
We should stop like children and listen to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit, guiding us into all truth—truth that sets us free.
When worries or fears press in on you, stop and bow your head. Give your problems to God, one by one. Be led as a child, and let the words of Christ change your life.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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After teaching for almost a decade, Jeanie Fritz is now a stay-at-home mom caring for three small children. Jeanie loves God with all of her heart, and her favorite moments of the day are spent in God’s Word and prayer. She writes devotions and blogs at www.jeaniefritz.com. Jeanie enjoys reading, singing, and playing with her children.