Carol J German

Happy New Year! I hope and pray that you had a blessed Christmas. I did. My husband and I were with our children and our 21-month-old grandsons so it was wonderful, despite getting colds. Little ones add such an added measure of excitement; their innocence in enjoying the present moment. They have a purity about them that displays the joy of the Lord.

Unfortunately, at some point as we age, we lose this innocence and pure joy. Life gets a hold of us and we become bruised, calloused, tired of the daily grind of responsibilities. And how do we handle life? We pull up our boot straps and try our best. We use the resources that are within reach to help cope with life’s ups and downs. And in our own ways, we find ourselves unsatisfied, bewildered, fearful. “There has to be a better way of living life,” we tend to think.

Praise the Lord, there is a better way! Whether you are new in your faith journey with Christ or you have tenure under your spiritual belt and life is proving to be a bit much to handle, “How can I get off this path, this road that seems so unrelenting, stagnant, boring perhaps? What I desire always seems to be out of reach. What I pray for isn’t coming to fruition. I am waiting but nothing is changing.” We all have these kinds of thoughts at various times that cause us to ask, “Where is God? What are you doing Lord?”

I have good news, in fact, very good news! God is right here. God is with you and me, and He is acting on our behalf to help each of us to see clearly the truth that is all around us. There is never a moment when God is not doing something to convince you and me of His presence and love. So, why then is it hard to see God and keep the faith?

Could it be that we desire God like a genie? We are willing to follow God but only in ways that we like or desire. If He asks something from us that we dislike, we ignore Him. And we wonder why life becomes tedious, hard, unsatisfying. We need to come into Christ’s presence as a small child. They come without an agenda. They come freely with no expectations. They simply come. I am enjoying this simple way of loving when I am with my grandsons. The love between Gamma and her boys is unpretentious and fully accepting. It just is, and it is beautiful.

Maybe we could in this first month of this first new year, enter into the presence of God like innocent little ones, simply enjoying being in God’s presence because their is a love that is shared. God loves me and I love God. And from these precious moments, life takes on a whole new meaning. Like the Grinch discovered, “Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.” (from parade.com)

Let’s translate it to our lives – Maybe life doesn’t come from money or possessions or accomplishments. Maybe real life comes from something a whole lot more, like the Living God!

What if you and I entered into God’s presence willing to live out what God wants from us and let go of our own desires and wants? Could you let go of your passions, hobbies, and interests to make room for God’s agenda? Would you trust Him? God moves when we come innocently into His presence and are willing to love like Christ. He blesses the endeavors that come from a pure heart willing to put self aside.

Let’s start today and love God first like a small child. Then, trust Him with our lives and see where He will take us. What we will find is the most satisfied, enriched, and abundant life ever. Your spouse, children, and everyone around you will thank you.