This is why Jesus loves the little children…

Humility. Kindness. Gentleness.

This is what Jesus loves.

Naturally, little children embrace more of these “fruits of the spirit” (Gal 5:22-23)

It’s not just because they are young.

It’s because of their hearts.

Their hearts are less hardened. They’re more pure. They’re more open to receiving the Holy Spirit.

And you know who Jesus tells us to be more like?

These little children.

“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children” (Luke 18:16)

From personal experience, this couldn’t have been more true.

The more I purified my heart, healing each layer, and the more I continue to purify my mind, the more I am able to embrace His ‘Fruits of The Spirit’, and feel them working through me.

“So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”(Matthew 18:4)

The world tries to tell you that self-reliance is most important. That you must be independent. Do it on your own. That you must label and identify with your ego.

But God tells us something so much different.

He tells us that we need Him. And to find Him, we must seek Him, and to seek Him, we must humble ourselves, and to humble ourselves, we must take up our cross and crucify our egos (Matthew 16:24-26), and to take up our cross and crucify our egos, we must be willing to let go of the very things that create our egos (attachments, self-defense mechanisms and coping mechanisms) and surrender them to Him.

It’s never been about how much we can do on our own, or of our own doing (Ephesians 2: 8-10). It’s never been about making ourselves important. In reality, this only breeds anxiety and depression.  It’s about putting our egos last, and putting God first. Its about surrender. It’s making God important. It’s letting Him set the pace.

“We've finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade” (Romans 3:28)

“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen” (Matthew 20:16)

I notice that the more I surrender my own ego to Him, the more I see His ‘Fruits of The Spirit’ at work within me. I feel more peace. I have more joy. I feel my faith grow.

Our 2 year old daughter has recently started doing something she calls “sweet”. She will gently and affectionately kiss both of my cheeks and my forehead and gently touch my face. She doesn’t do it because she has to, out of obligation, or for a need for validation. She does it out of love.

These gentle and sweet moments with my daughter serve as a great reminder for me to do same. Not by forcing it, not by pretending to be okay when I’m not, but by having the courage and faith to surrender and conquer my ego, even when my emotions tell me it’s impossible, to make way for His fruits to live and work through me. I pray this does the same for you.

To anyone interested in reading a motivating book, rooted in God’s word, that shows you how to purify your heart and mind and cultivate His peace and joy in your own lives, read the book linked here (it’s a free PDF).

God bless 🤍