Jesus Take The Wheel by Stuart Migdon

© 2008 by Stuart Migdon. All rights reserved.

WinePress Publishing (PO Box 428, Enumclaw, WA 98022) functions only as book publisher. As such, the ultimate design, content, editorial accuracy, and views expressed or implied in this work are those of the author.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without the prior permission of the copyright holder, except as provided by USA copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by # e Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

ISBN 13: 978-1-57921-932-1ISBN 10: 1-57921-932-2 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2008924055

CONTENTS

Foreword .......................................................................................... v

Introduction ..................................................................................... 1

Chapter One: Ignition: Who Is at the Wheel?—Be a Humble Passenger ...................................................................... 7

Chapter Two: Key #1 Which Driver Is Most Important?—Selfl ess Life .......................................................... 39

Chapter # ree: Key #2 Ask for Directions—Gain Wisdom from God’s Helpers .................................................... 73

Chapter Four: Key #3 Listen to Your Navigation System—Listen and Follow God’s Direction ......................................... 103

Chapter Five: Key #4 Rely on Your Driver—Trust,Acknowledge, and Rely on God ............................................. 135

Chapter Six: Key #5 When the Four Car Pile-upHappens—Peace in the Trials ................................................. 167

Chapter Seven: Key #6 Stop Clinging to the SteeringWheel—Cling to God ............................................................ 203

Chapter Eight: Key #7 What Being a Passenger IsAll About—Find Joy on the Journey ...................................... 235

Chapter Nine: # e Secret to the Long Haul—Jesus as Joy’s Foundation ..................................................................... 269

• V •

FOREWORD

Is it possible to drive down the road of our lives without steering the wheel according to our own desires, motivations, and fears? Jesus

taught His disciples to do just that. He told them to be in the world but not of it. What did He mean? How can we live in this world and not be of it? To not be of the world, means that our lives are being steered by something, or rather, someone else. Jesus Himself! # at may sound a little hard, but what Jesus taught is simple: those who follow Him in this world will live diff erently from it. # erefore, a believer’s life should stand out from the lives of unbelievers, but sadly, this is not always the case. What has gone wrong? Why are we not making more of a vital impact in the world? Stuart Migdon, the author of Jesus Take the Wheel: 7 Keys to

a Transformed Life with God, spent most of his time as a young be-liever struggling to understand and answer these same questions. In the process, he learned many lessons about what it means to fulfi ll the substance of Jesus’ instruction. # is book is the result of that study. One of the earliest memories I have of Stuart is of the day when

he appeared on my doorstep. Another believer had recommended that he meet with me in order to learn how to grow in his new faith. At the time, Stuart didn’t know much about the Bible, faith, or the spiritual journey that he was on. But, he was very hungry and eager to learn what it meant to follow the Master. So, for years he and I met on a weekly basis. Stuart took many notes during those days, and his quest caused me to dig further into my own studies in preparation of our sessions. It didn’t take long for Stuart to realize that only one thing in life really matters: living each day for God. He developed a tremendous sense of the true meaning of living a spirit-fi lled life, versus that of just an outward show of religion. In a nutshell, a passion to please God was born within him, and that same passion is still what motivates the desire and focus of his life today. Stuart soon began to express compassion for other believers who he

sensed were spiritually anemic. As a Bible teacher and congregational leader, I understood what he meant because I sensed the same thing. Unfortunately, many believers struggle with spiritual failure, defeat,

JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL

• V I •

and despair in their walk of faith: they are spiritually weak. # eir lives do not accurately represent to the world the peace with God that they have inherited, the spiritual victory that is theirs, and most importantly the message of hope that is the answer so many are seeking to fi nd. Despite attending church, Bible studies, and prayer meetings, many believers still feel overwhelmed by life in this world. Is there hope that believers can experience a life-changing spiritual

transformation even after years of frustration and failure? # ankfully, the answer is yes! In Jesus Take the Wheel, my good and trusted friend, Stuart Migdon, brings us right to the core of the issue. # is book off ers spiritual wisdom, as well as meaningful insight and practical tools for living a godly, spirit-fi lled life. Stuart talks plainly and frankly about the signposts and obstacles we all face, along the road. He touches on areas such as humility, selfl essness, listening to God’s still small voice, the messengers whom God sends to help us, trusting and clinging to God through the storms of life, and the peace and joy that is ours, on the journey. All these aspects make a victory-fi lled life possible for every believer. To keep his readers interested and alert, Stuart wonderfully weaves

many of his own personal anecdotes and stories, with examples and biblical principles drawn from the lives of Moses and Jesus. His engag-ing presentation also focuses on how to avoid spiritual pitfalls, those areas where we may grow weak, making us vulnerable to the traps of the world and of the evil one. I encourage you not only to read this book, but also to be an active student while doing so. Each chapter closes with an action step. By reading, journaling, and then applying the action step, believers will experience spiritual transformation and renewal. Letting Jesus steer our lives brings peace that passes under-standing and the joy that God intends for all His children.It’s never too late for us to grow in our faith and gain spiritual

victory through an ever more intimate relationship with God, which is ours when we let Jesus take the wheel! Larry FeldmanMessianic Rabbi, Bible Teacher, and Evangelist Chosen People MinistriesIrvine, CA

PACK THE CAR—GET READY

FOR THE JOURNEY

“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which

God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

(Ephesians 2:10)

Perhaps you are like so many, who long for a more

intimate relationship with the Lord, but aren’t exactly

sure how to go about getting started.

Introduct ion


• 2 •

INTRODUCTION

Where Are You Going?

If life were a road trip, what kind of journey would you say yours has been so far? Are you cruising along on a wide-open stretch of

highway under clear, blue skies without a care in the world? Or, like most of us, do traffi c jams, unexpected detours, and frustrating dead ends seem to hinder you from getting where you need to be at times? Have you run out of gas lately . . . lost your way . . . or realized, after blowing a tire on that last pothole, that your spare was also fl at? Would you like to enjoy your journey a little more, and get the most out of it no matter what obstacles you may have to face?# e Christian life can indeed be an incredible journey; unlike any

other road trip you have ever taken. Because before you even thought of putting the key in the ignition and starting the engine, the One who created you already had a perfectly planned route mapped out for you to travel on. It is the journey of your lifetime—the one God prepared specifi cally with you in mind. Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” If you want to experience God’s incredible journey for your life, the question you need to ask and answer today is: Who’s really behind the wheel? Is it Jesus? Is He in control of your life, or somewhere along the way have you decided to venture down some back roads, all on your own? What matters most isn’t the wrong turns you may have made in

the past or even that the road you are on today looks a little tricky up ahead. What is most important is that you know who is in control of your life right now. Asking Jesus to take the wheel is more than just a catchy phrase—it is the only way to fully enjoy the Christian life.

INTRODUCTION

• 3 •

Unless Jesus is truly in the driver’s seat, you will not be able to live the life that God prepared for you, and you won’t feel the peaceful breeze that comes from being on God’s route. Who controls your life is your choice, and it is a choice that you are making—whether you realize it or not—everyday.In Jesus Take the Wheel: 7 Keys to a Transformed Life with God, I

will be sharing some of the lessons I have learned as a Christian, and how, by letting Jesus take the wheel, my life has been transformed. Like many Christians, when I fi rst came to know the Lord I was fi lled with enthusiasm and wanted to share what I knew about Him with others. However, early on in my walk with Jesus, I also felt a strong desire growing within me to live a life that would really be pleasing to God—a life that I somehow knew was radically diff erent than the one I was currently living. Something was missing in my experience with Jesus. It wasn’t that I was given over to any particular sin, it was just that I sensed within me a knowing that there was so much more to this new life that God had called me to, and with every ounce of my being, I wanted to live that life. # e only way I knew to fi nd what I was missing was to open up the Word of God, which is what I’ve done for the last seventeen years.Over the past fi ve years, my thirst for more has led me into a de-

tailed study of God’s Word, and specifi cally the lives of the Bible’s two central fi gures, Jesus and Moses, which has literally transformed my life. I was intrigued and challenged each day as I delved deeper into the biblical accounts surrounding their lives. I developed insight that was humbling me and transforming me as I grew more acquainted with these two biblical personalities. I also began to realize that what had been driving me in my own study was more than just a personal quest for knowledge, it was actually a calling from the Lord. I felt strongly that what had become an apprenticeship in God’s Word, was not just for me personally but for others as well, and this book is the fruit of those years of study. My hope is that what is contained on these pages would encourage others to begin a journey with the Lord that would transform their lives.


• 4 •

! e Key to Maximizing the Principles in ! is Book

By picking up this book today, you are acknowledging a desire that is already in your heart to have Jesus take the wheel of your life. Perhaps you are like so many, who long for a more intimate relationship with the Lord, but aren’t exactly sure how to go about getting started. In essence, you are hungry for more.

Jesus Take the Wheel will not only help you to become disciplined in your time with God each day, but through applying the biblical principles and truths it contains, you will begin to discover that what has been impossible for you alone, is very possible with God. He will open your eyes to new horizons, as you slip out of the driver’s seat and let Him take the wheel.# is book is written in such a way that you can read a little each

day. You can use it as part of your own personal devotional time, or with others in a larger group setting. Each day’s reading is followed by an application. # is Daily Action Step in the section entitled (GPS) God’s Positioning System is a short, practical refl ection that is aimed at helping you apply that day’s biblical truths and principles to the circumstances of your life. To get the most out of this study, it is essential that you commit to spending time each day both reading the daily entry and working through the application. As you proceed in this manner, you will notice a cumulative eff ect as one day builds upon the next.Plan to do one chapter per week. At that pace, you will complete

the study in approximately two months. Each chapter, with the excep-tion of the last one, is broken into seven daily readings. # e last day of each week summarizes each of the main points that were covered throughout the week. Your application on that day should be to refl ect upon all that you’ve learned during your study that week.You will also fi nd that the GPS Daily Action Step is a directive that

will help navigate your life with Jesus. Assimilating these concepts is so important that you should consider keeping a daily journal. Jesus Take the Wheel: Daily Journal for a Transformed Life is a tool that you may fi nd helpful for this very purpose. It is a journal that has been designed to be used in conjunction with this book and is fi lled with additional soul-searching questions, which correspond to each chapter. It is available for no additional cost, at www.letjesustakethewheel.com.

INTRODUCTION

• 5 •

While many of us know we need and want change, we often neglect to allow Jesus to have His rightful place behind the wheel of our lives. As you work through each chapter, realize that no matter how great your initial desire was to draw closer to the Lord, it is not going to happen without a renewed commitment to the process each day. Start the journey today by yielding your life fully to Jesus, fastening your seat belt, and expecting Him to do a transforming work in you.

Here’s What You’ll Get When You Come Along for the Ride

You will:• Develop daily habits that will make God more real in

your life.• Identify godly goals and get committed to achieving

them.• Be in touch with God’s ultimate and divine purpose for

your life.• Gain a greater sense of fulfi llment by being less selfi sh

and more “others” centered. • Develop more friendships full of substance and joy.• Trust in your Creator more and be less worried about

life’s circumstances.• Rely on God more, and enjoy the rest and comfort that

He provides.• Understand God’s counsel for your life and look forward

to applying His instructions for living.• Become more like Jesus in all areas of your life and expe-

rience His joy.• Be content with God’s daily provisions and get rid of the

stress of striving.• Persevere through life’s trials and diffi culties and recog-

nize a joyful purpose in all situations you encounter. • Enjoy life more knowing the Driver of your vehicle is in

total control of your circumstances.

IGNITION: WHO IS AT THE WHEEL?—BE

A HUMBLE PASSENGER

Chapter One

“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest

in the kingdom of heaven.”

(Matthew 18:4)

In order for us to truly grow in our relationship with

God and allow the Holy Spirit to change our lives,

it’s important to be moldable and teachable

like a little child.

• 8 •

LET GO AND LET’S GO!

Day 1

I’ve Always Had an Interest in Being Behind the Wheel

Family drives were a big deal when I was growing up. Whenever all four of us kids piled into the car, we were always bickering and

fi ghting over who got what seat, and who sat behind which parent—position meant everything back then. So, on those rare occasions when I actually nabbed one of those prized window seats, life couldn’t be better. My dad always drove in those days and I can still remember the sense of security I had as I watched him sitting behind the wheel of our car. I felt safe knowing that dad was in control not only of the car, but also of our family and where we were going. Perhaps that memory still means so much to me today because that feeling of security was shat-tered at such a young age. My parents separated when I was fourteen, and suddenly it seemed as though no one was in control of our lives anymore.Like most teenage boys, when I turned seventeen I couldn’t wait to

get my driver’s license. I equated being behind the wheel of my own car with having more control over the direction of my own life. My fi rst car cost $150, but the promise of newfound freedom it brought was priceless. However, that freedom didn’t actually last very long. # e car broke down the second day I owned it and cost me another $125 to repair. On the third day, the engine blew and that was the end of my car, my money, and my short-lived independence. Not one to give up easily—I drove my mom’s old Volkswagen Beetle around until I found a way to get myself back into the driver’s seat of my own car once again. With such an urgency to be in charge of my life, it didn’t take long for me to save enough money to buy another $100 clunker. I didn’t care what the car looked like as long as I was sitting behind the wheel. Freedom! It meant so much to me. It meant I could drive wherever I

IGNITION: WHO IS AT THE WHEEL?—BE A HUMBLE PASSENGER

• 9 •

wanted, when I wanted, without relying on anyone else. Yet, even with that sense of freedom and control, I was still uneasy about so many of the decisions I had to make—I was unsure of my life’s direction.# en at the age of eighteen, my life took an unexpected detour

when my girlfriend, Jeanne, told me she was pregnant. # at is when I moved out of my mother’s house to start a new life as a husband and, shortly thereafter, a father. With the birth of our daughter, Jennifer, I was now responsible for two precious lives, and I still hadn’t found a direction for my own. We had no money and barely paid our bills each month. At the time, I couldn’t even aff ord to fi x the car we owned, which had a broken defroster and heater. I remember driving to work on cold winter days wearing an extra layer of socks and two pairs of gloves so I could keep warm. I also had to drive with the driver’s side window open in order to clear off the frost that kept blocking my vision. Being at the wheel of that car was both an interesting and uncertain experience, which seemed to parallel my shaky life as a husband and father at such a young age. Although I tried to make it seem as though I was in total control, life was diffi cult then and continued to be for a number of years to come. I needed someone to go to; the only problem was—I was the only “go to” guy I knew.

! e New “Ride” ! at Changed Everything

A few years later, at the age of twenty-fi ve, I started a new job and bought my fi rst brand new car—a maroon, 1984 Toyota Celica. I’ll never forget the night I picked up that car. Our three-year-old son, Jason, was antsy and hungry, so Jeanne kept buying him peanuts from the vending machine. After a few hours, we had completed all the necessary paperwork and the four of us eagerly jumped into our new car and headed home. It was the fi rst time I ever experienced that new car smell that everyone talks about. But less than fi ve minutes into that brave new world, we heard Jason complaining that “his belly hurt,” and without any further warning he threw up all over the back seat. Goodbye new car smell! As you can imagine, I was a little upset. Later that night when I had settled down enough to realize the slight


• 10 •

humor in the situation, Jeanne and I decided that Jason had offi cially christened our fi rst brand new car. For the next several months, I was on top of the world whenever I

was behind the wheel of that car. I actually looked forward to my drive to work each morning. What a diff erence it made not to be behind the wheel of a clunker! In fact, life in general had taken a turn for the best—a new car, a new job, a new sense of control.However, before long, some complicated issues began creeping

into my life creating “road-blocks” that I had to learn how to maneuver around. # e stress eventually caught up with me. I felt an overwhelming lack of peace and purpose. Being behind the wheel of my life in those days became exhausting—I was running on empty. I had nowhere to turn, and once again, no one who could help me. # at is when I fi nally turned to Jesus.Being raised in a Jewish home, the idea of becoming a Christian

was not something that I had ever really, seriously considered. But, hearing the gospel made me realize that my greatest need was for a Savior, and that Jesus—the Jewish Messiah—had paid the price for my sin on the cross. So, I gave my heart to Him. At that moment, I knew that the sense of security I had once known as a child watching my father behind the wheel was now fully realized by asking Jesus to take the wheel of my life. # e secret of being able to live a transformed life in this world is fi rst to know Jesus as your Savior, and then to give Him full control over the direction of your life, as Lord.At the age of thirty-three, I now had a fresh perspective and I was

eager to experience all the Lord had for me—the peace, purpose, and freedom that came from being His child. At this point, I no longer wanted to be in control. I just wanted to sit behind Him and watch Him as He steered my life in a brand new direction. I possessed a re-newed sense of security knowing Jesus was in charge and would always be there for me. # e more I trusted Him, the more secure I felt, and I quickly began to realize that my only struggles came when I once again tried to assume control and go off in my own direction. I learned that what I needed most was to let Jesus take the wheel, every day.


• 11 •

(GPS) God’s Positioning System

Day 1–Daily Action Step

Who is at the wheel of your life? You can determine the answer to this question by considering who is in control of the things you value most (i.e., your children, job, fi nances, home, health, relationships, even your daily activities.) Do you often worry about any of these areas? Worry is a signpost telling us that we are once again behind the wheel. When we place our trust in anything other than Jesus, we are trusting in the wrong thing. Spend time honestly refl ecting on how you are living throughout the day today. What are you think-ing about? Are you worried? Why or why not? Is your life being led by the Lord—is He in the driver’s seat? Or, has He become a passenger you are bringing along for the ride?

Ask God to help you yield your life to Him today. Pray something like this, “Dear God, I know I need to let go of my life and give control to You. Help me to follow Your direc-tions for my life and to listen to Your guidance.”

• 12 •

WHO DO YOU IMITATE FOR SUCCESS?

Day 2

I Was Wrong About Success

Shortly after accepting Jesus, I was introduced to a pastor named David who, like me, was a Jewish believer. Since the majority of

Jewish people never believe in Jesus as their Messiah, I realized that to believe in Him—as a Jewish man—was a unique experience. I was happy that David agreed to meet with me on a regular basis and dis-ciple me in the things of the Lord. I had so much to learn. After a few months, I confi ded in him that I thought I should write a book about being “successful” God’s way. Prior to coming to Jesus, I read many books and listened to lots of tapes that focused on business and sales strategies designed to bring fi nancial success. After coming to faith in Jesus, I recognized how empty those principles were without Him at the center. I was ready to set the record straight! However, with the gentle wisdom of a wise, godly mentor, David suggested that I stay focused on reading the Bible for a little while, and getting to know more about the Lord, rather than writing a book right away.I am glad I listened to David’s advice because the more I got to

know God, the more my idea of success changed. When I fi rst sug-gested to David that I write a book about success God’s way, I really had no idea what that meant. I hadn’t grown enough spiritually to understand the idea of success from a Christian world-view. Over the next several years, God changed my idea of success from a self-centered worldly view to one that is more God-centered. He revealed to me that success in God’s view, is to love Him and to love others as He loves them—success for a Christian is glorifying His life by the way we are living ours.God showed me that this kind of success is only accomplished as

we give up control of our lives to Him. # erefore, the more I yield to


• 13 •

Him, the more He molds me, and shapes me into the man He wants me to be. When I was in control of my life, I was running on empty. But now, with Jesus behind the wheel, my life has a renewed power and direction, and is fi lled to overfl owing with His peace, joy, and contentment. All the riches of the world could never buy that!God showed me that the only way to let Jesus take the wheel

is through humility. Humility is somewhat diffi cult to learn and to defi ne, but when we see it in someone else’s life, we know it instantly. # ey live for the Lord and not for themselves. In order to understand the principles of such a God-honoring life, the Lord led me to His Word to observe and study two whose lives are characterized by their humility—Moses and Jesus. It was in studying their lives that I found the seven keys for a transformed life with God that I will be sharing in this book.

Observing the Lives of Moses and Jesus Will Change Your Life

Numbers 12:3 says, “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.”Speaking of Jesus, Philippians 2:5–8 says, “Have this attitude in

yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”# e pages of this book are fi lled with stories from many biblical

characters, but Moses and Jesus are the central focus. By studying their lives and the way they reacted to life’s circumstances, we see in each of them what a God-directed life looks like. Jesus, of course, is God in the fl esh, and as such is unique in His demonstration of humility. Yet, in His humanity He provides an amazing example for us to follow.Moses was molded into the man God wanted him to be, much

like we are—over time and through various circumstances. His early life was fi lled with great worldly power and riches, but his heart was


• 14 •

longing for heavenly things. When stripped of all the world had to off er, Moses found himself living a very simple life for forty years, as a shepherd in a desert wilderness. I wonder if he ever suspected that God was using that time to prepare him to lead a nation of millions.We will learn many things as we study Moses’ life. We will see how

he interacted with God and those he was called to lead, and discover, in his example, the power of living a humble life before the Lord. In it all, we will fi nd that as Moses heeded God’s will for his life, God used him to accomplish great things. It wasn’t so much that Moses was a great man, but that he served a great God. In addition, Moses’ motives for serving and accomplishing great things for God were not selfi sh. He achieved all he did simply because of his desire to love God and to love others. # ere was no arrogance or pride, which so often goes along with many of our great achievements and accomplishments. In today’s vernacular, His life would be summed up as one of “Servant Leadership.” At the end of his earthly life, it was clear that Moses had lived a God-directed life and was used mightily by the Lord. As a result, millions of people then and now have been infl uenced by his example. No doubt, when he came into the Presence of the Lord, Moses heard the words, “Well done good and faithful servant” (from Matthew 25:21).In order for our lives to be changed by the humility that we see in

Moses and Jesus, we must do what Ephesians 5:1 says and “be imitators of God, as beloved children.” To imitate is to copy the appearance, mannerisms, speech, or actions of another. We do this all the time when we emulate someone else. We imitate people’s hairstyles and clothing, their facial expressions, the way they talk, or even the way they walk. We imitate their admirable mannerisms and qualities and even sometimes their annoying and sinful ways.First John 2:6, speaking of Jesus, says, “# e one who says he abides

in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” We don’t know enough about Jesus’ physical appearance, mannerisms, or the tone of His voice, to imitate them. So, obviously 1 John 2:6 is talking about the imitation of Jesus’ character, the essence of His being, which is clearly seen throughout Scripture. We are blessed to have the Bible, and to be able to study the character traits of those such as Moses and Jesus. Although Ephesians 5:1 says we are to be imitators of God,


• 15 •

(not Moses) Paul also tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” In Moses’ example of humility, we see a good model for us to imitate. He was a man who was willing to be refi ned by God, and to be made more into His image—something we all need to do. He is an impressive example of a person who lived a God-directed life. We would do well to honor God by imitating Moses’ attitudes and actions.


Day 2—Daily Action Step

Who do you emulate most? Do you think it is someone whom God would want you to emulate? Ask God to show you one thing in your life that you need to work on in order to imitate Jesus more fully—one area where you need to be molded into His image. For example: maybe you need to ask God to help you overcome your tendencies to be prideful or envious. Whatever it is that God shows you to begin to work on, make it your action step of the day. Each day He might show you something diff erent to work on.

• 16 •

DON’T HOLD BACK

Day 3

Where It All Begins

The foundation of a God-directed life is the pure and simple concept of approaching God with childlike humility. Before we go any

further, we need to pause and appreciate how essential an attitude of humility is in being able to release the wheel of our lives and give Jesus full control. Each of the seven keys to a transformed life with God that we will touch upon throughout this study have at their core this idea of simple humility before our Creator. It all begins with humility—the humility of a child. With that type

of humility, we will be fi lled with child-like enthusiasm and be eager to be led and instructed by the Lord—we will be teachable, moldable, and willing to change. Such humility allows Jesus to take the wheel. Psalm 25:8–9 says, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way.”In Micah 6:8, the Bible exhorts us “to walk humbly with your

God.” But all too often, we are either running ahead of Him or lagging behind; instead of walking alongside. We safeguard ourselves from either getting ahead or getting behind God by reading and obeying His Word. However, when we read God’s Word, we should avoid the temptation to believe only some of its truths—sadly, what we fi nd hard to accept, we oftentimes choose to ignore. But, in doing that we are creating our own image of God and we are no longer walking humbly with Him. # e Bible warns us that such a lack of humility will cause us to fall, “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). In turn, we will open ourselves up to condemnation as feelings of unworthiness creep in. # oughts such as, “How could God want to spend time with a sinner like me,” tend to wash over us at those times, and take us further away from the Lord in a stream of doubt and confusion.


• 17 •

Humility is what brings the right balance into our lives. Instead of thinking that we can handle things without God, or feeling unworthy to walk with Him, we recognize that our life in Him is all His grace. When we have that right focus we are yielded to the Spirit and walking in a right relationship with God, in turn we grow more in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.# ink of it this way. Imagine God holding your hand, teaching

you His ways, as you walk beside Him. It takes the humility of a child to not get ahead of the Lord—to listen and to trust Him to set the right pace. It also takes humility not to lag behind Him—to remember that in His grace, He forgives our unfaithfulness and even forgets our transgressions as we come back to Him, and allow Him to continue to lead, guide, and direct us. God recognizes that this childlike quality of humility is not possible for us to develop on our own. When our hearts are hardened by our sinful reactions to life’s circumstances, we forget how to accept God’s helping hand. Yet, like the prodigal’s father, the Lord welcomes us back in our sorrow and repentance with open arms of love, and bestows upon us all the blessings reserved for His children. No matter how many times we may run away from His side, He is always there waiting for us to remember to run back to our heavenly Father.

A “Must Do” Commitment to Someone Very Special

Jesus further explains this relationship when He tells us in John 14:15 that if we love Him, we will keep His commands. Jesus’ teachings go against the very nature of our being. He knew this, and He knew it was impossible for us to do these things, so He told His disciples that He would send another Helper, the Spirit of Truth, who would be with them forever. # e Holy Spirit teaches us all things that are true. He also enables us to walk with God. He leads us in all things as we yield to Him each day. First Corinthians 3:16 says, “Do you know that you are a temple

of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” First Corinthians 6:19 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not


• 18 •

your own?” Being in a relationship with God and having the Holy Spirit living inside, enables us to have that childlike humility to walk with Him. We are not on our own, we have the Holy Spirit—God within us—leading, guiding, directing. All we have to do is follow His lead by listening and yielding our lives to His control.

But How Do We Follow?

# e apostle Paul establishes this foundational point in his instruc-tion to Christians living in Rome. As a Jewish Rabbi, Paul persecuted the early believers until he experienced a personal encounter with Jesus, himself. From that point on, he dedicated his life to the Lord. In fact, Paul wrote approximately two-thirds of the New Testament under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In his letter to the Romans, he talked about the depth of human sin and even of his own fl eshly desires. In Romans 7:18–24, he said that nothing good dwelled in him and that in the fl esh he did the exact opposite of what he knew was right. Speaking of his struggle with the fl esh, Paul described himself as a wretched man or as low as one can go. Even as God’s children, we can still live according to our fl eshly desires, which, as Paul says, are wretched. He went on to say that through the power of Jesus’ death on the cross, we have been set free from the consequences of our sinful desires, and that through yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit who is dwelling within us, we can have victory over temptation and sin. By yielding to His life within, we have the power to commit our lives to God and to walk humbly before Him. As His children, we also have access to our Father in heaven, who is someone we can go to for help any time we need.# is doesn’t make us perfect; we will all have times when our fl eshly

desires will win out. But as we yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to mold and shape us, those lapses will lessen. # ere will always be a battle within us between the fl esh and the Spirit—a spiritual tug-of-war. But as we yield to the Spirit, we will always win.What an example of commitment! Paul heeded the leadership of

the Spirit of God and not his own fl esh. His life was totally sold out for God, and he experienced Jesus’ joy and peace as a result. Paul knew what


• 19 •

it meant to live a life of childlike humility and let Jesus take the wheel. In 2 Corinthians 1:12, he says, “For our proud confi dence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fl eshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.” Paul didn’t live according to his own wisdom; he knew that would get him nowhere. Instead, he lived his life committed to being led by the grace of God.

! e Way to Paul-like Motivation

Paul said that he did all things for the sake of the gospel. # en he described one of the ways he did this in 1 Corinthians 9:24–27. He said, “Do you know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. # ey can do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. # erefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualifi ed.” In this illustration, Paul compared the discipline of committing his life to God and being led by the Holy Spirit to someone who was training to run in a race—not just to compete, but also to win.I started training for my fi rst Olympic distance triathlon in March

2005. # is triathlon consists of three back-to-back events: a one-mile swim, a twenty-six mile bike ride, and a six-mile run. Prior to this training, I was a casual runner, never really running more than three miles at a time, maybe three times a week, in a good week. I didn’t think I had time to run more than that, so I was content with only running three times a week. I’d never been much of a swimmer. I knew how to swim, but not very well, and I hadn’t been swimming in over twenty-fi ve years. I had ridden a mountain bike before, but never a road bike for more than a few miles. In fact, I didn’t even own a road bike.# e swimming was the scariest part of the triathlon for me. I’d

never swum for more then a few minutes at a time. A good friend of mine went to college on a swimming scholarship and continued to swim at least fi ve days a week. Lou agreed to give me swimming


• 20 •

lessons. My fi rst lesson took place at 6:00 .. at the YMCA, which was about half an hour from home. I usually don’t wake up until 7:00 .., but this day I was up at 5:00 .., trying to wrap my mind around swimming—something so unfamiliar to me.Lou greeted me by telling me to jump in and show him what I

could do. I slowly walked into the Olympic distance pool and swam one length, looked up, spotted Lou and told him I was already fatigued. # e triathlon’s required one-mile swim amounted to seventy-two lengths of the pool. I was in trouble! Lou didn’t hesitate with a response. He could swim for miles without stopping, but if he swam the way I swam, he’d be exhausted, too. I had taken one deep breath to swim three-quarters of the length of the pool before taking a fi nal breath to fi nish. Lou said swimming that way was analogous to taking a deep breath, holding it, and running a hundred yards. Breathing regularly I could run ten miles, but if I took a deep breath and only exhaled every hundred yards, I wouldn’t be able to run very far at all. After swimming that fi rst length of the pool for Lou, I realized I had a lot to learn. If I wanted to learn how to swim a mile, I was going to have to go back to the basics and learn how to breathe every other stroke. I needed to discipline my body and make it my slave. With Lou’s help, I was prepared to do whatever it took to learn.

! e Secret to a Successful Race

# e entire process for triathlon training seemed daunting, and at times, I didn’t think I could do it. I had to be disciplined with my early morning workouts to make sure I fi nished in time to get to my job. It was hard at fi rst, but got easier as I continued to focus on the goal, and even when I was tired in the morning and didn’t want to work out, I did, knowing I couldn’t quit. Although it got easier, there were still mornings that I really had to fi ght myself to get up and work out. # rough the soreness, weariness, injuries, and sickness, I knew I had to press on. As training persisted, I looked forward to the eff ort more and more, and continued to improve. Even though at fi rst the goal seemed almost impossible, I was becoming a tri-athlete!


• 21 •

I discovered the secret to succeeding as a tri-athlete was exercising self-control. Not only did I have to be diligent in training, but also with eating, water drinking, and sleeping, as well as time-management for work, social activities, and ministry. If I didn’t eat right, then I didn’t have enough energy to train. If I didn’t drink enough water, I’d dehydrate and get sick. Without enough sleep, I would lose motivation. Careless scheduling meant no time to train. It was complicated and only worked when I committed myself fully to the process. It aff ected my whole life, but I was able to do it because I wanted to win the prize of completing the race.Paul disciplined his body and made it his slave because he didn’t

want to preach to others about overcoming fl eshly desires and then per-sonally fail. He exercised a great deal of self-control, turning away from anything that distracted him from following God and serving solely for the sake of the gospel. Just as I trained for the triathlon, so we must train to run from our fl eshly desires and stay away from situations that tempt us to give in to evil. For example, if watching too much television makes it more diffi cult to spend time with God, then I have to watch less TV. We have to be careful with the language we use, our choice of friends and how much time we spend with them, how we spend our money, and the temptation to do anything that distracts us from God. A Spirit-fi lled life is a yielded life, and a yielded life is a disciplined one—and it all begins with turning away from our fl eshly desires.



Consider what is keeping you from committing more of yourself to God today, and take action to change whatever is hindering you. Take some time to identify the life distractions that are getting in the way of your following the lead of the Holy Spirit, and develop a plan to eliminate them. Adopt the attitude to desire more discipline and commitment in living a life for God. # is will naturally result in turning away from selfi sh, fl eshly desires.

• 22 •

HOW TO BE BOTH CHILDLIKE

AND WISE

Day 4

Live a Life Guided by God’s Wisdom

As Christians, when we turn away from our selfi sh desires, we have someone else to turn to—the Holy Spirit within us. If we follow

His lead, we will live a life that is marked by godly wisdom. # is re-minds me of an Old Testament story from the life of King Solomon.When Solomon, King David’s son, was appointed King of Israel,

he was about twenty years old, and the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Ask what you wish me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). What an awesome statement from the Creator of the universe! I can’t imagine how tempting it would have been to ask for selfi sh things. Solomon instead asked God to give him wisdom to discern between good and evil. Why? To be equipped in judging God’s chosen people. God was pleased to honor his request. In fact, God was so pleased that not only did He choose to give Solomon more wisdom than anyone ever; He also gave him riches and honor.We must look at the noteworthy dialogue between Solomon

and God prior to Solomon asking for wisdom. Solomon recognized something very signifi cant. He said to God in 1 Kings 3:7, “Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.” Solomon realized he couldn’t do it on his own! He had a childlike humility. He knew he couldn’t rule over God’s people by himself. He was open to God’s counsel, just as a little child is willing to learn. He was not fi lled with self but instead realized he needed God to be in control.# is kind of attitude is crucial in living a life of peace, joy, and

love with God. Not all Christians live transformed lives. You see, even though we have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, even though we


• 23 •

have the gift of the Holy Spirit living within us, and the benefi t of God’s road map, the Bible, in order to lead and direct us each day, even though we go so far as to discipline ourselves to fi ght fl eshly desires, we may still struggle with experiencing God’s love, joy, and peace. We have diffi culty living lives pleasing to God because we resist the leading of the Holy Spirit and wrestle with allowing Jesus to take the wheel. # e key to letting Jesus lead is the same as Solomon realized, it’s about coming to God as a child.

Did You Ever Have a Friend Like ! is?

I have a good friend who is constantly asking for advice. Brad describes various issues in his life and then wants me to give him wise counsel. I listen to Brad’s situations and suggest what I think is the best advice to help him get through whatever he’s dealing with. Brad listens to what I have to say, but he rarely, if ever, applies my advice. Brad thinks he knows what’s best, and in his stubbornness, he doesn’t heed the advice of others.Don’t we do the same with God? We read, we pray, yet we still want

things our way. We listen, but we say “no” to God. God says, “Honor your marriage and don’t get divorced,” and we say, “God understands my situation, and its okay to get divorced.” God says, “Love your wives as Jesus loves you,” but we explain that God understands that it’s impossible for us. God doesn’t want us to stay angry, but we rationalize that it’s okay for our situation. God wants us to love others, but we still hate some, rationalizing that they hate us, so it’s okay. # e same is true with greed or forgiveness. It’s all about doing things our way. Even as we live our lives for God, we often have that “our way” attitude. We think we know what’s best. # is way of living is totally opposite to the way Solomon approached God when he asked for God’s wisdom. Solomon was open to God’s advice, as open as a little child when they ask their parents a question.In Matthew 16:21–27 Jesus told the disciples that He must be

humbled to the point of death, an act of denying Himself and doing what God the Father had called Him to do. Peter said, “God forbid it, Lord! # is shall never happen to You.” Jesus then called Peter a


• 24 •

stumbling block. Why? Peter was setting his mind on what he wanted and not on what God wanted. Jesus went on to say that we should not be concerned for the things that we want; we’ve got to deny ourselves these things. We need to be concerned for the things of God and follow Jesus’ example. # e action of denying ourselves is diffi cult—impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit within us. Many times, we don’t listen to God’s wisdom; we want to do things our way. So often, we fail to allow the Holy Spirit to have the free reign necessary to eff ect change in our lives.

How To Matter in the Kingdom of Heaven

Jesus tells us how to do this in Matthew 18:1–4. His disciples dis-cussed who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I can only imag-ine the conversation. Matthew, the important tax collector, claimed he sacrifi ced a big job to follow Jesus and had connections with a lot of important people that could rally together for the kingdom of heaven. Peter, James, and John probably said they should be greatest, since Jesus chose to take them to the mountaintop where they witnessed His heavenly transformation. # ey emphasized that they saw Moses and Elijah and heard the voice of God when He said, “# is is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him” (Matthew 17:5). Or maybe Andrew, Peter’s brother, said he was one of the fi rst to be called; he had followed Jesus the longest and should be greatest in the kingdom. After all, he had seniority. Maybe some of the other disciples said they should be the greatest because they cast out demons or healed the sick. We don’t know exactly what they said, but we do know they talked about who should be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.# eir concept of the kingdom of heaven was very diff erent from

what Jesus told them. Israel was under Roman control at the time, and they expected the Messiah to set up a political kingdom to rule the Earth. # ey hadn’t yet comprehended that Jesus had to pay the price of death for our sins, and would come back later to physically rule. # ey thought the kingdom of heaven was coming to Earth any day, and that they would possess an important role in the kingdom.


• 25 •

After talking amongst themselves, they fi nally got up enough nerve to ask Jesus, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” # is question did not take Jesus by surprise. In fact, based on the other gospel accounts, we know that Jesus was aware of their discussions, and discerned what was in their hearts. Before Jesus answered them, He called a child over to stand next to Him, wrapped His arms around the child, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” # en He said, “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the great-est in the kingdom of heaven.” What an awesome illustration. # e humility children naturally possess is considered greatness in heaven. I can imagine the look on the disciples’ faces. In that time, the child was considered the least signifi cant person in Jewish, as well as Greco-Roman, society.Being great in the kingdom of God required having the humility

of a child, the one considered least important during Jesus’ time on Earth. Tie this lesson together with the example of Solomon’s childlike acknowledgment that he needed help ruling God’s people. From this we learn that we need to have the humility of a child and admit we can’t do it on our own. # en, it will be possible for us to receive God’s wisdom and live by it. # at’s when we make a diff erence for God in our lives by allowing Jesus to take the wheel.



Identify situations in your life that require wisdom to make the right decisions. With childlike humility, pray and let God know that you need His help. Tell Him you can’t do it on your own, and trust Him to give you discernment to know what to do. It’s important to discuss each of these situations with God and to do so on a regular basis.

• 26 •

CHILDREN COME BY HUMILITY

NATURALLY

Day 5

Who Is Greater?

How do we get the humility of a child? What does “humility of a child” even mean? Why is it so important that it’s considered the

requirement for being great in God’s kingdom? Let’s answer these very important questions. First let’s look at a time when Jesus once again talked about the

desire to be great, to be recognized as important. On the Sabbath, He had been invited to the home of one of the Pharisee’s leaders. # e Pharisees were a prominent and powerful religious group in Israel at the time. Many important leaders of the Pharisees, as well as many of the lawyers who watched Jesus with a critical eye, attended the meal. Jesus looked around at the table and saw all these important people selecting the places of honor at the table. # e infl uential guests chose preferred seating because they wanted to be recognized as more important than the ones seated around them. # ey sought greatness. Jesus got their attention, and He told them a parable. In Luke 14:8–11, He said, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” In other words, don’t consider yourself great; don’t concern yourself about importance. Allow God to work that out. Simply show up for God and permit Him to exalt you, just as


• 27 •

He did when He wrapped His arms around the child when explaining greatness in the kingdom of God.

It’s Hard to Find ! is in a Child

# e humility of a child models an openness and innocence not tainted by the evils of this world. Tell children about Jesus, and they want to hear more. Eternity with Jesus is easy for them to understand, and they accept it as truth. # ey don’t yet have a tarnished view of the world and all the baggage that goes along with it. Children live their lives with innocence—with a smile that says, “Life is good.” # eir intentions are pure and from the heart. When a little child gives hugs and kisses, and tells you he loves you, it melts your heart, doesn’t it? You know it’s an innocent, genuine love. # ere is no real selfi shness in it, no ulterior motive. # ere is no “what’s in it for me” attitude. # at openness to believe and that innocence of childlike love is how God wants us to live out our faith.Paul, in closing his letter to the Romans, told them he heard about

their obedience to God, and rejoiced over it. Paul said, “I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil” (Romans 16:19). He then threw in a “but” and told them he recognized that there were crooked and perverse people all around them, but if they had innocence and purity, they would appear as lights in the world. Not only should we guard ourselves from evil, we should be assured that the things of God are pure and innocent. Let’s live our lives accepting that, applying that, and not giving way to the evils of this world. When we have the innocence of a child, we shine for God! In Matthew 10:16, Jesus addressed His disciples before sending them to cast out unclean spirits and healing people of their diseases. He told them, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Why a Child Feels Safe with Mom and Dad

It’s fun to get a child to smile—not to mention, easy. It’s even better to get them to laugh with that look of amazement on their faces. One


• 28 •

of the ways I love to make children smile is to turn into a human car-nival ride. I grab their legs and back, turn them upside down, and then swing them up to my shoulder. Every time I repeat the process, they come up with a contagious smile that makes me smile too. However, this activity makes my wife nervous. She tries to get me to stop, but the kids and I love it. Jeanne is afraid the child will get hurt. She thinks there’s a good chance that I’m going to drop them or they’ll fall; she doesn’t trust that I’m holding them tightly enough.# e child is never afraid and always wants more. Most of the time,

the only reason I stop is because I get too tired to continue. Why isn’t the child afraid? Children instinctively trust. # ey have that built-in sense of faith that adults know what’s best for them—they accept it naturally. # ey also have no concept of the dangers that could befall them in this world—their minds are still innocent and pure. Unlike my wife, who has lived long enough to know that bad things happen, a child’s simple faith helps them feel secure, nurtured, and protected. I love seeing how children respond when they get a scrape or cut. # ey immediately go crying to their mother or father. # e parent typically says, “Let me kiss it and make it better.” After the parent kisses the scrape, the child’s tears miraculously stop and he feels better. Did the kiss really have the power to heal? Or are the tears gone because the child innocently trusts what his parent says and believes that the kiss made the boo-boo better?For adults it’s more diffi cult to trust in the same way. We believe we

know what’s best for us and we are leery of trusting anyone that takes us away from our comfort zone. We believe we’re the only ones who will take care of ourselves. If we don’t care, no one will. It’s all about what we want. God wants us to know that it’s not about us; He desires us to trust Him with the simplicity of a child. He knows what’s best for us.Jesus is looking for that kind of humility. # e kind that shows we

are trusting in Him to take care of us and never let us go—like the smiling child on my human carnival ride. God wants us to live each day with a confi dent trust in Him, but that is much easier for children to do than adults. Our ability to fully trust God often comes only through experiencing how He works in the diffi cult times of our lives. It is then, when everything else we have trusted in fails, that we begin


• 29 •

to understand how faithful and trustworthy God is in our lives. He is strong enough to hold onto us, all the way to the end. When Paul addressed the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 1:9, he said, “Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.” Paul was about to be put to death. He didn’t need to describe or understand how his death would come because he trusted his life to God. Trusting in God—not ourselves—is the kind of humility God requires.

What Children Never Desire But Always Do Better ! an Grown-Ups

We also need to understand that children don’t desire authority and power. We as parents may tell them they should achieve and be the best they can be, but that’s not what concerns children; they don’t have selfi sh ambition. Several years ago, my wife and I attended a party where the guests of honor were my brother’s triplets. # ey are being raised Catholic, and all three made their fi rst Holy Communion on the same day. After the service, my brother and sister-in-law hosted a party at a local restaurant. # e party was in honor of the triplets, so they were considered big shots. All the attention from the adults and other children spotlighted them.After dinner, eight kids sat around this big circular booth with a

table in the middle. # ey played a game together and were trying to decide which game to play next. # ey all looked so cute that I made my way over to the table to eavesdrop. # ey were laughing and having a great time, feeling grown up at their own table. # e table, with all the children seated around it, reminded me of an executive board meeting room. I playfully suggested they should elect a Chairman of the Board to direct the discussion and then vote to decide the next game. # ey all giggled about my suggestion, and my nephew Houston said he would be the chairman. # e others didn’t object, and so they played out an executive board-meeting scenario for a few minutes.I then said I’d run for Chairman of the Board against Houston. It

was all done in fun, and in my campaign speech, I promised everyone free ice cream if they voted for me. We went around the table, and all


• 30 •

the kids were voting for me. When it got to Houston’s turn, he thought for a minute, and then cast his vote . . . for me! Everyone laughed and I became the new chairman.I played along for a few minutes until I was ready to return to the

grown up table. # e kids didn’t want me to leave. I told them Houston could be the chairman again, but even Houston didn’t want that. # ey were happy to have me in control.Children don’t desire power or ambition. Recently, a major network

tried to produce a show called Kid Nation, and it caused a great deal of problems behind the scenes because children are not “wired” to want to take control. # ey want to listen to authority. Some parents might say that their children do not listen to them and require discipline in order to do so. I’m sure that can be the case, but that’s not what I’m referring to here. I’m talking about a child’s desire not to be in a position of greatness or authority but instead to be led by an adult whom they consider great. It is only in the absence of outside authority that children seek to be in authority. When Jesus beckoned the child to come to Him, he came and did exactly as Jesus requested. # ere was no arguing or questioning.# e humility of a child is not characterized by selfi sh ambition but

instead desires to have somebody else at the wheel. Imagine how much better off we would be if we voted for Jesus to be Chairman in our lives, the one in authority. Jesus said, that’s the beginning of greatness in His kingdom, and it is also the beginning of us allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives and direct all we do.



# e qualities we’ve discussed of natural humility in a child are essential for all of God’s children to possess. What can you do today to take a small step toward childlike humility? Do something that demonstrates one or more of these qualities in your everyday life.

• 31 •

WHAT ARE YOU DEPENDING ON AND

WHOM ARE YOU LISTENING TO?

Day 6

! e Mysterious Stomachache ! at God Wants You to Have

Kids are not afraid to show dependence—another aspect of humil-ity. # ey are willingly dependent upon their parents. I remember

my daughter’s fi rst sleepover at a friend’s house. My wife and I had been expecting it, and went through all the preparations, such as talking to her friend’s parents. I felt a tinge of sadness as we dropped Jenni off —my daughter was growing up and didn’t need me anymore. Jeanne explained there was a good chance Jenni wouldn’t make it through the night. She said Jenni might get homesick and we’d get a late-night call to pick her up. Shortly after 10:00 .. the other mother called; Jenni had a

stomachache and wanted to come home. Was I relieved! Jeanne just smiled as I jumped in the car anxious to retrieve my daughter. Jenni’s stomachache miraculously disappeared as soon as we got home, and I selfi shly felt a little better knowing she wasn’t yet ready to spend a night away from home.# at’s the kind of dependence God wants us to have on Him—He

desires us to spend time with Him and to be afraid when we’re away from His side. We, on the other hand, willingly spend a lot of our time apart from God. When things are going okay, we seem to forget about Him. We’ll call from time to time to check in, but often we wait until we get into trouble and then cry out for God like little children. God waits and answers, yet yearns for us to depend on Him more completely, as our heavenly Father. He longs for us to be continually dependent on Him, just as He wanted the Jewish people to depend on Him.


• 32 •

After the Jewish nation was delivered out of slavery in Egypt, they were in the desert, hungry and with no food. Did you know that God wanted them to be hungry? He wanted them to humble themselves, be dependent on Him, and then He would provide food for them. In Deuteronomy 8:3 He tells them He did this so that they would understand that, “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” # is is the attitude that helps us to receive godly wisdom and shapes a desire within us to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

# e facts are, children: 1) don’t desire to be great, 2) are innocent of evil, 3) instinctively trust authority, 4) desire to have someone else in authority and 5) are not afraid to show dependence. # ese same qualities of childlike humility are essential in our Christian lives in order to grow in our relationship with God. # ey are also necessary to understand the next quality—children are teachable. # ey listen, learn, and then apply those lessons to their life. In order to grow in our relationship with God, and allow the Holy Spirit to change our lives, it is important for us to be moldable and teachable, like a little child. Kids love to be taught new things. A few years ago, my sister and her

family, who live in Arizona, came to visit. My wife and I invited the rest of the family to come for a party. My nephew Matthew and niece Ellie, who were about six years old at the time, were playing catch. # ey had trouble catching the ball, so I gave them some pointers. I noticed they wanted to throw the ball before they caught it, and were taking their eyes off the ball at the very last second. I called them over and explained the importance of keeping their eyes on the ball. # ey listened intently, each of them with curious looks on their faces—they were interested in learning how to catch better. I demonstrated what I meant, and threw each a couple of balls to see how they’d do. # eir technique was much better, but they still didn’t have the concept down. So, I took them aside again, put the ball in my hand, and told them no matter where my hand went to follow the ball with their eyes. I started moving my hand to the left and to the right, up and then down. No matter where


• 33 •

my hand went, Matthew and Ellie never took their eyes off the ball. I convinced them that keeping their eyes on the ball would help them catch better, and they were determined to keep learning. # at kind of innocence, that kind of trust and dependence on the instructor, is what God is looking for in us.

! e Story ! at Keeps Teaching

I remember when my daughter Jenni was about three years old, and our family lived in Patchogue, Long Island. One night I came home from work and Jeanne was distraught. She told me that Jenni had once again not listened to her as they were walking home from a nearby deli. It was a walk that they often took whenever Jeanne needed to pick up a few items. # ey would pass through a railroad station parking lot as they walked to and from the deli. Here, Jenni let go of Jeanne’s hand and started running through the parking lot, raking her feet through the gravel, with rocks popping up all over the place. Understanding the danger, Jeanne tried to correct her, but Jenni stubbornly resisted. I had to do something so Jenni would stop disobeying Jeanne.It was almost Jenni’s bedtime so I put her into bed, and as usual,

she wanted me to tell her a story. So I decided to tell her what we later referred to as $ e Gladys Story.

Once upon a time, there was this little girl, and her name was Gladys. One day Gladys’ mother was going to the deli to buy milk and bread. She told Gladys that they would walk to the deli together, and if Gladys was a good girl, she would buy Gladys some gum. Gladys was good, so when they got to the deli her mother bought milk, bread, and gum for Gladys. She gave Gladys a piece and they started to walk home. All of a sudden, Gladys began misbehaving. She kicked rocks, ran ahead, and didn’t hold her mother’s hand. Gladys’ mother said, “# at’s it! When we get home you’re going right to bed, you’re going to be punished, and no more gum.” When they got home, Gladys had to go straight to her room. A short while later, she told her mother she was sorry. Her mother forgave Gladys and allowed her to have the gum again.


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As I told my little three-year-old this story, her eyes fi xated on me. She listened intently, as most children do when you tell them a story, and I could tell she was thinking Gladys sounded a lot like her. Jenni asked me a few questions about the story, after which, I looked at her and told her she had to listen to her mother; otherwise, she would be punished just like Gladys. I also told her, like Gladys, she should apologize to her mother. Jenni related to Gladys from the beginning, and her walks with Jeanne got better almost immediately.For the next few months, every night at bedtime, Jenni asked me to

tell her $ e Gladys Story. Soon that dwindled to once a week, then once a month. Even as Jenni got older, she’d occasionally ask me to tell $ e Gladys Story. Here’s the point. Jenni loved $ e Gladys Story and saw the application to her life immediately. She even applied the moral of the story to her relationship with her mom. Jenni, an innocent and open child, trusting and dependent on the storyteller (her dad) loved the story and wanted to hear it over and over again.Jesus, giving Himself up to death on the cross, paid the ultimate

price for us to have a relationship with God, our Father. If we receive His free gift of salvation through the shedding of His blood for the covering of our sins, then God sends us the Holy Spirit, and we can become like little children in our relationship with our heavenly Father. # at’s the beautiful and true story that God tells us; it’s there for all to receive. Once we do, we will have the ability to understand God’s Word. As we read the great stories of the Bible, we will begin learning God’s principles and truths and be able to apply them to our own lives just like my daughter Jenni did when I told her $ e Gladys Story. We can be like little children by allowing these stories, principles, and truths to change the way we live, everyday.God’s Word, assembled together by Him for us in the Bible, will

sustain us and get us through our lives, as we experience the peace and love of God. Spiritually, we will grow, but we will remain like little children when it comes to our dependence on God.When you read God’s Word, imagine sitting next to Him as He puts

His arm around you, and communicates His awesome, life-changing truths. Imagine gazing into His eyes and sensing His love. His Word is meant to teach and change you, to mold and shape you more into the


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image of His Son Jesus. # is kind of God-inspired and God-directed childlike humility is important to God and is available to us; all we have to do is simply let Jesus take the wheel.

Why Humility Is So Important to God, Even if He Has to Teach Us the Hard Way

When we have the humility of a child, we let God defi ne what is important in our lives. We do not actively seek our own way, or try to fi gure things out on our own. Instead, like children; we come to God and ask His advice. When God gives us advice and direction, we don’t think twice about following it. We know that God has our best interests at heart, and we can trust Him. Humility is essential for us to experience the love of God and live a transformed life. When we don’t have humility, we set ourselves up for pain and bitter disappointment. When we fail to seek God and follow His advice, we begin relying on our own limited knowledge and powerless wisdom. When we rely on self rather than God, we place improper signifi cance on our own importance. By adopting a humble attitude, we stay on the right road on the journey toward a transformed life with God.



Show your dependence on God by committing to start listening to Him every day through His Word and talking to Him through prayer. Make a decision that doing anything else other than this is a dependence on yourself and not God. When reading God’s Word, imagine that He is telling you a story designed to teach you about how to live your life. # ink of the message of the story throughout the day and consider its application in your life.

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POINTS TO CONSIDER ON

YOUR JOURNEY

Day 7

1. Solomon acknowledged he couldn’t do it on his own, compared himself to a child, and asked God for help. His biggest request was for wisdom. Do you have a similar mind-set in your approach to living a life for God? You do not have this wisdom on your own, and the only place you can fi nd it is from God Himself. In order to obtain this wisdom, you must approach your relationship with God with the humility of a child. As Jesus explained, this kind of humility is what is considered great in the kingdom of God. It’s the kind of humility that allows the Holy Spirit to work in your life. # e fi rst step in approaching God in this way is recognizing Him as the source of all wisdom. It involves agreeing to let Him take the wheel of your life.

2. Children instinctively trust adults, and God wants you to have the humility to trust Him in the same way. Do you recognize that you are always in His loving, caring arms, and no matter what direction your life takes, He will always hold you tight? He will be there to comfort you and give you His peace as long as you trust Him and let Him direct your life.

3. Children are teachable; they are open and eager to be molded by the adults in their lives. # ey don’t see themselves as important. In fact, they are eager to have an adult fi gure in their lives to admire and emulate. Do you realize that this kind of humility is essential in letting God take control of your life? # e molding process isn’t always easy, especially if you fi ght it. However, when you recognize that God is using circumstances in your life to purify you and mold you into the image of Jesus, the refi ning process is met with a peace from God.


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4. # e humility of a child involves getting rid of selfi sh ambition. Let go of the desire to be recognized by others as having power and authority. Do you recognize God as your authority? Do you live your life listening to and following Him without any concern for your own greatness?

5. Children do not have a cynical view of the world. For the most part, they have not yet been tarnished by the evilness of this world. As a result, their actions of love have mostly innocent intentions. Paul instructs us to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. Obviously we are aware of the evils in this world; they are all around us. Instead of being caught up in them, do you focus on the innocent truth of God’s Word and live your life by it? If you do, your actions of love will be less self-centered and have more innocent, pure intentions. # at will help you to be less aff ected by evil and live with more humility—humility as a child.

6. Children are dependent on the love and support of their parents, and they are not afraid to display this. # ere are no pride issues concerning their dependency, and the absence of this pride is evidence of their humility. Do you depend on God in this way? Deuteronomy 8:3 tells us to live by every word of God. # at’s total dependence for living.

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Jesus Take The Wheel by Stuart Migdon

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