One day I watched as a two-year old boy stood on the edge of a table. His father was close and was holding out his arms. The young boy fell forward and the father caught him in his arms.
The father stood the young boy back on the table and this time stepped back a few feet. The young boy, with a smile on his face, began leaning forward again. The father immediately stepped up and caught the boy. This happened several times and each time the father would step back just a little farther.
It didn’t matter to the young boy, though. He would still fall forward with the same confidence. He had confidence in his father, knowing that no matter how far away the father seemed to be, Dad would always catch him if he fell.
Child-Like Faith
The young child had “faith” in his father. He knew the father would catch him, regardless.
We as adults need to be like this young boy. His faith was so simple, ours is so complicated.
Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, that unless we became as little children, we would by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
But how do we become as little children? How does a little child act? Usually they imitate their parents. They say what they hear their parents say and trust in their words. That’s the way we are to be with God the Father.
As Christians we are children of God. When we accept Jesus, the Son of God, into our hearts and recognize Him as our Lord and Savior, then the Bible tells us that we enter into the family of God as adopted sons. We are saved, born again; we are believers. We are then subject to our Heavenly Father and we are to listen to and trust Him.
When Jesus was here on the earth, He said in John 12:49-50, “For I have not spoken on My own authority: but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” Jesus Himself tells us here that He only said what the Father told Him to say.
In the fifth chapter of John, Jesus said He only did what His Father wanted Him to do and in John 8:38 He said He only spoke what He saw when He was with His Father.
We as Christians need to speak what the Word of God says. When we pray, we need to pray the Word of God. Too many Christians are out there praying for things to happen in their lives that are totally against God’s will for them. If we want God to hear us when we pray, we must know His will.
The Bible says in 1 John 5:14-15, “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
Now, here’s the key. We need to read and meditate on the Word of God and spend quality time with God our Father in prayer. We can’t speak the words of our Heavenly Father if we never listen to Him. We must be like the little boy standing on the table.
We must trust in the Father and His Word. And then, His arms will always be there to catch us.
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.