I love music! There are few styles of music that I don’t enjoy. My musical choices usually lean heavily toward that which is uplifting and inspirational, style or genre maters much less than the words.  Last week I discovered a new album from one of the artists I really enjoy and I couldn’t resist the download. Her style, I would guess is most like smooth Jazz. As I was enjoying listening to it, one song ended and as the next began; children’s voices filled my ears. This caught my attention even more as I closely listened to their words that were a prelude to the song. I was wonderstruck! My next thought was: what would happen if every child was taught these words from their earliest days all the way through adulthood? How would it change the world? Just what would it be like if we truly realized from an early age that we were created to be children of destiny?

 

Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord. You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.

For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began. (‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭1-6, 13-16‬ HCSB)

      Friday afternoon my two and a half-year old granddaughter was granted her hearts desire. She had been asking to come to Nannie and Granddaddy’s house for a week or two and this was a good time for her to spend a couple of days. Saturday morning as we prepared to enjoy breakfast together, I decided to turn on my playlist as I began cooking and she played with Granddaddy. Their play sounds slowed and I noticed she was listening to the children’s voices coming over the speakers. She had a huge smile on her face. It reminded me that just yesterday she had looked up at me with the sweetest expression on her face and sweetly proclaimed, ” Nannie, I cute! I cute!”  Most children have  proclaimed a similar statement at some point, whether acknowledging their cuteness, that they are smart, or some other attribute. It was not out of arrogance, pride or insecurity looking for approval, but just an innocent acknowledgement before people, the culture or world  challenged it.  What if I teach her the words of this song from Ginny Owens: ” I’m beautiful; exceptional; powerful; cause love lives inside of me, calling me to be a daughter of destiny…”  (From the album Get In, I’m Drivin’ by Ginny Owens). What if we could insure that instinctive and innocent understanding of their God-given value was preserved for a lifetime? What if people’s words and the circumstances of life that we encounter were experienced from a solid foundation that we are precious creations of God, His workmanship, His masterpiece?

 

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭3-6‬ HCSB)

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8-10‬ HCSB)

 Proverbs 22:6 (NET Bible) “Train a child in the way that he should go,and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

     My curious mind just can not help but wonder, what difference would it make in our lives, in how we see others and how we see ourselves.  Would we have greater self-respect; respect for others? Would we place a greater value on all life? Would insecurity be lessened or vanquished? Maybe it would end or at least lessen abuse, violence, the taking of life and sex-trafficking in our world. I realize that many do not believe in God; many reject both God and Jesus. He gave them the freedom to choose or reject Him. I also believe they would be much more likely to be convinced if those of us who are His sons and daughters fully realized and experienced who we are In Christ Jesus and walked it out in our lives. Maybe as the title song says we could get in and let Him do the drivin”.

Grace & peace to you!

http://encouragingbiblequotes.com/verses2a.html