Becoming a wild child

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When I was a child, my favourite playground activity was the swing—I still remember the thrill of swinging so high that you felt sure you were going to go right over the top.

I had to smile to myself the other day, when my husband was swinging our six-year-old son, who was shouting, ‘Higher! Higher!’ As he swung high into the air, he began singing for the whole park to hear: ‘I believe I can fly! I believe I can touch the sky!’ He had no thought as to who was listening or laughing at him. He was totally, wildly, in the moment.

I wondered to myself, ‘When do we lose the un-self-consciousness of childhood?’ When do we begin worrying about what other people think—whether they are judging us, or worse, laughing at us?

This weekend we launch New Zeal in our territory. The purpose, as an Army, is to ask the Holy Spirit to revive us again and do a new thing in our mission. We know we have the Spirit with us always, but when we humble ourselves to seek him, God promises that he will be found.

We focus our eyes on Jesus. We throw off everything that hinders. We lose our self-consciousness and call out to God. We are zealous for his purpose. We don’t worry about the judgement of others. We become a wild child in the Kingdom of God. Watch this space, because something big is about to happen …

Ingrid Barratt
Editor

Bible verse

Psalm 42:1
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

Nga Waiata 42:1
Rite tonu ki te hāta e kihakiha nei ki ngā manga wai tōku ngākau e kihakiha nei ka a koe, E te Atua.