document.open(); document.writeln(""); document.writeln("Childlike Faith
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And he said: \'€œTruly"); document.writeln("I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never"); document.writeln("enter the kingdom of heaven.1

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In the 1971 film, \'€œWilly"); document.writeln("Wonka and the Chocolate Factory\'€, Willy Wonka launched a worldwide frenzy when"); document.writeln("he placed five golden tickets into his famous Wonka Bars. Each ticket gave the"); document.writeln("lucky finder a chance to tour the infamous chocolate factory and win a lifetime"); document.writeln("supply of chocolate. The five winners were children and as the day passed, they"); document.writeln("were repeatedly instructed: \'€œDon\'€™t do that!\'€, \'€œYou can\'€™t have that\'€, \'€œBe"); document.writeln("careful\'€, \'€œDon\'€™t touch that\'€. One by one, each of the children fell prey to"); document.writeln("their own greed. In the end, only one boy, Charlie Bucket, proved to have the"); document.writeln("virtuous heart that Wonka was looking for. In a scene near the end of the"); document.writeln("movie, Wonka unveiled his true plan: to find a suitable person to whom he could"); document.writeln("give the factory. Wonka was pleased to hear Charlie say that it was the most"); document.writeln("wonderful place in the whole world, and decided to leave his chocolatey"); document.writeln("inheritance to Charlie. Upon noting his confusion, Wonka explained that he couldn\'€™t"); document.writeln("leave his treasured factory to a grownup because a grownup would want to do"); document.writeln("everything his own way. So he decided that he had to find a very honest, loving"); document.writeln("child to whom he could tell his most precious candy-making secrets. Willy Wonka"); document.writeln("needed a child that would respond in good faith and do as they were told"); document.writeln("because they had no preconceived notions of how it should be done.

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God desires for us to look at Him through the same eyes"); document.writeln("of faith and love of children; to come to Him with a pure heart and a clear"); document.writeln("mind and no preconceived notion of the plans God has for us. Then when we\'€™ve"); document.writeln("cultivated a trusting relationship with Him, God can share all of the secrets"); document.writeln("that has in store for us. Instead of looking through the lenses of our"); document.writeln("shortcomings, we can see His power working through every situation. Let\'€™s take"); document.writeln("a step back and enjoy the wonder of the beauty around us. Slow down and trust"); document.writeln("God to take the lead. Allow God to change your perspective and help you become"); document.writeln("childlike.

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Suggested prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, you have shown me"); document.writeln("time and time again that I can trust you to see me through any circumstance."); document.writeln("Once again I come to you and ask that you fill me with a childlike faith to see"); document.writeln("what you see, and love how you love. In Jesus\'€™ name, Amen.

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1.   "); document.writeln("Matthew 18:3 (NIV).

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Today\'€™s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.

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This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.

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