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Dealing with the little boy or girl in you
1 Corinthians 13:11King James Version (KJV)
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things
It is imperative that if we intend to do anything great for God that we deal with the adolescent version of ourselves. When we don't deal with things that occurred in our childhood we run the risk of being an adult operating from a child's perspective. Instead of leading and mentoring those younger than us we will find ourselves being in competition or having a spirit of jealousy towards someone we actually should be mothering or fathering spiritually.
I have seen this so often. We encounter fifty year olds that are still in desperate need of validation they never received as a child, and they can't truly operate in purpose because instead of leading others in purpose they are desiring to be petted in a season
in their life when they should be mature enough to nurture. There were times I felt I should be further in life or should have walked in another season, but God had to arrest me and make me deal with the little girl in me. The fear of rejection I struggled with would choke out my ministry if it was not confronted and put to death. God couldn't risk putting me on a platform and I spiritually assassinate people because I can't build effective relationships because I am in fear of someone not accepting me, or thinking someone is against me when actually I am not even on their mind.
If you really want to be effective in your calling confront the childlike issues you have because if you don't you will exhaust the people around you because nothing will ever be enough. It's time for us to grow up spiritually so we can truly advance the kingdom of God. "To thine own self be true". You can't be true to anyone else until you are true to yourself first.
Andrea Gates