Color Outside The Lines

When was the last time you sat on the floor and colored or, went outside and played ball? When was the last time you did something totally fun without restrictions or deadlines? I remember the freedom of being able to color outside the lines when I was young. To be fully creative and in the moment was exhilarating.

A couple of years ago, while sheltered at home, children in our neighborhood began drawing on the sidewalks and driveways using chalk. They wrote words of encouragement, drew pictures and even asked questions hoping someone would reply. It had been a long time since I had used chalk. We decided to buy a box and draw a hopscotch on the sidewalk in front of our home. It was fun watching people stop and play. With a simple piece of chalk, people stopped and forgot about the cares of the world for a few minutes.

“I tell you the truth, ‘Anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’ Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.” – Mark 10:15-16.

Jesus was referring to the simplicity of a child’s faith. Adults tend to be tainted by past hurts. They become skeptical, untrusting, seeing things through the filter of past experiences or the world’s view. Children however, naturally trust. Their hearts are not hardened yet.

Many things in our adult life require us to forget to think simplistically. There is a push to stay in the confines of this world’s view.

If we want a different result, we must be willing to think outside of our natural senses. We must venture outside the lines of what we know.

If we can’t visualize a positive outcome, we will only live within the boundaries of what we see in the natural. We must use our imaginations, and the vision God has placed on our hearts to move in the Kingdom and to see results in our healing, finances, marriages, relationships, careers. Do not conform to the expectations of others. Challenge yourself to create new ways of thinking. Tap into your inner child to create wonderful new ideas that align with God’s Word.  Dare to color outside the lines!