I was walking down the hall at church the other day and saw it.  A little girl – arms outstretched, hands open – was asking her Mom to pick her up.  I was still taking in the scene when God reminded me…

Be like that.  Live open-handed.  Expect Me to show up. 

That was the message.  Plain and simple.  No fluff.  Actually, we could wrap up this post right here and call it a day.

Little children continuously live open-handed, don’t they?  Expecting to be picked up, given food or a toy, or offered a guiding hand to help them walk. 

God calls us His children – sons and daughters who have been adopted into His forever family as we believe in His Son, Jesus.  Yet, how regularly do we live like this?  Like everything that we need will be given to us by our Father? 

In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of a father with two sons – one son left home, the other stayed with his father, helping him in his home. 

When the wayward son decided to return home after “squandering” his inheritance with “foolish living,” the Dad decided to throw a party. (vs. 13-21)

This celebration didn’t sit very well with the other son who became angry over it and refused to attend.  His father found him sitting squarely in his pity-party and asked him about it. 

His older son’s response was bitter and to the point, “…I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, but you never gave me a goat [to sacrifice] so that I could celebrate with my friends.” (vs. 28-29)

In other words, “You never gave me a party!”

The father’s sincere reply is mind blowing and applies to many of us today,  “…you are with me always, and everything I have is yours.” (vs. 31)

How often do we find ourselves in the midst of our day, worrying over a need or wrestling with doubts and fears when we could be living open-handed, expecting our Father to show up? 

Everything He has is ours.  Take a minute and let that sink in. 

What do you need today, friend?  An answer? Direction? A provision? Comfort?  Open your hands, lift up your eyes, look to the Father, and expect Him to help.

“But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord…” (Micah 7:7 NASB)

Until next time, Grace, Glory, and a very Happy Thanksgiving!