Praising the Lord like a child

By Stephanie Parker

“Ur not gonna beleeb dis mommy,” my 4 year old son said with an excitement that rivaled that of Christmas morning. “I wost my car and den I prayed, and God found it for me!”

You never know what a 4 year old might blurt out in excitement. It usually has something to do with “poopie.” But there is nothing in the world that brings this momma more joy than when my kids acknowledge God’s hand in their little lives. There’s something so uninhibited and raw and joyful about it. I can only imagine the smile on our heavenly Father’s face when He hears these little ones proclaim His name without reservation and exhilaration!

I think we could learn a thing or two from the reaction of my little guy. Why do we, as adults, tend to keep our praises to ourselves? I think one reason we do is because it means exposing the weaknesses, struggles and sins in our lives that God had to free us from. Proclaiming God’s strength means being open about our own brokenness and our desperate need for a Savior. When God gives us peace in the midst of anxiety, when He heals our broken hearts, when He brings purpose from pain, beauty from ashes and freedom from sin, the LAST thing we should do is keep silent!!! As believers we have a responsibility to share what God has done in and through us even if it means making others aware of our weaknesses and sins… for it is in our weakness that He is made strong (2 Cor 12:9-10).

In my life, God has revealed areas of selfishness, pride, idolatry (replacing the One true God with mini gods), lust, unbelief and self-righteousness. Exposing those sins and facing them is a painful process, but one I can look on now with immense gratitude and praise to God. He showed me where I had placed my husband and myself on the throne that is rightfully His. He showed me where I believed lies that fed my insecurities. He showed me how my insecurities were a direct result of my unbelief in His love for me. He showed me how, Instead of seeking Him to fill those voids, I went shopping, clung to social media likes, filled my time with chick-flicks full of airbrushed love and sought many other false idols that always left me wanting and empty. But once He lovingly exposed those sins, and I surrendered them at his feet in humility, I found freedom! Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t ‘arrived’ at some state of righteousness in any way. I am a work in progress and still have struggles and strongholds that God will continue to work on in my heart and life until the day He takes me home, but I am here to sing his praises from the rooftops. His amazing power has been made perfect in my weakness!

Look at what Psalm 107 says about how we can be good stewards of the freedom and salvation we’ve received from God:

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD TELL THEIR STORY.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things." -Psalm 107: 1-2, 8-9

So, don’t be afraid to tell your story even if it reveals your brokenness to those around you. Your brokenness is a gift…. not just for others, but a gift to our loving Father who takes joy in knowing you are proud to be His child.

“The richest testimonies come from people Christ has made whole who still well remember what it was like to be broken.” –Beth Moore

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Stephanie Parker has three main loves: God, her husband, Brett and her kids!  When Stephanie created the Zipadee-Zip in an effort to solve her daughter, Charlotte's, sleep issues, she never imagined that it would become a business.  She is incredibly grateful to God for how Sleepingbaby.com has grown and how it has enabled other families to get the restful sleep they need.   Stephanie's husband, Brett Parker assumed the role of CEO which has allowed Stephanie to focus on what she loves which is the creative side of the company, like product and print development.  After the Zipadee-Zip was featured on Shark Tank, Stephanie went on to create the book Shepherd's Treasure, a Christian alternative to Elf on the Shelf. In her free time, Stephanie loves to spend time with her family and friends.  Her hobbies include acting, singing, painting, learning and speaking foreign languages and going on adventures with her family!  You will find her all summer waterskiing, fishing and laughing with her family on the weekends.