I’ve been absent from writing for the past couple of weeks due to the birth of my second son, Nathan Christopher. He’s doing great (mainly because he has a fantastic mother)! Our first son, Will has been good with Nathan. Will is three and half so he’s definitely had to adjust. He’s used to being the center of attention in our household. That changed for him the last two weeks.

Since Jean has been more hands on taking care of Nathan, Will has wanted and needed attention from me that usually came from his mom. Just this afternoon after waking from his nap, Will said to me, “I just want to hold you.” Now, at that moment I was trying to catch up on some devotional that I missed due to the needs of a newborn. Will’s request was a timely reminder of what devotional time really should be. My son just wanted to be with me. He just wanted my presence.

God used the simple clarity and wisdom from my son to teach me an indispensable lesson—devotional time is frankly about being with the Lord. As I’ve pondered God’s lesson to me for today, I’m amazed and disheartened at my own spiritual narcissism. Much of “my” devotional time is spent praying for what I think I need or want and done with little clear focus on the One I’m suppose to be with. God help me to just want to be with Him—to be in His presence.

Don’t misunderstand this as overblown mysticism. Time with and in the Lord’s presence requires the framework of Scripture (which is the way in which God speaks to us today). But far too often, even in reading Scripture, I read it as if it were just another book rather than God’s Words to His people—rather than God’s Words to me. Allow me echo this lesson to you as well. Before your head hits the pillow tonight, pause…

Ask the Lord for some time in His presence.

Ask Him to speak to you through His Word.

I’m quite certain that just as I picked up my son this afternoon when he asked me, God will grant you the privilege of His presence if you’ll just ask.

I’m writing this as I’m watching my son run, jump, climb and enjoy himself at the Mountain Play Lodge in Arden. He’s 3. He’s a joy to watch. And he (along with most every other boy here) plays with reckless abandon. We can learn positive and negative lessons from our children.

He plays that way because he he’s at a safe place under the watchful eyes of his parents. Because he trusts, he engages all his energy and faculties to explore this play world. He has freedom here (within certain boundaries) where he can run, play and learn.

I’m reminded that God has given us much freedom within the boundaries of His Word to run, learn, explore and engage the world around us. If we’ll trust the watchful Father who has given us that freedom, we too can take risks and live with a sense of reckless abandon (Paul on his missionary journeys, the apostles when they left their income to follow Jesus, Abraham leaving Ur, Moses dictating to Pharaoh the most powerful man in the world at the time, etc…). I believe God wants our trust so we can abandon our fears, our sins, our selfish ambitions and maybe even our dignity in order to follow our King.

But we cannot act and live with reckless abandon outside of God’s boundaries. Just today my son has tripped, fallen, pushed and even run over someone. Recklessly abandoning the rules and boundaries God has ordained will be chaotic and destructive for us as it is when our children don’t follow the rules. I know that has been the case when I have flaunted God ‘s rules in my life. Hasn’t that been true of you?

So where’s the balance? I believe it rests at the place where God’s Word meets faith. At times that will mean taking a risk, abandoning our fears and stepping out into the great plan of an omnipotent God. At other times it will mean pausing at the boundaries of God’s laws, recalibrating ourselves in obedience and patiently waiting our turn.

So let’s live with reckless abandon inside the boundaries of God’s Word. It will take faith. It will take knowing God’s Word. And it will take an enormous expense of joyous energy. May God help us to be ready.