BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian
Beliefs
- Buddhist
- Catholic
- Contemplative
- Evangelical
- General Christian
- Hindu
- Jewish
- Latter-day Saint
- More Voices
- Muslim
- New Visions
- Pagan
- Progressive Christian
Topics
- Religion News
- Food and Religion
- Sports and Religion
- Religious Art
- Religious Music and Entertainment
- Religious Events
- History and Religion
- Style and Religion
- Politics and Religion
- Women in Religion
- Recreation Outdoors and Religion
- Business Finance and Religion
- Careers Workplace and Religion
- Education and Religion
- Family Parenting and Religion
- Health Fitness and Religion
- Home and Religion
- Relationships and Religion
- Technology and Religion
- Travel and Religion
Columnists
- Buddhist Columnists
- Business Finance and Religion Columnists
- Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists
- Catholic Columnists
- Contemplative Columnists
- Education and Religion Columnists
- Evangelists Columnists
- Family Parenting and Religion Columnists
- General Christian Columnists
- Health Fitness and Religion Columnists
- Hindu Columnists
- History and Religion Columnists
- Home and Religion Columnists
- Jewish Columnists
- More Voices Columnists
- Latter Day Columnists
- Muslim Columnists
- New Visions Columnists
- Nonreligious Columnists
- Pagan Columnists
- Politics and Religion Columnists
- Progressive Columnists
- Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists
- Relationships and Religion Columnists
- Religion News Columnists
- Religious Art Columnists
- Religious Events Columnists
- Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists
- Sports and Religion Columnists
- Style and Religion Columnists
- Technology and Religion Columnists
- Travel and Religion Columnists
- Women in Religion Columnists
Resource Library
- 2026 Calendar
- Library of World Religions
- The 100 Most Holy Places on Earth
- Patheos Answers
- Podcasts
- Videos
- Faith Leaders Database
- Anglican Episcopalian
- Bahai
- Baptist
- Buddhism
- Christianity
- Confucianism
- Eastern Orthodoxy
- Hinduism
- Holiness and Pentecostal
- ISKCON
- Islam
- Judaism
- Lutheran
- Methodist
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- New Age
- Paganism
- Presbytarian and Reformed
- Protestantism
- Religion Behind the Scenes
- Roman Catholic
- Scientology
- Shia Islam
- Sikhism
- Sufism
- Sunni Islam
- Taoism
- Zen
- See all religions
Research Tools
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
- Trending:
- Forgiveness
- |
- Marriage
- |
- Consciousness
- |
- Death Penalty
- |
- Election
- |
- Halloween
Thoughts of Juliet
- Home
- General Christian
- The Mind And Heart Of A Child
The Mind And Heart Of A Child
Last updated on: November 15, 2021 at 5:06 pm by Chidimma Okafor
The Mind And Heart Of A Child 2021-11-15T17:06:50+01:00 Chidimma Okafor
Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The state of mind and heart required for owning and entering the kingdom of God is that of a child. The heart and mind of a person points to the nature of that person especially his or her consistent disposition. The Bible requires us to be like children, emphasizing that without being so, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. This means that the core characteristics of those who are already in heaven border on childlikeness.
If we were to ensure our attainment of heaven and entrance into it, we might want to shed the weight, years and complexity adulthood has given to us. We have to do this in order to adopt, once again, the mind and heart of a child.
Every one of us, even as adults, has within him or her the inner child. It has been proven by science that most adult issues/insecurities arise from unresolved childhood experiences. The kind of childhood we have predetermines the kind of adulthood we are going to have.
To deal with issues in adulthood, it is often helpful to go back to one’s childhood and deal with any unresolved matter back there. It could be hurtful things that were said to you, done to you, lack of attention, care e.t.c It can also be nothing negative but just a unique situation in which you found yourself, be it the manner of environment you grew up in, the responsibilities you bore rather too early or opportunities you were exposed to. Either way, in order to find the man or woman you are meant to be, you have to visit the little boy or girl you were.
Do not assume that you already know this little girl or boy just because he or she is you. Instead, get to meet him or her afresh, make acquaintance and be friends. This first meeting can be orchestrated by you in your mind consciously. You just have to work with your imagination, your knowledge and your feelings in order to connect. Surely, you still have the memories of your childhood, they will serve as frames of reference for this inner work.
In getting close enough, you will find pieces of you that were left behind, lost or misplaced. Some of these pieces may be broken but now, you will have the chance to help him or her (the little you) solve any ignored problem with your understanding, wisdom and knowledge from adulthood. You might just need to listen to him or her, giving audience to those unvoiced desires, worries, anxieties and complaints. You might need to tell the truth concerning his or her self worth, self image or self esteem, countering every lie or wrong impression ingrained in their minds.
Every child ‘s mind is like a clean slate and heart like a white rose, full of innocence and purity. Their state of mind and heart is the kind needed to lead not only a fulfilled life but also a carefree and simple one. The faith of a child is the highest form in which faith can exist on Earth.
Children are so full of positive energy, light spirits and radiance. They can be silly and funny but they can also be wise and simple. Their manner of wisdom is sometimes surprisingly simple and so in the face that the adult mind always miss it. Innocent mindset, pure heart, full of faith in what the future holds. Most times fearless, full of joy, kindness and empathy. Not needing much to be happy, highly intuitive and self aware.
If an adult were to adopt the ways of a child, how fresh and new the person will become. Life experiences, exposure, harsh realities and education has made us forget how to have fearless faith. We place more relevance on reason and rationalization because we have been burnt once so we have become careful because we do not want to be burnt anymore. Indeed, it is much harder to be a child the second time, it was effortless the first time. Positive energy, light spirits, radiance, being able to laugh at one’s folly, not taking life too seriously, finding the wisdom hidden in simplicity, pure and chaste at heart, fearless of the future, full of love, joy, kindness and empathy. Not needing much to be happy, highly intuitive and in tune with one’s self. Which part of all these descriptions is short of wholeness? None at all.
When you feel overburdened with the complexities of the adult life, look for a child. Yours or another’s, it does not matter. Converse with him or her and you will see the present state of mind and heart of this child. He or she may be 3, 4, 5 or 6, obviously still has a long way to go but they care for nothing. This is because they believe that everything will be alright. This faith works wonders for them. You should emulate it too.
How about infancy? In the tiny, little heart of a newborn lies the highest form of love, faith and trust. Babies don’t wait to love, to trust or to believe, they love you as they meet you, trust you as they meet you and believe in you as they meet you. In their spirits lie a purity that is definitely from heaven. The newness, peace and blessings they exude is like the salvation of God. The king of kimgs, our Lord Jesus Christ, could not help but pass through this nursery stage of human life, consolidating it, honoring it and empowering it.
Previous Post

November 6, 2021
The Protection In Faith
Next Post

November 30, 2021 The Mind's Role In Salvation
Browse Our Archives
Select a Category Uncategorized
Select a Month November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021
Follow Us!
TAKE THE
Religious Wisdom Quiz
Who was the only woman to rule as queen over Judah?
Select your answer to see how you score.
Bathsheba Jezebel Miriam Athaliah
Related posts from Thoughts of Juliet
Simple Biblical Principles And Teachings On Wealth And...
TRENDING AT PATHEOS General Christian
Jesus Didn’t Come to Fix the World
The Hidden Discipline of Helplessness The first, and perhaps the most...
Does Eschatology Change How We Vote?
Three years ago I asked a question: "Does Eschatology Change Politics?" Well,...
Mixing Tourism and Faith - The Monastic Site...
Traveling abroad offers the opportunity to multitask by combining tourism with learning...
Seventy and Five Years Old: God Still Starts...
There is a small detail tucked into Genesis 12 that I skipped...
A Biblical Vision of Success in Christian Life...
The Concern and Quest Recent trends and tendencies I note around me...
Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the Church
Indigenous' Peoples Day or Columbus Day? Depending on where you live...
view all General Christian blogs
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
- About Us
- 2026 Calendar
- Videos
- Podcasts
- Library of World Religions
- Faith In Media Tracker
- Advertise With Us
- Write for Us
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Do Not Sell My Data
- Contact Us
- Radiant Digital
- Manage Newsletter Subscriptions
- Unsubscribe From Notifications
- Sitemap
Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.
Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In










