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Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ( Mt 18:4 ).

As a young child, I was trusting and willing to be led, with little questioning. But as I became older and more experienced, I became less and less trusting of others -- at least partially because people showed themselves to be less than trustworthy.

However, in a spiritual sense, Jesus calls on me to reverse this process, becoming more and more trusting in Him, not only as my Savior and substitute, but also as my ever-present help in trouble ( Ps 46:1 ), and my trusted Guide ( Ps 32:7,8 ). I claim Father God's promise to give "grace to the humble ( 1 Peter 5:5 ). Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. ( 1 Peter 5:6,7 ). Since I believe that that He cares for me, I know that I can trust Him, and so I humbly ask Him to work in my heart to change my character to be more and more like Jesus.

And this is the confidence that we have in [the Son of God], that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. ( 1 John 5:14,15 ).

So... just what is "according to His will"? Instead of conforming to my culture, He wants to transform me to be more and more like Him ( Romans 12:2 ). He wants to deliver us from this evil world ( Gal 1:4 ). He wants to sanctify me ( 1 Thes 4:3 ). He desires me to be full of thanksgiving ( 1 Thes 5:18 ). With well-doing, He wishes me to silence the ignorance of the foolish ( 1 Peter 2:15 ). It is better to suffer for well-doing than for evil doing ( 1 Peter 3:17 ). He wants to deliver me from human lusts that I may do His perfect will, trusting that God is my faithful Creator ( 1 Peter 4:2,19 ).