I had an extraordinary date this summer with a young man by the name of "Boyce" who is only 3 1/2 years old! He is my grandson who lives thousands of miles away from me. I only get to see him a couple of times a year, and I treasure every single minute in his lively, gregarious and cheerful presence!

We had spent our special time together eating gluten-free pizza at the pizza shop and gluten-free cupcakes at the cupcake store. Then, we stopped in the village toy and candy shop so that he could choose a prize that would be suitable for his adventurous and active little body.

As we got into the car and as I strapped him into his car seat, he said to me, "Thank you, Marmee! This is the best day I could have ever imagined!"

My heart melted at his words of gratitude and sweet little boy love. I looked into his sparkling blue eyes and responded, "Boyce, it is the best day I could have ever imagined as well!"

As we were driving home, we stopped at an overly long red light. I heard his little voice chanting in the back seat, "Come on green! Come on green! Come on green!"

I looked at his face in the rear view mirror and questioned with a smile, "What's that about, Boyce?"

Just then, the light turned green and we started to go. He pumped in his fist in the air and said, "It works every time, Marmee! It works every time!"

Oh! For the faith of a little child! Boyce believed with his entire being that it was the power of his words that caused that stubborn red light to turn miraculously to vibrant green.

Perhaps that is what the Lord wants all of us to believe as well! Maybe it is when our hearts are filled with gratitude and our words are filled with faith that we are able to embrace, with childlike wonder, the possibilities and the joys that lie before us.

Maybe it is time for you and me to look into the eyes of the Father and just say, "Thank You, Father! This is the best life that I could have imagined!"

Perhaps when we are impatient with waiting and undone by disappointment, we should begin to speak words of faith. It is indeed a more powerful choice to speak words that are laced with possibility than words that are birthed in whining and discouragement. Maybe, just maybe, we should humbly learn the lesson that I learned from a 3-year-old bundle of perpetual energy this summer: The words I choose to speak at the crossroads of life are of unmatched importance. When I choose to declare words of expectation and hope, I usher in heaven's intervention into my ordinary life.

When I determine that the words that I allow to come out of my mouth will be words that partner with God and with His Word, I become the vessel for His power to change unchangeable situations!

I dare you to speak words of childlike faith over your life today! I challenge you to partner with God in declaring a blessing and a miracle over the mundane in your circumstances. And who knows? Perhaps like Boyce, and like me, you will then be able to confidently conclude, "It works every time, God! It works every time!"

Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. She has written five books, including No More Ordinary, Holy Estrogen!, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart and Defiant Joy! Her most recent book, Refined: Finding Joy in the Midst of the Fire, was released last August. Her teaching DVD, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart, won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming. You can also listen to Carol's "A Jolt of Joy" program daily on the Charisma Podcast Network. Connect with Carol or inquire about her speaking to your group at justjoyministries.com.

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