Doing the little things

“Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?’ How much more, then when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed!’” 2 Kings 5:13.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: 2 Kings 4-5, Psalm 83, and 1 Timothy 2.

Naaman was insulted when Elisha told him to dip seven times in the Jordan River.

Naaman, like us, had his own idea of how God works.  He had a framework in mind………and it wasn’t to dip in the Jordan when there were better rivers where he came from.

We do not know what is best for us.  God does.  That does not mean that we reduce our praying to, “Bless us.”  Using Naaman’s example, it means that when we want to see or experience healing, we are to completely open ourselves to the way God will carry it out.  Preconceived notions need not apply.

I have experienced times where I have been praying specifically for something but I get weary doing it.  I pray about it less, and I start to lose interest.  Sometimes when I relax a bit, my prayers get answers.  We must trust Him with the arrangements.

“Lord, forgive me for trying to run Your Business.  I beg to have Your Timing in place in my life.  I covet Your Guidance in all that I do.  O Lord, I cannot do without You in any aspect of my life.”

We must let God make the arrangements.

I’m in a panic!

“’Oh, no, my lord!  What shall we do?’ the servant asked.  ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered.  ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’  And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’  Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”  2 Kings 6:15-17.

Verses chosen from today’s Bible reading: 2 Kings 6-7, 2 Chronicles 20, and 1 Timothy 3.

Do I live as if I am aware of God?

Elisha’s servant got a visual of God’s presence.  He already had a visual of the forces of the enemy…….and was frightened.  Now he saw that God was also in their midst.  I’m guessing the servant’s fears dwindled considerably.

I must never forget Who God is.  I must never forget that He is omnipotent.  No power on earth stands a chance against Him!

I will not escape evil but I must remember that the power of evil over me is done in by Jesus’s death.  He took sin to its death.  I don’t carry my sins any longer.  Jesus did them in.  I have a new life unburdened by sin.  I must live accordingly.  I must live confidently in Him.  I must be an active part of His rescue team here on earth.  He will return to finish the job.

My fears are driven by my sinful nature.  A nature that magnifies trouble beyond God’s capabilities to deal with it.  There is no need for that, on my part.  God is in charge.  His servants can be confident in Him and know that He knows best.  Do what He says.

“Lord, what a great story.  You are in the midst of those who follow You.  You will help us as we rightly represent You where we are.  The forces of evil melt before You.  Whom shall I fear?”

Are you magnifying God or your troubles?

 

Too good to do the little things?

“Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?’”  2 Kings 5:13.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: 2 Kings 4-5, Psalm 83, and 1 Timothy 2.

Do you save your best stuff for the Big Moment?

Naaman has a bad reaction to what Elisha tells him what to do in order to get rid of his leprosy.  “Bath in the Jordan?  If river bathing would get rid of the leprosy there are much nicer rivers where I am from.”

Fortunately, Naaman’s servants give him wonderful advice and he does what Elisha told him to do and the leprosy is gone.

I relate Naaman’s initial attitude to my own at times.  I treat some things as if they are beneath me.  I could do them……..but who would notice?

Why do I put on my “Godly cloths” only for special occasions?  Where is my Godliness in the mundane tasks of life?

If you live in a household, there are countless things to be done.  Many of them are “little” things.  Take out the trash.  Pick up your clothes.  Be thankful for things done for you.  The list is endless………..but that list exists and the rewards for doing things on it are very limited.  It is part of what I like to call, “the details of my life.”  I want God in those “details,” but will I function as if He is in those details?  Will I work on the mundane as if He is watching, BECAUSE He is!

“Lord, this one hits home.  Forgive me for arrogance.  For thinking that I am immune from being a full-time contributor to bettering things in my midst.  Open my eyes/ears to needs close by.  Needs that I can meet.  Make me a cheerful worker no matter what the level of work is.  I love You, Father.”

I must be willing to do “whatever” God wants no matter what the reward is.

+9 hovering high

Easy for God

“This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands.”  2 Kings 3:18.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: 2 Kings 1-3, Psalm 82, and 1 Timothy 1.

How can we not be impressed with God?

The “easy thing” Elisha speaks of is a currently dry valley becoming filled with water with no wind or rain involved.  The “bonus” was that the enemy would be defeated.

Both things happened.

The lives of those celebrating God’s Good News are filled with similar things.  We don’t notice them.  We don’t appreciate them.

We assume that our good deeds have “earned” us blessings.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The snow falls on the just and the unjust.

How easy it is to miss God in our daily circumstances.  I am in the early summer season in New England.  Rain has come and now there is sunshine.  Things are growing like crazy!  Food is being produced and God (the Gardener) has His Hands in the production.  Am I cognizant of this or do I just assume that it somehow happens?

God is in charge on the scene and behind the scenes.  I must never underestimate Him.  I must never take His goodness to me for granted.  He is amazing!

“Lord, thank You for the Bible.  Thank You for the stories of Your amazing deeds.  Forgive me for leaving You out of my life.  Forgive me for underestimating Your power.  Alert me to You.  Thank You for loving me.  You are the Good News!”

You have no obstacle in your life that God cannot remove.

He opens

“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him and he disappeared from their sight.”  Luke 24:31

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – Exodus 9-11 & Luke 24)

The eyes of these two men were not physically shut.  They could see but they couldn’t really see.  Jesus was physically with them but their usual eyesight wasn’t adequate to know that it was Him.

The verse adds that “their eyes were opened.”  This was not something the two men did on their own.  God gave them the “special” vision.

Reminds me of Elisha and his servant.  Elisha could see that although there was a large enemy army nearby there also was the army of God nearby.  Elisha could see that army of God.  The servant couldn’t.  Later Elisha asks God to reveal to the servant His army and it happens.

My “normal” senses are going to miss plenty.  However, God can enable me to “sense” better, even to sense as He does.  On my own I “see through the glass dimly.”

I need His touch to my senses.  I’ll use Elisha as my role model: He asked and it was done.  Therefore, I ask and it will be done.  Think of all the Scripture where believers are chided because “they ask not.”  May that not be true of me.

“Lord, I need You.  Open me up to a clearer estimation of what is actually happening around me.  My sensitivities are dull.  I am sure that I am missing so much.  Forgive me for not asking for Your help.  I do ask now.  Grant me, as You did Elisha’s servant, a Godlier estimation of my surroundings.  You are a great God with limitless possibilities.  I crave more of You.  Help me, I beg!”