Mark 11:25-26
Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace
this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you.
This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no
shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I
urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large.
Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s
everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that
it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only
then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean
of sins.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
If you have spent any time
around young children, you know that in a split second, they can have
every single toy, puzzle, and game strewn across the floor. And we dare
not remove a solitary item, because it will surely be missed!
I
have started limiting what the kids can get out at one time. I will
tell them, “Before you get out those cars, you have to pick up this box
of blocks.” They don’t like it…and sometimes, they will say, “But I’m
still playing with that toy!” Occasionally, they make a good case…but
often, I tell them that we are not going to do anything else until they
get done with the task at hand.
Now think about your life. There
are times when you have so many things “strewn about”…you are clinging
to this grudge or that conversation that upset you. You are angry with
someone about SOMETHING…and you’re not quite done being mad! You come
before God and ask Him to guide your steps…to care for you and your
loved ones…to heal this situation or that. And God essentially says,
“Clean up your mess first.”
It’s not that God doesn’t want to help
us. Just as WE could pick up the toys and get everything straightened
up and in order for our little ones, God could surely clean up any mess
we have. He could fix our grudges…resolve our conflicts…heal the world
mentally, physically and spiritually…cover every debt of every kind.
But God knows that we need to have a part in this. We learn valuable
lessons from actively participating in this process. God also knows that
if we keep accumulating clutter in our heart and mind, we’ll just pile
our hearts full complaints, resentments, bitterness, ill will toward
others, and other clutter. We say to our children, “I’m not giving you
another thing to play with while you have all of this.” God says, “I
cannot help you with ABC until you resolve XYZ.”
God
is not being mean, just as we are not being unkind to our little ones.
He is saying, “Assume responsibility. Don’t ask Me to do something you
are not willing to do yourself. Get your house in order a little
before you start asking Me to step in and save the day.”
If there
is an area of your life where you feel that God isn’t answering – no
matter how large or small – I suggest you take a long hard look at your
own heart. See if there is a possibility that you are harboring a
little clutter…a grudge, some bitterness, a hateful opinion of someone,
or even a minor irritation. Let go…and let God have room to work! Once
you clean up some of the mess, you may be astounded at how quickly God
goes into action!
God can – and will – do anything we ask, if
our heart is in the right place. Isn’t it time we cleared out enough
space for Him to work? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
No comments:
Post a Comment