30 Days of Hearing God, Day 14

I’m back from my visit to the Land of Dial-up Internet Service. I survived. But just to add a little adventure to my already internet-less trip, my cell phone died while I was driving there. I mean really died. Died as in, oh- my- word-, all- my- contacts-of- all- the- people- I’m- supposed- to- see- this- week- are- in- that- phone- and- I’m- 300- miles- from- home- with- my- kids- and- no- one- has- any- way- to- contact- me-in- case- of- an- emergency- and-now- I- have- to- get- a- new- phone- but- I- don’t- yet qualify- for- an- upgrade– died.

Without internet AND cell phone. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought I drove into 1993. But I looked in the mirror, and my hair didn’t look like this.

PHEW!

Now, please excuse this awkward segue into telling you what God has been speaking to me today.

This morning my pastor shared this story at church:

II Kings 6:8-17


Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”
9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.


11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”


12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”


13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.


15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.

So often, I am just like that servant. I’m the one looking at the strong forces surrounding my life. I’m numbering soldiers in the enemy’s camp. I’m checking out the size of their muscles and power in their ammunition. And most likely, I’m freaking out. Maybe not on the outside, but often on the inside.

“Holy crud. What do I do now?”

Know what I mean?

16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Can you imagine the servant’s reaction to Elisha? He’s standing alone in Elisha’s presence. Math isn’t my strong point, but I count two people in this scene. Elisha and the servant. How can “two” outnumber an army of soldiers and chariots and horses surrounding the city?

It makes no sense. Unless Elisha sees something the servant does not.

17 And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so 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.

“O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” This verse has been stirring in my heart all day long.

O LORD, open MY eyes so I may see.

How much of life do I miss, simply because I don’t have eyes to see beyond my immediate circumstances? How many times do I succomb to fear or frustration, simply because I don’t have eyes to see the Army of God swarming in to defend me?

Today, I feel like God is telling me (again!) that there is so much more going on that I don’t see. So, I’m asking God to open my eyes.

To open my eyes when I look at my children. To open my eyes when I look at my marriage. To open my eyes when I look at my blog or my calendar or my neighbor or my e-mail inbox. There is so much MORE going on than what I see. Today, I’m asking God to show me MORE.
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What is God saying to you? Leave a comment, a link to your blog or both!