Making Much Out of A Little

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, (Jesus) gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Matthew 14:17-21

How many of us are trying to make a little bit go a longer way? Since Larry was laid off last September, our household budget has been tremendously stretched. Because of our daughter’s sleep disorder, we even go to bed at night asking God to make the little bit of sleep we get ENOUGH. We are far from alone. This is an economy and culture desperately entrenched in trying to make enough out of a little.

People everywhere are trying to make their money do more or trying to get the most of the little bit of time and energy they have. We want our wardrobes to flatter us making us look more attractive or thinner than we really feel. We want more patience with our kids but it runs thin. We long for more satisfying marriages when so many are holding on by threads.

I was recently reading in second Kings and noticed something that impressed me.

"For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, ‘Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.’" 2 Kings 7:6

Guess what? The Syrians thought they were hearing the sounds of two entire armies. It was really just four men with leprosy. God did that. The Syrians were so afraid that they fled immediately leaving their tents and horses behind and the whole road strewn with clothing and equipment. Imagine their shock if they ever found out that only four leprous men were sitting in their tents enjoying food and wine then making off with their silver, gold and clothing!

This was not the first or the last time God made something huge out of something insignificant. This is God’s business — creating the universe from nothing, making feasts for thousands out of scraps, making the sound of eight footsteps sound like the horses of two armies, bringing beauty out of ashes.

What are you facing today that feels insufficient or unfixable?

What dream is burning on your heart but seems unattainable?

Please join with me in remembering God is more than able.

Help me to remember, Lord, that if you are answering my prayers with “no” or “wait,” it is not because you are unable to respond. It is because you have perspective that extends to eternity. Unlike me, you know all things necessary to understand what will truly be best. I know You want me to keep asking but help me to trust You for big and unexpected results. Show me how to walk boldly but patiently in that trust. Help me to follow Your promptings as I set courageous goals and dream big dreams but help me to hold them loosely trusting that you can and will do even more than I ask or imagine — truly BIG things — they might just look differently than I expected. AMEN

They Inquired of the Lord

I’m on Day 53 in a 90-day Bible reading plan and the process continues to fascinate me. Reading so quickly allows me to see certain details, make interesting connections, and recognize themes while things are fresh in my mind. Here are some examples that are re-inspiring me to be direct and specific with questions of God.

King David asked God for specific direction and God answered.

2 Samuel 2:1 "Then it came about afterwards that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.”"

King Solomon asked God for wisdom and it pleased God.

1 Kings 3:9-10 "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? "It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this."

Before Queen Esther stepped out in a risky act of faith, she inquired of the Lord and asked her kinsmen to stand with her in prayer for God's favor.

Esther 4:16 "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish."

In contrast, King Asa sought professional help while ignoring God.

2 Chronicles 16:12 "In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians."

The other day, Larry and I were muddling through a handful of decisions we were generally prayerful about but had not stopped to inquire of the Lord in a very specific way. In the midst of our discussion, we finally stopped to ask a very targeted, “Should we do this or that, God?” We didn’t hear an audible answer but a solution and direction did become clear within just a couple of minutes after that prayer.

Coincidence? NO WAY!

Lord, we are both challenged and inspired by these accounts from the Bible. We want to be people who don’t hesitate to inquire of You at every crossroads. We want to be people who walk so intimately with You that we recognize Your “voice” and promptings — not just in the big issues but also in the moment-by-moment details of our lives. We want to effectively use the resources You have placed around us without becoming so distracted by them that we forget about going to the One who gave those good gifts in the first place. Help us, Lord! AMEN

Praying for Children, Part 5

I hope this has been a beneficial week of reflection and prayer for you as we have been interceding together for the children we love. And now the conclusion of this series:

Here Among Us

What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? DEUTERONOMY 4:7

Lord,

I rest in Your presence today. I put aside all my endless worries. I do not pick up any requests, except this one: Make Your presence known to my children.

We are Your family, and You live always in the company of Your people (Ps. 14:5). You inhabit my children's simplest prayers and off-key praises (Ps. 8:2). You never leave them for a second (Heb. 13:5). You are their Lord. Unstuff their ears, open their eyes, melt their hearts with Your compelling reality. Show them how much they need Your "here-ness" today.

Be here! Be here! In the clanging kitchen, out in the yard or street, in the selient room where a toddler sleeps, in hallways, in the daydreams of teenagers, in the to-do lists of Mom and Dad, in every hour of our day...be here among us, O God! Help me hear You say, "I am always with you. It is good to be near me" (from Ps. 73:23,28).

You, Great God, are our life. Let Your Spirit sing in my children's innermost beings today. And let our spirits sing in You and bring You joy. All day long. Amen.

From "Praying the Bible for Your Children" by David & Heather Kopp.