Thoughts of finishing up with my Dad’s estate were on my mind at 4 am. This thought kept repeating itself “You need to take care of this!” X 100.
I have a lot of “X 100” thoughts…projects started, projects not started, people to call, problems to solve…you know what I mean; and endless stream of things to do.
So I got up, brewed Pikes Blend from Starbux and sat down on the sofa. Short bits of sentences started coming out of my mouth – I guess you could call them prayers, but they were not pretty – they were honest concerns about the X 100 stuff. Bits of thoughts. Run on sentences. Dead end phrases. But they were real, real concerns. And they were emotionally charged – like “You better do something about this!!!”
As the conversation with God continued God reminded me of the story of Elijah found in the second book of Kings chapter 19. It is an amazing story of how God works with regular people like you and me who have X 100 concerns. How Elijah handled this is inspiring. Elijah;
- Sat still remaining steady in spite of ripping winds, earthquakes, fire and then a gentle wind where he heard God whisper clearly about what of those X 100 things he was supposed to do [2 Kings 19:12]
- Got clear about what one thing he could do to make a difference
- Got moving and set off to take care of one of the X 100 things on his plate [2 Kings 19:19]
Jesus modeled the “sit still and hear from God then get moving” when He said “I do nothing of my own initiative but only what God the Father wants me to do.” [John 8:28]
My learning from this;
- Be willing to sit still with the X 100 thoughts that come like ripping winds, earthquakes and fire – sit still with them rather than become overwhelmed, moving into hyper-activity, revving up to 95 mph.
- Listen for the whisper,it will come! Determine to do nothing on my own and trust God to show me what and how.
- Do it. Get up and get going with confidence that this is the right use of my time at the present.
And now as I begin my day, thank You I don’t go into it alone for You are in, with and for me!
Because the Lord helps me I will not be dismayed; therefore I have set my face like flint to do His will. Isaiah 50:7 courtesy of Phillip Koontz