Based on a message at Wave Sisters by Brenda Jolly on January 24, 2018
Blog by Vanessa Clack
A few months back I arrived in the USA with the past 52 years of my life in a few bags plus our three little dogs – and let’s just say feeling stretched was putting it mildly. We had travelled for 27 hours to get to our destination in Virginia Beach. I remember thinking to myself, Oh Lord what have I done, leaving my adult children, my family, my friends, my church, a job of twenty three years – have I gone crazy! It truly felt like I had lost everything including my identity. Even though I felt so overwhelmed and panicked God clearly saw where I was at and had already put a plan in motion to ensure that He would carry me and is still carrying me through this season. I have been feeling soooooooo stretched, but God is in the midst – giving me peace and wisdom by leading me to a great church and orchestrating the right people around me. God didn’t plan for us to feel overwhelmed and incapable He planned for us to walk in grace no matter what we are facing.
I know when we are walking through these seasons we become so overwhelmed we don’t know which way is up and which way is down, but it’s always good to remember that God, through His word has given us the tools we need to help.
A beautiful illustration of some of these tools are seen in 2 Kings…
2 Kings Chapter 4 32-35 NIV
When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm. Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.
God gave Elisha a double portion of His miracle by raising the child back to life. Every day we can set our table before the Lord to spiritually awaken ourselves for the miracles God has in store for us.
SETTING THE TABLE OF YOUR SOUL
When entertaining guests we set our table beautifully, we serve a great meal and ladies let’s not forget the dessert – what is a meal without dessert! In the same way we set a table for our guests we also need to set our table daily before the Lord
Table Cloth – When we lay a beautiful cover on a table we are hiding all the marks or blemishes on the table. Well it’s the same when we are facing struggles or the ugliness of our lives we need to cover ourselves every day with Jesus through prayer and relationship with Him.
The Olive Oil – Olive Oil adds such aroma, flavor and smoothness to a meal. Through the Holy Spirit we have the essence of Jesus who intimately interacts with us in our daily lives. God wants to fill us over and over again with the inpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Meal – The meal we eat at the table is what fills us up and makes us feel satisfied. To feed our soul and feel satisfied we have the best gift that was ever written The Bible – Gods Word. God’s Word will not only give us the wisdom and guidance to do everyday life but will also sustain and strengthen us in every aspect of our life.
Dessert – Even when we are feeling so full there is always room for dessert! There is nothing better than when we are having a real down day to indulge in this sweet comfort. God gives us sweet comfort by meeting us exactly where we are at. We need to keep our eyes focused on Him – Face to Face – in all things allowing ourselves to have great expectations as He is a God of miracles.
God wants us to know that He has equipped us for every season of our life. He knew the struggles we were going to face even before He formed us in our mother’s womb. The tools He has given us is through Prayer – Relationship – The Holy Spirit – Gods Word – God’s Grace and Mercy. These need to become part of your every day life.
PRAYER
Father thank you that no matter what we are facing that You are always there beside us helping us through every season of our life. Thank you for giving us the tools through prayer, relationship, the Holy Spirit and Your word to get us through each day we face. Thank you for Your mercy and grace. We honor and adore You. In Jesus Name AMEN.