Here's the deal: I have a lot of clothes.
Every season, I systematically sort through all of them. I donate things I don't wear. I throw out items that are in total disrepair. And I box up clothes from the last season (not fashion season, actual season) to store them in my attic. I know the process makes me sound like I have OCD, but it's helpful in a few ways--it helps me to avoid becoming a pack rat who gets too attached to "stuff", it hopefully benefits people who need the items more than I do and it helps me to create space in my closet for new pieces. :) If I didn't go through my seasonal sorting, it would be really easy for my closet to be overfilled--to the point where I wouldn't have room for anything else.
Have you ever felt like your life was like an overstuffed closet?
Sometimes it's easy to fill our lives with random stuff and miss out on what's truly meaningful. We run of out room and often forget to set aside space for God's work in our lives. God can always intervene, but He LOVES it when people dedicate space in their lives for him. This dedicated space isn't usually literal--it's a committed heart--that often exhibits itself through the dedication of time, talent and money.
In today's passage, there were several examples of people who made space for God's work. One woman literally created a space--setting aside a room in her home to welcome a prophet. Her dedicated space was her way of honoring God and His servant--and she was blessed because of it.
Namaan, the general, also had to make space for God's work in his life. He was afflicted with leprosy, heard Israel's God could do a miracle and set aside time and money to travel to Israel over a long distance. But that wasn't all. When Elisha the prophet told Namaan to dip in the Jordan River and immerse himself seven times for a healing, Namaan was offended. The river was dirty. In Namaan's mind, God (via the prophet Elisha) could have healed him through a more dignified, mystical ceremony. Namaan's servants gave him a reality check: They helped Namaan make space for God to work God's way. Namaan got rid of his pride and submitted to God's direction. After he made space for God to perform a miracle, Namaan was healed.
I don't know what "making space" looks like in your life--maybe you just need to dedicate time in your day to talk to God and listen. Maybe you need to let go of something--like pride or doubt or insecurity. I don't know. But from this passage, I do know that when you and I make room for God, He likes it. He shows up.
Tomorrow: 2 Kings 6-8
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