Making a list...

Today: Isaiah 59-63



Confession: I think that I may have a mild case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). One small reason? My eternal love of Post-it Notes and lists. I like being able to see what I have to do...and what I've accomplished at a glance. It's very satisfying to cross items off a to-do list. Sometimes I will actually write things on my to-do list that I've recently completed...just so I can cross them off. Is that weird?

Many people keep lists that are well beyond my basic to-do Post-its. They keep lists of qualities they're looking for in Mr. or Ms. Right. They keep lists of people who have wronged them. They keep lists of their co-workers' annoying habits. They keep lists of places they'd like to visit. And they keep lists of things they want to do before they die.

Some of these lists can be helpful. And others? Not so much. Sometimes these lists are written on paper, tucked away in journals or stored in a cell phone. And some of these lists are engraved in peoples' minds and hearts.

One list worth keeping forever? A list of God's goodness in your life. In today's passage, I liked what the writer said here:

I'll make a list of God's gracious dealings,

all the things God has done that need praising,

All the generous bounties of God,

his great goodness to the family of Israel—

Compassion lavished,

love extravagant.

He said, "Without question these are my people,

children who would never betray me."

So he became their Savior.

In all their troubles, he was troubled, too.

He didn't send someone else to help them.

He did it himself, in person.

Out of his own love and pity

he redeemed them..."

Wow! Bonus: None of the items on this list need to be checked off. It is a never-ending tally of who God was (well over 2,000 years ago), who He is today and who He will be tomorrow.

Tomorrow: Isaiah 64-66

Making space for God's work

Today: 2 Kings 4-5

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