God Focuses on What We DO Have

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:2

Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil."

Insights: Let me quote a section from Michael Catt’s book The Power of Desperation.  “Elisha asked her, ‘What do you have in the house?’  He didn’t offer financial counseling.  He asked her simply to tell him what she had.  Desperate people don’t argue, debate, or dialogue.  They do what they are told to do when God speaks.  God was about to reverse her situation because she was willing to acknowledge her desperate need.  Most of us would have missed the miracle because we would have argued about the method God was using.  After all, when you’re at the point of no return, what’s a little jar of oil going to do to rectify the situation?”  Catt’s quote helps us to understand that God sees our situations differently than we do.  You will recall from yesterday that we as people often times focus on what we don’t have.  God on the other hand focuses on what we do have.  In this case this woman had a little oil.  Now the amount she had would have been about the amount allowed for an airplane flight, but it was what she had.  I want you to understand that this was a real historical story.  There really was a little jar of oil.  At the same time, I want you to understand that oil in the Bible is often times associated with the Holy Spirit.  In our lives, God sees the Holy Spirit in those of His children who are born again.  So, no matter what your situation looks like, if you are His child, He sees what you do have which is His Spirit.  The second aspect of Catt’s quote I want you to notice as he writes about this passage is the miracle.  We often times do get hung up on the method of the miracle, but God is in the miracle business and He is going to do it whatever way will bring Him the most glory.  Beloved, I encourage you to change your focus.  Stop seeing only your problem or need and start seeing the God capable of rescuing you from your problem or need.  By faith live with an expectant heart for His answer to your specific situation.  God desires to amaze and wow you with His majestic presence and power.  To Him be the Glory!

  

Questions:

1. Are you beginning to see things as God sees them?
2. Are you ready for the Holy Spirit to do a miraculous work in your life?

Prayer: Father, open my eyes to see what You see and help me to recognize my need as an opportunity for You to perform a miracle.  When the miracle comes, give me the joy and pleasure of proclaiming Your great name to the world.  Amen.