Beyond our Knowledge

A family member had to downsize recently and so we were helping to sort things. There were still items to stay, items to consider, items to donate, and items to remove. On the items we were given to decide on, one brother would act like an auctioneer, trying to get family members to take things so they would have a home. One such item was a “canister” vacuum cleaner. As he described the vacuum in exaggerated tones and motions, he picked up the vacuum which was not plugged in and said, “All one has to do is flip this switch...” Before he finished the sentence, the vacuum cleaner roared to a start. My brother’s eyes looked halfway between a deer caught in the headlights and standing on the tracks with a locomotive bearing down on him. Needless to say, none of us realized it was battery operated. We laughed so hard. We were all familiar with vacuum cleaners, but we all were caught off guard by features we didn’t know existed. This is a fairly good picture of our daily walk with God. We know most of the ordinary things that we should be doing and what we understand God is doing. At times we talk a good talk about what God can do, but we don’t always expect it to happen. I think there are times that if God answered our prayers in a supernatural way, we might also be caught off guard. We’ve developed a very comfortable relationship with God, not expecting too much and not always giving too much. It’s like filling a bookshelf with amazing books and never reading them. God doesn’t need to be “plugged” in, coaxed, or bargained with. All power in heaven and earth have been given to Him. God wants to do so much more than we can even imaging and yet we remain quiet. We serve a God who created the whole world, flooded the world (saving only one family), caused the sun to stand still, a donkey to talk, the thick walls of Jericho disintegrated, miracles, a willing death and resurrection, and so much more. And what do we pray for? That we might have a nice day to accomplish what we desire. We might say the right words, but many never anticipate them being answered in a miraculous way. Why? Do we think he has changed or become weak? Don’t limit yourself to what you can do. Father, You are indeed an awesome God. Nothing is too great for You to accomplish. Lead us to do Your will. Amen