How to Get ‘God’s Everything’

“I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large.  Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything.” Mark 11:24 MSG

When the baseboard heater in our living room died, we knew that we had to replace it before the winter came.  I instinctively knew that the Lord wanted me to ask Him for guidance in the situation, so I began earnestly praying about it.  In the meantime, my husband, Joe, began doing online research and making phone calls to find out where we could purchase the exact same baseboard heater.  Oddly enough, Joe’s efforts kept proving unsuccessful.  And he was totally baffled.  I told him that maybe God had another option for us, and He wanted us to seek Him for direction.  That’s when I checked my email and found ads for media fireplaces.  Now, I had never even heard of a media fireplace before, and neither had my husband, but we were intrigued by the idea of replacing our living room TV stand with a console that housed an electric fireplace.  So we began shopping for one locally, and we found a beautiful piece of furniture that would hold our big screen TV, and that would heat our living room at the same time.  LED lights created a realistic log-burning-fire effect that made our home feel cozier than it ever had before.  And I marveled that the Lord remembered how many hours I had spent watching a burning “yule log” on TV from the time I had been a little girl.

For more than 15 years, I have wanted to replace our front-loading washing machine with a top-loading model.  Every time we would pass the appliance departments of stores we were in, I would look at the top-loaders longingly, but my husband, Joe, would immediately dismiss the idea, saying, “We have a septic system, and top-loaders use too much water.”  I knew he was right, so I did my best to put the idea out of my mind, and to resign myself to buying another front-loader.  When we began seriously shopping for a new washing machine, we went to a local appliance store where we had bought appliances in the past.  Joe warned me not to even look at the top-loaders, and to only focus on the water-saving front-loading machines.  Yet, I felt a “check” in my spirit.  Just before we made our purchase, I told Joe that we would come back another time.  I had been earnestly praying for God’s wisdom all along, and I told Him, “Lord, if there is a top-loading machine that saves water, please lead us to it.”  I didn’t know if any such appliance even existed, but if it did, I wanted to know about it before I settled for a washing machine I didn’t really want.  I did a search online and discovered a top-loading machine that featured the latest water-saving technology, and Joe and I found one locally.  I was overjoyed, and I was so thankful that I had consulted God for a new appliance, instead of settling for less than His best.

God says in His Word:  “Call to Me and I will answer you.  I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” (Jeremiah 33:3 MSG)  This is an invitation from the Creator of the universe to call on Him for guidance in any and every situation.  Too many believers put limits on God and His promises, and think that they only need to consult Him for important, weighty, or major matters.  But the Lord puts no restrictions on His invitation.  He doesn’t say, “Consult Me for this, but not for that.”  No, instead, He says:  “I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large.  Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything.” (Mark 11:24 MSG)  “God’s everything” in my cases listed above included a cozy media fireplace and a top-loading water-saving washing machine.

Scripture tells us:  “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG)  If you are trusting God in a situation, then you will not be trying to “figure out everything on your own.”  You’ll be consulting Him for His wisdom and direction, and you’ll be “listening for God’s voice in everything.”  Then, He will do His part in the process, which is to “keep you on track.”  And “on track” means you get His best in the situation.

The Bible says:  “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 AMP)  I didn’t even know that media fireplaces existed, but God did.  He knew that I had grown up watching yule logs on TV at Christmastime, and how having a media fireplace would fulfill the desire of my heart.  I didn’t know that water-saving top-loading washing machines even existed, but God did.  And He provided one for me when I was just about to resolve myself to settling for second best.  So I tell you today, don’t make decisions – large or small – without consulting the Lord.  He promises to surprise you and delight you when you turn to Him for help!

   Lord, I regret all the times I made decisions apart from You, and missed out on Your best for me.  Put a desire in my heart to seek You for Your wisdom, guidance, and direction every time I face a difficulty or decision.  When I’m tempted to try to figure out things on my own, instead of consulting You and trusting You, remind me of what it can cost me.  Give me a sense of peace when I am on the right track, and a lack of peace when I’m off course.  Thank You that as I do my part in the process, You are faithful to do Yours!

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