Turn That Thing, Let Those Blessings Flow

Over the Christmas Holidays, my elderly mother had a water leak at her home. Her uncaring landlord refused to fix it until after Christmas. He came down long enough to cut the water off for her. Early the next morning I decided to attempt to turn her water back on long enough for her to catch some more in bottles, pots, and pans. The temperature had dropped well below freezing. I went out and got on my knees beside her water meter in her front yard. I guess some of the neighbors might have thought I was out there praying which wasn't too far from wrong before my ambitious project was complete. I found the turn on thingy and took the small pair of pliers my mother had given me and attempted to turn. The thingy unfortunately was frozen solid. I gave it all I had which just wasn't enough. I went back in to tell my mother turning the water back on wasn't going to be happening any time soon. Mother wasn't in her usual place, in a recliner, in front of the television. She was propping herself up in front of the kitchen sink, holding a pot under the faucet, waiting for the water to flow. She had enough faith in me to believe I could give her exactly what she had asked me for, exactly what she needed. There was no doubt, only anticipation.

I didn't have a great revelation right at that moment. I only felt sadness that my mother who I had once depended on was now so very dependent on me. She trusted in me, had child like faith in me, just as I had in her for so many years. Later that day, the uncaring landlord finally came and turned her water back on, lied and told her the leak was fixed, which wasn't. I didn't tell her the water was still leaking outside, I just let her enjoy the water freely flowing from the faucet. I called the landlord, who did fix the leak the day after Christmas.

That night after I prayed, I lay awake and thought of my mother. I started to question my faith in my prayers, my faith in my God. There are some prayers I have prayed over and over for so many years. I have prayed for my mother who has always been severely depressed to know the joy of the Lord before she leaves this earth. I have prayed for myself to find the boldness to do things that I know God has called me to do. I have prayed for my sons to be all that they can be for God. I have prayed for salvation for a family member who has done so many cruel things that have almost destroyed our family. I pray the prayers, but do I actually believe they are going to come to pass? Am I standing by the faucet holding a pot ready for the blessings to flow out? Do I believe I am going to walk in my mother's house and find instead of tears and sadness, her smiling and saying," This is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it?" Am I prepared to lose all fear of flying, jump on a plane and go to Africa to tell some women of healing and deliverance that they can have from Jesus Christ, or maybe just get in my car, drive down the road to talk to some young girls who have made some poor choices? Will I go and speak whatever He may tell me to speak? Am I prepared for my boys to say," Hey, I will see you in six months, I'm off to work in a third world country to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ?" Do I believe that cruel family member is going to walk in my door full of God's love with a spirit of kindness and humility?

It is funny how such a small seemingly unimportant event can completely change a person who thought their faith was strong. I find myself now praying my prayers with just a little more faith than before. I now stand ready for the answers to flow. I walk in my mother's house every morning with a new hope and expectancy to find she has found the joy that only He can give. When that family member enters my door, I fully expect him to come in speaking blessing instead of cursing. I know I am going to do exactly what God calls me to do when He calls me to do it. I know my sons are going to be instruments to help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ if not in a third world country, at least at their school, at their job, or in their home.

Today test your own faith. Ask yourself do you really believe what you are praying for is going to happen? Perhaps God is waiting on all of us to actually believe that He will take His Holy pliers and turn the thing that will let blessings flow into each of our lives. I pray today we are all standing faithfully ready to catch them.

Jeremiah 32:17 Ah, Lord God, behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thou great power, and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.

Judy Parker