Years ago we bought my daughter a bed. Whoever put it together (it wasn’t me) didn’t do the best job, and consequently, the screws that hold the frame together were put in backwards. Anyone who walked real close could get scraped or impaled on the screws. The way the bed was positioned in the room made this highly unlikely, and the screws remained as they were.
Recently my wife decided to alter the bedroom set up, exposing the screws and raising the chances of injury. My job then became to remove the screws and put them back in correctly. All I needed was a screwdriver and a wrench. While both tools used together would make the job simpler, I opted to go with the screwdriver alone. The first screw was a Phillips head and came out without any issues. The next screw was a flathead and my multi-headed screwdriver really didn’t work that well. Eventually I got the second screw out and due to the effort involved, declared myself done.
The Lord was already convicting me as I made my way downstairs to inform my wife the final two screws (also flathead) would be too difficult to remove due to a lack of proper tools and the intense effort required to remove them. I don’t really remember what she said to communicate to me that my intentions were insufficient, only that I returned to the task…agitated and motivated.
God reminded me that He has given us certain tools; prayer, praise and worship, counsel, and the Word are just a few. They work best when used together and the right combination is the equivalent of “the right tool for the right job”. Too often we allow things that could hurt someone to remain in place for too long. Then when forced to correct them, we only bring the most convenient tool. We are then ready to give up and declare the project too difficult because we didn’t have the right tool for the job.
Specific spirit- led prayers, founded on and incorporating established principles and promises in God’s word, backed up by praise in advance, and worship “just because”. Counsel that is rooted in the Word, sealed by prayer, and celebrated in praise. These are effective, proven, winning combinations that can correct most problems. Fasting can act like a lubricant, to loosen the atmosphere of the flesh so God can have His way. Be willing to put in the effort, it may save someone from a serious injury down the road.
Tools, like spiritual weapons, are designed to complement each other and when used properly, can make any job seem easier. In my case, I located a wrench and when combined with the screwdriver, I was able to fix the final two screws with less effort and in less time than the first two. When I was done, I marveled at how easy the job was…once I used the correct tools for the job. Assess your situation, then access your necessary tools.
Use all of the tools God has given you. Use them in conjunction and support of each other. That is key to unlocking the various challenges we all must eventually face. Choose, then use the right tool for the job.
Everyday God... 