Determination

2 Kings 13:14-19
Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, "O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!" And Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and some arrows." So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow." So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. And he said, "Open the east window"; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot"; and he shot. And he said, "The arrow of the Lord's deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them." Then he said, "Take the arrows"; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground"; so he struck three times, and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times."

A friend called me today with the above verses, wanting an explanation. I love this. She perseveres, and asks and asks, until she hears what she needs in order to truly comprehend what it is that is being said. She doesn't give up. She doesn't take NO for an answer...she truly wants to hear what the Lord may be saying to her. sigh. I should be so bold sometimes. She really pushes me...to know. To learn. I am truly thankful for her in my life.

As I read these verses, seeking to understand and find a way to relate what I understood...I was humbled. I love when the Lord uses someone to reveal His words to me. I have heard Him say: "be quick to obey." "Humble yourself in My sight." "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Today He reminded me to be determined..work hard...at defeating the enemy in my camp. Not to expect it to just dissipate: I must really WORK at denying my flesh. To simply turn my back to my sin is to ignore it's importance, it's weight, in my life and on my heart. To ignore is to allow it to grow into a giant. To ignore is to forget the power of the cross, and all I have to be thankful for. Repentance, Salvation, Forgiveness. Joash had no great desire to work to kill his enemy - he wanted him to simply go away. Problem: the enemy that isn't vanquished becomes stronger, better equipped, more determined to have it's way. And is much harder to route completely.

On this day of the year, more than others, I am thankful for forgiveness. For the faithfulness of my Father and Savior. For mercy.