Last night, my husband Mike came home from his Deacon's training meeting with a look of deep concern on his face.
He said he smelled a burning smell in the truck - perhaps an electrical problem. When he pulled the truck into the garage, I smelled the burning too.
My reaction to the problem surprised me. I immediately looked heavenward, raised my arms to the sky and said, "Praise the Lord."
In the past, my first reaction would have been very different.
I would have said "What are we going to do?" and my mind would have started playing out negative scenarios, causing worry and anxiety.
But the "gas" incident increased my faith in God's ability to do the miraculous. Here is a video of the story:
We have two vehicles, the truck and an 11 year-old Chevy Impala. Both vehicles are old and on their last legs.
Water leaks inside of both of them when it rains. The Chevy takes forever to start, is having a problem with the steering, and the check engine light is on at the moment.
Ha, ha, ha! When I think about it, it makes me want to laugh.
Truly, I don't know what we are going to do. But I know the one who does know - God!
One of my Go-to stories in the bible whenever I face a seemingly impossible situation is the story of King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20.
Three nations were coming against Israel to do battle. The King was afraid, but he sought the Lord. And he gathered his people together to seek the Lord.
In his prayer in verse 12, which I call "The prayer of Jehoshaphat," he said these words:
For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."
I love it! He humbled himself and immediately cast the situation on to the Lord - exactly where it belongs.
Then, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, a Levite (see verses 15-17).
"And he said, 'Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."
Jehoshaphat and the people did exactly what the Lord commanded. Then, he set the people to praise:
"And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD,For His mercy endures forever."
As the people sang and praised, the Lord took action.
He set ambushes among the enemy so that they destroyed each other. After that, the people of Israel took the spoil, the scripture saying that it took 3 days to carry it all away.
After that in verse 30, the scripture says:
"Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around."
Obviously, our car issues are still here but you know what? I'm praising anyhow. I'm taking my rest in the Lord - I'm not going to wait until these issues are resolved.
I'll wait until the Lord gives us direction as to what to do next.
Whatever happens, let the Lord be magnified!
Follow-up Praise Report: God answered our prayers in a big way the next day. Click here for the praise report.