Faith Redefined

But Naaman was furious and went away and said, Behold, I thought, he will surely come out to meet me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 2 Kings 5:11 (New American Standard Bible)

Expectations, perceptions, and preconceived ideas can do more to wreak havoc with our walk of faith than anything I know. I can very easily relate with Naaman. He has come to Samaria with a scenario playing out in his mind of what his own healing would look like. But upon arriving at Elisha’s house his ego, thoughts, and agenda all take a massive blow. What should have been a ‘done deal’ has become as muddy in his mind as the Jordan River itself. He cannot conceive of the fact that neither God nor Elisha are acting the way he thought they would or should. As he erupts in anger and storms off, he fails to realize that he is risking his own healing because of his own mindset.

As I read through 2 Kings I am struck by the fact that God is not limited in power or variety. He refuses to be put into an understandable, easy to grasp box! His ways and thoughts are far above my own and that has caused me to rethink and redefine my beliefs about faith. It is not a matter of me bringing my petitions before God and believing He will give me what I want, in the way I want it, and when I want it. My one-dimensional thinking of who God is and how God acts is presently going through a metamorphosis of great proportion.

While God certainly encourages and invites me to bring my requests, wishes, and desires to Him, I must keep in mind that He is still God and He is free to be good, loving, and right in how He responds to my prayers. His Word, His character, and His heart of love are the basis for when and how He chooses to intervene. Why would I want to limit Him to only operate in the way I THINK He should? Faith now becomes an act whereby I bring my requests to Him and then with childlike trust and expectancy watch to see what HIS choice is. If I allow this to be my heart’s desire, I will find that more times than not He will go above and beyond what I could imagine.

Father, let me take away the box in which I have spent years trying to get You to fit. Thank you for helping me to see where I have been limiting You. I now let go of my preconceived notions and am ready to embrace the truth about You. Amen.

You're Still God - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvclzwpAMxg

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.