Power Of Digging Ditches

Key Scripture:  “God’s word:  Dig ditches all over this valley.  …The valley is going to fill up with water.  This is easy for God to do.”  2 Kings 3, The Message

Power Point:

I can’t think of a much harder job than digging ditches. Whether the ground is hard or soft; whether it’s raining or snowing or the sun is shining; whether it’s cold or hot, the ditches have to be dug or there’s no place for the water to flow in a dry place.  In 2 Kings 3, Jehoshaphat and the King of Israel ask Elisha for a word from the Lord before they head into another battle. God tells them to “dig ditches”. Imagine heading into a fight and having to stop and dig ditches. God wants the ditches for a reason; He wants to fill them with water, a strategy by which He plans to confuse the enemy. Could He have done that on His own?  Absolutely. But He wanted the nation to help Him dig those ditches. When they are finished, they wake up the next morning to find that “suddenly” the valley is full of water. The ditches are holding the water.

     My daughter-in-law, Kim is a home school mom. She has to do that every day whether its hot or cold; whether she feels like it or not. She doesn’t get a day off. Every day she gets up, and digs ditches for her children so that they can become what God has called them to be. Sometimes its easy.  Sometimes it’s hard. My son recently encouraged her with this chapter. “Honey, you are digging ditches.”

     Are you digging some ditches in your life? Is there a “someone” who needs you to get into the trenches for them so that their valley can be filled with the River of God? You may be in the place where you can’t see the water yet, or maybe it’s just a trickle.  Could I encourage you today to keep digging?  Could I help you to grab on to God’s perspective and prepare for the flow of water which He has promised to send?  Will you “prepare a place” for God’s Spirit to rest?  It may not look like it now but the Water of God is on it’s way.  One morning you will wake up and “suddenly’ that valley will be full of water so that everyone can drink.

     We dig ditches when we “call for the things that aren’t yet seen but have been promised.”  We dig ditches when we refuse to give up, give out or give in.  We dig ditches when we trust God to help us do the hard things so that He can do the miraculous things.

     You’re digging ditches at work. You’re digging ditches at home when you tuck your children in at night with a prayer and a blessing. Grandparents, you're digging ditches when you pray.

Friend, you’re digging ditches when you intercede for your friend, when they can’t “see” the way yet.  Keep digging.  Soon the River of God will be flowing and the valley will be filled.

Power Thought:
To dig ditches correctly, you need to be able to see what will fill them.