You will see so much to run after when your eyes are opened to new possibilities. Eyes closed to the opportunities will miss out again. Staying open to the leading of the Holy Spirit requires purposed intentionality. Are you ready?
Friend, you must make conscious decisions to press forward in Him, looking up, living expectantly for a new work of the Holy Spirit! He’s ready. Are you? Are you prepared to dig some ditches?
In 2 Kings 3, we have a battle scene described between an alliance of three kings. One is from Israel (Jehoram), another is from Judah (Jehoshaphat), and the third is from Edom. They form a pact to fight against Moab, who has chosen to rebel against high taxation. After seven days of arduous traveling toward the battlefield, they soon realize there is no water, and the soldiers are weary. What was essential to life and the battle, water, was not available. While King Jehoram is despairing, King Jehoshaphat calls for a prophet to speak about the situation. In this crisis, we need a word from the Lord!
Elisha, the prophet, comes, and after rebuking the wicked king of Israel, he calls for a musician and gives the word that God will provide water; all they needed to do was make the valley full of ditches to collect it!
2 Kings 3:14–18 (NKJV) “And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.”
From this true story, we learn a few things.
First, worship music is powerful in the hands of the Lord. It sets the atmosphere and changes the environment! Worship music is often tied to God’s anointing and presence and power! They needed to be in an atmosphere where God could express Himself on a personal level and take His word and give it to their heart, precisely and very personally.
Psalm 22:3 (NKJV) “But You are holy, Enthroned (inhabit KJV) in the praises of Israel.”
Music reminds us of a reliable and trustworthy God who is coming again to establish His Kingdom and rule and reign for all eternity with those who have faith in Him! Amen! That’s why music that glorifies God is so important for God’s people.
Secondly, the massive difficult situation you are facing right now is a simple matter before the Lord. He can solve all of your problems. He is your sufficiency. I know it has overwhelmed you. I know you are at the point of losing heart. I know it seems impossible. But God can make a way where there is no way. God is mighty in power. Don’t forget that. It’s simple for Him! He’s not panicked, worried, or fretting about what He will do in your life! He is about to send help. He is ready to send water! Water is so often a type of the Holy Spirit’s presence! We need water!
Psalm 147:5 (NKJV) “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.”
You must learn to cast your cares upon Him, knowing that for you, it’s hard. Yes, sometimes harder than hard. But for the Lord, it’s a simple thing for Him. He will sustain you.
1 Peter 5:6–7 (NKJV) “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Finally, God is ready to bless. You need to dig the ditches. It’s a strange command, isn’t it? You’re weak, tired, and almost ready to faint. Go out and dig some ditches throughout the valley because God is going to provide the water you need to be prepared to catch it!
Now before they could enjoy the water, they had to dig ditches to catch what God promised to provide. To benefit from the outpouring of God’s Spirit, they had to dig as many as possible. So they got out the shovels and picks to start digging! God was calling weary people to step out in faith. Dig the ditches. Refreshment and victory are on the way!
2 Cor 9:8 (NKJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Dig the ditches because it’s in them; I’m going to provide the water, God says. There is God’s part. And there’s man’s part. God wants to see your faith at work. He will only fill the number of ditches that you dig. He said, make the valley full of them. You want little dig little. You want a lot, dig a lot.
Digging Ditches then speaks to us today of two things: Preparation and Expectancy! Weariness and losing heart can erode our preparation of prayer and wanting God to show up in our lives! Weariness and losing heart undermine our expectant faith that God will do what He’s called us to do!
Listen, the more ditches they dug, the bigger and deeper they made them, and the more water they would enjoy! The water was coming. It was on the way! Will you enjoy it? The water was coming, and God was going to do even more than quench thirst. He was going to give total complete victory.
God wants to prepare us for the blessings He wants to give. Along the way, He gives us things we CAN do. It’s not more than you are able to do, but you can do it. God will often work so contrary to our thinking and our minds. I’m tired. I’m weary. I’m dry. I’m losing heart, pastor! Yes, let’s sing together and dig the ditches! God often moves us to do things that may or may not make sense for the moment, but they are things that prepare us for what He has in store for us in the future.
RAIN IS COMING! To wash you, refresh you, cleanse you, and satisfy you! These are the steps in the pathway of God’s blessings.
