Jen’s Gem:  When you ask God for help, you get it!

I had one task on my calendar yesterday: Clean. It’s been on my to-do list for quite some time however other priorities took over. You know how it is! As I sipped my morning cup o’ Joe, I noodled my plan of attack.

Since both of my kids are home, I delegated the cleaning of their rooms and bathrooms to them. I would clean the common areas. “One thing at a time, Jen” was my battle cry. As I gathered my supplies, a memory of long ago crept into my head that set the stage for the task.

I was the IT manager for a property management company. The CFO asked me to investigate the financial reporting function available in our accounting system. One day, he asked if I could make some changes to a report and sat with me to oversee the process.

The changes were made, but the reports returned an error. I tried this and that but to no avail. With his eyes bearing down on me and a “hurry up” command, I was overcome with frustration and blurted out:

“Do you want this done fast or done right?”

(Now you know why I always got in trouble for talking back to my elders!)

His response was “I want both!” Oh well – we all want things!

We live in a culture where faster is always better. Quantity over quality. Yet I’m sure we’ve all seen that fast is not always best…with one exception. I’m currently reading the gospel of Mark and noticed a word that was repeated multiple times. Take a look:

“…and immediately the fever left her” (chapter 1:31).
“immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed” (chapter 1: 42).
“Immediately, the fountain of her blood was dried…” (chapter 5:29).
“Immediately the girl arose and walked…” (chapter 5:42).

I could provide many more examples, but I think you get the point. When Jesus healed someone, it was done immediately. Fast and right… the first time. No errors.

In our own strength, we might be able to do things quickly, but there may be imperfections. If we do them correctly, it may take longer, and people (or we) may be disappointed. While I was scrubbing and polishing, I prayed for God to help me. I prayed for strength and perseverance.

You may think it funny or odd that I prayed for God to help me clean my apartment. “He’s got better things to do Jen.” You are 100% correct! Yet, here’s the scoop: He can do both!

You see, God knew that my heart’s desire was to accomplish this task yesterday. He knew it was important to me. And you know what? In addition to finishing the job, I was able to clean out and re-organize my kitchen cabinets– a project that has nagged me for months! Exceedingly, abundantly above!

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV)

This morning, as I look around my very clean apartment, I’m so grateful. First, grateful to have a roof over my and my children’s heads. But grateful that I serve a God who cares so much about me that He gave me the strength and perseverance to do this task and so much more with time to spare!

This week, before starting your work or a project, I encourage you to ask God to help you. Ask Him to direct your steps (Proverbs 16:9) so that you don’t waste time (Ephesians 5:16-17). Put your work into God’s capable hands and watch what He will do!

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:23-24 NKJV)