Dig the Ditches: Prepare for the Blessing

“And he said, Thus says the Lord, “Make the valley full of ditches.For thus saith the Lord , Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts." 

2 Kings 3:16-17

When I was a little girl, I remember my mother saying, “God says dig the ditches and He will take care of you.” I never heard that taught in Sunday School. As I grew, I never heard anyone preach anything about digging the ditches and God will take care of you. I heard how you can dig a ditch for someone and fall in it yourself. Psalm 7:15

As I begin to study the bible for myself, often times, I would still hear my mother's voice saying, “Dig the ditches and the Lord will take care of you.” I still had never seen that in the bible and as I grew, I simply thought it was one of things people say that is not really in the bible like, “God says you make one step and I will make two.”

I once found myself in a desperate place where I truly needed God's help. I believed I was in this place because of my own mistakes. After praying and seeking Him for an answer, He led me to 2 Kings 3. These three kings set out on a journey to go into battle. They did not inquire of the Lord and really did not count the cost. Luke14:28 With many people, horses and cattle they ended up in a place where there was no water and without water they could not survive. 2 Kings 3:7-9

And like we sometimes do, they blamed God. 2 Kings 3:10. I too have blamed God for my mistakes by asking Him, why did You allow this to happen to me? Why did You not stop me?

After finding themselves in a desperate place, then they inquired of the Lord and He spoke through the prophet. And there it was! Momma was right. Although the land was dry and there was no water in sight, the King James version says:

“And he said, Thus says the Lord, “Make the valley full of ditches.” 2 Kings 3:16 He then

said "For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley

shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts."

2 Kings 3:17

Have you ever found yourself in a place, where you did not seek God first, and ended up not having enough money, enough time, enough people?

And like the three kings, you are in this place of lack, by your own doing. So, you cry out to God for help because you need His mercy. Well, you are in a good place! Why? Because He sees you. Psalms 33:13-15 And He knows you can't save yourself! Psalms 33:16-17 And It's Him and only Him who will rescue you!

"Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To

deliver (rescue) their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine." Psalms 33:13-19

This is a Hard place and a real trying of your faith to trust that God will rescue you from where you failed in walking in obedience. You don't even have a clue on how what you need will come. Well, you are in a good Hard place! Why? Because you are now set-up for a "nobody But God" experience! And the key word is Hard! Hmmm....Is there anything too HARD for God! Jeremiah 32:27

Now in trouble without water, by their on doing, King Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord. 2 Kings 3:11 And the prophet Elisha said,"

"And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the Lord, Ye

shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye

may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. 2 Kings 3:16-17

But before the water came there was a requirement that had to be fulfilled.

"And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered ...," 2 Kings 3:20

The water came after the offering was made.

The morning offering was one of two sacrifices that the priests were required to offer each day. The animal had to be a perfect and a complete specimen. The one bringing the offering was to lay a hand on the animal as to identify that the animal was taking the person's place and then kill it! The entire animal was burnt as a sacrifice. This sacrifice was made to restore the relationship with God and to atone for sin. Holman's Concise Bible Dictionary

Thank God that He already took care of this part through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who always causes us to triumph. 2 Corinthians 2:14 God says come and let us reason together and your sins will be made white as snow. Isaiah 1:18 This has been preached stating to bring your tithes and financial offerings, and of course this is also God's requirements. But to restore your relationship after doing something without Him, all you need is JESUS! Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb. Simply bow down and confess, repent 1 John 1:9 and seek God for direction. Proverbs 3:5-6

It may seem impossible Mark 9:23 and you may have gotten yourself here, but God is the One who promised to provide your answer. Philippians 4:19 And it won't come in a way that you might expect but it will come.

"For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be

filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle," 2 Kings 3:17

What does this mean and how do you prepare? Take a lesson from my son, Brandon.

When Brandon was about 17 years old, flat-screen televisions were just becoming popular.

That Christmas, he asked me for one. I had every intention of buying it for him, but times

were hard, and as Christmas approached, I began to realize that I might not be able to

afford it.

One day, I walked into Brandon’s room, intending to tell him, “I don’t think I’m going to be

able to get that television for you.” But when I walked in, I saw something that stopped me in

my tracks. There, already assembled and waiting, was a brand-new TV stand that Brandon

had purchased himself. He didn’t have the television yet, but he had already prepared a

place for it. He believed it was coming!

I looked at that empty TV stand and thought, “Now I’ve got to get that boy his television!”

And somehow, I found a way. Brandon had dug his ditch before the water came. He

prepared for what he was expecting before he ever saw it—and the television came!

So what does Dig the Ditches and God will take care of you mean, as quoted by my momma? Sometimes faith means preparing for what you are praying for even when you cannot see how it is

going to happen yet.

What about you today?

Have you dug your ditch? Have you made room for what you are asking God to do? Or are you waiting to see the answer before you prepare for it? Well faith prepares because faith expects God to move. 2 Corinthians 5:7

God says, "_______________ (insert your name) now by faith prepare a place for the blessing and the water will flow."

I did. The Lord said," Denise prepare a place for me to minister, and I will call them and those I call, I will bless." So, I prepared this site as instructed by faith and now you are the water that's now flowing! God said He will bless you!

By the way, listen to your momma she just might be right, mine was! (Smile)

Today's Prayer

Almighty Father God,

We come before you collectively giving you all the praise and honor that is most certainly due You. We thank you for this opportunity to commune with you today. Father, you said those who you call you will bless, so Father I pray that you bless each and everyone who have hearkened unto your voice and came.

I pray that you show us what we must do to prepare for Your blessings to flow that there be no lack amongst us. Forgive us for where we failed to follow you. We thank you for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who bled suffered, died, and rose that we might have another opportunity at the Tree of Life and not only have life, but we have it more abundantly.

Dear Lord, we thank you for the abundance. You are better to us than we can ever be to ourselves.

In Jesus name and for His name sake we pray, Amen!

(Now make it personal)

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