Mr. Fix-It Man…

We call my Dad “Mr. Fix-It Man.” From television repair, to automobiles, broken fences and Barbie DreamHouse elevators, if there is a problem, my Dad is the solution. Like a superhero with a cape, he comes onto the scene of brokenness, works his magic – a little WD40 here, a nail or two there – and we are all smiles. I remember a time when my parents were struggling financially and they needed the car repaired. Truth be known, they needed a newer car, the old one just kept breaking down. My sister and I heard them talking at the table to which she replied, “Daddy, just make a new one.” He laughed; but my sister and I did not change our expressions. In our minds, Mr. Fix-It Man could do it.

Matthew 8:5-13 tells of a Centurion who came to Jesus in Capernaum. Centurion’s were probably the “Special Ops” of the Roman Military, very skilled fighters of the time who moved up the ranks. A centurion would have 15 to 20 years experience in the Roman Army. The Centurion requested Jesus heal his servant who was at his home paralyzed and suffering terribly.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I will go and heal him.'” (7)

But the Centurion replied, “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

He explained his belief by giving the example that he himself was a man of rank. He told people what to do throughout the day, and it was done. How much more authority Jesus had!  He knew that if Jesus just spoke the word, it would happen.

The enemy of our soul does not have the power to stop God’s plans but he can hinder them and he uses us to do the ‘hindering.’ One of my favorite stories in the Bible is of Daniel, who was praying diligently for God’s help; God’s answer. Daniel was fasting for over three weeks, and as in human nature, he was probably feeling weak and anxious for God’s answer.  Daniel 10:12 – 14 “Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future for the vision concerns a time yet to come.'”

From these two scriptures much can be learned. The Centurion speaks directly to Jesus of his faith in His ability to solve a problem. He didn’t even need Jesus to come and lay His hands on the issue, he knew God would solve it simply by a spoken word. Daniel on the other hand is praying diligently and waiting on an answer. His faith is evident in his unwavering perseverance through fasting and prayer. It is faith at both extremes and speaks volumes for those of us standing in the wings, waiting on God to help us.

Someone once told me, “When God closes a door, He will always open another…but it is hell in the hallways.”

When the legions of angels fell from God’s grace, they became demons on the earth answering to Satan. It all sounds scary and it should. The angel who was sent to give Daniel the answer was wrestling with one of these demons. The angel could not overcome the demon, so the Arch Angel Michael came to help. The angel continued on the path to Daniel.

Sometimes we are waiting, waiting, waiting. Doubt enters our minds. Worry fills our hearts and weighs heavy on our bodies. We start to believe we are forgotten and unloved. Two points for Satan’s team. Those thoughts come from the enemy of our soul and serve to hinder God’s plan for our lives. If Satan can have his evil spirits interfere with our faith, then he can accomplish what he intends: to cause doubt, chaos, false belief, accusation, hurt, and dissention.

I remember a time when I could not get to Hart, who was working at a barn in Gainesville. A wreck had occurred which backed traffic up for miles. As I sat and watched the sun setting in the distance, my stomach became knotted. Her boss had left early that day and Hart was alone, in the dark, the cold, with no cell phone. (She had let her brother borrow it for the day.) As a Mom,  my mind wandered to places of danger and despair but I refused and stayed focused on God’s protective hand. I asked Him that His protection would be so complete, she would not even have an ounce of worry. When I finally got to her, after apologizing profusely for being late, I asked her if she was ok. She smiled that sweet smile that only my Hart can give and replied, “I knew you were coming. Or I knew you were sending someone else. I just sat in the tack room and played with the cat.”

We have a part in this too. It is our faith which honors God. The Angel explains to Daniel from the first day he set his mind on God… Many of us have problems which we have not even gone to God in prayer to ask for help. We just stand in the middle of the road spinning around begging. Bring your problems to God and then humbly give them to Him. Daniel didn’t put together a business plan with outlined solutions for God. He gave God control. Often we turn our problems over to God but when something additional happens we freak-out, fall on the floor, roll around and bang our fists. Is He “Mr. Fix-It Man,” or not? Either you trust His plan or not.

God is orchestrating events and situations for His purposes in your life. He does have a plan. He is in control. He needs you to turn it over to Him and be His biggest cheerleader. He may put you to work. He may require you to pull up your boot straps and sweat a bit. Know that no matter where you are. No matter what you’ve done. God is for you and He will not forsake you – simply believe.

When Satan’s evil doers put doubt in my mind, I say aloud, “Ahhhhh, just for that I’m going to work harder for God. You’ve done it now.”

And I usually write another blog. : )