“So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored
like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” 2 Kings 5:14 (ESV)
Yesterday I mentioned how the Word of God, prayer, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit empower us with spiritual endurance and strength to hang on with all steadfastness. Faithfully maintaining our devotional life during these times may decline and can become a practice of the joyous past.
To help us understand this, let’s consider Naaman, a great honorable mighty man of valor and captain in the army of the King of Syria. Despite his significant status in the kingdom, he suffered tremendously as a leper. Certainly, afflicted with physical pain, but undoubtedly tormented with thoughts of hopelessness and despair daily.
Scripture tells us that the remedy the Lord offered to Naaman (through his prophet Elisha) was to “dip” himself seven times in the
Jordan River.
Initially, Naaman was angry and dismissed washing in the Jordan River as foolishness. However, once Naaman submitted, yielded and obeyed the Word of the Lord, his life was totally transformed! Can you imagine the great joy that Naaman experienced once he realized that leprosy had left him? The solution was the very action that he had recently dismissed!
Friend, your season of discouragement is coming to an end. Continue to submit, yield and obey the Word of God and your life will be transformed!
Ask yourself: “Holy Spirit, is there anything in my life that I need to submit to the Lord?”
Lord Jesus, remind me to spend time in Your Word and prayer each day. Help me to be faithful in this difficult season of life and trust that Your love will transform my situation.
– Steve Keesic
Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website.
Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org