BIG THINGS

Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalm 46:10

When I was in EMS school working as a student rider on the ambulance, we ran a complex call for a cardiac patient, and I couldn't keep up with the treatment activity. About the time my brain registered it was time for an EKG, a medic or volunteer had already done it; when I thought it was time for an IV, someone was already prepping and so on. After the call (and being chewed out for uselessness by my trainer!) a friendly medic took me aside and gave me some advice: "Just do something". His point was that I could at least look busy, even if I had no clue what to do next. And that advice helped me! On the next call, I picked up the trash generated by medications and supplies being pulled out of their packaging, and the trainer thought I was great! Gradually, as I understood more and more, I made myself busy taking basic vital signs and beginning treatments which eventually grew into running the calls themselves.

However helpful that advice may have been for a paramedic, it is one of the lessons I've had to "unlearn" in ministry. If I sense that I should be "doing something" I've had to retrain my habits to make that something prayer before anything else. The Psalmist indicated through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that God will exalt Himself in a special way among the nations when His people cease their striving, and abide in their relationship with Him. Maybe you are little bit like me and find yourself working hard to accomplish big things. Whatever it is, what a great reminder that it probably isn't as big as God exalting Himself among the nations, which happens when His people stop and pray.

Joe Ensley