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to voice a compassionate inquiry, the first question being, “How can I help you?” (2 Kings 4:2).Think again about the encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus in chapter 3. Responding to cries for help from the blind beggar, the Lord asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). I remember someone asking me during a time of unrest and transition in my life: “Todd, what is it you’re looking for?What is it you want?What would make you happy?” I also recall it being much harder to answer than I imagined.We’re prone under such circumstances to give a theologically acceptable answer rather than candidly speaking from the heart. The poor widow, however, had no problem revealing her destitute situation. Elisha dug a little deeper by way of a followup question, “Tell me, what do you have in your house?” (2 Kings 4:2). Recall from the call of Moses at the burning bush that the future leader of Israel had to overcome some doubts before taking on the job. At one point, he asked, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say,‘The Lord has not appeared to you’” (Exodus 4:1). God an swered with a question, “What is that in your hand?” - to which Moses responded, “A staff” (Exodus 4:2),which proved to be a powerful tool throughout his ministry. The fact that you’re reading this book suggests that you want to know God at a deeper level and serve Him more faithfully. If that’s the case, then think about these questions: “What do you have in your house” and “What is that in your hand?Your answers might be, “I’d love to serve if I had more time. I’d give more if I had some extra money. I’d love to help on that mission construction project but lack those particular skills. I’d love to teach but I don’t have the training. If that remotely describes you, consider these words of wis dom from my dear mother’s playbook: “Focus on your haves and not your have-nots.” Start where you are and build from there.

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