Shout!
It was one of those days. I tried everything and nothing worked.
Whenever we visit my mother-in-law in Southern California, I try to make myself useful by doing some home maintenance. She knows I’m not very handy and gives me only the easy tasks.
This time, the water filter cartridge needed replacing. I shut off the water valve under the kitchen sink and removed the filter housing. I tried to twist the filter cap off, but it wouldn’t budge. I used my upper body to wring the cap open, but nada. Then I tried to force it open with a screwdriver, but it still wouldn’t loosen. My wife, Gail walked into the kitchen and saw me struggling. “Let’s pray,” she said. “Jesus, we know You want to be involved in even the little things. Please help Bob with the water filter.”
After she prayed, I reached for the cartridge and tried the cap again. “It still doesn’t come off.” “Why don’t you see Dave?” she suggested. He was a professional contractor who had originally installed the water filter system. I strode to his house a few doors away and rang the doorbell. Nobody answered.
Shuffling back to the house, I thought about calling the manufacturer. I dialed the 800 number listed in the owner’s manual and a recorded message played. “Technical support is not available. Please call back next week.” They’re closed? It’s not a holiday.
Gail stepped into the kitchen and heard me grunting. “Stop! You’ll break it!” She pulled the screwdriver away from me and set it on the counter. “Okay, we tried prayer. We tried Dave. We tried technical support. What else is left?” She tossed her hands in the air. “Oh, I’ve got an idea. Let’s try a shout.” “Huh?” “You know how the Lord calls us to do spiritual warfare.” “You mean like the Hebrews did before battle?” “Exactly, let’s try a victory shout.” “You do it. What would the neighbors think?” “No, you need to do it to; it’s not enough to only hear God’s Words. You need to apply it.
Remember someone from our prayer group said you’ve become complacent? You know God hates it when we’re lukewarm. You need to rise up and fight. Be an overcomer.” “All right,” I replied reluctantly. We shuffled to the living room, and Gail led a shout at the top of her lungs. I shouted but with half her volume. “Let’s do it again,” she said. I groaned. “C’mon honey. You need to return to your first love. You remember what it was like when you first received Jesus. He doesn’t want a one-sided relationship. Don’t let your fire snuff out.” “All right.” The second time, I shouted louder. “One more time,” she said. On the third try, I mustered all my strength and shouted full-throttle. I didn’t care what the neighbors thought anymore. I went back into the kitchen and tried the cap again. This time it twisted right off. I was flummoxed.
“When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed.” (Joshua 6:20 niv)
An excerpt from the book Popcorn Miracles® by Bob & Gail Kaku. Reprinted by permission
