“Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Indeed! I thought ‘He would at least come out to [see] me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place [of leprosy] and heal the leper.’” – 2 Kings 5:10-11 (AMP)

There was a mighty man of the army of the Syrians in the days of Prophet Elisha, he was the commander of the Syrian army, a great man indeed but he was a leper. What a shameful thing to happen to a man of his stature and rank.

One of the maids that were brought from the land of Israel who knew what the God of Israel could do advised her mistress to tell the commander to go to Israel. The Syrian king heard of it and sent letter to the king of Israel and at the end, Prophet Elisha heard of it. He asked him to come so he could experience the power of God.

Before Naaman even entered the house of the prophet, he sent a message to him, an instruction that needed to be followed to the letter in order for him to be healed. But he despised the message from the prophet and decided to go back home angry. Thus, his healing was delayed. His indignation against the Word of God from the Prophets mouth caused an unnecessary delay to his miracle.

At the end, his servants counseled him to follow the instruction given to him. After being persuaded, he listened and obeyed and anon he received his miracle of healing.

There are many who have prayed to God and He has benevolently answered them but will unlock the full realities of the answers is their obedience to the instruction they receive. One of the things to do is to pay attention to God’s Word and obey instructions as they come. When there is delay in obedience, there will also be delay in answers to prayers. Many who were healed in the Scripture received such by obedience.

You need to take time to think through the many instructions God has given you. Perhaps you’d need to pray that God would open your heart to His instructions that are needed for you to receive answers to your prayers. God doesn’t leave His own without a witness. Pay attention to God’s Word and obey promptly.

Action Point: Can you remember the last time you prayed and the Lord gave you an instruction? Did you obey? If not, take the step of obedience today.

Confession: I am rightly positioned to receive my miracles. My ears and heart are opened to receive God’s instructions and I obey them promptly.

Related Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-17

Bible Reading: Leviticus 22