In This Way: Steadily Plodding

10And your food that you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels^c a day; from day to day^d you shall eat it. 11And water you shall drink by measure, the sixth part of a hin;^e from day to day you shall drink.   ~ Ez 4:10-11

Observations:

• Ezekiel was on rations
• He ate by weight, not preference
• His water was measured, not a matter of thirst
• 20 shekels / day x 390 days = 7800 shekels 
• 7800 shekels = 225 lbs
• Set amounts and times were about obedience not enjoyment
• 1/2 pound of food each day at set times
• Obedience, not preference, sustained him for 390 days
• In this way, Ezekiel endured a divine assignment
• Text never says how he amassed wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt
• Nevertheless he had it ready upon demand
• Ezekiel had resources to complete assignment
• He prophesied from exile

Applications:

• When fasting, I need to be on rations
• If I'm on assignment, preparation of materials is important
• duty bag for ride alongs
• tool bag for landlord visits
• cash and a smile for time with family
• I need to be in prayer and to keep count
• "The Lord will make a way somehow" is a song worth singing
• God has made a way
• It's up to me to discover the way, already made 
• Gathering resources in adversity is part of my deal
• Figure it out
• No one cares what your excuses are
• Have resources ready upon heavenly demands
• Discern between heaven's demands and people's
• Obedience, not preference, is the way through difficulty
• remember my "why" question
• begin with the end in mind (God gave an end point to Ez / gives end to me)
• Write 3 hours per day at set times
• I might not always be inspired 
• obedience doesn't take inspiration
• do it anyway
• get the classics in fingertips by rewriting what greats have written
• type 5 pages of respected author to get the feel of writing well
• when blocked, type another writer's content until unblocked
• Ezekiel had a wife and so do I...enjoy her while I can (Ez 24:15-27)

Prayer: You are Who You say You are