Proverbs 6:6-8

6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and become wise!

7 Though they have no prince
 or governor or ruler to make them work,

8 they labor hard all summer,
 gathering food for the winter.

Proverbs 30:25

25 Ants—they aren’t strong,
 but they store up food all summer.

Every summer an army of ants invades our kitchen. We’ve used traps, pellets and homemade concoctions to kill them, but they keep coming back to gather food! 

In utter frustration yesterday I told myself “I am DONE! I give up! I can’t get rid of these suckers!” But then, that still small voice whispered inside my head and said “hmmm….I wonder if there’s a lesson in this?!”

Lesson #1: Sometimes I am a lazybone in my communication with God. After a few months of praying the same thing over and over and over without hearing a reply, I become frustrated and stop talking- or listening to Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Lesson #2: Sometimes I am unwise in believing my power comes from my abilities. In my pride I think I am capable of storing up food all summer, BY MYSELF! Eventually, though, as I continue to carry all my breadcrumbs alone, they become too difficult for me to handle and the weight of them begin to crush me spiritually, emotionally and physically.

2 Corinthians 12:9

9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Lesson #3: Sometimes I am motivated by others to work. Instead of receiving my marching orders from God, I look to people for direction, inspiration, approval, a sense of worth – and inevitably, when my expectations aren’t met and I become angry and discouraged.

Psalm 118:8-9

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
 than to trust in people. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
 than to trust in princes.

So today, I have decided to put away the ant killer and take a lesson from the ants. After all, the Lord God must have created them for more than just ruining our picnics and invading our kitchens, didn’t He?!