Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 20:31-37

Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors. — 2 Chronicles 20:32-33

Jehoshaphat had seasons of leading the people of Judah in the worship of the Lord Almighty, but he remained soft in areas that God had clearly defined as sin. He was permissive in allowing the people to do what they wanted to do — to worship false gods. And since the king was not fully obedient to God’s instructions, the people never fully devoted themselves to God. The weakness of his stance against sin left the door open for God’s people to focus their lives on what THEY wanted to do rather than on how God required them to live, and soon he, too, was pursuing a life apart from God’s plan.

Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked. Together they built a fleet of trading ships at the port of Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy your work.” So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea. — 2 Chronicles 20:35-37

He frustrates the plans of schemers so the work of their hands will not succeed. He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted. — Job 5:12-13

Stepping outside of God’s plan is never a good idea; living to please ourselves instead of pleasing God is defiance. We serve a God of mercy, but that does not mean He is permissive; we serve a God of grace, but that is not the same as tolerance. We may desire to be a merciful people to those who are living in sin, but we can show God’s mercy without redefining what is right and what is wrong.

Mercy is defined as compassion and forgiveness, but it should not lead to the acceptance of a view that is contrary to what is biblical. We can have pity on those who are hurting without celebrating their sin. In love, we should guide others onto the path God has for them; in love, we should encourage others to fully surrender themselves to God.

We serve a good God! He loves us and wants what is best for us. He is a righteous God and He clothes us in His righteousness for our own happiness and for His glory. The boundaries He has created are for our own benefit and evidence of His unfailing love for us. His mercy rescues us from our sin; it does not create an allowance for sin.

How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
So merciful, this God of ours!…
What can I offer the Lord
for all he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.
I will keep my promises to the Lord
in the presence of all his people. — Psalm 116:5,12-14

Lord, how great is your mercy; let me be revived by following your regulations. – Psalm 119:156

People who conceal their sins will not prosper,
but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. — Proverbs 28:13

Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. — Isaiah 55:6-9

Sing a new song of praise to him;
play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.
For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything he does.
He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. — Psalm 33:1-22

Lord, give us a heart that reflects your heart. Teach us what it means to be merciful. Give us the courage to speak truth without becoming judgemental; give us a heart of compassion that seeks to draw others towards you. May your unfailing love be reflected in the way we treat others. Give us ears that are willing to listen to the lost, eyes that see opportunities to serve you by serving others, and wisdom to always speak truth in love.

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, Psalm 2

Everything was going well for King Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel until the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on them. When Jehoshaphat found out that a large army was marching towards them, he was terrified. He knew that they needed God’s protection in order to survive this battle, and he knew he needed God’s guidance in order to lead his people through this difficult time. He called on the people to fast and seek the Lord’s help, and that is what they did. As the people gathered in front of the Temple, Jehoshaphat led out in prayer.

CALLING ON GOD FOR HELP

“O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’” — 2 Chronicles 20:6-9

God had rescued His people over and over again. He was powerful enough to do it before and the people had confidence He could do it again. They knew they could stand in God’s presence, cry out to Him, and be heard. They knew their God would rescue them. What a beautiful example of faith in action. God’s people knew they were powerless against the strength of the army pursuing them. They did not know how to win the battle on their own, but they did know who to look to for help. They gathered together and prayed. The Spirit of the Lord came upon a man named Jahaziel, giving him a message for the people:

“Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” — 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

DO NOT BE AFRAID. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD’S.

The king’s response to God’s promise was to bow low to the ground and worship God. The people followed his example and did the same. Then the Levites stood and began praising the Lord with loud shouts. The next morning, King Jehoshaphat encouraged God’s people to once again believe in God – to stand firm in their faith. He appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, praising God as they walked toward the valley.

“Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!” — 2 Chronicles 20:21b

At the exact moment the people began to sing and praise the Lord, God caused their enemy to start fighting each other. When the army of Judah arrived on the battlefield, they found that the battle was already over. There were dead bodies as far as they could see. Not one of their enemies had escaped!

They gathered together the plunder strewn across the battlefield and named that place the Valley of Blessing. God had given them victory over their enemies and they were overflowing with joy. They marched into Jerusalem and headed to the Temple of the Lord. And God gave the people of Judah a season of peace — “rest on every side” (21:30).

YOU WILL NOT EVEN NEED TO FIGHT. TAKE YOUR POSITIONS, THEN STAND STILL AND WATCH THE LORD’S VICTORY.

For the last few weeks, pregnancy centers across America have been responding to threats from those upset by the possibility of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, a federal ruling legalizing abortion in 1973. These domestic terrorist groups declared war against every organization that stands for life. They threatened, “If abortion isn’t safe for women, then neither are you.” They have vandalized more than fifty pregnancy centers across the nation, many of which were set on fire. When the decision was announced last Friday that abortion is not a constitutional right, their anger and threats intensified.

Pregnancy help organizations across this nation called on their faith communities to join them in praying for God’s hand of protection against those who desire to shut them down. God’s people have prayed and the Lord has faithfully responded. We have taken our pro-life positions, stood firm in our calling to help those facing pregnancy decisions, and watched the Lord’s victory over our enemies. And now we are praising God and asking Him for “rest on every side” — our faith is stronger and the need for our services is bigger than ever! But we serve a big God and this battle is not ours, it is His!

Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
“Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.
Then in anger he rebukes them,
terrifying them with his fierce fury. — Psalm 2:1-5

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 19, Psalm 93

In the battle against the Arameans, King Ahab had bled to death while King Jehoshaphat returned safely to Judah. King Ahab had led the people of Israel with a sinful heart, and God had declared that he would die. And the king had time to consider his choices as he sat propped up in his chariot, slowly dying while he watched his enemies. But Jehoshaphat had another opportunity to please the Lord through his leadership.

There was a man named Jehu who was known to be a seer — who could see situations and people through spiritual eyes. He confronted Jehoshaphat regarding his love for those who hate the Lord, but he also affirmed the action Jehoshaphat had made to remove the Asherah poles. Jehoshaphat was sincerely committed to seeking God, and God would use his leadership to draw the people of Judah back to Him.

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges throughout the nation in all the fortified towns, and he said to them, “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case. Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.” — 2 Chronicles 19:4-7

LEAD WITH INTEGRITY

Leadership is a big responsibility and it was important to Jehoshaphat that those who were given the authority to pronounce judgment would do so with integrity and wisdom. The judges could not be swayed by the demands of the people or influenced by popularity. These judges need to operate to please only the Lord. Then Jehoshaphat appointed priests to become judges that specialized in the matters of the church.

“You must always act in the fear of the Lord, with faithfulness and an undivided heart. Whenever a case comes to you from fellow citizens in an outlying town, whether a murder case or some other violation of God’s laws, commands, decrees, or regulations, you must warn them not to sin against the Lord, so that he will not be angry with you and them. Do this and you will not be guilty. — 2 Chronicles 19:9b-10

LEAD WITH AN UNDIVIDED HEART

Jehoshaphat was calling the leaders of Judah to be faithful to the Lord, living out their calling with loyalty to God alone. God would use these leaders to warn His people against what God had defined as sin. If they chose not to speak out against sinful behaviors, they would be found guilty of sinning against the God who had appointed them to a place of leadership.

“Take courage as you fulfill your duties, and may the Lord be with those who do what is right.” — 2 Chronicles 19:11b

LEAD WITH COURAGE

The instructions Jehoshaphat gave to those who had been placed in key leadership roles apply to use today. It is an honor to be chosen by God to have a voice among His people, but that voice needs to be consistent with the heart of God — the God who instructs us on what is good and what is evil. To soften the standards set by God is defined by God as sin (2 Chronicles 19:10).

Your royal laws cannot be changed.
Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever. — Psalm 93:5

Father God, give us spiritual eyes to see your perspective on what is going on in the world around us. Give us a voice that reflects your heart, leading with courage and integrity. May our hearts be undivided — loyal to you and obedient to your instructions. May we never lead from our own wisdom, but daily seek wisdom from you. Help us to lead with the love of Christ, while not allowing our compassion on others to redefine the life you have called us to live. May we be known for our integrity, faithfulness, and courage. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 1-4; Psalm 86

Elijah knew God was about to take him to heaven and so he said to his assistant Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” Without hesitation, Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double portion of your spirit and become your successor” (2 Kings 2:9). In other words, I WANT WHAT YOU HAVE!

God saw the desire of Elisha’s heart. He saw that this request was not for his own glory or to boost his own pride, but that he wanted to live the kind of life that would make an impact on those around him. He felt God calling him and was praying for God to richly equip him for his calling. His prayer was very similar to the prayer of King Solomon, asking God to give him wisdom to fulfill God’s purpose in his life. Elisha had been watching God work in a mighty way through Elijah and he desired for God to use him in the same way. And that is exactly what God did.

ELISHA ASKED FOR A DOUBLE PORTION OF THE SPIRIT AND WAS ABLE TO DO MIRACULOUS THINGS.

Just as Elijah had done, Elisha was able to part the waters of the Jordan River by striking it and to walk across on dry land (2 Kings 2:14).

Elisha came to the city of Jericho, which did not have a clean water source, causing death and infertility as well as the land to be unproductive affecting their food supply. Elisha placed salt in the water supply and healed the water, breathing new life into the town (2 Kings 2:19-21).

By having a double portion of the Spirit, Elisha was able to enter God’s presence and hear from God. God spoke through Elisha telling the kings that He would provide water for their men and animals, as well as victory over their enemy (2 Kings 3:15-18).

There was a widow of one of the prophets whose sons were about to be sold as slaves in order to repay her debt. Elisha was able to take the only thing she had left, a flask of olive oil, and make it a source of income for her by filling every available jar in the village with olive oil. By doing this, God provided for the widow and her two sons (2 Kings 4:1-7).

Elisha wanted to thank a woman who had been kind to him and provided him with a place to stay. He inquired as to what she needed and found out that she did not have a son. Elisha prophesied, “Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms,” and that is exactly what happened (2 Kings 4:8-17). When that same boy died and his mother grieved heavily, Elisha was able to stretch himself out across the child and bring him back to life (2 Kings 4:18-35).

When poisonous fruit was mistakenly added to a stew being prepared for the prophets during a time of famine, Elisha was able to add flour to the stew and heal it so that the group would have something to eat (2 Kings 4:38-41).

During this same time of famine, Elisha was able to bless a sack of bread and have it feed a large group of people with food leftover – sounds familiar doesn’t it? (2 Kings 4:42-44)

SO WHY DON’T WE ASK GOD FOR A DOUBLE PORTION OF HIS SPIRIT?

What stops us from asking God for a double portion of His Spirit so that God can use us in a mighty way in the lives of those around us? With the Spirit in our lives, dry ground can be walked upon, water can be healed, God can be heard, needs can be provided, wombs can be filled, the dead can be raised, the hungry can be fed, the sick can be healed, the lost can be found and enemies can be defeated.

If we are not living that kind of life, perhaps it is because we have not asked God to do those kinds of miracles around us. Perhaps we are not living the kind of faith that expects God to move mightily ahead of us. Or perhaps our prayer needs to start by asking God to change the desires of our heart – to send His Spirit to create in us a desire to do what God desires to do today.

I WANT WHAT YOU HAVE!

Heavenly Father, may I have a double portion please? May I have more of your Spirit than I have ever had before. I want to do more than just survive my week. I want to be used by God in a powerful way through the infilling of His Spirit. Dear God, I WANT ALL YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME! Lord, I give you my heart and ask for you to make it beat in unison with yours.

You are my God…I give myself to you…You are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God. Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is great. – Psalm 86:2,4,10-13a

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18

For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. Then during the third year, King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit King Ahab of Israel. During the visit, the king of Israel said to his officials, “Do you realize that the town of Ramoth-gilead belongs to us? And yet we’ve done nothing to recapture it from the king of Aram!”

Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, “Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?”
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.” Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.” — 1 Kings 22:1-5

What a great idea! Checking to see what God wants us to do is always a good place to start. King Ahab went to 400 of his prophets and asked them to tell him if he should start a war against Ramoth-gilead or not. They assured him that the Lord would give him victory. But King Jehoshaphat recognized that these prophets were speaking independently of God, so he asked if there was a prophet of the Lord that they could seek advice from.

King Ahab hated Micaiah son of Imlah, but he called for him to appear before him, just as Jehoshaphat had requested. All of Ahab’s prophets were promising the kings that they would be victorious, because that is what Ahab wanted to hear. But Micaiah was a man of God, and he refused to listen to anyone but the Lord.

Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”
But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what the Lord tells me to say.” — 1 Kings 22:13-14

Micaiah went on to explain that God had caused a lying spirit to deceive the prophets of Ahab — to tell Ahab to go into battle so that he would be killed. Ahab was angry and threw Micaiah into prison for not telling him what he wanted to hear. He put on a disguise so that he would not be recognized in battle, for the king of Aram had commanded his army not to kill anyone but the king of Israel.

An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. “Turn the horses and get me out of here!” Ahab groaned to the driver of his chariot. “I’m badly wounded!” — 1 Kings 22:34

How often do we succumb to the pressure to say what someone else wants to hear? We take the easy way out instead of speaking the truth that the Lord has made clear in scripture. It is not always popular to stand strong for what God has declared as truth, but there is death ahead for those who reject God’s ways. Speaking anything less than God’s truth may seem like the compassionate thing to do, but it does not change what God has commanded.

“Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.” — John 7:18

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. — Ephesians 4:14-16

Father God, may we stand firm in what you have taught us. May we speak the truth of God in love, even when it is less than popular with those around us. Fill us with your Spirit and guide us as we respond to the chaos of the world we live in. Help us distinguish between the lies that cause fear and the truth that brings peace. May we courageously be the voice of truth that the world so desperately needs to hear. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 21

King Ben-hadad of Aram had challenged the Israelites to a battle, but they were losing. 100,000 Aramean soldiers had died in battle, and another 27,000 had died when a wall randomly fell on them. Ben-hadad ran from the Israelites and hid in a secret room.

Ben-hadad’s officers said to him, “Sir, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. So let’s humble ourselves by wearing burlap around our waists and putting ropes on our heads, and surrender to the king of Israel. Then perhaps he will let you live.” — 1 Kings 20:31

HUMBLED AND SURRENDERED

And that is exactly what happened. Ben-hadad put on burlap and ropes to show that he was grieving. He apologized for his aggressive behavior against the Israelites, and promised to make restitution. King Ahab had mercy on Ben-hadad, forgiving him for his many indiscretions.

In the Bible, to wear a sackcloth or burlap garment was a sign of grieving. In self-humiliation, the individual would put on sackcloth to show that they were submitting to another person or to God. Ben-hadad draped himself in sackcloth, and King Ahab forgave him. A new treaty was made between the two kings, and Ahab gave the King of Aram his freedom, even though God had instructed otherwise. For his disobedience, God let Ahab know he would soon die, and Ahab returned home angry and sullen.

ANGRY AND SULLEN

Now there was a man named Naboth, from Jezreel, who owned a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. One day Ahab said to Naboth, “Since your vineyard is so convenient to my palace, I would like to buy it to use as a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or if you prefer, I will pay you for it.” — 1 Kings 21:1-2

But the vineyard was Naboth’s inheritance, and it represented the hard work of those who had gone before him, so he declined the king’s offer. And once more the king returned home angry and sullen. He laid in bed with his face to the wall, refusing to eat. His wife, Jezebel, created a scheme to have Naboth killed so that Ahab could get what he wanted — the vineyard that did not belong to him.

The prophet Elijah was sent by God to let Ahab know how angry He was: “I have come because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the Lord’s sight. So now the Lord says, ‘I will bring disaster on you and consume you. I will destroy every one of your male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel! I am going to destroy your family as I did the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat and the family of Baasha son of Ahijah, for you have made me very angry and have led Israel into sin’” (1 Kings 21: 20b-22).

Ahab had sold himself to evil more than anyone else had, and there would be a price to pay for his idolatry and disobedience. Instead of becoming angry and sullen, this time Ahab dressed in burlap and mourned the life he had lived and the death that was imminent. And God was pleased with Ahab’s genuine show of regret and humility.

HUMBLED AND SURRENDERED

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. — James 3:13-16

It is our heart to please you today, Lord. Thank you for the reminder that you are calling us to live an honorable life, bearing fruit with a heart of humility. Reveal in us any seeds of jealousy and self-ambition. When what we want means someone else cannot have what is rightfully theirs, may we submit to your authority and be grateful for what you have given us. May we be less worried about our own rights and the rights of our children than we are concerned about the needs of others. Show us what we have made an idol in our lives, and give us a heart that mirrors the desires of your heart. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 20, Psalm 21

The story of Elijah reminds us that our God is the God who provides. When Elijah needed a place to hide, God provided safety by Kerith Brook. He sent ravens to bring Elijah bread and meat every morning and every evening. Then God allowed the brook to dry up because He needed to use Elijah in the life of a widow who was running out of food. God showed up and provided more than enough. Then the widow’s son died and God heard Elijah’s prayer, raising her son from the dead.

When Elijah needed to prove to the nation that there is only one true god, God provided evidence of His existence and His power. He provided fire for Elijah’s sacrifice and He provided the much needed rain for His people. When things got rough for Elijah, God came through again, providing His presence to remind Elijah that He is always with us and that we can always trust Him. In today’s scripture, we find the faithfulness of God providing victory for His people over and over again.

THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD’S

As I read through the accounts of the Kings of Judah and Israel, it is encouraging to me how often God fought the battle for His people. All they had to do was position themselves, commit fully to Him, sit back and watch the victory.

When Judah realized that they were being attacked from the front and the rear, they cried out to the Lord for help. Then the priests blew the trumpets, and the men of Judah began to shout. At the sound of their battle cry, GOD DEFEATED Jeroboam and all Israel and routed them before Abijah and the army of Judah. — 2 Chronicles 13:14-15

This is what the Lord says, “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them…But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and WATCH THE LORD’S VICTORY. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” – 2 Chron. 20:15b-17

But the Israelite army looked like two little flocks of goats in comparison to the vast Aramean forces that filled the countryside! Then the man of God went to the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: The Arameans have said, ‘The Lord is a god of the hills and not of the plains.’ SO I WILL DEFEAT THIS ARMY FOR YOU. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

The two armies camped opposite each other for seven days, and on the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites killed 100,000 Aramean foot soldiers in one day. The rest fled into the town of Aphek, but the wall fell on them and killed another 27,000. – 1 Kings 20:27b-30a

THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU!

King Ben-hadad of Aram surrounded Samaria with his army. There was a great famine in the city. Four men with leprosy decided they were going to die if they stayed in the city, so they decided to surrender to the Aramean army. At twilight they set out for the army’s camp, but when they arrived they found the camp was empty. The Lord had caused the four men to sound like a great army headed towards the camp, striking fear in the hearts of the Arameans. They fled for their lives, leaving behind their tents, horses, donkeys and everything else. Just imagine the sight of these four lepers walking back to Samaria with the good news! (2 Kings 6:24-25a; 7:3-7)

In the 39th year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians. So he died in the 41st year of his reign. — 2 Chron. 16:12-13

SEEK THE LORD’S HELP

You may face a giant battle ahead of you, but the Lord says, “Do not be afraid! Stand still and watch the Lord’s victory.”

You may feel outnumbered, but the Lord says, “I will defeat this army for you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

You may have lost all hope but the Lord can cause the enemy to panic and run. The Lord can provide for your needs.

You may be fighting a battle against disease or sickness. Do not rely ONLY on physicians but seek the Lord’s help as well.

And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us! — 1 Samuel 17:47

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. – Proverbs 21:31

POSITION YOURSELF, SIT BACK AND WATCH THE VICTORY!

How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord!
He shouts with joy because you give him victory.
For you have given him his heart’s desire; you have withheld nothing he requested.
You welcomed him back with success and prosperity.
You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.
He asked you to preserve his life, and you granted his request.
The days of his life stretch on forever.
Your victory brings him great honor, and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.
You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord.
The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling. – Psalm 21:1-7

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 19:19-21; Luke 9:57-62; Psalm 22

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. — 1 Kings 19:13b-16

It is a privilege to live out the call that God has placed on your life, but ministry can also take a toll on those who are called. The mountain top experiences are absolutely wonderful. When the hearts of God’s people are worshiping in full surrender, lost souls are finding new life in Christ, and everyone is singing the praises of the leadership, ministry is life-giving. But with these great moments of affirmation also come the times of questioning and resisting, quarreling and complaining.

But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all!
Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
“Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!” — Psalm 22:6-8

Leadership can be lonely, and there are times when we wonder if it is worth it. There is an overwhelming feeling that we are alone in our efforts — that no one appreciates our hard work and long hours. It is in these moments when we can begin to feel sorry for ourselves. We consider quitting, or we begin longing for the day when we can retire. We even consider telling God to find someone else to complete the assignment; we find ourselves tired and ready to quit.

God understood what Elijah was feeling. He had obediently done everything God had asked him to, and the threats against his life were taking their toll on his emotions. He still trusted God to provide, but he was weary from the battle. So once again God provided for Elijah by giving him an assistant to help him finish out his call. It was time to start training his successor.

So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!”

Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.” — 1 Kings 19:19-20

This passage reminds me of the words of Jesus when he called a man to follow him, and the man’s response was to ask if he could first go home and bury his father. The man was willing to follow God but wanted his obedience to be in the timing that was most convenient for him. Once his father had passed away and his duties were completed, then he would be available to give Jesus as much time as he wanted. Not now; maybe later.

But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” — Luke 9:60-62

Delayed obedience is disobedience. But Elisha’s pause was not resisting God’s plan; it was taking the time to dedicate himself fully to the Lord. He was preparing for ministry — putting to death his old life in order to fully embrace the life God was calling him to. Elisha was letting go of what he had been holding onto in order to come to God with empty hands.

So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant. — 1 Kings 19:21

Lord, we come to you this morning with the willingness to fully submit to your call on our life. GIve us the strength to let go of anything that is holding us back from living fully focused on you. May we trust you for what the next chapter looks like — whether it’s a necessary ending or a new beginning.

I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations. — Psalm 22:25-28

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-18; Psalm 6, 11, 20

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. – Psalm 16:1

WE SERVE THE GOD WHO PROVIDES AND THE GOD WHO STRENGTHENS.

As we look at what happened after Elijah faced off with the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel — when God provided the fire and when God provided the rain — we see that Elijah is once again in need of God’s providence and strength.

Ahab’s wife Jezebel was very unhappy when she heard the prophets of Baal were dead and she vowed to kill Elijah. Elijah ran in fear from his enemy, becoming so discouraged he prayed that he might die. But God provided once more for Elijah – He provided sleep, food and water. Then He provided strength saying, “Get up and eat some more, for the journey ahead of you will be too much for you” (1 Kings 19:7b).

GOD DID NOT SPARE ELIJAH THE JOURNEY BUT STRENGTHENED HIM FOR WHAT WAS AHEAD.

“The journey ahead will be too much for you.” This journey would take 40 days and 40 nights. His destination: the mountain of God. God was about to provide one more thing for Elijah – His presence.

When Elijah arrived, God asked him a very important question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah was seeking God and God gave Elijah the opportunity to say exactly what he wanted God to do for him. Then God gave Elijah the most precious of gifts – time in His presence.

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. — 1 Kings 19:11-13

And now, as Elijah stood in His presence, God asked once more, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And for the second time, Elijah answered, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty…and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (1 Kings 19:14)

This reminds me of the many times I have complained to God that I am going through a difficult time in spite of the fact that I have consistently served Him. I have in essence whined to God unnecessarily. God knows our heart and He knows when we have been faithful and when we have not.

GOD DOES NOT ALWAYS SPARE US THE JOURNEY, BUT HE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO STRENGTHEN US FOR WHAT IS AHEAD.

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. — 2 Chronicles 16:9

I encourage you to find time to enter into His presence today. Imagine God asking you, “What are you doing here?” What will you say? What do you want the God Who Provides and the God Who Strengthens to do for you today? It’s time for me to finish my morning coffee and do the same.

“O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone.” — 2 Chronicles 14:11a

The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him…whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found him…Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul…They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. — 2 Chronicles 15:2,4,12,15

In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from harm…
May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed…
May the Lord answer your prayers.
Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power.
Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm. – Psalm 20:1,4,5b-8

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 18; Psalm 4, 65, 68

By the time we get to 1 Kings 18, Israel has experienced three years of drought. The drought has now caused famine, as was the situation with the widow we read about yesterday. The people of Israel were running out of food and at a point where they were ready for some relief from someone. This was part of their problem. They were not just looking for relief from God; they were looking to other sources than the God who provides, something we are guilty of at times.

LOOKING TO SOURCES OTHER THAN THE GOD WHO PROVIDES

So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. — 1 Kings 18:20-21

The people of Israel were pulled between the things of this world and the One True God, just as we are. Right before their eyes, a battle ensued between the false prophets of Baal and the prophet Elijah. Each side had everything they needed to prepare a sacrifice — everything but the fire, which they were supposed to ask their god to provide. As the prophets of Baal tried hard to produce something from a false god unable to give them what they needed, Elijah mocked them with humor:

“You’ll have to shout louder for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be awakened!” — 1 Kings 18:27

IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP!

There is a battle ensuing before our eyes – a battle between serving a world that daily lies to us saying it has everything we need to find true happiness vs. serving the God who is able to provide all we need. We need to see the ridiculous humor of trusting in the world for what we need. We need to see God respond in a powerful way as the people of Israel did and then respond as they did.

Now remember they were at the end of 3 years of drought. Water was in short supply and used sparingly, yet Elijah asked for water to be poured over his offering and the wood. They used so much water that it ran around the altar and filled the trench. Elijah called upon the God who had provided for him over and over again, praying with confidence that God would once again provide (18:30-37).

Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord – he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” – 1 Kings 18:38-39

Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer…
You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself.
The Lord will answer when I call to him…
Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the Lord. – Psalm 4:1,3,5

TRUST GOD WITH YOUR SACRIFICE

God, I lay my life before you as a sacrifice. God who provides, please send fire down from heaven to burn up my sacrifice along with the wood (the things of this world I use to try and start my own fire), the stones (the heavy burdens), and the dust in my life (the corners of my life that need to be cleansed). Lick up all of the water, or things of this world that I have depended on for sustenance; leave me with only the living water that comes from you. Rain down on me. Show me even a small cloud in my life today as evidence that you are about to end the drought. Amen.

Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!”
So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.
Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.”
The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.”
Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”
Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!”
And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel. — 1 Kings 18:41-46

THE DROUGHT IS OVER!

…When you marched through the dry wasteland, the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain before you, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled, and with a bountiful harvest, O God, you provided for your needy people. – Psalm 68:7b-10

I pray you see the small cloud today — the evidence that the drought is over and God is pleased with your sacrifice. May you know God to be the God who provides generously and may that knowledge cause you to shout and sing for joy!

You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our Savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas. – Psalm 65:5