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Monday, August 30, 2010

Help I'm all alone


When I get down, I am always reminded of the account given to us in 1Kings 19...when our great hero of the faith, Elijah, reacts a bit differently than we might think to a threat thrown at him. You would really need to reacap chapters 17 and 18 to grasp the whole picture, but in the midst of chapter 19 we see a good example of God's patience with his people and a real, even though fragile at this moment, faith expressed by Elijah. Some of the truth I am reminded of in this passage is to:


Rest in the fact God is near: 19:4-7 Elijah is running, but God has not left him. God is patient with him and comforts him. Elijah is strengthened, prepared and then is abel to stand again.


Move Forward (in His strength not ours): Verse 8 Elijah begins to walk. God provided the strength Elijah needed. The bread and water...like the Word and Spirit strentghening us for the good work already set before us. We move in obedience. It might be slow, nervous or tear-filled, but we move in obedience and God is faithful to strengthen.


Know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE: Verses 11-18 give Elijah assurance that God is with him, but not only that...HE, by his soverign power has shown Elijah that really is not alone. We can rest in the fact that God is near and yet he still provides us with others around us to comfort us and encourage us. He knows this is something we need.


Continue the work He has set before you: Verse 19 simply begins with "and he departed from there"...God gives the strength, assurance of covenant relationship and then sends us back to do what we have been created for.


We will be attacked from time to time and we are prone to crumble. Seeing God's faithfulness and patience from this passage alone gives strength to weary hearts that we might stand and move again out of obedience, for His glory.

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