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War-Torn Times

Kathy—Days of Elijah were war-torn times with fresh battles continually breaking out. Several days into the battle against lack and starvation, another battle broke out in the widow’s life.  Her son got sick and kept getting worse until finally he died (1K.17:17).  The woman shouted at Elijah, “What have I done to you? I thought you were God’s prophet. Did you come here to cause the death of my son as a reminder that I’ve sinned against God?”  War has a way of bringing the struggles of a warrior’s heart to the surface.  Not only was she battling for survival and the life of her son, an old enemy showed up too.  Condemnation reared its ugly head and pushed the war-torn woman to the edge of hopelessness, anguish and anger that had her shouting at the prophet.  Hopelessness can smother the fight in us and usually leads to a pit of self-examination and despair.  The widow went there and decided that losing her son was due to her past sins.  That thinking would have had her throwing up her hands and quitting . . . BUT GOD.

Treasure of Good Common Sense

As the people of God assemble today may the powerful Word and purposes of God fill their minds with heavenly wisdom and good common sense to face and advance beyond the base reasoning of this present age. May they be confident in making Bible-based decisions, taking a stand in Yahweh’s truth and righteousness and enjoy the fruit of the Tree of Life. Prov.2:6-7, NLT—“For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity”.

Stay Sharp

For those who look to the Lord, He will help us to stay sharp and enable us to make decisions and to notice things that an entity or a company tries to slip past us, and to notice extra charges that we didn’t bargain for in the beginning and to hear everything the business person is saying on the phone as they quickly go over the list of costs and items. We will not be intimidated into giving in when pressured. We will see the ol’ “switch-and-bait” coming before it takes its toll. We will no longer just settle for an item or cost we are not agreeable to just so we can get it all over with.

What Have you Been Entertaining?

Melissa—Recently I was driving and praying, minding my own business, when all of a sudden I clearly hear, “You have been entertaining things that have shaped your life and belief system.” Well, I instantly knew this was big and the Holy Spirit had just put His finger on something that has been a big hindrance in my life.  When I got home I looked up the definition of ‘entertain’ and here’s what it says: “to show hospitality to, to hold in the mind; harbor; cherish, to receive and take into consideration, to have as a guest.”  I knew what entertain meant but this was a whole new perspective.  He was saying, “You have shown hospitality to things that have shaped your life.” “You have harbored things that have shaped your belief system.” “You have cherished things that have shaped who you are.” He wasn’t talking about the good things.  For the Holy Spirit to make that clear in this moment, especially when I have been asking Him to give me insight and understanding, I knew He was revealing hidden things that needed to be dealt with.

Shortages and Scarce Supply

Kathy—Days of Elijah were times of shortages and scarce supply.  The God-backed stand we take must pivot on obedience to God’s will and directions. After Elijah confronted the king, the Lord told him to leave and go hide near Cherith Creek.  He was to drink water from the creek, and eat the food God told the ravens to bring him. Elijah obeyed the LORD and ravens brought him bread and meat twice a day.  He drank water from the creek, but after a while, it dried up because there was no rain.  The drought lasted over three years and everyone was affected.  The shortages even reached Elijah, but so did God’s detailed plans and supernatural provisions. After the airmail deliveries stopped, the Lord told Elijah to go to Zarephath where a widow would give him food.  At first the widow adamantly told him she couldn’t feed him because she was also in scarcity and lack. In fact, she was planning her last meal before dying, but there was Divine connection between Elijah’s lack and the widow’s shortage of supplies. That connection not only brought provision for both of them, it also revealed a supernatural resource for both of them. We too shall come through days of Elijah having experienced the miraculous of our God and His planned connections.

Bullies be Shut Down

May the Lord step in and save our children from bullies in this school year, whether on campus or off campus. May the bullies be shut down and learn that they cannot abuse others.  “My God, free me from the grip of Wicked, from the clutch of Bad and Bully. You keep me going when times are tough— my bedrock, God, since my childhood.” (Ps.71:4-5, Msg) 

Confronting Powers That Be

Rain on PuddleKathy—Days of Elijah were times of confronting governmental powers that be.  Elijah showed up in 1 Kings 17 to confront the puppet king of Israel with a proclamation:  “I’m a servant of the living LORD, the God of Israel. And I swear in his name that it won’t rain until I say so.  There won’t even be any dew on the ground.”  Beyond the forecast of a drought, it had to unnerve King Ahab that a man would get in his face and tell him, “I have the say so over your domain and over the weather warfare of your storm god, because I represent the higher government of God Almighty.”  In these days of Elijah, whether we are dealing with dark forces at work against our home or community or region or nation or other realms, we can take a stand when we are convinced and confident that Almighty God is backing us.  

Confronting Powers That Be

Kathy–Days of Elijah were times of confronting governmental powers that be.  Elijah showed up in 1 Kings 17 to confront the puppet king of Israel with a proclamation:  “I’m a servant of the living LORD, the God of Israel. And I swear in his name that it won’t rain until I say so.  There won’t even be any dew on the ground.”  Beyond the forecast of a drought, it had to unnerve King Ahab that a man would get in his face and tell him, “I have the say so over your domain and over the weather warfare of your storm god, because I represent the higher government of God Almighty.”  In these days of Elijah, whether we are dealing with dark forces at work against our home or community or region or nation or other realms, we can take a stand when we are convinced and confident that Almighty God is backing us.  

God is Working on Your Future

As the people of God assemble today may they look to Him Who has plans and a future for each of them. May they clearly see and understand that just because they may have a history of defeat and never-ending need, that the future Jehovah God is working on is one of hope and security in Him. Rom.15:4—“Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures.”  Heb.10:23—“Let’s hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, because the one who made the promises is reliable.”