by George | Aug 20, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
“Where is the God of Elijah?”
“Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.”
II Kings 2:14
Elijah had just been gloriously taken to heaven in a chariot of fire. Elisha was left to continue the work. Before Elijah left, Elisha asked him for a double portion of his spirit.
Do you think Elisha wondered if God had answered his request? This was a critical moment for him. “Where is the God of Elijah?” Much like the plea of our hearts sometimes… “Where are you God?”
When you consider all that is going on in the world, do you wonder sometimes where God is?
Why has He allowed all this to happen? We don’t understand…
But remember…
God has not changed.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Psalm 90:2
All that Elisha had was the mantle, the garment that Elijah left behind. It was a great reminder to him of Elijah, and the time they spent together.
In a spiritual sense, God covers us with His mantle.
1) He clothes us with salvation and His righteousness.
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness…”
Isaiah 61:10
2) God forgives, covers our sin. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” Psalm 32:1
3) God protects us. “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4. Elisha picked up the mantle. There was silence…
He took a step of faith, as he asked where God was. He took that mantle, and struck the water. The waters parted. A beautiful reminder that God was still there.
Sometimes we have to move forward in faith, praying as we go.
Where is God? He’s right here, covering us in His love, His mantle.
by George | Aug 17, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Lowering the Goal
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14
I started using a step tracker app to keep up with how far I walk.
It also keeps up with how long I walk and the calories. It has some built in daily “goals.”
After a couple of days, the app noticed I hadn’t reached the calorie burning goal. (I guess I wasn’t working hard enough!)
The app asked me if I wanted to “adjust” the goal. Make it more attainable. Lower it.
At first it was tempting. “Maybe I can settle for an easier goal and SOMEDAY reach the higher goal.”
There was also this thought that I was failing. (That’s not a good feeling!)
Ultimately, I decided to keep the goal. I can’t say that I have attained it yet, but I’m going to keep pressing on. A little at a time.
What if Paul had just “settled” for an ordinary life? Just getting by. Lowered his goal.
Where would be our inspiration to keep running the race? Let’s keep our goal just like Paul.
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:10-11
Sure, we are going to stumble sometimes, but if you keep your eyes on Jesus, and commit your life fully to Him, you will reach the goal.
by George | Aug 13, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
“Morning, Noon and Night “
“Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.”
Psalm 55:17
I talked to a man recently who is going through cancer treatments. This is not the first time he has gone through it. The subject of prayer came up, and he told me that he prays so much that God gets tired of hearing from him.
Do you feel that way sometimes? We keep bringing up the same requests to God day after day. It seems that nothing is happening, that God hasn’t answered our prayer yet.
Jesus said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7
I’ve been told that it literally means keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. Not asking once, or a few times.
In the parable of the unjust judge, in Luke 18, Jesus talks about a judge who “neither feared God or man.” A widow kept coming day after day, seeking justice. He kept putting her off. Finally, the judge granted her request because she was wearing him out. Jesus said: “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?”
Luke 18:7
Rest assured that God is going to answer in His own time and way. In the delay, we can say with the Psalmist in Psalm 55:17, “He hears my voice.”
When God answers prayer, it’s better than anything we can think of.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”
Ephesians 3:20
Don’t give up. Keep praying!
