So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.
1 Kings 19:2-3a (NIV)
LORD God, isn’t this how I respond to the things that come at me from the world and the enemy? After great spiritual highs where You demonstrate that You are with me and working in me – Elijah saw You stop the rain for YEARS and send down fire from Heaven – something from the world comes my way and threatens me, and I immediately forget what You have just done and focus all my attention on what I am experiencing in the moment! And like Elijah I am afraid and start to panic. It is almost like You did not just do what You did and demonstrate Who You are to me. My, how short sighted and short of memory I am!
But You did. And You are God alone.
So today, I come to You, recognizing my tendency to be a “scaredy cat” or “absent-minded professor,” being moved by shifts in the spiritual atmosphere around me. It is my prayer that as I continue to rehearse in my mind Who You are, reminding myself of the great and wonderful things You have done in my immediate past, that You would cause Your peace to overwhelm my worry, Your presence to envelop my loneliness, and Your strength to overshadow my weakness. I have witnessed first hand Your power in my life. Yet, when troubles come that are beyond my ability to overcome, I find that I panic. Yet, I know that You allow them to come in order that You might demonstrate to me and those around me that You are greater. LORD, I believe. Help me in my unbelief!
So this week, I shall purpose to focus my attention on You. Whatever comes my way, I will do my best to keep my eyes on You, waiting for Your sure deliverance. I believe YOUR report! Even as You refreshed Elijah when he felt like giving up, refresh me, LORD. Even as You strengthened him on his journey, give me strength. And just like You sent a word of encouragement to him, do the same for me. Don’t allow me to wallow in my emotions and disbelief. Instead fill in the blanks that my human mind can’t understand. Show me Your awesome plan. And let Your glory be manifested through my circumstances this day and every day in Jesus’ Name. Amen.