Warriors Arise: May 13, 2021
2 Kings 4:1-8 (NKJV ) A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” 2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”
When you read a story like that you might think, "This is her day!" She started her day seeking help. Many times we miss out on what God wants to do for us because we do not seek help.
Luke 11:9-13 (NKJV) “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
This woman had a reason to ask. She was grieving but needed God to direct her. She had already lost her husband. How would she manage without her sons?
I was brought up to take responsibility for my actions and words. I was instructed to dig a little deeper to find a little more resolve to get me through. I was taught to face adversity instead of cowering under it. However, I also saw my parents who demonstrated positioning themselves before God. My mom's time with God was all throughout the day. It seemed like she had a portal to heaven. My dad's time was at night once everything was done. He would set aside the newspaper, practice plans or test papers and grab his Bible. There was never a doubt in my mind who my parents trusted to give them direction, courage, and hope.
This widow taught her sons to go to God when facing troublesome times. She didn't get bitter because of her circumstances. Maybe God told her to go to Elisha or she was led by Holy Spirit or in desperation she had to seek someone who heard from God.
There are times we do not receive what God wants to do for us because we do not ask. We do not seek out His answer. We do not knock and keep on knocking. This woman sought out Elisha then followed his instructions. This was her day because she sought God's answer, asked for direction, and following His plan.
2 Kings 4:3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.
She did exactly what Elisha told her to do. She and her sons collected so many jars they filled enough to pay their debt as well as money to live on. This is her day because she sought God's answer, boldly petitioned the prophet, and knocked on ALL her neighbor's doors to get their empty vessels. How many of us would do that? Would you just go to a few neighbors? Would you be concerned about "putting them out" or causing an inconvenience? Would you limit who you asked? Or would you boldly go from door to door until you had asked everyone? Would to go and do as you were directed or would you alter it by asking only the people you were familiar with or who you thought would readily help you?
When God tells you to do something, do you do it to the fullest? Does your faithfulness to do it surprise even God? Or does He tell Jesus, "I knew she would ask everyone."
They followed the instructions to shut the door. I have no idea why this was so important. My thoughts are, others who were watching may have started to say discouraging things, "There can't be anymore in there. You have enough to pay your debt. Why do you still pour? Aren't you getting greedy?" The onlookers might discourage her from receiving the full blessing of God. He would fill up the vessels for as long as she would pour or had vessels to pour into. Makes me wonder if there were times I didn't follow God's complete instructions; therefore I positioned myself to miss out on the fullness of how He wanted to His blessings to overflow. She asked to not have her sons taken away and God gave her more than enough. She could now keep her sons and have plenty to provide for them.
Oddly, we can embrace a mindset of receiving only what is needed or necessary. However, this really isn't Biblical. Over and over in the Bible we see God give abundantly, provide extravagantly, and increase the yield to miraculous levels.
When God told David and his men to go and recover all and rout Amalekites did there really have to be so much plunder that David gave 12 wagon loads away?
Why was Solomon the wisest man on the earth? Did he "have to be?" Couldn't he just be the wisest man in Israel?
When Abraham and Isaac planted crops during a famine did God really have to increase their yield by 100 times?
There is no questions of God's involvement when there is an abundance. Yet, so many of us think God wants us to live with scraps.
Father, I ask to be forgiven. I have not sought You when there was a need in my life. I was afraid of the reproach to ask someone for help. I want to be one who sees that You have the answer. I want to come to You and ask. If someone else has the answer, I want to have the courage to go ask them. I want You to direct me. I want to be one who seeks You. I want to position myself before You and know Your leading. I want to be one who knocks and keeps knocking. I want to follow the plan You have given and do exactly what You say to do. I refuse to allow myself to be talked out of the fullness of the blessing You have in my life. I pray for You to open the heavens and pour out not only what I need but what will provide for my children. I want to teach them to seek You, ask You, and knock until it happens. I ask for You to give me courage to do exactly what You say to do so today will be my day in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
Comentarios