Tag: Elijah

He Cried Out

“He Cried Out” By Kirk Hunt

And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.   Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?”

1 Kings 17:19-20 NKJV
Please read 1 Kings 17:14-21

 

She confronted him with the boy’s cold, limp body.  Elijah took the boy’s body from his mother and went to the presence of God.  Alone with all-powerful Jehovah, Elijah used the only tool available to him:  He cried out.

 

Elijah did not understand any more than the widow.  He had no more power over the situation than the grieving mother.  All he could do is ask God for His intervention.  And he did so with force and abandon.

 

The facts are what they are, even to God’s people.  No amount of wishful thinking or force of personality will change the laws of nature.  No matter the circumstances, we can appeal to our heavenly Father.

 

God always answers prayer.  He loves us enough to say “no” when we ask for the wrong things.  He loves us enough to say “wait” when the circumstances are difficult to us.  He loves us enough to comfort us through whatever we are experiencing.

 

His power is absolute.  His will is sovereign.  His love for you is constant and unending.  Cry out to Him, wherever you are.

 

Think:        I can appeal to God in every circumstance.

 

Pray:           “Lord, I cry out to you because You have the power.”

 

Copyright © April 2017, Kirk Hunt

 

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press.  You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Too Big For You

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“Too Big For You” by Kirk Hunt

And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

1 Kings 19:7-8 KJV

God has plans for you. Surprising, extraordinary designs to benefit others through your life. Since God is a big God, His plans for you are large and out-sized.

God’s great and glorious plans are, in fact, too big for you. In a single day, the nation of Israel had returned to the true worship of God at Mt. Carmel. In the days following the “juniper tree incident,” Elijah would appoint kings and shape the future of Israel and other nations.

All of it, even for a prophet of Elijah’s stature, too much for a single man. Elijah needed the supernatural sustenance and support of God, to do the work of God. Faithfully, God provided just what Elijah needed to continue in his appointed tasks.

God’s plans are too big for you. With the plans, He has also provided the strength you need to see them through. Wake up and take in the strength that God has provided for you. You have a great journey ahead.

Think: God is my source and supply in every task.

Pray: “Lord, I choose to trust Your plans and provision.”

Copyright © August 2009, Kirk Hunt

At The End Of Endurance

“At The End Of Endurance” by Kirk Hunt

And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. (1 Kings 19:5-6 KJV)

1 Kings 19:5-6 KJV

Elijah’s discouragement and grief sapped his strength. Exhausted, the prophet slept hard, worn out from the events of the week. Mere humans have limits. “Yes, you.”

Sleep is sleep, regardless of it’s source. In this moment, for this man, simple rest isn’t enough. God, via an angel, stepped in to make up the difference.

God’s Holy Spirit extends us and empowers us. That doesn’t mean you can, or should, skip the fundamentals of good nutrition and adequate rest. Elijah is an object lesson in the limits of men and women.

The angel fed Elijah then let him sleep. Simple bread and clean drinking water served as the first part of restoring the great prophet. Maybe a decent meal and a good night’s sleep is what you need.

God is our source. We cannot do it on our own. If you find yourself worn out and beat down, maybe it’s time to let God provide you the resources you need to continue.

Think: No matter what is happening, God is my source.

Pray: “Lord, I choose to trust You, even at the end of my endurance.”

Copyright © July 2009, Kirk Hunt

At The End Of A Rope

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“At The End Of A Rope” by Kirk Hunt

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

1 Kings 19:4 KJV

Things can change in 72 hours. Fire fell from heaven in response to Elijah’s prayer. The cult of Baal leadership had been destroyed in single day. Surely, the threat of a single woman, queen or not, couldn’t matter to a prophet like Elijah.

3 days earlier, Elijah had been unstoppable. Now he huddled, pitifully under a nameless tree. It’s as if the triumph at Mt. Carmel had not happened.

To be sure, Jezebel’s threat had credibility. If anyone could arrange Elijah’s assassination, she could. Seemingly alone against a nation, Elijah looked within and found the end of his rope.

You and I know that Elijah should have looked to God. Looking up, the prophet would have seen a legion of angels, each with an endless coil of rope. Elijah could have met Jezebel’s threat with confidence and security.

It’s easy to point out Elijah’s error. How about you? Have you ever panicked instead of trusting God? “Yeah. Me too.”

At the end of your rope is when you reach for God’s lifeline. He, alone, has all of the solutions. God alone is without limit and without failure.

Think: No matter what happens, God is, and will be, there for me..

Pray: “Lord, I choose to trust You, even at the end of my rope.”

Copyright © July 2009, Kirk Hunt