Good morning everyone and praise the Lord for another day and another chance to get things set in the right direction. The question now becomes, do you know the direction you want to go?
Today’s Prayer
Father, I come to You today on behalf of fallen brothers and sister in Christ–and on behalf of all the people grieving over the tragedy that took place yesterday in Connecticut who need Your touch. I lift them up to You. Please work through their broken spirits to raise up godly people. Let them never forget their frailness and human weaknesses, but help them always remember what You have done to carry them through the valley and bring them out of the pit. Ignite that smoldering spark and rekindle their spiritual life that they will be restored and stronger than ever. I pray that their lives will be testimonies of Your grace, mercy, and power to heal and to turn ashes into beauty. I pray for their families and friends, that You will minister to them also. Please restore relationships, mend hearts, and give strength to press on and move up for Your glory and their good. Thank You for Your willingness to forgive and to love unconditionally. Thank You for Jesus, who provided a way that we might be in Your presence and have fellowship with You. Now, may the fellowship of the saints be unbroken and the glory of the Lord abound. In Jesus’ name I pray and give thanks, Amen.
Let’s eat.
The Response of Faith
…”Everything is all right”…. – 2 Kings 4:26
In my travel through the old testament I came to rest for a bit in Second Kings. I learn and grow a little more each time I call myself skimming through. The prophet Elisha grabbed me as I took this journey. The bible tells us that Elisha often would travel through the town of Shunem, and in that town was a well-to-do couple who extended hospitality to him. At first, they simply offered Elisha a meal when he came through town. Then, seeing that Elisha needed a place to stay and study, they built a room for him above their house so that each time he came through town, he had a place to stay. Now I’m going to ask a question here that I want you all to answer to your selves, have you ever gone out of your way to be a blessing to anyone as this couple did?
He was so appreciative of their kindness that one day he asked the wife what he could do for her. His servant Gehazi later informed Elisha that the woman was barren and her husband was old. So God gave him a word to speak to her, “‘About this time next year,’ Elisha said, ‘you will hold a son in your arms’ “ (2 Kings 4:16). A year later the son arrived. I now ask another question, do you understand that God will bless those who are a blessing to His people?
One day the father was working in the field, and the son became ill and died. The woman ran to meet Elisha to inform him. When Elisha asked what was wrong, she did not panic and react in fear. Her response to Elisha seemed almost unnatural. “Everything is all right,” she said. Elisha went to the boy and raised him from the dead. It was a glorious miracle. (See Second Kings 4).
Faith looks at situations through God’s eyes, not the eyes of our limited understanding. This woman did not panic, because she knew something more than the current circumstance. Faith does not panic, but realizes that what looks like devastating circumstances may be God’s plan to bring glory to Himself by demonstrating His power.
When Jesus appeared on the water to the disciples in the middle of the night, they exclaimed, “It’s a ghost!” (see Matthew 14:26). First appearances can bring great fear upon us even to the point of paralyzing us, but when we stop and realize that God has our back in every situation, a calm will come over you. Find the Lord in your circumstance today. Exercise your faith today and trust Him for His outcome in the situation.
Quote of the Day
God must be sought and seen in His providences; it is not our actions in themselves considered which please Him, but the spirit in which they are done, more especially the constant ready obedience to every discovery of His will, even in the minutest things, and with such a suppleness and flexibility of mind as not to adhere to anything, but to turn and move in any direction where He shall call.
Madame Jeanne Guyon
WITH HOPE AND FAITH
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY