Waiting by the Brook

And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. 1 Kings 17:6-7 ESV

God told Elijah to go to the brook Cherith, where he would be protected and provided for, but that brook in the desert probably didn’t seem like an ideal location. There also are times in our lives when it seems like we are just sitting by a brook, and God has forgotten us. Just like Elijah, our daily routine seems pointless and strange. But in that quiet place God puts a brook for us to drink from and during those silent chapters of our lives he often sends something or someone as humble as ravens to meet our needs.

Though the Brook Cherith eventually dried up, Elijah learned that God could take care of his needs in surprising ways. Elijah didn’t complain or worry, instead he patiently waited till God told Him what to do next. So, if like Elijah, it feels as if you are on a dead-end street remember that that God often cares for us in unusual ways, through unexpected people for as long as He determines, so we that can learn to trust Him and be ready to move on when the brook dries up!

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A Divine Hurry

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 KJV

Based on today’s reading, we might conclude that God wants us to just relax, slow down and wait. But if we read on, the verse also calls us to action. It tells us we will, “Run and not be weary!” That got me to checking out in the New Testament about how Jesus repeatedly sprang into action. Here is just one example of the many that I found.

And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.”  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:3

Jesus showed us that, though He was not in a hurry, it didn’t mean that He never moved quickly. In fact, when Jesus hurried into action, because of His great love. That kind of hurry will motivate us to rush to the side a friend in a car accident, grab our wife’s hand and pray for God to ease her pain after surgery or give without a second thought to a couple whose house has just burned down. Jesus hurried to the cross to give His life for us all. So why not hurry to Him and ask what He has for us to do for someone else today?

Quiet Praise for Sunday

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:5 NIV

That God alone is my strength and the one whom I long to spend eternity with is what carries me through hard times and failures. That God alone began His work in me is my hope and confidence because He alone will complete it as He has promised and He alone will receive all the glory and praise. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, discouraged or even at times totally defeated, take a moment and allow the truth of today’s verse sink deep into your hearts. Then with that verse in mind, I hope you will be blessed as you  listen to this new release from Keith and Kristyn Getty, Kirk Whalum, Jordan Kauflin and Matt Merker.