MOST THINGS in life begin with a question.
Can I trust him? Is there any hope?
Will things change? What do I do? What does the future hold?
Where care is not taken, some of these thoughts can steal your brand and become a burden.
The Narrative
DURING the reign of Ahab in Israel, Baal worship became very popular.
And Elijah told the king that there would be no rain in the land for years.
Then, God instructed him to go to Brook Cherith that he had commanded the ravens to feed him there.
But after a while, the brook dried up because there was no rain.
“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
When he got to the entrance of the city, he found a widow gathering sticks.
He said to her, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
And she replied, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” (1 Kings 17:9-12)
The Burden
THE WIDOW wanted to control her priorities. But, instead, she carried the burden to feed her son.
Questions were running in the back room of her mind—and her thoughts were begging for answers.
Is this not what happens to us when we face difficult situations?
“Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me, and afterward make some for yourself and your son.
For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’” (1 Kings 17:13-14)
When what you want rests in the hands of someone else, you have no control.
God’s Will
THE WORD from the Lord was to put her mind at rest.
God will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him. (Is. 26:3)
He shared the truth with her—and the Will of God is the word of God. (Ps. 33:11)
We create capabilities when we pursue the truth. We create possibilities when we walk in obedience.
She had no control over the future, but she could do something about her obedience.
When faced with a decision, do not focus on what you cannot control but what you can control.
God will not take control of the situation until you have accepted his promise and you’re running with it.
We create possibilities when we walk in obedience
The Worship
THE WIDOW left the prophet to prepare some food for him. She walked in obedience—and that’s a life of worship.
Obedience never travels alone. It walks in the company of the Will of God. See an obedient person, and you'll see a willing heart—one with a burden to do the Master's Will.
Imagine how she felt every time she returned to the cruse and found that it refilled itself.
Just like he said, the cruse of oil did not go dry. So they fed on this for another few years.
God is awesome!
BRINGING IT TOGETHER
THE PROMISE convinced her that the prophet was not an ordinary beggar.
If you cannot trust God with your burden, you cannot walk in His Will—and if you cannot do His Will, you cannot live a life of worship.
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