Arise and eat. —1 Kings 19:5
“The angel in this passage
did not give Elijah a vision, or explain the Scriptures to him, or do anything
remarkable. He simply told Elijah to do a very ordinary thing, that is, to get
up and eat. […] When the Spirit of God comes to us, He does not give us
glorious visions, but He tells us to do the most ordinary things imaginable. […]
But whenever God steps in, His inspiration is to do the most natural, simple
things— things we would never have imagined God was in, but as we do them we
find Him there. […] But we must take the
first step and do it in the inspiration of God. […] As soon as we arise and
obey, we enter a higher plane of life.” CHAMBERS
Discouragement. Have you ever been discouraged? Think about the word … dis – couraged. To not have courage. Life on this planet can be and is very
difficult. We all face many trials and disappointments. Challenges that leave us without the courage
to press on … discouraged. Jesus said (John 16:33) “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In
the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
What had He spoken? Jesus had just told
them that …. V 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you
into all the truth.” V19-20 “I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me,
and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Truly, truly, I say to you,
that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but
your grief will be turned into joy.” V 23-24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, if
you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My
name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”
Jesus was encouraging the
disciples to place their faith in Him and not in what they see or
experience. To not become discouraged by
the events of life, but to be encouraged because they belonged to the Giver of
life. And so it is for us. But we have to be reminded, now and again, of
that truth. If we are not intentionally
seeking the Lord every day, discouragement is waiting like a bird of prey,
ready to swoop down and snatch us up.
Like Elijah, the Spirit will say to us, arise and eat … not natural
food, but spiritual food. The cure for earthly
discouragement is spiritual encouragement.
It is the remedy for what ills us.
(Joshua 1:9) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do
not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go.” ELGIN
“Because He Lives”
“Because He lives, I can face
tomorrow. Because He lives, All fear is gone. Because I know He holds the
future, And life is worth the living just because He lives."
Charley Elgin
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