The Daily Word: Friday, June 18th, 2021
1 Kings 19:1-21
Acts 12:1-23
Psalm 136:1-26
Proverbs 17:14-15
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” – 1 Kings 19:18
Elijah was in a bad place. He had just achieved a major victory over the wicked king Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. God’s word had come to pass! God had been glorified. But then Elijah’s emotions got the best of him:
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” – 1 Kings 19:4
Here was the great prophet Elijah who had just called down fire from Heaven! Yet he was so discouraged and depressed that he prayed he would die. And verse 10 tells us why:
“I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” – 1 Kings 19:10
Elijah thought he was the only person left who cared about God. His chief compliant was that he was totally alone! But God challenged his faulty thinking. God reminded him that he was not alone! God had reserved “seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal” (v 18). And once he knew he was not alone, Elijah was filled with the strength and courage to keep moving forward.
You are not alone. People care about you! God will not leave you stranded. The enemy loves to come and lie to you with self-ruminations like these: You are all alone. Nobody cares about you; they only care about themselves. You work so hard and nobody appreciates it! But those are lies from the pit of hell! You are not alone. And if you ask Him to, God will surround you with powerful and genuine community, so that you have strength to press forward into His destiny and purpose for your life.
Prayer:
Lord, I realize that I am not alone. Thank You for surrounding me with people who love and support me! I will not allow the enemy to lie to me and tell me I am alone. I am loved, and You will never leave me nor forsake me, in Jesus’ name!
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.