Sunday 20 Oct 2019

October 20: 1 Kings 19:11-13

Key Verse: 1 Kings 19:12
After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Devotion:
Far too often we expect God to perform miracles according to our expectations – which can be a bit over the top if we are honest. He is not here to make us look good or here to allow us to brag the most about Him. He is here to show people how much He loves them and how much He is willing to do for them. That may sound a bit odd, but God knows what is needed and will supply according to His wishes…

Elijah was able to recognise when God was there, not because of the mad rushing wind or earthquakes, but because of the gentle whisper. If we are waiting for the mad winds or crushing earthquakes, we may well be disappointed! God wants a personal relationship with you, one where He can separate you from the rest of the world and whisper messages to you.

Elijah was fed up with the Israelites because of their rejection of the covenant and he allowed his personal feeling to cloud his judgement. That is not how God works. God wants to show His grace and mercy to all people according to His wishes. If we are not going to stop and listen to His whispers whilst the world around us seems to be falling apart, then we may not hear His real instructions for us.

When you begin to feel like you are the last one working for God and think everyone around you has broken down; stop and listen for new instructions. It may be that God wants you to stop rushing around and be calm in front of the people who need that calmness in their lives – if they don’t have it, they may not hear the whispers of God trying to show them what is most important in their lives.

Points to Ponder:
Do you kick off when people around you do something wrong?

When was the last time you did something wrong?