Day: March 22, 2024

Gracious God Rescues His People


Time is running out for the nation of
Israel. Though God’s patience with
His wayward people is enormous,
His hand of judgment is poised
and will not be stayed much longer.
Following the death of Elisha,
Israel’s downward spiral accelerates.
Inspite of the able rule of Jeroboam
II, the kings who succeed him
lead the people ever deeper into
idolatry and immorality. Not one
of the last nine monarchs looks to
God for direction in earthly affairs.

Lord, You are the God who Rescues:
Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became
king over Israel in Samaria and
reigned 17 years. And he did evil
in the sight of the Lord, and followed
the sins of Jeroboam… who had
made Israel sin… Then the anger of
the Lord was aroused against Israel
and He delivered them into the hand
of Hazael king of Syria (2Kgs 13:1-3)
Jehoahaz prayed for the Lord’s
help & the Lord heard his prayer.
The Lord could see how terribly
the king of Aram was oppressing
Israel. So the Lord raised up a
deliverer to rescue the Israelites
from the tyranny of the Syrians.
Then Israel lived in safety again
as they had in former days (v4-5).

Lord, we noted even though
Jehoahaz had lived an evil life
as a king, when he sought the
Lord’s help, You God intervened.
You raised up a deliverer and
rescued the Israelites from tyranny
and they lived in safety and peace.
Grateful and relieved that if You
God will help an evil king when
he called on You, how much more
will You hear and respond to the
prayers of Your children. Amen.

Lord, I thank You that Your ear
is open to the cry of Your children
and that You will act on our behalf.
With that knowledge, we should
not hesitate to cry out to You for
help and intervention in our lives.
What a wonderful Father You are
as a God who comes to our rescue.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, thank You for listening to
our prayers and answering not
according to our character but
according to Your goodness.
Help us not let anything discourage
us from coming to You in prayer,
thinking we dont deserve blessing.
Remind us You are a good God;
and we come entirely because You
are full of grace and mercy. Amen.

Mighty God Performs Miracles

Elisha, the great miracle worker
of God, performs no fewer
than eight miracles: providing
an “oil well” for a destitute,
giving new life for a dead boy,
making poisoned stew harmless,
multiplying bread for hungry crowd,
curing a leprous army captain,
making an ax head defy gravity,
reading mind of an enemy king,
enabling servant to see angels of
God & closing eyes of the enemy.
In each case, God’s power at work
shows His readiness to do the same
in the nation He has called His own.

Lord, we Trust Your Provision:
The widow of one of Elisha’s fellow
prophets came to Elisha and (said):
My husband who served u is dead.
What can I do to help? Elisha asked.
Tell me what you have in the house?
Nothing at all, except a flask of
olive oil, she replied (2 Kings 4:1-2).
And Elisha said: Borrow as
many empty jars as you can…
Pour olive oil from your flask into
the jars. So she Did as she was told.
Her sons brought many jars to her
and she filled one after another.
Soon every container was full to
the brim! And then the olive oil
stopped flowing (2Kings 4:3-6).
Elisha said to her as she stood in
the doorway: Next year at this time
you will be holding a son in yr arms!
She cried: O man of God, don’t
deceive me & get my hopes up like
that. But sure enough the woman
soon became pregnant. And at that
time the following year she had a
son, just as Elisha had said (v15-17).

Lord, thank You for the lessons from
Elisha’s mighty miracles showing
that You God in full control and
You care for those who follow You.
Help us Think from Your Angle and
help us Look with Eyes of Faith.
And even as we listen, follow
and obey Your instructions, show
us Your Power to transform any
situation for U care for us. Amen

Lord, give me a Vision of all
that You want to do in my life.
Help me to think not in terms
of what is humanly achievable
but what is Divinely Achievable.
I avail to whatever You’ve installed
for me & not limit Your blessings by
being not prepared to receive them.
Enlarge my mind to understand how
You can take what I have and expand
it beyond what I can imagine. Amen.

Lord, some of us need the miracle
for our friends and loved ones
to be brought from death to life.
We are helpless to breathe spiritual
life into the lives of those we care;
but You Lord of resurrection can.
Won’t You warm our loved ones
to the wonderful truth of the gospel.
Won’t You Lord speak to them and
call them to awaken to You. Amen.