by Shirley Mitchell
“ ‘Give me your son,’ Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the LORD, ‘O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?’ Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, ‘O LORD my God, let this boy’s life return to him!’ ”
1 Kings 17:19-21
During the time of drought in Israel prophesied by Elijah as judgment for turning to other gods, God led him to stay with the widow at Zarephath. God miraculously provided for this widow and her son through the prophet Elijah. Even though they had this continuous provision from God, some time later tragedy struck. Her son became ill. He grew worse and worse until he stopped breathing. The widow brought the limp body of her precious son to Elijah. In her despair and grief, she said, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”
Feeling her sorrow, Elijah took the body from her arms and carried him upstairs to his bedroom. There he cried out to God and asked Him something that no one else ever had. Scripture had not recorded anyone rising from the dead at this time…Not one person. Jesus had not stopped the funeral of the widow’s son and turned their mourners’ wailing into praising and leaping. Jesus had not entered Jarius’ daughter’s room and said “My child, get up!” Jesus had not spoken to Lazarus to come out of the grave even in his grave clothes. Elisha, who also raised people from the dead, would come after Elijah. This had never been done before. There was no precedent.
Elijah could not say, “Do it like You did it before.” He could not say, “Do it like You did it for Your Son Jesus.” Elijah could not offer suggestions to God based on his past activity nor could he submit that he was worthy enough like other prophets to have walked as closely to God as humanly possible.
This was “out of the box” thinking. This was a prayer that did not limit the power of God. This prayer believed that the arm of God was able to reach anywhere. This prayer was backed by faith that nothing was too hard for God (Genesis 18:14).
We live in a time where God’s Holy Bible with two Testaments is completed, but the activity of God in our world today continues. God continues to manifest Himself in new ways that awe us. He loves an invitation to display His creative power. He responds to people who believe that He is mighty and that He can surpass the laws of the world that He created. God’s Son Jesus emphasized this to us by saying, “Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:23). At another time, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
It seems that miracles are more prevalent in countries that don’t have their own military might, advanced medical care, safety regulations, and higher education facilities. Many of us in this country have put our trust in these protections and powers. Isn’t it interesting that someone with less education than we have can sometimes know God’s power more than we do? All four of these are blessings, but blessings can turn to curses if God diminishes in our eyes.
Gosh, I don’t ever want to go there. I want to live a life where God continues to stretch my mind about who He is. I want to live every day searching for more revelation of God. I want more glimpses of God on His throne and peeks into heaven. I want to know God as much as possible, and I want to see the impossible because I want HIM! If you feel like I do, then let’s keep pressing on together and giving God invitations to show His might and power!
Pray with me: Oh, Lord, we desire to have the faith of Elijah. Just because something has not been done before doesn’t mean that You can’t do it or that You won’t do it. It is not that we seek You only for the sake of entertainment or thirst for power. We seek to live life out on the edge with You. We desire to live an “everything is possible” life with You. It’s in the Name above all names that we pray, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name. Amen.
Copyright ©2011 Christ Compels Ministry
“ ‘Give me your son,’ Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the LORD, ‘O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?’ Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, ‘O LORD my God, let this boy’s life return to him!’ ”
1 Kings 17:19-21
During the time of drought in Israel prophesied by Elijah as judgment for turning to other gods, God led him to stay with the widow at Zarephath. God miraculously provided for this widow and her son through the prophet Elijah. Even though they had this continuous provision from God, some time later tragedy struck. Her son became ill. He grew worse and worse until he stopped breathing. The widow brought the limp body of her precious son to Elijah. In her despair and grief, she said, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”
Feeling her sorrow, Elijah took the body from her arms and carried him upstairs to his bedroom. There he cried out to God and asked Him something that no one else ever had. Scripture had not recorded anyone rising from the dead at this time…Not one person. Jesus had not stopped the funeral of the widow’s son and turned their mourners’ wailing into praising and leaping. Jesus had not entered Jarius’ daughter’s room and said “My child, get up!” Jesus had not spoken to Lazarus to come out of the grave even in his grave clothes. Elisha, who also raised people from the dead, would come after Elijah. This had never been done before. There was no precedent.
Elijah could not say, “Do it like You did it before.” He could not say, “Do it like You did it for Your Son Jesus.” Elijah could not offer suggestions to God based on his past activity nor could he submit that he was worthy enough like other prophets to have walked as closely to God as humanly possible.
This was “out of the box” thinking. This was a prayer that did not limit the power of God. This prayer believed that the arm of God was able to reach anywhere. This prayer was backed by faith that nothing was too hard for God (Genesis 18:14).
We live in a time where God’s Holy Bible with two Testaments is completed, but the activity of God in our world today continues. God continues to manifest Himself in new ways that awe us. He loves an invitation to display His creative power. He responds to people who believe that He is mighty and that He can surpass the laws of the world that He created. God’s Son Jesus emphasized this to us by saying, “Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:23). At another time, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
It seems that miracles are more prevalent in countries that don’t have their own military might, advanced medical care, safety regulations, and higher education facilities. Many of us in this country have put our trust in these protections and powers. Isn’t it interesting that someone with less education than we have can sometimes know God’s power more than we do? All four of these are blessings, but blessings can turn to curses if God diminishes in our eyes.
Gosh, I don’t ever want to go there. I want to live a life where God continues to stretch my mind about who He is. I want to live every day searching for more revelation of God. I want more glimpses of God on His throne and peeks into heaven. I want to know God as much as possible, and I want to see the impossible because I want HIM! If you feel like I do, then let’s keep pressing on together and giving God invitations to show His might and power!
Pray with me: Oh, Lord, we desire to have the faith of Elijah. Just because something has not been done before doesn’t mean that You can’t do it or that You won’t do it. It is not that we seek You only for the sake of entertainment or thirst for power. We seek to live life out on the edge with You. We desire to live an “everything is possible” life with You. It’s in the Name above all names that we pray, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name. Amen.
Copyright ©2011 Christ Compels Ministry
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