For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!" (I Kings 17: 14, NLT)
I had a conversation with an individual that thought we had conversed earlier; however, I knew we had not talked before. It did not matter . . . the individual attempted to convince me that we had had a previous conversation. . . I almost began to doubt myself until the "light bulb" went on for my new friend . . . and he realized a mistake had been made. The thing is . . . I had almost believed that we had talked . . . YIKES!
Isaiah, the prophet, told the widow that God said there would always be plenty. Most people might have thought that this guy was insane . . . the land was so dry that dust rose with the slightest movement . . . permeating the air they breathed . . . giving them a continual taste of the dust . . . children went to sleep hungry and thirsty while parents wondered how long they had to live. Famine and drought controlled the lives of the people, taking precedent over every thought and discussion.
Could the widow believe that she had heard the true Word of God? Could she believe God would stretch her non-existent resources to sustain her son and herself? How do people believe they have heard the Word of God?
Belief requires surrendering fear and entering into the peace that God is present . . . in control . . . is at work for our good. When it was reported that the daughter of the leader of the synagogue had died, Jesus gave specific directions:
"Do not fear, only believe."(Mark 5:36b, NRS)
Believe the Word of God.
Surrender fear.
Enter into the peace of God's presence . . . control . . . and work.
Believe God speaks to your need.
Learning with to believe the Word of God,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)
