And he stretched himself out over the child three times
and cried out to the LORD,
"O LORD my God, please let this child's life return to him."
(I Kings 17:21, NLT).
We had snow and ice yesterday, providing for some entertaining driving in our neck of the woods. I followed a tow truck along the highway, which seemed to be a safe place. A few miles into my drive, a car on the other side of the highway began to slip and slide, went across the divider, in front of the tow truck, and on to the side of the road. Creating a sense of calmness, the tow truck driver put his lights on and traffic stopped. He went to work . . . helped to position the car on the road . . . turned off his lights . . . and led the way for traffic to move forward . . . BUT . . . the thing is . . . the car was headed back in the opposite direction from where it came. I assume the driver of the car was grateful that the driving fiasco did not lead to injury, harm, or death and was happy to be turned around on the road.
When you get down to it . . . we often don't understand that we need to turn around and go in a different direction until we experience crisis . . . and when we are turned around from the hopelessness and despair of crises. . . we experience the joy of a new beginning on the journey.
The prophet, Elijah, faced the death of the widow's son. Certainly, the Spirit of God had given Elijah the wisdom and clarity in the midst of the horrific crisis to see that there was more life for the young boy to experience. He cried out to God, asking that the boy would be turned away from death. The young boy's journey of life took a new turn when Elijah connected with God in prayer.
Prayer turns us around from the circumstances that lead us away from life through the presence, power, and peace of God. Too often, prayer becomes duty or a check off list rather than a connection with God that defines the joy of a personal relationship with Him. Prayer is essential to experience the joy of living.
Martin Luther said, "I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.”
Pray.
Receive the joy of your journey through your relationship with God.
Turn around from the circumstances that separate you from the presence, power, and peace of God.
Receive joy.
Consciously and intentionally live this day with joy.
Think joy.
Speak joy.
Respond to life with joy.
Joy!
Learning with to you to travel this journey with great joy!
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)
