June 18
1 Kings 19:1-21; Acts 12:1-23; Psalm 136:1-26; Proverbs 17:14-15
Our actions yesterday are no guarantee of how we will respond today. If you remember Elijah standing up against the prophets of Baal in our reading, he boldly trusted in God. Yet, today we see him running out of fear from something which seems far less scary. When he responds in fear, he begins to believe irrational things (that he is the only prophet left alive) and begins to doubt in the dark what he believed in the light.
When life circumstances cause us to doubt things we used to believe, it is important for us to spend time with God; to go back to the truth and ultimately, to the person in whom we believed. This is God's antidote for Elijah's fear: he needs to meet God.
Elijah does not need some platitudes, he needs God. When Elijah is confronted by God, he can once again trust him and move forward in obedience to what God has called him to do.
Peter finds himself in Acts 12 in an equally scary situation. His trial and murder were only one day away, but a continual theme in Peter's imprisonments, though not made explicit here, was worship. Peter continually praised God and looked to him, which 1 and 2 Peter both show us very clearly. We can always praise God, because no matter our circumstances, his love will never leave us as Psalm 136 makes clear.
Father God, thank you that you are always worthy of my worship. Even when life is hard, help me to always praise you. Help me to always remember your power is greater than my fears. Amen.
Question of the day: How do difficult life circumstances affect your pursuit of God?
Our actions yesterday are no guarantee of how we will respond today. If you remember Elijah standing up against the prophets of Baal in our reading, he boldly trusted in God. Yet, today we see him running out of fear from something which seems far less scary. When he responds in fear, he begins to believe irrational things (that he is the only prophet left alive) and begins to doubt in the dark what he believed in the light.
When life circumstances cause us to doubt things we used to believe, it is important for us to spend time with God; to go back to the truth and ultimately, to the person in whom we believed. This is God's antidote for Elijah's fear: he needs to meet God.
Elijah does not need some platitudes, he needs God. When Elijah is confronted by God, he can once again trust him and move forward in obedience to what God has called him to do.
Peter finds himself in Acts 12 in an equally scary situation. His trial and murder were only one day away, but a continual theme in Peter's imprisonments, though not made explicit here, was worship. Peter continually praised God and looked to him, which 1 and 2 Peter both show us very clearly. We can always praise God, because no matter our circumstances, his love will never leave us as Psalm 136 makes clear.
Father God, thank you that you are always worthy of my worship. Even when life is hard, help me to always praise you. Help me to always remember your power is greater than my fears. Amen.
Question of the day: How do difficult life circumstances affect your pursuit of God?
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