Daily Treasure

“Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance…”  (1 Samuel 25:3a).

Our focus for the month of November will be on the jewel, “ruby.”  You notice I didn’t capitalize the word.  In times past, we met the Proverbs 31 woman and found her to be more priceless than rubies.  We will be mining some “rubies” this month.  The first one we will unearth is the center of our November study.  Her name is Abigail. She shines for us today as an example of  integrity, wisdom, courage and faithfulness.

Our study writer tells us Abigail’s name means “father of joy.” She is described in today’s verse as “a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance…”   Though one of the “forgotten women of the Bible”, she will be remembered as one God used to fulfill His purpose.  May we desire to live our lives in the same manner.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for elected officials in your state. Ask God for guidance as you vote in local elections.

“So Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover in the wilderness of Sinai as twilight fell on the appointed day.  And they celebrated there, just as the Lord had commanded Moses”  (Numbers 9:4-5 NLT).

A party in the desert?  God actually wanted them to be festive while wandering?  What was He thinking?

I know.

He knew the outcome.  He knew about the milk and honey in the new land.  He was well aware of the great things that would happen in the new land.

The same is true for us.

He doesn’t want us to wait to sing until the sun’s shining.

He doesn’t want us to postpone praise until we’re holding the blessings in our hands.

He doesn’t want us to bide our time whimpering and wailing over the things we’ve not yet gotten.

He doesn’t want us to shelve the opportunities He’ll provide us to testify to His greatness, even before the prayers are answered.

Don’t wait to celebrate His goodness.  Do not defer the praise owed Him for a brighter day, a more preferred outcome or when your hands are full of His blessings.

Praise Him today.  Yes, even in the wilderness.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray against the powers of darkness in your community today.

“Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10).

I’ll be up front here, I never knew it was my job to find out what made the Lord happy. I guess I’ve always thought He would lead me to it, urge me to begin it and enable me to accomplish it. I expected He would assign people to litter my path—pastors, deacons, godly mentors—to point me in the right direction.  I’m pretty sure our guidebook has all the instructions.

But for me to look for it? For me to search out the assignment? For me to know, without a doubt, my charge?  For me to seek a task, or two or three, that will tickle my Father pink?

He trusts me that much? He believes in me that fully? He knows I can do it?

Oh, yes. And the same is true for you.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for churches hosting Trunk or Treats or similar fall festivals. Pray for the salvation of children who will attend.

“And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of  God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth”  (1 Kings 17:24).

To say there was rejoicing at the home of the widow of Zarephath is an understatement.  The widow previously had reservations about Elijah.  Perhaps the widow uttered the words of our verse as a way of telling Elijah she was sorry for doubting him. Through this miracle, she received assurance that God would always be there, no matter what she faced.  Elijah learned of power in prayer when men remain obedient to the will of God.

Dear friend, if you are a single or a widowed mother, God is there to provide you with whatever you need to keep pressing on for Him.  Just like the widow of Zarephath, you can have the ability to shine like a sparkling “solitaire.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for households struggling to stretch dollars at the end of the month. Could you share a meal or supply a need?

“And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See thy son liveth” (1 Kings 17:22-23).

In love and mercy, God heard Elijah’s prayer.  Elijah did as God instructed and revived the child.  With a joyful heart, he picked up the child and carried him to his mother.  I can envision a mother who was now crying with tears of great joy. What rejoicing there was in that home that day.  Praise God!  Her son was alive!

Trust God for a miracle when all hope seems gone.  As you begin to pray, the answer will be on the way.  Never underestimate what an awesome God can do.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Thank God for miracles of healing within your church family.

“And he said unto her, Give me thy son, And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.  And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son.  And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again” (1 Kings 17:19-21).

Though it was difficult for the widow to relinquish her child from her bosom, she sadly gave him to Elijah.  He took the widow’s son to his room and placed him on his bed.  Then Elijah poured out his heart in fervent prayer. He tried to reason with God and make intercession for the widow woman to whom God had sent him.  He felt so helpless and asked God for another miracle. Tomorrow we find that Elijah received an answer to his prayers.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray God’s comfort and companionship for missionary widows.

“And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God?  art thou come unto me to call my sin  to remembrance, and to slay my son?”  (1 Kings 17:18).

The widow’s son was dead.  In her grief she lashed out at Elijah.  It wasn’t because it was his fault.  He was just there.  In the heat of the moment, she felt such heartache and  pain.  She questioned why Elijah had even come her way.  It had to hurt the prophet to see her in such agony.  He was only guilty of trusting God and following His direction.  He didn’t see this tragedy coming.

Bad things do happen to good people. Often times they will lash out at family or friends because they don’t understand why this is happening to them. When the trial is past, they are most likely to still love and forgive.  When the going gets tough, the best thing to do is turn to God.  That’s exactly what Elijah does, as we learn in tomorrow’s devotion. God may lead you into trials, but, He will never leave you there.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Project Help Widows in Central Asia and for the widow who will be helped this month.