Daily Treasure

“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering…. And Abraham called the name of  that place Jehovah-Jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen”  (Genesis 22:8a; 14).

Last week’s devotions concerned God’s miracle provision for the widow of Zarephath and Elijah. Next week we will read of another miracle involving the widow and the prophet.

In the meantime, here are some thoughts I hope will help us trust and praise God more for His provision.  He sees our need with watchful eyes.  He patiently waits for us to call upon Him for help.   In mercy and love He will provide according to His will and plan. The latter may not be what we may want,  but it will always be for our good.  God may need to use people, places and things to orchestrate His plan. What else would a Sovereign God do?

We are familiar with the story of Abraham and his willingness to offer his son as a sacrifice.  Abraham had enormous faith to believe God would provide the lamb needed for the sacrifice. He named the place where God saw his faith and supplied what he needed, Jehovah-Jireh.   The widow and Elijah could easily have called Zarephath their “Jehovah-Jireh.”

We can find this true in our lives; He will provide. Have you witnessed the ways of “Jehovah-Jireh?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Sarah Fletcher as she works on the January-April issue of Together With God.

“…You are to influence them; do not let them influence you!”  (Jeremiah 15:19 NLT).

One of my favorite questions to ask is, “Are you a thermometer or a thermostat?”

As a thermometer, are you affected by the surroundings?  Do you allow influences around you to raise or lower your blood pressure?  Happenings to crumble your faith?  The weather to affect your moods?  Family issues to govern your emotions?  World events to direct your happiness?

Or, are you a thermostat?  Do you control how you feel based upon what you know, not what you experience?  Do you remain unaffected by happenings because of an inner peace you’ve gained from being a child of the King?  Do you bring a ray of sunshine into the darkest of places, the dreariest of days?

At work, are you an influencer, or the influenced?  Is your speech determined by the crowd you’re in?  Do your words mimic those around you?

In your home, are you a stalwart of faith or are you wishy-washy?  Do you believe because He’s said, or because you’re seeing some improvement/action/miracles?

In your church, do you arrive filled with the Holy Spirit—or depend upon the preacher to ‘fill you up’?  Do you come expecting a great service or leave surprised when one occurs?

Answer the question for yourself…Are you a thermometer or a thermostat?

Better yet, how would those around you answer about you?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for FWB Family Ministries’ Hope Clinic as they counsel single mothers this week.

“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life…”  (1 Kings 19:3).

What was Elijah afraid of?  After witnessing God display mighty power at the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal?  After seeing the cloud the size of a man’s hand? After walking through the puddles produced by the mighty rainstorm he had just prayed for?

Elijah was afraid of a wrinkly, bitter, hate-filled and power-hungry woman.  Jezebel.

I can see her in my mind.  Small, but potent.  Dainty, but loud.  Dressed to the nines, but lacking in inner beauty.  Controlling.  Crabby.  High maintenance.

You laugh as you think about Elijah, this prophet of God, being afraid of her—but aren’t you doing the same thing?

Satan has whispered threats in your ear; now you’re running for your life.

The doctor has given you a diagnosis you don’t want;, now you head for the hills.

The life you planned is not the life you’re living.  You’re scared.  You’re defeated.  You are afraid.

You’re afraid of the pink slip just handed you.  The bank statement that’s lacking.  The task that looms.  The fear that keeps growing in your mind.

Just what are you afraid of?  Scared God’s not big enough? Allow me to settle those fears.  Thinking God’s forgotten all about you, or even worse, knows all about you and has written you off as undeserving? Not my God.  Determined that you can’t make it? He’s not given up on you.

God has done, is in the process of doing and will continue to do some huge things in your life.  Don’t run.  Don’t tremble in fear.  Don’t cower or give up.  You have no need to fear.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for single moms in your church.

“And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah; and she and he, and her house, did eat many days.  And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse  of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah”  (1 Kings 17:15-16).

As I read commentary on this verse, I could picture a time of rejoicing. A grateful widow takes the prophet into her home. She is so relieved and happy.  God provides what everyone in the household needs to sustain them through the famine.

God always keeps His promises.  We serve a faithful God who stands ready to provide for us just like he did for our “solitaire,” the widow of Zarephath.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for your boss or someone you know who serves in a management role. Let this person know you prayed for him or her.

“And Elijah said unto her, Fear not, go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.  For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth” (1 Kings 17:13-14).

Help is on the way.  The fact that Elijah made the widow this promise in the name of the Lord gives me the impression that she now recognized he was a prophet.  She didn’t have to fear for herself and her son. If she simply trusted God and obeyed His servant, she and her son were not going to face starvation.  She had nothing to lose at this point.

Many times when we are faced with trials, we tend to panic instead of praying.  God encourages us to cast our every care upon Him because He loves us.  We don’t have to worry about tomorrow; God is already there.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Southeastern FWB College Missions Conference starts today. Pray that many respond to God’s call and go into all the world.

“And  said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die”  (1 Kings 17:12).

Yesterday we learned of Elijah’s requests to the widow of Zarephath.  She wanted to show hospitality, but she had to be honest with the prophet.  She could possibly find and give him a little water, but she only had enough meal and oil to prepare a last meal for her and her son.  She was gathering sticks to make a fire to cook it. Then she and her son would be left to starve.  She really wasn’t thinking of herself.  She was being a mom—someone who would do anything for her child. It was a dilemma no one should have to face.  I can envision the tears in her eyes as she spoke with Elijah.

If you have ever faced a time when you didn’t know when or what your next meal would be, you can relate to the widow of Zarephath’s plight.  It would be difficult to try to help someone else when you can’t even help yourself.  Elijah will make a promise that will benefit the widow, her son, and even himself.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for WNAC Executive Committee member Diana Bryant as she juggles a full-time job with her roles as a pastor’s wife.

“….and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.  And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand” (1 Kings 17:10b-11).

Elijah was tired from his journey and surely was thirsty and hungry. He called to the widow to fetch him some water. She stopped gathering the sticks. She set out to fetch some water for this weary stranger. On the way, Elijah called out to her for some bread.  She could have easily sent him away. We find out tomorrow how she responded to Elijah’s request.  Her desire to be gracious did not alter her uncertainty as to how this would happen.

In deep despair we often lose confidence that God will take care of us.  The widow’s faith would be tested.  As our story continues to unfold, the luster of our “solitaire” will shine.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for a spiritual awakening in your hometown.