365 Reflections

The picture of Elijah from 1 Kings 19 is far different than the one we've seen so far. We remember how he triumphed gloriously over the prophets of Baal and then called down rain from heaven in 1 Kings 18. God has shown Himself powerful through this man on the nation's grandest stage. Yet one simple threat from Jezebel is enough to send him spiraling downwards. 1 Kings 19:1–3 (ESV) Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. Let's be honest. We have all been here. Riding the high of a victory we are often susceptible to the voice of a single critic or enemy. We may get to a place where we let personal triumphs make u...

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, an American poet, wrote,       "Laugh and the world laughs with you; Weep and you weep alone." David writes Psalm 142 totally alone in a Cave hiding from Saul and those who pursued him. Psalm 142:1–4 (NLT) I cry out to the Lord ; I plead for the Lord ’s mercy. 2 I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. 3 When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me. 4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. This Psalm is first comforting because it's part of the human experience... even for someone as heroic as David. Think of it. They used to be singing about David. That's what the world does when you're on top and winning. He was the one who led the armies of Israel over convincing victories. He was the one who turned their fortunes 180 degrees by...

When I am afraid, I tend to call people, search google for answers or something very similarly stupid. I tend to obsess and stress. I tend to not sleep well and think about all the possibilities of what may or may not come about. I heard somewhere that 80% of what we worry about never actually happens. That's a lot of wasted thoughts. The Psalmist has a better idea: Psalm 56:3–4 (ESV) When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Why? Because God is closely watching over his life. Psalm 56:8–11 (ESV) You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord , whose word I praise, 11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Where did he get that idea? He got it from the Word... he says, ...