Morning Devotional 042126 Blanket Protection

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

April 21, 2026

1 Kings 19:15-21

¹⁵ The LORD said to him, “Go back through the desert to Damascus and anoint Hazael as king of Aram. ¹⁶ Also anoint Jehu, Nimshi’s son, as king of Israel; and anoint Elisha from Abel-meholah, Shaphat’s son, to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷ Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill. Whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. ¹⁸ But I have preserved those who remain in Israel, totaling seven thousand—all those whose knees haven’t bowed down to Baal and whose mouths haven’t kissed him.” ¹⁹ So Elijah departed from there and found Elisha, Shaphat’s son. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him. Elisha was with the twelfth yoke. Elijah met up with him and threw his coat on him. ²⁰ Elisha immediately left the oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and my mother,” Elisha said, “then I will follow you.” Elijah replied, “Go! I’m not holding you back!” ²¹ Elisha turned back from following Elijah, took the pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Then with equipment from the oxen, Elisha boiled the meat, gave it to the people, and they ate it. Then he got up, followed Elijah, and served him. 

Good Morning! May you find an unexpected blessing this morning. 

Elijah’s anointing of Elisha did not include oil. Elisha was called out when Elijah covered him with his cloak. I love this symbolism of covering someone. 

To be covered takes on many meanings. We are covered by insurance to protect us and our things. When we are cold, scared, or feeling sick, we cover ourselves in a blanket that comforts us. 

I see all that God is as an enormous umbrella. Each panel represents the ways God loves us. There is compassion, mercy, faithfulness, full of grace, forgiving, unfathomable, eternal, ever-present, protective, sacrificial, and inseparable. of those  

The Good News is that God’s love is unconditional. There is nothing that we can do to earn this love, but by God’s grace it is gifted to us. From our conception, we are covered by God’s prevenient grace of love. 

In the calling of Elisha, Elijah covered him with God’s love. When each of us answers God’s calling, we receive and accept this blanket coverage of love for ourselves. 

God of Wisdom, you bless us abundantly! Without your love and grace, we cannot survive. You are a mighty God who lifts us and protects us. Thank you. We love you. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Thought for the day: Be comforted by the covering of God’s love that surrounds you.

We are born of the spirit, lost in his love! Pastor Liz