Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
July 8, 2023
I Kings 19:9-16
9 There, he went into a cave and spent the night. The LORD’s word came to him and said, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 10 Elijah replied, “I’ve been very passionate for the LORD God of heavenly forces because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars and murdered your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left, and now they want to take my life too!” 11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand at the mountain before the LORD. The LORD is passing by.” A very strong wind tore through the mountains and broke apart the stones before the LORD. But the LORD wasn’t in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake. But the LORD wasn’t in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake, there was a fire. But the LORD wasn’t in the fire. After the fire, there was a sound. Thin. Quiet. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his coat. He went out and stood at the cave’s entrance. A voice came to him and said, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I’ve been very passionate for the LORD God of heavenly forces because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars and murdered your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left, and now they want to take my life too.” 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.
Good Morning, Be still and know God!
This passage seems to be used often in the Upper Room Devotionals. It is a powerful reminder of God’s presence in our lives. In my past writings, I have focused on stripping away all of the chaos and distractions in our lives so that we are ready to see and hear God. This morning I want to consider purposefully seeking God in all situations.
God presents himself to us in amazing ways, but sometimes we are singularly focused on a particular task and unaware that God is with us. I remember a time when I went to a craft show with a couple of friends. We started out walking together and looking at the displays at each booth. While in a particular stall, we would glance at each other, call one another to look at something more closely, comment on what we saw, and then move to the next booth. We were enjoying the experience together as companions.
Later in the day, I stopped to share something with my friends and realized we were no longer together. I tried to remember when we had parted company, but I honestly had no idea how long I had been on my own. I had been so focused on looking at things that I was caught in a “tractor beam” and was unknowingly pulled forward. I began to search for my friends, and after a few moments, I found them, and we continued moving from booth to booth.
God was with Elijah before, during, and after his time on the mountain, but perhaps Elijah was so consumed with his troubles that he forgot that his traveling companion was by his side. Maybe Elijah wandered away from God for a moment, and when he thought that he was alone, he panicked and ran to hide from the world. When he went to the mountain, God presented himself to Elijah in the form of a still, small voice.
I work to start each new day focused on seeing God at work in my life and the world around me. Occasionally, I get consumed by the kerfuffle that surrounds me, and I forget that God, my traveling companion, is always by my side. Just when I need it the most, God presents himself to me in a simple way, and I smile at my unexpected blessing, my God moment. God is with us always, but sometimes we forget to look. We will never find anything if we aren’t looking for it.
Everpresent God, We thank you! You are with us, and provide reminders of your presence when we are paying attention. Help us focus on Your presence in our lives. Again, we Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God is present in my life's big and small moments.
Look for God! Pastor Liz
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