When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2nd Kings 6:15-17 NIV
Now and again, in the tough times of life (which everyone has experienced), we tend to feel outnumbered and often, alone. Looking at the circumstances, we begin to believe that LIE. Nobody cares. Nobody's there. We're all alone. Lies, lies, and more lies!
The Truth is found (always!) in God's Word. In Hebrews 13:5, God promises to never leave us nor forsake us (the writer of Hebrews is actually quoting Deuteronomy). And Jesus declared in Matthew 28:20 that He will always be with us - even to the end of the age. The age hasn't ended yet... So, you are not abandoned. You are NOT alone.
Prayer:
Father,
We pray as Elisha prayed, that You would open the eyes of everyone who can only see the circumstances surrounding them. Light up their lives with Your Presence and holy fire. Shine the Light of Your Truth to dispel the darkness of satan's lies. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Showing posts with label alone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alone. Show all posts
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Isolation
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can HELP EACH OTHER. [emphasis mine]
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:7, 27 NLT
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
Somebody needs to hear this. Are you withdrawing - isolating yourself? I must tell you that Satan's desire is to kill, steal and destroy YOU; to separate the children of God from the Father; to separate the children of God from each other. We must ask God to open our spiritual eyes to see what is going on.
During times of war, in battles, what is the best way to watch out for the enemy? Alone? Definitely not!
1st Corinthians 12 has much to say about doing things alone. See if this makes sense to you:
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
Today, I've included a 5-minute video from a pastor in South Carolina. If this Promise is for you today, it's worth a listen.
Prayer:
Father,
Draw our hearts toward You and in so doing, draw us closer together. Help us to see the Light of Your Truth in making this journey toward Home together. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Alone *
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20 NLT
Matthew 28:19-20 NLT
I chose the Scripture and added a prayer at the end, but a pastor named Jack Mooring wrote the following. It is a great reminder - especially during the Advent season.
***********************************************************
To be alone is a painful thing.
Many of us with strong, happy families often forget this. And it’s not until we’re in a season of isolation that we really feel it. But many around the world; due to family breakdowns, sickness, poverty, or other life circumstances find themselves alone.
We were made for relationships, and when we’re cut off from them we experience a very intense pain. This is why solitary confinement has been outlawed in many countries. It’s torture.
God is a God of community. He is a triune God. Three in one. God has never been alone because He is self-sufficient. We are made in His image, therefore we have a deep longing for relationship!
When sin entered the world, isolation began.
Adam and Eve found out there was a boundary to paradise... and their sin had put them on the outside of it. I can see them trying to look past the angel’s fiery sword just to get one more glimpse of that place where they had walked with God.
And from that time forward men and women have struggled along on their own, trying their best to relate to one another only to fumble in their attempts. In a sin-marred world, often we find friends only to lose them. Or we give love only to be hurt in return.
But God saw our pain.
I can see Him weeping from the inside of the Garden as Adam & Eve wept on the outside.
Who can solve a problem that sin created? Only the Holy One.
He set a plan into motion.
“They will NOT be alone." I can hear the Father say to the Heavenly host.
“I will be their Friend.” I can hear the Son say, with fire in His eyes.
“I will come alongside them.” Said the living Holy Spirit.
And in Bethlehem, a baby cried.
Our forever Friend had come. A Savior who would heal us of our sin and make us alive. The Spirit who would fill us and transform us.
A God who would invite us back to the Garden to walk with Him once again.
God with us. Christ in us!
When we say yes to this Jesus, we are never alone. And in the pain of abandonment we can run to the One who will never abandon us.
We begin to see the world as He sees it.
We see people as He sees them, and it changes everything! Every relationship is now experienced through who He is in us.
Every hurt, an opportunity to be healed and to release healing. Every attacking enemy, a target for love. Every empty room, a place to be filled with God’s presence!
We are never alone. God is with us!
To be alone is a painful thing.
Many of us with strong, happy families often forget this. And it’s not until we’re in a season of isolation that we really feel it. But many around the world; due to family breakdowns, sickness, poverty, or other life circumstances find themselves alone.
We were made for relationships, and when we’re cut off from them we experience a very intense pain. This is why solitary confinement has been outlawed in many countries. It’s torture.
God is a God of community. He is a triune God. Three in one. God has never been alone because He is self-sufficient. We are made in His image, therefore we have a deep longing for relationship!
When sin entered the world, isolation began.
Adam and Eve found out there was a boundary to paradise... and their sin had put them on the outside of it. I can see them trying to look past the angel’s fiery sword just to get one more glimpse of that place where they had walked with God.
And from that time forward men and women have struggled along on their own, trying their best to relate to one another only to fumble in their attempts. In a sin-marred world, often we find friends only to lose them. Or we give love only to be hurt in return.
But God saw our pain.
I can see Him weeping from the inside of the Garden as Adam & Eve wept on the outside.
Who can solve a problem that sin created? Only the Holy One.
He set a plan into motion.
“They will NOT be alone." I can hear the Father say to the Heavenly host.
“I will be their Friend.” I can hear the Son say, with fire in His eyes.
“I will come alongside them.” Said the living Holy Spirit.
And in Bethlehem, a baby cried.
Our forever Friend had come. A Savior who would heal us of our sin and make us alive. The Spirit who would fill us and transform us.
A God who would invite us back to the Garden to walk with Him once again.
God with us. Christ in us!
When we say yes to this Jesus, we are never alone. And in the pain of abandonment we can run to the One who will never abandon us.
We begin to see the world as He sees it.
We see people as He sees them, and it changes everything! Every relationship is now experienced through who He is in us.
Every hurt, an opportunity to be healed and to release healing. Every attacking enemy, a target for love. Every empty room, a place to be filled with God’s presence!
We are never alone. God is with us!
****************************************************************
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for sending Your Son to us to reconcile our relationship with You. What would we be without You? So alone and undone. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and Guide. Give us ears to hear and change our hearts to please only You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Saturday, August 24, 2013
* Single Track with Garbage
And I will give them singleness of heart and put
a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give
them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations.
Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT
One of the men I work
with is a long-distance trail rider in his off hours. He has several North
American Arabian horses and is quite knowledgeable and likes to share what
he knows of the horses, the trails nationwide and what is required to be
proficient in his preferred pastime. More often than not, I learn something new
from him - not that I'll ever personally utilize it, but my kids or grandkids
might, and many times, God uses something Al tells me to spark an illustration
of His Word.
The one that most spoke to me is this. Al said his horses do
much better on a trail that is termed a "single track with garbage" than they do
on an established wide trail or open field. (Obviously, single track is one
horse passes at a time; garbage means lots of brush, rock, etc.) I thought that
sounded illogical until he explained an established wide trail or open
field can be a total distraction for the horse. Lots of things to look at and the horse gets competitive with the other animals. In addition, there is very little
concern on the horse's part for how he steps because there doesn't appear to be
any danger.
On a single track
with garbage, the horse is very focused and carefully picks its
steps. There are usually no distractions - or at least, very few. The horse is
highly unlikely to break and run and is extremely responsive to the rider's
slightest touch of instruction... and it was right there that God tapped me on
the shoulder to get my attention.
Now, I don't know about
you, but there are times, (even though I know I'm NOT) it feels as though
I'm walking alone. I reiterate - I know I'm not - but it's a hard path
I'm on. I can't see a clear path in front of me. I don't see the water source
ahead. At times, the way is so close that it's hard to see at all. And I have to watch
every step I take. There's the underbrush of life's debris and distractions to stub
my toes or twist my ankle or cause me to fall and come up lame.
However, I know
it is in the tough spots that I am most focused on following His lead and the most
responsive to His slightest instruction. God hasn't taken me on this single
track with garbage so that I will be confined and alone. No, I may not be able
to look around to see where I am or where I am going, but I am not lost. I am
found. The Great I AM, the Omnipotent Way Maker has chosen this single track
with garbage. He's brought me this way so I can know Him better and trust Him
more.
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and by Your grace, I
will follow only You. Completely close my eyes, my ears and my spirit to
anything that is not of You. Guide my every step, O God. In Jesus' Name I pray.
Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)