DCLM Daily Manna 3 November 2023 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Drive Out Depression
TOPIC: Drive Out Depression (DCLM Daily Manna 3 November 2023)
KEY VERSE: “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4).
TEXT: 1 Kings 19:1-8 (KJV)
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
MESSAGE:
A sage once observed that it is heartening that we have an all-knowing God who does not grant all our petitions because it would be to our harm if we have all we desire. He loves us so much He will not give us what is hurtful. He knows what is not for our good, even when we think otherwise. But He will not delay those answers that are according to His will. The Bible records instances when the Lord declined the requests of some beloved saints.
Elijah, the great prophet used by God to eliminate hundreds of Baal prophets, was one such servant of God whose unscriptural prayer in his moment of depression was denied. After his remarkable triumph on Mount Carmel, where he turned the hearts of the children of Israel back to the true worship of God, Elijah fled to Beersheba when Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, threatened to kill him for slaying the false prophets. Fearing the woman, Elijah asked the Lord to take his life.
God rejected the supplication. He still had much work to be done through Elijah. He would use him to bring up Elisha and part River Jordan before departing for heaven in a type of rapture. God has delightsome plans for His people, which must not be allowed to be aborted by ideas from the devil in times of depression.
Believers must be vigilant by praying and dwelling on God’s promises so as to keep the spirit of fear, anxiety and depression at bay. These negative emotions must not be allowed to take root in our lives. At all times and despite all odds and challenges, real children of God must always encourage and delight themselves in God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Wisdom it is to reject depression with a ten-foot pole.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
JEREMIAH 36–38
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
