DCLM Daily Manna 21 May 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — It’s Not Yet Over
TOPIC: It’s Not Yet Over (DCLM Daily Manna 21 May 2023)
KEY VERSE: “And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria” (1 Kings 19:15).
TEXT: 1 Kings 19:9-21 (KJV)
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
MESSAGE:
There are times we think we have come to our wits’ end and so cannot go further. Sometimes, this may be due to the numerous challenges that life and ministerial demands throw at us. Sometimes, we feel we are alone in our troubles; this thought and feeling of loneliness may want to snuff life out of us. Many have gone ahead to abort and abandon God’s plans for them prematurely and feel they made a mistake in the first place to have chosen the path of ministry.
Elijah faced a similar situation. Discouragement and frustration made him to run away to hide when the wicked Jezebel threatened to take his life. After he was queried by the Lord, he voiced out complaints of discouragement, frustration, loneliness and threat to his life. To him, all was over. Instead of God responding to his many complaints and accepting his resignation, God reassigned him. He was not done yet. There were still duties for him to accomplish. God ordered him back to finish his ministry.
You must not give in to discouragement no matter how hard and frustrating life may be. When you think that the end has come for you and that there is no more reason to continue to live, God will prove to you that He still has more for you. Do not also think that you are alone in your sufferings. His omnipresence and the host of heaven are with you. Even though you may not see them at the moment, know that you are not alone.
You need to listen to the still, small and reassuring voice of God to do what He bids you. You cannot quit when you still have much to do. Arise and finish your assignment.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
You cannot quit when the Lord still has more for you!
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Samuel 1-2
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.
