August 15, 2018 Wednesday

“4  But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” 5  Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6  Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7  And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8  So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.” (1Kings 19:4-8 NKJV)

            Many people have the strange belief that to be brave you must always be brave but bravery like a muscle can grow tired and weak. We fool ourselves thinking bravery is an absence of fear when bravery is doing the correct thing when fear says we shouldn’t.

            For a long time Elijah had faithfully served God in the face of the fury of the king but now after a great victory Elijah runs. Often it is when we are weary from being brave we break and run.

            God’s response is to care for Elijah with a deep rest waking him only to be nourished. In this time of weariness and collapse God does not judge Elijah but gives him rest and nourishment before sending Elijah back to serve.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is to rest!

            God knows our limits and will not take us beyond them though at times like with Elijah God may take us to the very edge. Then God will give us a time of physical, emotional and spiritual rest!

            Rested and renewed we are able to rejoin the battle against evil and move toward “the mountain of God.” Living with God and for God is a task beyond our ability and we must depend on the constant strength and nourishment we can only get from God.

            If you are weary then rest and be nourished by God. If you have sat and are rested get up and serve God in the strength of the rest and nourishment you have been given!  For the gifts of God are not just for us but so we can serve others and thus glorify God!!!

            Do you feel weak or that you have lost your courage? Where do you turn for nourishment and strength? (Who you trust in for what you need is your God!)  Is your life is heading toward “the mountain of God” and bringing glory to God?

Our time here at the house is about to end and it has been a wonderful time.  We were able to be together and just have fun.  I was able to do so much for me and to be outside al lot.  Every morning I enjoyed the coolness of the porch and the sounds of nature.  They have a wonderful handicapped park and I enjoyed a view of the river.  As with the devotional God gave is a time of rest and nourishment!  After the last two years of my decline, having to leave the pastoral ministry and move as we went through the process of going on disability we needed a time of rest, nourishment and re-creation!  Thank you My Lord and My love for giving it to us!