Prophecy
This is what the Lord says:
“The wait is over, and your drought is over too. Your season of dryness, barrenness and desolation has come to an end. I will cause you to reap publicly what you have sown in private. You have anticipated My breakthrough and your prayers to be answered, but there was little to show for it. You felt at times that your prayer had fallen on deaf ears. Not so My child, for in this new season and era, I declare that your drought is over. My rain will come upon you. My rain will soften the soil so you can plough and sow seeds. My rain will bring nourishment so that the plants in your life will begin to breed new life. New life is ready to break and spring forth. My rain from heaven will quench your thirst as you drink of it. My rain will bring purification, divine satisfaction and breakthrough in every dry, barren and desolate place in your life.”
FAITH OVER FEAR
“Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there”. 1 Kings 19:3 (NLT).
Elijah, the servant of God had confronted King Ahab. He spoke a word and shut up heaven and it did not rain for three and a half years. Then Elijah stood up against 850 false prophets. He had them all executed after God answered his prayer by releasing fire on mount Carmel.
After the fire, Elijah prayed, and the rain finally came down after years of drought. Then King Ahab went and told his wife, Jezebel, what Elijah had done, and how Elijah had killed all her prophets. Jezebel had influenced King Ahab into embracing idol worship. Now that her false prophets were dead, Elijah had started a revival and Jezebel’s powers were diminished over the nation. In anger, she sent a message to Elijah saying, “you killed my prophets, now I am going to kill you and I pray the gods punish me even more severely if I do not do it by this time tomorrow”. Her message was clear, Elijah had only 24 hours to live.
You would have thought that Elijah could deal with this situation having survived the three and a half years of famine. He was doing what God had called him to do. He had called down fire and rain. However, the Bible says that Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. The same man that had operated like a warrior was now acting like a weakling. The former champion was now on the run like a coward.
Points to Ponder
- Elijah had done many great things yet fear still gripped his heart. Fear can raise its ugly head at any time, so beware.
- No one is exempt from fear. If fear could grip Elijah’s heart after doing many great things for God, then it is obvious that fear can grip our hearts as well. Guard your heart.
- Fear is relentless. The enemy never gives up and uses fear as a weapon. Do not give in to fear.
Plan of Action
- Go to God with your fears
We can ask God for His strength and peace. David faced many frightening situations. After escaping one terrifying incident in the midst of the Philistine territory, he wrote, “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
- Grow in Faith
The Bible is full of stories of people who grew to believe that God would do exactly what He promises. Their trust in God helped them face their fears and act in faith. Like the faithful people of old, we should focus on the positive future God has in store for us. If we focus on God’s Word and His promises, and not on the temporary circumstances, we will increase our faith and decrease our fear.
Prayer
Dear Lord, because you are with me, I do not have to be afraid. You rescue me from every enemy. I don’t have to live as a slave to my fears.
Further Study
Psalm 27: 1-6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+27%3A1-6&version=NLT
Isaiah 40: 29-31 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40%3A+29-31&version=NLT
1 Kings 18:1-40 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+18%3A1-40&version=NLT
Song
My trust is in you