1 Kings 17:5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

Elijah was a prophet of God. Elijah boldly went before wicked king Ahab and told him that it would not rain until he said that it would rain. After Elijah had proclaimed the word of the Lord, God told him to go hide by the brook Cherith and be feed by ravens.

Elijah was a Jew and God for a period of time was going to have him eat from the unclean ravens. No proper Jew would have anything to do with an unclean raven. Here Elijah was a man of God, yet God used something that was unclean to provide daily nourishment for Elijah. We all know how Peter had such a problem with the vision he had regarding eating unclean animals, but why is it that Elijah did not seem to put up any fight when it came to eating food brought to him by unclean animals?

Elijah apparently understood that God created the entire world. Elijah understood that it was God who gave him the words to speak to king Ahab and it was God who was directing him to the brook Cherith. Elijah understood that since he was being obedient to the ways of God, that it was up to God to provide and protect him. Elijah was willing to let God be God and not question him whether he used unclean or clean animals to bring him daily bread.

Elijah was probably well verse in the story of how God brought water out of a rock for Moses. Elijah probably knew the story of Joseph how God put his faithful servant Joseph in prison for many years so that he could rise to a position of leadership with the Egyptians so as to save his father and the rest of the family. Elijah probably knew the story of Samson how he was able to use the unclean jawbone of a donkey in order to kill a thousand Philistines.

Elijah was simply willing to trust God rather than question where God was going to bring him provision. Elijah understood that he was in a difficult position and that he was going to suffer just like everyone else was going to suffer from this long period of drought. Elijah needed to experience the provision of the Lord and so he focused upon God and let God do what needed to be done.

We need to understand that God is God. Sometimes God is going to do things with us that are unconventional. This means that things are not going to go according to our plans, this means that God may have us do something that we never thought possible. God had to free Peter so that Peter was able to preach to the Gentiles. Once Peter was free from the defective mindset, Peter was able to work with other Jewish Christians to help them understand that they were supposed to preach to the Gentiles.

When God tells us to do something that is contrary to our nature, we need to thank HIM for HIS direction and trust HIM for HIS provision. Elijah had to be patient during this long period of time that there would be no rain and king Ahab desired to kill him.

There is much we can learn from those who have come before us. We must learn that things do not always go according to our plan. When our plans change, be ready to listen to God and hear what HE would have you to do. Trust in the Lord and do not question the way HE is going to have you do things. Remember God is always looking for those whom HE can use to be light unto the world and to reflect HIS great power to those who need to trust in HIM.

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Gold in its natural state is not nearly as valuable as gold once it has been refined. One of the earliest methods of refining gold was by fire. Until the gold was refined by fire, it often would contain many impurities. The more impurities contained by the gold, the less valuable the gold would be to its owner. However, gold was often put through the fire multiple times. Each time it was put in the fire, more of its impurities would be removed. To the owner of the gold, it made sense to keep putting the gold through the fire because it made the gold more valuable.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Sin in our life is like impurities in a piece of gold. We are the creation of God and as such, HE desires us to pursue HIS perfect will for our life. In the same way that the owner of gold will put it through the refining fire to make it more valuable, so also, God will allow us to go through certain trials to remove some of the impurities from our lives and make us more valuable to HIM.

Why was it that God allowed it not to rain in the land of Israel for over three years during the life of Ahab? Ahab had led the nation of Israel in the worship of Baal. Israel was God’s chosen nation and they chose to follow the gods of Baal rather than the one true God. The nation of Israel needed to go through a trial in order to turn their focus back to God once again. The nation of Israel needed to remove from their lives the impurities of worshiping Baal so that they could be true to the one true God.

God does not put us through trials just because we have sinned. Even when we are living a life that is pleasing to the Lord, HE will put us through difficult situations for HIS glory. Paul was a faithful servant of God. One night he found himself in prison for preaching the name of Jesus. During the night, God made a way for Paul to escape. However, Paul did not run from his trial and as a result, he was able to lead the prison guard to the Lord. Paul was facing a trial that was planned by God so that God would receive the glory.

We do not always understand what God is trying to do in our lives. We are so short sighted that when things are not going exactly as we desire, we start praying to God to change our circumstances. We think we know what is best for our life but the truth is, we rarely do know what is God’s perfect will.

We forget that God works everything for good for those who love HIM and are called according to HIS purposes. When we are facing difficult situations in our life, this is the time to ask God to reveal HIMSELF to you in a new way. When things are not going exactly as you planned it, this is when you should patiently pray that God gives you the grace to endure your trial so that HE can be glorified through you.

The difference between great Christians who do great things for God and those who live a mediocre existence is that the great Christians trust God throughout their trials. The Great Christians will patiently wait for God to teach them what they need to know about HIS perfect will in the trial that they are enduring.

The next time you are facing a difficult trial, thank the Lord. The next time you are facing a difficult trial, ask HIM to reveal to you HIS hidden purpose. The next time you are facing a difficult trial, allow HIM to have HIS way in your life.

Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

It is very easy to see the problems in others. Maybe the person is overweight. Maybe they do not smell nice. Maybe they have an obnoxious personality. Whatever other people’s problems are, it is easy for us to spot their problems and to find solutions to their problems. However, when it comes to our own problems, it does not matter how big our problem may be, we will simply not recognize our problem as something that is big enough to warrant our attention.

If you had gone to Samson and told him he had a problem with women that was eventually going to destroy him, he probably would have denied that he had a problem with lust. Samson would have naturally focused upon his strength that God had given him and would think that he is good with God because of how God had been blessing him.

Nonetheless, Samson had a huge beam in his eye that one day was going to take away his strength. Because Samson never took care of his problem, it eventually led to his untimely death. While Samson killed more Philistine in his death then he did during his entire life, this does not mean that if he had not allowed lust to control his life that he would have lived to an old age and killed many more Philistines.

Ahab is another man who was trying to pick the mote out of the eye of the prophet and forgetting about the beam in his own eye. Ahab did not like the prophet Micaiah because he never prophesied anything good concerning him. Rather than change his life, he simply chose to blame others for his problems. What Micaiah said was the truth but Ahab’s way of getting out of the truth was to attack the messenger.

Zacchaeus was a man who understood the importance of removing the beam that was in his own eye. When Zacchaeus met Jesus and understood what God desired him to do, he immediately went out and made restitution to all those whom he had wronged. Zacchaeus was not going to allow the bitterness of others to destroy his relationship with God. How could Zacchaeus tell others of the love of God if there were those around him who were thinking about the time that Zacchaeus had taken more taxes from them then they really owed?

We do not make it to heaven based upon how many motes we pull out of our brother’s eyes. We make it to heaven based upon our relationship with God. The closer we get to God, the more clear it becomes that we need to remove the beams out of our own eye which distorts our ability to properly see God for who HE is.

We all have blind spots in our lives. A blind spot is something in our life that demonstrates that we are sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. These blind spots not only separate us from God, but they also are seen by others and can damage the credibility of our testimony. We need to ask God to reveal to us the areas of our life where we are weak so that HE can make us strong.

As long as we are focused upon ourselves and the things of this world, we will never be ready to serve God as HE desires. However, when we add temperance to our life and start focusing upon our relationship with God, then HE can show us the beams in our own lives and we can work on removing those from our life so that HE can receive the glory.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

In this passage, Christ gives us the answer to what we need to do to overcome our desire to worry. Instead of worrying, we are supposed to fill our time with seeking first the kingdom of God. If every time a thought comes into our mind about how something is going to happen, we turn the problem over to God and seek to draw closer to HIM, eventually Satan is going to figure it out that your relationship with God is growing.

Why would Satan want to bring temptation into your life if every time you turned worry into great faith? Satan is not stupid, if he cannot get you to sin by taking your focus off of God, he will try different means. Satan knows just how susceptible we all are to worry. Satan uses worry to take our eyes off of our relationship with God and cause us to demonstrate little faith.

The plan to overcome the temptation of worry is very simple, draw closer to God. Daniel was told that he could not pray to God for 30 days. We do not see Daniel running around wondering what HE should do. Instead, Daniel understood how important his relationship with God was so we see that he went straight to prayer and allowed God to take care of his enemies.

Scripture shows us the response of Joshua after the defeat at Ai. Most of us after a defeat, we would not be turning to God, instead we would allow worry to come into our heart as we try to figure out what God is doing. We would sit there and start second guessing what we thought God had told us to do. However, this is not what Joshua did, instead, Joshua cried out to God and he allowed God to reveal to him why the troops were defeated at Ai.

It does not matter who you are, at some time in your life, things are not going to go according to your plan and you will be wondering what to do. You have two choices, you can either fill your mind with thoughts of worry or you can seek first the kingdom of God and allow HIM to direct your paths.

We may not have a choice about which trials we face, but we do have a choice in how we respond. No one is forcing you to worry. No one is making you spend your time trying to figure out what you are to do next. Instead, if you learn to focus on God and the things of God, you allow HIM to open the doors and to direct your steps. As you turn your problems over to HIM, you soon discover that HE is more than able to take care of you.

King Ahab is a classic example of one who put his attention in the wrong place. God had used Elijah to pronounce a curse on the land of Israel and to proclaim a drought. Ahab did not cry out to God but instead sent his soldiers to all the neighboring countries trying to find Elijah. Ahab did not seek the Lord and see what he needed to do in order to provide water for the land. Ahab wasted several years of worry when the solution was simple, cry out to God and repent of his sins. Ahab did not seek first the kingdom of God and his agony was prolonged.

You need to change your focus. Take your problems to God and use your problems to draw closer to HIM. Focus your attention upon HIM and what HE desires you to do. By adding temperance to your life, you can overcome the temptation to start worrying about those things that God already knows about. Focus your attention upon HIM and rather than spending your time worrying about what will happen next, seek first the kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

What do you hunger and thirst after? Do long for love? Do you pursue power? God desires that you change your mindset and rather than pursue the things of this world that you learn to focus upon the things of God and desire those things that God deems proper.

Jabez was an honorable man who prayed to God that God would bless him and enlarge his borders. Jabez prayed that God’s hand would be with him and that God would keep him from evil because he did not want to grieve God. Because Jabez longed for righteousness, God gave him that which he requested.

Solomon was the king of Israel and God told him that he could ask what he wanted and God would give it to him. Solomon did not ask for life, riches, or for the life of his enemies. Instead, Solomon asked for wisdom to rule the people that God gave him to rule. God was pleased with the request of Solomon and not only gave him the wisdom he desired, but also gave him health and riches.

God desires that you learn to follow the example of Jabez and Solomon. These men learned to seek first the kingdom of God and God was able to use them because they put the things of God first in their lives.

Ahab was a wicked king of Ahab. God punished Ahab by sending a period of time without any rain. Ahab did not repent but instead spent his time trying to find Elijah so that he could punish Elijah for sharing the truth. Ahab would have had more luck turning the heart of God by repenting and turning from his wicked ways.

It is not enough to simply proclaim that you are a Christian. It is not enough to go to church on Sunday and occasionally read the Bible and pray to God. God desires that you hunger and thirst after righteousness. You do not eat a meal once a week and think that it will sustain you. Your body naturally will start to get hungry and thirsty if you go very long without partaking of food. The same should be true of your spiritual appetite, if you go very long without the things of God, you should be longing to hear HIS still small voice and to be in a place where you can have quiet communion with HIM once again.

The things of this world will try to distract you for filling your time with the things of God. Your computer, your television, your work-out-schedule are all things that if not carefully monitored will dampen your ability to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness.

If you are diligent to add temperance to your life, the things of God will mean more to you. You must learn to see the things of this world from God’s perspective. When things do not go your way, rather than get upset at God, you need to learn to thank HIM and learn to understand what God is trying to teach you through your present circumstances.

What are you thirsting after? Is it the things of this world or is it the things of God? If you are not hungering and thirsting after the righteousness of God, then you are not ready to be used of God to HIS maximum potential. God has so much more in store for you, but you first need to learn to desire the things of God.

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Christ commanded us that any of us who are angry with our brother is guilty of murder. This is the higher standard that Christ lived by. God desires that we be perfect just like his Son was perfect. In order to avoid being angry with those whom God has placed in your life, you need to greatly restrain your mind and emotions.

People naturally will do things that causes you anguish. You have a choice, either you can hold a grudge against that individual or you can learn to forgive them and move on with your life. In the eyes of the world, Jesus had every right to be angry with those who crucified HIM and placed HIM upon the cross. Nonetheless, Jesus chose to forgive them. In the eyes of the world, Stephen had every right to be angry at those who rejected the teaching of scripture and chose to stone him to death. Nonetheless, Stephen was Christ like and he forgave those who did him wrong.

In this passage we are commanded to not allow the sun to go down upon our angry. That means that if we are angry at someone, before we go to bed, we need to get right with God and get right with the one who we are angry at. It is not easy to relinquish your right to be angry at someone for something that they have done to you, but this is what God desires you to do.

If you allow anger to dwell in your life for very long, it will destroy you. You can quickly become destroyed by your anger and will do things that will further destroy you. Ahab was angry at Elijah because Elijah had prayed that it would not rain. Rather than listening to the words of Elijah and do something about his wrong actions, Ahab chose to go after Elijah.

It did not matter how long Ahab sought to destroy Elijah, God was protecting him and Ahab was simply wasting his time pursuing Elijah. Ahab and the nation of Israel suffered three and a half years without rain because Ahab was chasing Elijah rather than dealing with the root of the problem. Had Ahab chosen to deal with his sin, God probably would have stopped the drought and allowed the nation of Israel to prosper once again.

If you do not take care of your anger, it will destroy you. After David sinned by committing adultery with Bath-sheba and killing her husband, Nathan confronted him about his sin. When David heard the story of a man who had one lamb that was stolen by a man who had great flocks, David reacted in anger and demanded that this rich man be required to pay four times. Four of David’s sons ended up having an untimely death.

David had reacted in anger to the story presented by Nathan. David did not realize that he was the man who had stolen that which belonged to another. Because David responded in anger, he ended up pronouncing judgment upon his own family.

Anger occurs when you have not yielded your rights to God. If you have refused to trust God and allow HIM to direct your paths, you can be quickly angry that God has not directed your steps the way you think that HE should have directed them.

Instead of focusing upon your rights and what you think is fair and just, you need to yield your rights and trust that God knows what is best. By trusting in God when evil occurs in your life, you allow God to add temperance to your life and give yourself the ability to move on with your life to see what God does with you.

Genesis 47:15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? For the money faileth.

The land of Egypt was in the midst of a seven year famine. Before God allowed the Egyptians to suffer for seven years, the Lord had blessed them with seven years of abundant harvests. However, even though everyone prospered for many years, the Egyptians were not prepared to purchase grain for seven years. Joseph had saved enough grain for everyone to purchase, but the Egyptians had spent their money and did not have enough reserves to enable them to survive during the difficult years.

The Egyptians knew that Joseph was building storehouses to prepare for seven years of famine, yet they did not prepare their personal finances to weather the difficult times. The Egyptians apparently enjoyed the times of great harvest and spent the money from the harvest. Now the Egyptians were hungry and did not have the means to purchase any food.

The more one studies history, the more one learns that things do not change. Currently there is a great downturn in the economy. Many people lived very well during the times of great financial prosperity. However, many of those people did not prepare for a financial downturn in the economy even though the financial markets have often had corrections.

Christ taught us in the Sermon on the Mount that we cannot have two masters, either we serve God or we serve the gods of this world. If our focus is upon our desires and how we might obtain them, we will soon lose sight of God and his desires for our lives. If our focus is upon money and the gods of this world, we will live for ourselves and we will fail to properly prepare for the things God has in store for us.

When King Ahab had sinned and God punished him by bringing a drought into the land, we see that Ahab spent his time trying to find Elijah to punish him. Ahab also spent his time trying to find water rather than repenting and getting his heart right with the Lord. The Lord was bringing a great famine upon the nation of Israel and they were so caught up in the fact that they did not have food that they failed to cry out to God for deliverance.

When difficult circumstances occur in your life, you need to cry out to God. God is the only one who can save you. God is the only one who can rescue you from your present distress. You may have sinned and violated the perfect plan of God; nonetheless, HE is faithful and just to forgive you and to save you from all unrighteousness.

Stop focusing upon the gods of this world. When you add temperance to your life, you enable yourself to say no to the things of this world and yes to the things of God. The world has much to offer you, but after you partake of the things of this world, you will find that they do not satisfy and you will find yourself continuing to long for that which does not satisfy. When you seek first the kingdom of God, you find true contentment and peace that passeth all understanding.

The Egyptians had squandered their possessions and found themselves in a very difficult situation. However, even though they were in a difficult situation, they tried to satisfy their problem with their own strength. They refused to learn; they refused to change from their wicked ways and turn to the God of Joseph who had prepared a way to escape.

Genesis 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

You have probably heard the old adage, two wrongs do not make a right. Jacob may have been wrong in demonstrating more love to Joseph then to all of his other sons, but this did not mean that Joseph’s brothers had the right to hate Joseph. You are not accountable to God for how other people treat you, but you are responsible for how you treat others. Just because your boss yelled at you at work, it does not give you the right to kick the dog.

We live in a sinful world, bad things happen to good people. Jesus told us that it rains both on the just and the unjust. Just because you are a faithful servant of God, it does not mean that everything in your life will be perfect. So likewise, just because you are the worst heathen in the world, it does not mean that you will not see some good thing occurring in your life.

When God punished Ahab by bringing a famine into the land for several years, Elijah also suffered. God took care of Elijah, but Elijah was not found sitting in some king’s palace eating king’s food. Elijah was suffering because God was brining punishment upon Ahab. Many other Israelites who had never bowed a knee to Baal also suffered during this time.

When God punished the nation of Judah, Daniel was ripped from his home and made to spend the rest of his life in Babylon. Daniel had not done anything wrong, and Daniel could have become bitter at God. However, Daniel understood that while he could not control all the bad things that were occurring to him, he could control his attitude and he could ensure that God was glorified by his actions.

The Egyptians worshiped many false gods. However, before God brought a seven year famine into the land, HE first allowed there to be seven years of great surplus. The Egyptians were blessed for those seven years regardless of the fact that they did not worship the one true God.

Bad and good things will occur in your life. Sometimes you will be experience bad things because of some sin that you have committed and sometimes you will experience good things because God is well pleased with your testimony. However, this is not always the case. Just as God allowed many bad things to happen to Job so as to test his faith, so also, you might experience bad things in your life to test if you will maintain the faith.

When evil things occur in your life, you have the choice to either praise God or curse God. God desires that you learn to give thanks for everything that occurs in your life. It does not matter if you are in prison like Joseph, a slave like Daniel, or a fugitive like Elijah, you have an obligation to give glory to God for the evil that occurs in your life.

Your natural reaction will always be to complain when evil happens. However, if you add temperance to your life, you will have the strength to remember that God is in control and to give him the glory that is due HIS name. Until you learn to thank God regardless of what occurs in your life you are never ready to fully live.

Joseph’s brothers saw unfair treatment by their father. However, this did not give them the right to hate their brother. God gave them an opportunity to demonstrate love to their brother even when they did not want to. They chose to hate their brother and not even talk with him.

Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

How come so many Christians have this false belief that just because they are Christians, they are entitled prosperity here on this earth? This is not a principle taught by Christ. In this passage, we see just the opposite. We see that God does not withhold the sun from the evil just because they are evil. Furthermore, in an agricultural community, rain is necessary for crops. However, God does not without the rain just because someone is unjust or give rain just because you are just.

You are not entitled to great riches and prosperity just because you do that which is right in the eyes of God. Joshua and Caleb were just men who desired to serve God. However, they were forced to wonder in the wilderness for forty years with an entire nation that could not trust God.

Meanwhile, the rest of the nation of Israel lacked faith, but still they saw God provide their daily food for them. They may not have acted like the children of God, but for forty years, their shoes did not wear out.

During the life of Elijah, we see God withholding rain from the nation of Israel for over three years. This was a punishment to Ahab for his wickedness. However, it was not just the wicked king Ahab who suffered; Elijah also suffered during the drought as did 7,000 men who never bowed a knee to Baal.

God collectively punished the nation of Israel for their sins. So likewise, we live in a day that man does that which is right in their own eyes. You should not think that God is going to allow you to prosper while HE causes all those around you to be punished for their wickedness. God will be looking out for HIS children, but it does not mean that you will avoid suffering. God took care of Joshua and Caleb and ensured that they did not die. God took care of Elijah and made sure HE had daily provision, but they still suffered the trials with those around them.

If you do not spend the time adding knowledge of the ways of God, you are going to spend one confused life as a Christian. The ways of God are not always your ways. God does not work in accordance with our little mind. You will never fully appreciate what God is doing all around you until you take the time to understand the ways of God.

How can you expect to have great faith and be able to move mountains if you do not understand what God is trying to do in your life? You may be facing a difficult trial, and rather than turn to God and understand what HE is trying to teach you during this time, too many Christians go off and start praying for God to remove their trial. When God does not immediately answer their prayers, they lose faith in God and start wondering why they claim to be a Christian.

The next time you face a difficult time in your life, you need to stop and see what God is trying to do. It may be a trial like Joseph where God needs to prepare you for a certain duty at a certain time. It may be a trial like Job where God is testing you to see if you will remain faithful. It may be a trial like Paul where God allowed him to suffer for the glory of God. If you do not understand why God is allowing you to face a particular trial, you are going to be the one who is frustrated and you are the one who is going to suffer. Stop and take the time to understand what God is trying to do in your life so that you can take the time to properly serve HIM.

Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

You must understand that God can do what you cannot do. When you are in a position of being under the authority of someone else, you may or may not be able to persuade them to change the direction of their thinking. Being under authority means that you are going to have to learn to make wise appeals. However, you do not only need to learn to make wise appeals to your immediate supervisor, but you need to make wise appeals to the God of the universe.

God controls the heart of a king. It does not matter how wicked the king, God can still cause the eyes of the ruler to open up and see the truth. Nebuchadnezzar was a wicked man who was full of pride. God used Nebuchadnezzar to declare war on HIS chosen nation so that HIS people would be punished for forsaking HIM. However, because of the pride of Nebuchadnezzar, God had Nebuchadnezzar go crazy for seven years while he ate grass. It was only when Nebuchadnezzar acknowledge the greatness of God that God restored him to his throne.

You must understand that nothing can happen to you absent God allowing it to happen. This means that when an authority in your life does something that is unfair, God allowed this to happen to you. Rather than become upset at the other person who did you wrong, you need to turn to God and see why HE allowed this to happen. What lessons did God have for you? Does God desire that you change your direction? God could have changed the heart of your authority to do something different but HE chose not to.

God has certain plans for your life. God uses others in your life to help guide you to the place that you need to go so that HE is glorified. Elijah was a great man of God. Ahab was a wicked king who did not like Elijah. Because of the hatred of Ahab towards Elijah, Elijah was forced to flee for his life. Elijah found himself by a brook where he was feed by the ravens. Elijah then found himself enjoying the hospitality of a widow. God could have turned the heart of King Ahab so that he did not hate Elijah, but instead, God provided for the needs of Elijah in such a way that Elijah understood that HE served a powerful and living God.

When you face a difficult time with those in authority, you need to take the time to pray to God and ask God to direct the heart of those over you. Watch very carefully what those over you do and learn to respond so that God gives you the glory. If God turns the heart of the authority the way you desired, thank God for turning the heart of the king. If God does not turn the heart of your authority, then thank God that HE may be directing you on a new path.

Just as God directs the heart of a king, God can direct your heart. You can probably remember a time in your own life where you had a desire to do one thing, and then God came through and changed your heart a different direction to desire something completely different. God understands what is best for you, and you need delight yourself in the Lord so that HE can give you the true desires of your heart.

You must spend time adding knowledge of the ways of God to your life. The more time you spend delighting in the Lord, the easier it will be for you to hear the still small voice of God. God will direct your paths. God will change your heart when HE needs you to start focusing your attention in a different direction.

Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

Have you ever met an individual who everything they touched seems to fall apart? It does not matter what is going on, they seem to live from crisis to crisis. Nothing seems to ever go right for them. Some might say that they have just run into a bit of bad luck, but is that really the logical reason?

When Ahab and Jezebel were king and queen of Israel, it was not exactly the most productive time in the nation of Israel. Almost every time you hear one of their names mentioned in scripture, there is a prophet of God condemning them for their actions. It was the decisions that Ahab and Jezebel were making that resulted in God bringing judgment upon them and the land.

You would think it foolish for a person to complain about it raining inside their house if they had just spent the day tearing up the roof of their house. You would think it foolish of a person to complain about wind coming through the house if they just took a sledgehammer and knocked huge holes in the walls. You would think it foolish of a person to destroy their house. Nonetheless, why do you not think it foolish for them to destroy their physical bodies with sin and expect there not to be any consequences for their actions?

The choices you make will either continue to build your relationship with the Lord or will see to tear it down. There is no such thing as a harmless sin. If you choose to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord, then you will be building your house and God can use you to do great things for HIM. If you choose to do that which is right in your own eyes, then you are like the foolish woman who goes outside and starts taking apart her own house. Just as you can only take apart your house for so long before it is worthless, so likewise, you can only do that which is right in your own eyes for so long before your life is worthless.

Solomon was a wise man who understood the importance of establishing his life upon his relationship with God. Early in his life, you see him making an 1,000 burnt offerings and asking the Lord for wisdom. Solomon builds a wonderful temple for God. However, Solomon soon allows his foreign wives to start to draw his heart away from the Lord. As Solomon slowly allows his relationship with God to deteriorate, so does the respect of the people. Solomon did not see the nation divide under his watch, but it all started when he was more concerned about his own needs.

If you desire to be a wise individual, then you need to start spending time with God. The more time you spend understanding who HE is and what HE desires you to do, the easier it will be for you to live your life in accordance with HIS principle. However, if you desire to have no positive impact upon those around you and the world in general, then just choose to do what you want, when you want. If you continue to make foolish decisions, you will find that your life will have little meaning. Spend time adding knowledge of the ways of God. Spend time giving God the thanks for the good things that HE has done in your life. Put HIM first and your life will be established.

Proverbs 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

A smart individual will continue to add knowledge of the ways of God to his life while a foolish man is quick to reveal his own foolishness. Have you ever meet an individual who is not ashamed of their sin? An individual who knows deep down that what they are doing is wrong, but instead of forsaking their wicked ways, they have chosen to brag about their wickedness and condone their sin because everyone is doing it.

A fool is an individual who brags about his or her wickedness. Absalom was a fool when he was trying to take over the kingdom of David. Absalom took the concubines of David and set up a tent where all could see and he went in and slept with the concubines. Absalom wanted to make sure everyone knew that he was sleeping with the concubines of David. Absalom was not ashamed of his actions.

Jezebel is another example of an individual who had no shame. When Jezebel found out that her husband desired the vineyards of Naboth and that he would not sell them to Ahab, she made a plot to have him killed. Jezebel was not afraid of using corrupt politics to obtain that what she wanted and recruited those who were equally corrupt to help her.

Instead of being a fool that reveals to all just how foolish we are; we need to take our knowledge of the ways of God and add to them. Jesus Christ should be our example. Jesus had a perfect relationship with God, but that did not stop HIM from taking time to get away from all distractions and spend time alone with God. Jesus did not take for granted HIS relationship with the Father and HE desired to do the will of HIS Father.

It is a wise individual who understands that they need to continue to draw closer to God. It is a wise individual who understands that it does not matter how many years they have been serving God, God still has something for them to learn. It is a wise individual who understands that the word of God is full of truth that a lifetime of learning could not fully discover.

Are you a wise individual or are you a fool? Do you set aside time each day to draw closer to God? Remember, drawing closer to God is not just about making sure you pray every day so as to give God your Christmas list of everything you desire for HIM to do for you. God desires that you take the time to praise HIM for what HE has done. God desires that you take the time to confess your sins so that there is nothing preventing you from doing HIS perfect will.

Daniel was a very wise man who was greatly used of God. Daniel could have easily justified not taking the time every now and then to talk with God. Nonetheless, it was because Daniel understood his relationship with God that he was faithful three times a day to take time to further develop his relationship with God.

If you desire to be wise, you will constantly pursue the things of God. A wise man builds his life upon the rock so that when the storms come, he will not waiver. Are you the wise man or are you the fool who is simply doing that which is right in your own eyes. Are you setting the rules for your life or are you taking the time to follow the laws of God?

Proverbs 10:29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the worker of iniquity.

Abraham was told by God that he was to sacrifice his son upon an altar. Abraham had a long history of hearing the voice of God so HE understood what God had told him to do. When Isaac asked his father about the sacrifice, Abraham told his son that God would provide a lamb.

The only way Abraham was able to make that long trip to sacrifice his beloved son is because he understood the way of the Lord and he understood that he must obey God regardless of the costs. He knew that Isaac was a gift from God, and what God gave, God was allowed to take away.

Job was faced with a great trial when he lost his family, his wealth, and later his health. Even though Job had lost so much, he understood that what the Lord gives, the Lord can take away. How was Job able to remain so resolute in the midst of such a great personal storm? Job understood the way of the Lord and as such, he was strong and did not allow the enemy to have a victory that day.

When you understand the way of the Lord, it will give you strength when you are facing trials that are too difficult for you. Throughout scripture we see the stories of men and women who faced difficult trials in their lives. Those who understood the ways of God were able to persevere while those who trusted in their own strength quickly revealed their own inadequacies.

Jonah was a man who understood the way of the Lord yet he chose to forsake it. Because Jonah sinned and went his own way, God brought a huge storm so as to punish him. Jonah spent three days in the belly of a fish before he repented and did the will of God.

It is important to understand the ways of God. The only way you are going to understand the ways of God is when you stop and take the time to hear HIS still small voice. The more time you spend reading and meditating upon HIS word, the greater your ability to understand what God desires you to do. It does not matter how big of a trial you face, if you understand the ways of God and you are doing them – you will have the strength that is necessary to see it through to the end.

When Ahab led the nation of Israel in the worship of Baal, God sent Elijah to come and tell Ahab that it was not going to rain until Elijah said. Because Ahab had deliberately disobeyed the direction of God, he not only caused himself to suffer, but the entire nation that he was chosen to lead had to suffer right beside him. Ahab continued throughout his life to do what was right in his own eyes and God constantly was doing things that showed the futility of the way that Ahab had chosen.

Take time to add knowledge of the ways of God to your life. The more you understand the ways of God, the easier it will be for you to build your life upon the rock. Christ showed us in the Sermon on the Mount that those who build their lives upon the rock will be established whereas those who build their lives upon the sand will quickly be destroyed. Knowledge of the ways of God is necessary to build your house upon the rock.

Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

Are you going to do what is right in the eyes of God or are you going to do that which is right in your own eyes. How are you going to know if the path you are taking is the path of the wicked or the path that God desires you to take? Satan is good at disguising a path to make it justifiable in your mind as to why you should take it; however, the way of man always seems right.

You need the knowledge of God in order to know what path God desires you to take. Sometimes you are going to be faced with difficult decisions and it is your responsibility to take the time to see if the path that is before you is the path of God or the path of the wicked one. Do not chose the path that you are going to take purely on what makes you feel best; instead, you need to seek God and hear HIS still small voice.

Sometimes the path you must take will associate you with evil men. However, just because you are around evil individuals, it does not mean that you must yield to their debauchery. Instead, God may have sent you in order to be the salt and the light. Your path may cross those of the wicked, but it does not mean that you are to behave like the wicked.

Elijah was a man who was righteous. On several occasions, his path crossed with Ahab and Jezebel. Just because his path crossed with the wicked king and queen, it did not give him permission to commit wickedness. Instead, every time that God had him cross paths with Ahab or Jezebel, he was reminding them that there is a God and that they are living their lives in a way that is not pleasing to God.

Elijah listened to God and because he listened, he was safe. When God told him to go to the brook, he went. When God told him to go to the widow, he went. When God told him to go to Ahab, he went. When God told him to take a journey unto Mount Horeb, he went. Elijah listened to God and God directed his paths. Because Elijah understood the will of God, he was used of God in a mighty way.

Why do you think that Elijah was able to hear God speak to him so many times during his life? Do you think it was because he was a righteous man and God liked to speak to Elijah? One of the reasons God spoke so much to Elijah was because Elijah was actually an active listener to the voice of God. Elijah sought God and when he heard God, he obeyed. Too often, we are too busy for God; we are not willing to lay aside our daily cares in order to hear HIS still small voice. Even when we hear HIS voice, we often chose to do our own thing rather than travel on the path that God desires us to take.

Every path that you cross every day either is the will of God or it is not. How many paths have we entered into that if we had taken the time to look, we would have seen the sign that stated Do Not Enter? God would have made it clear that the path we are taking is not HIS perfect direction for our lives, but because we were unwilling to seek first the kingdom of God, we made our own decision that was not pleasing to God.

You must daily take the time to seek the will of God for your life. You must add to your life the knowledge of the ways of God. If you daily seek HIS face, HE will be able to direct you in the way that you are to go. As you read the words of God, ask HIM to direct your path. Allow God to open your eyes so that you can do that which is right in HIS eyes.

I John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Do you desire to see your prayers answered? Then you need to start learning what to ask God for in your prayers. If you take the time to first understand the will of God, and you ask God for those things, then you will find that you have a dynamic prayer life.

Elijah knew that it was time for God to bring rain to the land of Israel. Elijah went up into the mountain and he prayed that God would send rain. Elijah understood that the Lord was going to answer so that when he heard a small cloud was coming, he knew it was going to rain and by faith he warned king Ahab. Elijah understood the will of God and as such, his persistent prayers were answered.

During the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). Understanding the will of God needs to be an important part of your prayer life. If you understand what God’s will is, then it is much easier to know what to pray for. If you do not understand what God’s will is for your life, then your prayers may be in vain because you are simply asking amiss.

You learn the will of God by developing a closer walk with HIM. The more you know a person, the more you know what they are thinking, what their desires are, and what is important to them. The same is true with God, the more time we spend with God, the easier it will be for us to understand who HE is and what HE desires for our lives. When we take the time to develop a close relationship with God, we learn to hear HIS still small voice. When we know how to hear God, it enables us to know how we are supposed to pray. A close relationship with God gives us a dynamic prayer life.

You learn the will of God by putting on the mind of Christ. As you fill your life with those things that are pleasing to God, your relationship with God grows. Every time you choose to serve God rather than the things of this world, your draw closer to God. When your mind is full of the things of God, you naturally will pray for those things that are in accordance with HIS will. This passage then promises us that if we are asking according to God’s will, then we have the assurance that our prayers will be answered.

A little boy who knows that his father likes to go fishing is much more likely to have his father grant his request if he asks his father to take him fishing then he would be if he asks his father to play catch in the front yard. A little girl who knows that her mom wants to go shopping is much more likely to have her mother grant her request if she asks her mother to take her shopping then if she asks her mother to play with the dolls.

Learning to understand the will of God will be the most important part of your prayer life. You will learn the will of God by taking the time to draw closer to HIM. Every day you need to put aside the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Every day you need to put first in your mind those things that are pleasing to God. As you learn to fill your mind with that which is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report, God’s virtue will reside in you and you will start understanding God’s will for your life. This will then enable you to start praying so your prayers are answered.

I John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Just because someone proclaims to be a preacher, it does not mean that you must automatically believe every word that they say. Instead, God desires that you learn to be a student of the word. You must learn to understand the word of God for yourself so that you can discern between those who are righteous and those who are of this world.

During the ministry of Paul, he went to the community of Berea. Paul commended the church at Berea because they did not automatically head to every doctrine preached by Paul but they went home and studied the word of God for themselves so that they could determine if Paul was properly teaching them the truth.

During the reign of Ahab and Jehoshaphat, they decided to work together and fight against Syria. Jehoshaphat insisted that they inquire of the Lord whether they should go out and fight. Many prophets came forth and told them to go and to prosper. Jehoshaphat knew that there was something wrong with these men’s spirits and asked if there were any prophets of God. Finally, the prophet Micaiah was brought and he prophesied the truth.

Neither Ahab nor Jehoshaphat changed their plans after they had heard from the Lord. They had already made up their minds and they did what they wanted to do. Jehoshaphat knew that the first set of prophets did not speak for the Lord; he tried the spirits and asked that a true prophet be brought before him. However, once he heard the truth, he made the mistake of not changing from his ways. Instead, he proceeded to follow his plans and he was forced to retreat. The Lord warned the kings that he was not going to prosper their paths and the word of the Lord was confirmed.

Do not blindly believe every word that is spoken to you. Just because someone claims that they have heard from the Lord, it does not mean that you must automatically follow them. Just because someone is preaching, does not mean that every word that they are speaking is the truth.

You must become like a Barean. You must learn to hear the still small voice of God for yourself. You must be willing to take the scriptures and learn how to study them so that when you hear people speak, your spirit can tell you if what they are saying is from God or from the Deceiver.

You will not be very good at discerning the spirit of deception if your life if full of the lusts of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. A banker is taught to spot a counterfeit by studying the real thing. A banker does not study counterfeits, to spot a counterfeit. By studying real money, the banker recognizes when something is wrong.

You must take the time to study the Bible so that you can properly discern the truth. As you fill your mind with God’s virtue and abstain from the things of this world, you enable yourself to discern between the still small voice of God and the deception of the enemy. The more of the world that you allow in your life, the harder it will be for you to discern the deception of the deceiver. Fill your life with the things of God.

I Kings 19:18 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.

Elijah had just seen God answer his prayers to bring fire from heaven. Elijah had just seen God answer his persistent prayer of brining rain back to the earth again. Elijah had just seen the power of God in his life in a very special way. However, when Elijah spoke with God, he told him that “I, even I only, am left” (1 Kings 19:10).

Elijah had just seen God use him in a mighty way and God led Elijah on a long journey. For forty days, Elijah did not eat. At the end of the forty days, God came to Elijah. God did not come to Elijah in the form of a strong wind, an earthquake, nor a fire. God came to Elijah and spoke to him in a still small voice. When Elijah heard the still small voice of God, he had to take his mantle and wrap his face. Elijah was in the presence of God. It did not matter all the good things Elijah had done for the Lord, they were not enough for him to stand in the presence of the Lord.

God spoke to Elijah that day and HE gave Elijah vision for what he was to do next. However, God did not want to just show Elijah what to do next, God used this mountaintop experience to transform Elijah’s life to take care of the issue of pride. God did not want Elijah to think that he was the only righteous person in all of Israel. After God gave Elijah the vision, God told Elijah that there were 7,000 in Israel who had kept their hearts and mind right before God.

Elijah may have been the only one who challenged Ahab and Jezebel to do what is right in the eyes of God, but he was not the only one who refused to obey their wicked laws and violate God’s perfect law. As long as Elijah thought he was the only true servant of God, pride would dwell in his heart and he would not be in a position to properly lead the nation of Israel back to God. God dealt with Elijah by transforming his mind to cause him to see the truth that he was not the only servant of God.

If you were in Israel during the time of Elijah, would you have been one of the 7,000 who had refused to bow down before Baal? There were 7,000 who refused to be conformed by the things of their world but instead insisted at being pure in the sight of God. It was more important to these 7,000 that they live their lives pleasing to God then it was that they live comfortable lives where they were accepted by their neighbors. You can imagine the pressure these 7,000 had from their neighbors because they were not obeying the king’s commands.

You have an obligation to God to live your life so that HE might be glorified. You have a duty to God to put the things of God first so that when the world pressures you to conform to it, you are able to have the boldness to live for Christ and not like the devil.

You can never be one of the 7,000 as long as you fill your life with the things of this world. If the most important things is what the world thinks, you will never be strong enough to withstand the temptations of Satan. God is looking for those who are willing to allow HIM to transform their minds and fill them with HIS virtue so that they might be a testimony to the world of HIS power. Are you going to stand up and be counted by God?

Psalms 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

David was in distress but he understood that God saw him every step of the way. It did not matter how difficult things became – God was with him. David had a heart after God’s own heart. Because David sought the Lord, he understood that when things became difficult, God would always show him the way that he should go.

When the storms of life arise in your life, you have two options. Either you look to God and cry out to HIM for your help, or you can attempt to rely upon your own strength and bemoan your difficult times. God allows trials in your life to cause you to put your focus upon HIM. If you have sinned, God may have allowed you to face this trial so that you will repent and return to HIS perfect plan. King Ahab was allowing the worship of Baal in the country; as judgment, God sent a drought into the land.

Not all trials are a result of some sin in your life. God allowed Job to face great trials in his life. These trials were used to prove to Satan that Job served God not because of the blessings that he had received but because he feared God and desired to serve HIM. It was not because of some sin in Joseph’s life that he faced the trials of being a slave and a prisoner. It was not because of some sin in David’s life that he faced the trials of being almost killed by Saul. It was not because of some sin that Christians in the early church were persecuted and killed for righteousness sake.

When you face the storms of life, you must remember that God is your guide and help in time of trouble. Turn to God and examine your life. If you have sinned, ask God to forgive you and seek HIS mercy. When David sinned by numbering the people, David humbled himself and pleaded for the Lord’s mercies. The nation of Israel did suffer punishment as a result of David’s sin, but it was David’s cry for mercy that resulted in God’s judgment being removed from the land.

After examining your life and ensuring that your life is right before God, if you are still facing trials, learn to thank God that HE has counted you worthy to face the trial that will bring you to a closer relationship with HIM. Learn to love the Lord with all your heart. Learn to put all your trust in HIM.

God knows the path HE has for you. Are you spending enough time seeking HIS will every day so that HE might show you that path? Too often we rely upon our own strength and do that which seems logical to us. When storms come, do not abandon the ship, instead, focus your attention upon the Captain of your salvation and see what HE would have you to do. God may be leading you in a new direction, or HE might just be doing something to demonstrate to the world HIS power and strength.

It does not matter what is going on around you, you need to turn your attention back to God. Set your mind upon things above so that HE can make your paths straight. Put on the mind of Christ and add virtue to your life so that your life might be pleasing to God. Do not get mad at the trials that you face, instead, focus your attention upon God and watch as HE shows HIMSELF strong in your life.

Psalms 99:8 Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

This verse is about Moses, Aaron and Samuel. The Psalmist tells us how these men called out to God and HE heard them. God spoke to these men and they kept HIS testimonies. However, these men sinned but God still forgave them. God may have forgiven them, but HE still judged them for their wicked deeds.

The last verse of this Psalm commands us to exalt the Lord and worship HIM because HE is holy. It is important for you to understand that even though you have sinned and fallen short of HIS glory, you can still repent and come back to HIM. God will forgive you and HE is willing to restore you. You may suffer some consequences because of your sin, but God is still willing to use you to do great things for HIM. When you sin, realize that you can still come back to God. Realize that God is waiting for you to repent and come back to worshiping HIM.

Moses had talked with God and had seen God. Both Moses and Aaron had seen the presence of God come down upon the tabernacle by a mighty cloud. However, despite all that they had seen God do through them, they still sinned and violated God’s commands for their lives. Because of their sin, God did not permit them to enter into the promise land. God judged them for their sin but HE still used them to lead the people.

It is important for you to realize that when you sin against God, it does not end your ministry to God. God is willing to forgive you and to restore you. God will judge because HE is just, but it does not stop HIS mercy from restoring you and using you to do great things for HIM.

When you sin, you must first ask God for forgiveness of your sin. Then you should stop and take the time necessary to worship the Lord. Understand that God is able to forgive. God pronounced judgment upon Cain for killing Able. Cain cried out to God and God heard him and showed Cain mercy. When Elijah confronted Ahab for taking Naboth’s vineyard, God declared judgment upon Ahab. Ahab humbled himself before the Lord and God withheld judgment upon Ahab until after his death.

If God was willing to forgive murders like Cain and Ahab, how much more would HE be willing to forgive you if you would only take the time to worship and exalt HIM. These wicked men understood the judgment of God and they understood the consequences that it was going to have upon their lives. They humbled themselves before God and God’s judgment upon them was not nearly as severe as it could have been.

Do not blame God when evil things happen to you. God has a purpose for what is going on in your life. Either you are facing a trial of your faith or you are facing the judgment of God as a result of a sin. Regardless of whether it is a trial or judgment, you need to turn your eyes upon Jesus; you need to return to HIM and worship HIS Holy name. Do not allow yourself to throw a pity party for yourself. Instead add virtue to your life and learn to better understand the ways of God. Rather than thinking about your problems, take the time to fill your mind with the things of God.

Psalms 85:12 Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

You desire good things in life. You do not desire evil things to occur to you. You do not desire to be inundated with bad news. Jesus tells us that “he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45). God is in control, he allows adversity to occur in your life to guide you in the way, and HE allows good in your life so that you can praise HIM for the good things HE has done for you

God told the nation of Israel that HE would give them rain in due season HE said that HE would give “the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.” (Deuteronomy 11:14). This blessing of God required that the people love HIM and keep HIS’ commandments. God would withhold HIS’ blessing from HIS’ people if they did not put HIM first in their lives.

When you are a child of God, you must seek to put the Lord first in your life. As you put the Lord first, HE will bless you in ways you never imagined. God may not always bless you financially, but HE will guide you in the way you are to go. God wanted the nation of Israel to understand that when they did that which was right in HIS’ eyes that one of the rewards is that HE would bless them with rain.

When the nation of Israel followed Ahab in the worship of Baal, God used Elijah and sent a drought for three and a half years. However, after the people saw the mighty hand of God and had killed the prophets of Baal, God once again brought rain to their land.

The prophet Zechariah tells us to “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” (Zechariah 10:1). It is important to recognize that there is a season for everything. God brings you through seasons of adversity to guide you in the way you are to go and HE brings you through seasons of abundance so that you might understand the powerful hand of God so that you might tell others of HIS’ glory.

Zechariah shows us that when we are in a time of blessing from God that we are not to stop asking HIM for HIS’ blessing. Do not be like the multitudes who naturally stop seeking God when things are good. Instead, continue to ask God to bless you in the season of God’s blessing. You must do this so as to help you appreciate that all good things come from God. If you stop asking God for good things, you lose focus on where the blessings come from and your faith will diminish as you stop praising God.

Satan would love for you to put your focus upon the things of this world. If you do not have things, he wants to discourage you into thinking that God is not blessing you. You must change your mindset. You must understand that there are seasons of adversity and there are seasons of great blessing. A farmer does not experience harvest time year round and so too must you understand that God has a purpose for everything that occurs in your life. Filling your mind with virtue will help you understand God’s purpose for each season in your life. Filling your mind with the things of God will give you an eternal perspective and enable you not to be consumed by the things of this world.

Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

You desire for God to hear your prayers and answer them, but the first question you need to ask yourself is whether your heart is right towards God. You are a servant of God and you have dedicated your life to HIM, why should God hear your prayer if you are a hypocrite trying to serve two masters? God knows what is in your heart.

God will always hear your prayer if you are coming to HIM to repent. King Ahab was a wicked king. After his wife killed Naboth so that Ahab could take possession of Naboth’s vineyard, God sent Elijah to pronounce judgment on Ahab. Ahab humbled himself before God and God heard his prayer and delayed the judgment of Ahab until after his death.

God desires for you to have a right heart before HIM. God will allow judgment to come into your life so that you will search your heart and see how you are violating HIS’ perfect law. When Achan sinned against God by taking things that belonged to God for his personal possessions, God did not bless the nation of Israel and give them victory over the city of Ai. Instead, God brought judgment upon the nation so that the people cried out to God to see what was wrong. Once Achan was put to death for his sin against God, God heard the prayer of Israel and gave them victory at Ai.

If you have sin in your life, you need to repent and return to God’s perfect way. You cannot enjoy the pleasures of sin and expect to receive the blessings of God at the same time. If you know that the blessing of God is not upon your life, you must take the time to examine your life and see how you have allowed iniquity to dwell within you. Start by looking at the Ten Commandments. Have you allowed anything to come between you and God? Have you started worshiping the god of material possessions? Are you coveting that which your neighbor possesses?

Go to the Sermon on the Mount and examine your life by the teachings of Jesus. Are you reflecting the light of God? Have you recently become angry? Have you allowed your mind to be filled with thoughts of lust? Are you praying for your enemies? Are you worrying about those things that Christ commanded you not to worry about?

If you desire the blessings of God in your life, then you must live your life according to God’s standards. Why should you expect God to answer your prayers and give you the peace that passeth all understanding? Why should God take away the adversity that is in your life if the reason why you are facing adversity is because you have allowed iniquity to come into your life? The children of Israel tried to enter the Promise Land after God pronounced judgment of 40 years of wondering for their lack of faith. Because of the iniquity in their hearts, they experienced defeat. God does not reward you if you allow sin to dwell in your heart.

You are commanded to add virtue to your faith. Virtue is filling your mind and heart with the things of God. As you fill your life with the things of God, the things of this world will not have room in your life. The more God is a part of your life, the easier it will be for you to ensure that the things of this world have no place in your heart. When God is number one in your heart, HE can direct you, protect you, and provide for you.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Solomon was in the process of dedicating the temple to God and God laid out the steps of revival. The first step of revival is to humble ourselves. What does it mean to humble yourself? You know the scriptures, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6). You understand what pride is; it is easy to watch it creep up in your life, but how do you develop a humble life? How do you demonstrate to God humility?

Jesus taught that “Whosever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4). It is easy for you to look down on a little child; what have they done in comparison with you? What great feats has this little child done? However, that is pride speaking through you. The little child’s whole existence is dependent upon those who care for it. That is the attitude that God requests you to maintain in your life.

It is God who has given you life. It is God who has protected you from harm. It is God who loves you and has given you the talents that you have used to accomplish things that you think should give you honor and praise from those around you. However, apart from God you are nothing. When God allowed Satan to try Job’s faith, there was nothing Job could do to stop the loss of his wealth, his health and his family. Absolutely nothing. All Job could do it trust in God, that is all that he had and that is all that God wanted.

Job was a humble man who understood his position with God. A little child cannot earn the money to put food on the table. Yet that child’s simple trust in those around him or her is what God desires to see in you. God desires for you to recognize that nothing you have could have been obtained without HIS blessing on your life.

When the disciples tried to determine who would be the greatest, Jesus reminded them that “whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12). In God’s eyes, greatness is not found by the person who can brag about all their accomplishments; greatness is found in the one who can acknowledge God’s greatness in their life and how they are unworthy of God’s blessing.

King Ahab is an interesting study. Here was a man who along with his wife did great wickedness in Israel. One day, Jezebel had an innocent man killed so that Ahab could take possession of this man’s vineyard. Elijah met Ahab in the vineyard and pronounced God’s judgment upon Ahab. Later on, God told Elijah that because Ahab humbled himself, God was not going to bring judgment upon Ahab during his lifetime.

What did Ahab do to demonstrate his humility to God? In 1 Kings 21:27 you find that Ahab ripped his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. Ahab may not have lived a life pleasing in the sight of God, but he understood that God was with Elijah and that whatever Elijah said was coming directly from God. Ahab understood God had pronounced judgment upon him and the fear of the Lord caused him to humble himself.

Many years later, there was a king named Josiah. Josiah started his reign when he was only eight years old. Josiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He ordered that the temple be repaired. While the temple was being repaired, a book was found that contained God’s judgment upon the nation. God spoke to Josiah through the prophets that because his “heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord” (2 Kings 22:19). The Lord did not bring HIS judgment upon Judah during Josiah’s reign.

What did Josiah do to demonstrate his humility? When Josiah heard God’s judgment as found in the book, Josiah humbled himself by ripping his cloths and by sending his servants to go inquire of the Lord. Josiah understood that God keeps his promise and by ripping his cloths from his body, Josiah was demonstrating to God a humble and tender spirit that was pleasing in the sight of God.

God tells us to humble ourselves “in the sight of the Lord, and he shall life you up.” (James 4:10). In between verse six and verse ten of this chapter, God lays out the things that you can do to demonstrate your humility before him.

God asks you to “submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). To submit means to yield, this means that you understand that it is not your will but HIS will that must be done. Christ taught us in the Lord’s Prayer that we are to ask God that HIS will be done. Christ not only taught us with HIS words, but HE also demonstrated with HIS actions by submitting to the Lord’s will when HE went to the cross to die for your sins.

God also asks you to “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:8). God has not sinned; it was man who sinned back in the garden. Because of your sin, there is a great gap between you and God. God has demonstrated HIS love for you and it is HIS desire that you transform your life so that HE might be glorified through you. HE longs for you to take the steps necessary to come back to HIM. HE longs for the day for you to willingly ask HIM to forgive you for the sins that you have done that have damaged your relationship with HIM. God is waiting patiently for you. God desires that you demonstrate your humility by purifying your heart and learning to think upon the things of God.

Both king Ahab and king Josiah demonstrated their humility when they recognized God’s judgment. These men, demonstrated James 4:9 which says “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” If you desire to see God bring a great revival across this country, then you need to follow the example of these two kings. The first thing God requires of you is humility. Humility will be found as mourn and weep for the sin that is being committed around you.

Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah all confessed the sins of the people around them. All three men did great things for God, and God used them in mighty ways. God was able to use these men because they were not only concerned about themselves. These men looked to God and understood HIS’ faithfulness. These men understood that those around them had sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. As such, these men cried out to God and not only confessed their own sins but also cried out to God to forgive the sins of those around them and the sins of their fathers.

God desires to bring another revival into the hearts of HIS people. However, that revival must start with you. No longer can you wait for others to start the process, the process must start with you humbling yourself before God. You must follow the words of Peter who taught us to “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your cares upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:6-7).

You must understand that your life does not mean much if you do not have the right relationship with God. If you are not willing to lay aside the things of this world, you will never have a heart after God’s own heart. Choose you this day whom you will serve. Will you do that which is right in your own eyes or will you do that which is right in the eyes of God? Apart from God you can do nothing, the sooner you figure that out, the soon you can find yourself in a position that God can use you.

The Hebrew word that is translated humble in this passage means to bend the knee, to bring into subjection and to subdue. In countries that have a king, the subjects of the king will often bend their knees to the ground as an outward manifestation that they live their lives in subjection to their king. This gesture demonstrates to all that the will of the one who is bowing is subject to the one who stands.

God desires that you acknowledge HIS greatness in your life. HE desires that you put your life in subjection to HIM; that you yield your will and allow HIM to reign supreme in your life. Humility is simply acknowledging with both your words and actions that God is great and that without HIM you would be nothing. Humility is demonstrating to God the glory and honor that is due unto HIS name.

I Kings 18:46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Rain had finally returned to the land and Ahab was heading to Jezreel. Jezreel was approximately 16 miles from Mount Carmel. Ahab had just seen firsthand the hand of the Lord answer Elijah’s prayers by brining fire out of the heavens. Ahab had watched Elijah kill the prophets of Baal. While Elijah told Ahab to eat, Elijah went up on the mount to pray for the rain to come. Once there was an indication of rain, Elijah sent his servant and told Ahab to make haste to Jezreel.

Ahab may have had a chariot to enable him to return home but Elijah had the Lord’s strength. Even though Ahab presumably was driving his chariots as fast as he could in order to avoid being stopped by the rain, Elijah still was able to out run the horses.

God had told the Israel in Deuteronomy 17 that when they had a king, the king was not to multiply for himself horses. God did not have a problem with horses, HE created them. The problem with horses is that it was a symbol of military advantage. The more horses you had the greater your army. God did not desire the kings of Israel to be concerned with their military strength. God desired to fight the battles of Israel and God desired to show HIMSELF strong in the life of the kings as they learned to humble themselves.

Ahab may have had the ability to quickly return to Jezreel. However, God desired to demonstrate to Ahab once again that Ahab needed to learn to humble himself and put the Lord first in all that he did. God enabled Elijah to run as Elijah had never run before. For approximately 16 miles, God enabled Elijah to run faster then a group of horses pulling a chariot. The chariot was not going slow because scripture is clear that God was upon Elijah enabling him to run.

Ahab was entangled with the things of the world and as such, he watched Elijah who sought to do the things of God have a superior advantage when it came to heading for shelter. Ahab should have beat Elijah and everyone else to the city, but God desired to show Ahab that it is important for a king to humble himself and to put all his strength in the Lord. Elijah did not ask the Lord to give him more strength, Elijah just ran and the Lord gave him the ability to run. Elijah watched as the Lord used his life in a supernatural way to demonstrate to a king that it is God who the nation was to trust.

You have placed your trust in the Lord, but do you see the Lord working through your life supernaturally in such a way that HE receives the glory. Just as God used Elijah to illustrate a point with Ahab, so too, God desires to use your life to demonstrate to the world what God can do with one who dedicates their life to the Lord.

Do not be caught up with the things of this world. Instead, allow God to control your life. There may be times when it appears your world is about to crash in around you but it is God who will give you the strength to escape if you will but put all your trust in HIM. By faith you must learn to put God first in your life. It is by your faith that God will be able to use you and you will see how God is able to show the world HIS power. By living by faith, God can do things through you that you never imagined.

I Kings 18:44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

Elijah had just killed all the prophets of Baal that were present when God answered by fire. Elijah then told Ahab it was going to rain and that Ahab should eat and drink. However, while Ahab was eating and drinking, Elijah went up to the top of Carmel and cast himself down upon the ground with his face between his knees and began to cry out to God. Seven times Elijah sent his servant to look towards the sea to see if the rain was coming. Six times the servant returned and said that no cloud was in the horizon. Finally the seventh time there was such a small cloud that you would probably doubt was the answer to Elijah’s prayer.

God had told Elijah that HE was going to bring rain. Elijah understood the will of God, yet Elijah still fell on his face before God and fervently prayed that God would cause it to rain on the land once again. Why should Elijah care if it rains or not, he has seen the Lord provide for his daily needs for the last three and a half years? Surely God can continue to cause it to rain. God will cause it to rain when God desires it to rain. Surely Elijah did not need to forsake food and the fellowship of his fellow Israelites in order to go pray for something that God had already promised. Elijah had not exactly been enjoying king’s food during this drought and he could have probably enjoyed dinner with Ahab that day. Nonetheless, Elijah still went and prayed and asked the Lord to do as HE had said.

Elijah was praying for something the Lord had promised him – rain. Elijah did not need to pray in order for God to bring rain, but Elijah still prayed to God. However, just because God was fulfilling HIS own promise to bring rain, God did not grant Elijah his request the first time. Think about it, Elijah was asking for something that God had promised and the answer did not come the first time he prayed. In fact, the seventh time, the answer came in the form of a small cloud and upon hearing that, Elijah stopped praying and told his servant to tell Ahab head for home because the rain is coming. Elijah had faith that God was going to use that one cloud that was not very big to bring great rain.

Just because God has promised you something it does not mean that you can take it for granted that God is going to give it to you when you want it. Just because God has promised you something, it does not mean that you do not have to go before the Lord in prayer to ask HIM for it. God desires that you learn to draw closer to HIM and as such, HE will not always give you what you want, when you want because HE desires that you learn to be persistent in prayer. God desires that you learn to pray and exercise your faith in HIM. Learn to rely upon HIM even when you are asking for things HE has promised.

Your faith in God needs to grow. You need to learn to demonstrate your faith to lost world. If you really desire to see your faith grow, start spending your time in prayer asking for those things that God has already promised you. Do not spend your time with unnecessary pleasures, instead, spend your time seeking the Lord and drawing closer to HIM. Learn to hear the voice of God and to hear what HE has for you. Then it makes your prayer life so easy if all you have to do is pray for those things that God has already promised. Be ready to give HIM the glory when HE answers your prayers.

I Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Elijah called the nation of Israel to confront them about their worshiping of Baal. The nation of Israel had heard of God’s power in the past, but instead they were willing to follow their wicked rulers in the worship of Baal. Ahab had tried to accuse Elijah for being the reason for the lack of rain in Israel but Elijah confronted Ahab and informed him that it was because of his worship of Baal that God stopped the rain. It was time to show Ahab and the nation of Israel the power of God.

Scripture gives us no indication that God told Elijah to have this battle to demonstrate to the people who the one true God was. All we know is that God told Elijah to show himself to Ahab and that it would rain. It thus appears that Elijah understood the power of God and while he could have just told Ahab the good news, Elijah first wanted to ensure that all Israel understood the power of God. Elijah told Ahab to bring the people and the prophets. Once everyone had showed up to mount Carmel Elijah threw down the challenge. The challenge was simple – the people should serve the one true God.

Elijah had seen the power of God in his life through daily provision, protection and direction. Elijah understood that the people now needed to see the power of God. Elijah declared the rules to the test and the people who were naturally followers were willing to listen. From the people’s perspective, what did they have to lose, all they had to do was sit down and see whether God or Baal answered by fire. Whichever one answered the challenge, then that was the one they should serve.

Even though God did not give this great idea of a battle on Mount Carmel, God did bless the faith of Elijah by answering his prayers. God desires to show HIMSELF strong, and Elijah had created an opportunity by which there was no way Elijah was going to receive any of the glory. Elijah had the faith in God to challenge the false gods of his day. Elijah desired to see the people worshiping the one true God so he proposed a challenge before he pronounced God’s promise of the return of rain.

You do not have to wait for a special invitation from God before you challenge the false teachings of this world. God has demonstrated to you HIS power and HE desires to demonstrate to the world HIS power. By faith you are able to confront wickedness. By faith you can draw the world’s attention to the one true God. God desires to show HIMSELF strong, why don’t you use your creativity and find ways that you can help the world to see the power of God.

You are not here to simply grow fat on the land. You are here to draw the world’s attention to the Lord. It is your duty to God to allow the light of God to shine so that when the world sees you all they really see is the light of God. God does not like lukewarm Christians. HE desires to see you fully dedicated to HIM and to HIS cause. Just as those around you need to be fully dedicated to the Lord, so too must you be totally dedicated to HIS purposes. It is time to stretch your faith and fully dedicate yourself to challenge the world to see the power of God.

I Kings 17:20 And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

God had commanded Elijah to stay with a widow during the drought. God had fulfilled both Elijah and the widow’s daily needs. However, one day, the widow’s son died. The widow was sure that her son had died because she was a sinner and the fact that a man of God was in her house meant that she had to be punished for her sins.

Elijah took the child and he cried out to God and asked God to bring the widow’s son back to life. Elijah prayed the impossible; he prayed that the child would be raised from the dead. Elijah had never seen God raise someone from the dead. While other prophets and judges had great power, there is no recording of God using a man to raise someone from the dead. This was a new thing that Elijah was asking. Yet Elijah had faith to cry out to God for the need of the widow.

Elijah prayed and then he stretched himself upon the child three times. Elijah then cried out to God again and the child’s soul came back into him. We do not know how long this prayer session of Elijah took. This could have been a five-minute prayer session or it could have been all night. However, based upon the fact that Elijah had to stretch himself over the boy three times, it probably would be a good indication that God was preparing Elijah for his confrontation with Ahab by teaching Elijah persistent prayer.

God did not simply give Elijah what he wanted when he wanted it, but instead, let Elijah toil and pray and wait for the Lord to give to Elijah the thing that he asked for. Elijah had boldness to ask for the son of the widow to return to life. Elijah was willing to ask the impossible so that God would be glorified through him. Because Elijah was willing to ask for the impossible and was able to see the Lord work through him, the widow believed that he was a man of God. Furthermore, this occurrence helped grow Elijah’s faith and this enabled him when he heard there was a cloud in the sky the size of a man’s fist to proclaim that rain was coming.

God rewarded Elijah’s faith by giving him his request. God loves to do the impossible through you. The problem is, you do not ask God to do the impossible. You do not seek for ways that God can use you to draw attention to HIM. Yes, you are willing to ask for the impossible for your own benefit. But why should God grant you your request when it is something that you are only going to consume and will not result in HIM being glorified through your life? God is the one who is demonstrating the power, why should he give you something that does not result in being acknowledged as the One true God who is alive and powerful today.

God desires to use you to draw the world’s attention to HIM. HE created the world and HE desires that the world seek to do HIS will. God is willing for you to show the world HIS power. God simply requires that you ask, seek, and knock. You must be asking God to use you; you must be looking for ways that God can be glorified through you. When you find these opportunities, you need to follow the example of Elijah who had the faith to be persistent in prayer and wait on the Lord to see HIM prove HIMSELF faithful in time of need. God would like to reward your faith, are you willing to see your faith grow?

I Kings 17:5-6 So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan, and the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

Elijah had obeyed the Lord and told king Ahab that it was not going to rain until Elijah told the king otherwise. King Ahab and the nation of Israel were experiencing the consequences of Ahab’s sin and Ahab rather then blame himself, desired to kill Elijah because he felt Elijah was the reason for all of his problems.

Elijah had obeyed the Lord and now his life was in jeopardy. God told Elijah exactly where to go and when Elijah arrived at the brook, the Lord used the ravens to provide food for Elijah. God knew where HE could hide Elijah were Ahab would never find him. God knew how to provide for Elijah’s every need. Elijah obeyed God by going to the brook and he found that his needs were provided.

Apparently, Elijah never complained to God that God was providing him food by means of an unclean bird. God never required Elijah to eat the ravens, but it was the raven’s who brought to Elijah bread and meat. Elijah had a need and God was supernaturally meeting that need and as such, Elijah apparently did not complain about the means God choose to meet his needs.

What would have happened to Elijah should he have chosen not to obey the Lord and go to the brook Cherith? Do you think God would have continued to provide bread and meat to Elijah? Do you think God would have continued to protect Elijah from the searches of Ahab? God had a perfect will for Elijah and it required that Elijah follow God�s instructions completely. There was no room for Elijah to second-guess God. Elijah had to hear God and he had to obey.

By faith you will learn to hear the voice of God in your life. By faith when you are faced with a difficult decision, you must learn to put aside your own desires and fully follow God’s direction. You do not always understand why God tells you to do what HE tells you, but it is not your position to also understand. Sometimes you must simply blindly obey and watch HIM direct your paths. There is peace that passeth all understand when you are in the middle of the will of God for your life.

Because Elijah obeyed, God protected him from Ahab. Yes, the brook Cherith may have been in Palestine, but there was no country that Ahab did not go to in order to find Elijah. Ahab may have looked everywhere for Elijah, but God protected Elijah and ensured that Ahab did not look were Elijah actually was at. God is willing to protect you from harm if you will but obey HIM and seek to do HIS will. God may not have told you yet to go hide, but HE has told you to seek HIS face. Maybe some of the problems that you are experiencing are directly related to your lack of spending time with HIM.

God gives both big and small instructions that you are to follow. If you are not spending time with HIM, you are missing HIS instructions and you are missing out on HIS protection and provision. This means you need to start spending more time with the Lord. You need to by faith, start seeking HIS face and start obeying HIS direction for your life.

I Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbit, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

Welcome to the life of Elijah. This is the first verse in the Bible in which Elijah is mentioned. There are no soft and easy introductions. Instead, the scriptures jump straight to what Elijah’s purpose in life was, to tell Ahab that there was going to be no rain.

Elijah was a prophet of God and it was his duty to share with the king the words of God. Ahab was a wicked king and it was time for judgment in the land of Israel. Elijah understood that it would not be easy to go to the king and tell the king the bad news, but Elijah had boldness and he did what God requested him to do. Elijah demonstrated his faith in God by being willing to confront the king and to allow the God he served to protect him from the king who did not appreciate the word of the Lord.

Elijah heard the word of the Lord and he obeyed God and proclaimed the word of God to a heathen king. Elijah understood that if he desired to be a prophet of God who heard God speaking, then he must be willing to obey God regardless of what God asked him to do. God did not share with Elijah how HE planned on protecting and providing for him after he proclaimed the word of the Lord, Elijah was simply told to obey.

Elijah had a difficult job in that he was expected to confront the king of Israel and his sins. However, throughout Elijah’s life, as Elijah demonstrated his obedience to the will of God, God protected, directed, and provided. God was faithful to Elijah, as Elijah remained faithful to the will of God for his life.

Elijah did not have an easy life because he followed God’s will, but he did have a life full of examples of how God could meet his every need. Elijah understood his position with God and as such, he yielded his life to the service of God. Elijah was used to do great things for God because he was willing to be used of God.

God is looking for individuals to do great things for HIM. HE is looking for individuals who are willing to listen to HIM and to do the difficult things that HE requires. Just as God used Elijah because he was willing, so too can God use you if you are willing. Your life will not be easy, but as you learn to put HIM first in your life, God will be able to do things through your life that you never imagined. God will direct you, HE will provide for you and HE will protect you if you will learn to put HIS will before your own. As you learn to allow HIM to be magnified through your life, God will continue to use you for greater things.

Put aside your own ambitions. It is time for you to step out in the will of God and to do those things that HE has requested you to do. It takes faith to do the will of God, but HE has given you examples like Elijah who was asked to do difficult things and HE took care of them. Your faith will be tested if you do the will of God, but as long as you remain faithful, you can rest upon the scripture that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose. It does not matter how difficult the task that God has asked you to do, it is your duty to demonstrate your faith and obey.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Noah walked with God and was warned that God was going to destroy the world because of its wickedness. Noah received instructions on how he might be saved and he obeyed those instructions. Noah’s faith was demonstrated by his obedience to God. Noah heard the instruction of the Lord and he believed God. Noah obeyed God completely.

By faith Noah heard and responded. Noah also demonstrated faith in the fact that he had such a close relationship with the Lord. However, the Lord chose to highlight Enoch�s walk with the Lord to demonstrate that lesson in faith. For Noah, the lesson of faith that God desires us to learn is that he obeyed the warnings that he received.

However, while Noah heard the word of the Lord and responded, there are many stories where God gave a warning and there was no change. One story is that of Jehoshaphat and Ahab. Jehoshaphat the king of Judah desired that they inquire of the Lord prior to going into battle. After all the false prophets told them to go in peace and prosper, Micaiah was called and he told them that there would be failure. However, even after they heard the prophecy of death, these two kings still proceeded to battle.

It is one thing to hear a warning from the Lord; it is another thing altogether to actually heed the warning. How many times throughout scripture do we see the Lord warning nations of pending destruction? How many times do we see no change? Yes, there are the occasional examples like Nineveh where the city repented. Remember people are comfortable with their own sin and making decisions for themselves. Why should they change their ways? Change is never easy. Besides, there is no indication other then this word of the Lord that anything really is going to happen. Regardless of what you say, it is our natural tendency to be like Ahab rather then be like Noah who by faith obeyed God.

Before you say that you would never not heed a warning from God, remember back to when you were a little child. Remember when your parents warned you not to do something? Maybe it was not to touch the pot because it was hot. Maybe it was to not to take something that belonged to your younger sibling. Whatever the particular thing that your parent told you not to do, what was your response? Were you the obedient child who immediately got as far away from the problem, or did you walk straight towards the thing that you were told not to do and do it to see for yourself what the result would be.

We all have a rebellious tendency that tends to cause us to not heed the warning of our authority. Sometimes we will see someone else mistake and we will not make the same mistake ourselves. However, we do tend to have to learn from our own mistakes. It takes faith to hear the caution of God and obey.

Will you heed the warning of God by obeying? More importantly will you even hear the warning of God? Make sure that before you go do a new thing that you have taken the time to inquire of the Lord to understand HIS will for your life. If you take the time to hear the warnings of the Lord, then by faith obey those warnings.