"Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
(I Kings 18:44 NKJV)
Elijah was not discouraged by the lack of cloud, he kept on waiting and possibly praying to God. By the seventh time, his servant saw a silver lining,a very little hope, a cloud as small as the hand of a man. Elijah's attitude again baffles me, he immediately took it as the answer to his prayer.
The scenario that comes to mind is that of a school teacher that has a student with learning difficulty. The day that student improves a little, the teacher may be tempted to dismiss it. The correct act of faith is to celebrate it and encourage the student to do more.
Therefore hope is the twin sister of faith. A fellow that is full of hope in God cannot be discouraged. Moreover, any little sign from God about his or her expectations encourages h or her.
But unfortunately many of us act in opposite direction. A little sign about our petition to God is discarded.
"Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel." (I Kings 18:45 NKJV)
The little cloud that appeared in the sky later caused the whole sky to become black with clouds and winds, and a heavy rain came down from the sky. Elijah got what he prayed for because of faith and hope in God! How about you and I today? Are we explaining away our unbelief and doubts?
ACTION PLAN: Celebrate a little silver lining of hope in respect to your request to God. The God you are waiting for will definitely show up.
PRAYER: Father, deliver my heart from every discouragement and despondency. Restore hope unto me.
(I Kings 18:44 NKJV)
Elijah was not discouraged by the lack of cloud, he kept on waiting and possibly praying to God. By the seventh time, his servant saw a silver lining,a very little hope, a cloud as small as the hand of a man. Elijah's attitude again baffles me, he immediately took it as the answer to his prayer.
The scenario that comes to mind is that of a school teacher that has a student with learning difficulty. The day that student improves a little, the teacher may be tempted to dismiss it. The correct act of faith is to celebrate it and encourage the student to do more.
Therefore hope is the twin sister of faith. A fellow that is full of hope in God cannot be discouraged. Moreover, any little sign from God about his or her expectations encourages h or her.
But unfortunately many of us act in opposite direction. A little sign about our petition to God is discarded.
"Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel." (I Kings 18:45 NKJV)
The little cloud that appeared in the sky later caused the whole sky to become black with clouds and winds, and a heavy rain came down from the sky. Elijah got what he prayed for because of faith and hope in God! How about you and I today? Are we explaining away our unbelief and doubts?
ACTION PLAN: Celebrate a little silver lining of hope in respect to your request to God. The God you are waiting for will definitely show up.
PRAYER: Father, deliver my heart from every discouragement and despondency. Restore hope unto me.
