“The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak onto his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.” 1 Kings 18:46.
“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.” 1 Kings 19:3.
Verses chosen from today’s Bible reading: 1 Kings 17-19, and Colossians 2.
Elijah was quite the runner, wasn’t he?
You can see quite quickly that Elijah wasn’t always running with God.
Only two verses separate the two chosen verses.
What happened in between? Jezebel threatened Elijah.
Elijah was riding high after making fools (and dead men) of her prophets. However, when she threatened Elijah with death he changed completely.
How like us. We have our moments of closeness to God. We are on the glory train! And then something sends us drifting. Sometimes it’s over-confidence in ourselves.
Elijah was in serious trouble with Jezebel in his own strength. That serious trouble thing hadn’t bothered him on Mount Carmel. There were death threats up there but Elijah persisted.
But along came Jezebel later and Elijah “ran for his life.” He had obviously lost his closeness to God.
How embarrassing we all are to God. How often we are overwhelmed by things that we should be reacting to better.
We are desperate for a full-time infilling of the Holy Spirit. We can’t function effectively in all “seasons” without that attachment.
“Lord, thank You for the story of Elijah. I see how much I am like him when I get overwhelmed by circumstances and loosen my attachment to You. Forgive me, I beg. I cling to You now. I love You, Father.”
I must be running with God at all times.
His Word For Me 