Following The One Who Calls

 

Before Elijah could ever be used on Mt. Carmel, he had to learn how to wait on the Lord. 

Elijah’s calling was to be a prophet, and he faithfully served the Lord for a time in that calling. But then there came a time for a deeper work of God in Elijah, so God called him to learn about the agony of wait at Brook Cherith. And if Elijah had been more focused on following his calling than on following the One Who called him, that deeper work would never have been accomplished— a deeper work that was critical for what God intended to do through Elijah on Mt. Carmel. 

As believers in Christ, He calls us and appoints us that we “should go…” (John 15:16). But when we look at Elijah, we see at one point in his service to God, his “go…” was to Brook Cherith. Before God could use Elijah on Mt. Carmel, He had to break Elijah from himself and any attempt he might make at confusing his own will with the Lord’s. The Lord had to teach Elijah the difference between following his calling and following the One Who calls. 

Moses was called to lead Israel out of bondage, but before God told him to “go” confront pharaoh, He led him to “go” learn the agony of wait in the Midian desert. Jesus was called to die for the sins of mankind, but before God told Him to “go” to the cross, He told Him to “go” be stripped of self in the Judean desert. Because there is desire born of human will, and there is desire born of God’s will, and for those who are called and chosen, it is critical for us to learn the difference— we must never assume they are one-in-the-same when it comes to bearing fruit for the Lord.

If our focus is upon following our calling, we may be following our own desire without realizing it. Thus, like Elijah, Moses, and even our Lord Himself, we must be taught the difference between following our perceived calling, or following the One Who calls. 

(Ex 3:1) Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

(1 Kings 17:2) Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan.”

(Mark 1:11-13) And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” And immediately the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.

(Isaiah 30:18) Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

(Isaiah 25:9) And in that day it will be said, "Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."

Comfortable Silence

 

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven…a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak… (Eccl 3:1,7)

A friend contacted me yesterday to make sure I was okay. She noticed that I had not been posting devotionals on Facebook for a few weeks and was wondering if everything was alright. I told her that our family had gotten Covid over the holidays, and although the kids’ symptoms were mild, it knocked me and my husband back a few notches, but we’re on the mend now. I also told her that when I got sick, the Lord got quiet, and I went though some rough spiritual warfare, because the devil always likes to kick you when you’re down.  

Although the sickness and spiritual warfare are over and gone, the Lord is still quiet. And one thing I’ve learned about ministry over the years is that when the Lord is silent, I need to be silent too. My simple answer as to why I haven’t been posting devotionals lately, is because the Lord hasn’t been giving me anything to say. I could easily fill the silence with Bible teaching and drive-by comments on biblical topics, but it wouldn’t be Spirit led. It would just be noise…and I think there’s enough of that already without me adding to it. 

And I think that’s something we should all ponder. Can we be comfortable in the Lord’s silences, or do we feel compelled to fill those silences with things we assume He would be pleased with, or things we assume people need? Because I can teach the Bible nine-ways-to-Sunday, but if the Lord isn’t specifically asking me to do that for Him, it’s just wood, hay, and stubble only fit to be burned. I could spend a lifetime filling the Lord’s silences with teachings and comments, but in the end He could still say to me, “It was a work I never asked you to do.” 

Oh Lord, teach us how to wait on You. Teach us the difference between being led by our own soul, and being led by Your Spirit. Teach us the difference between a time to speak, and a time to be silent. 

(Zeph 1:7) Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.

(Ps 37:7-9) Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

(1 Cor 3:12,13) If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.

Faith In The Valley

“If a man cannot prove his religion in the valley, it is not worth anything.” -Oswald Chambers

We want our anchors in life to be things we can see and touch. We want anchors we can hold onto with our hands. We don’t mind having faith in God as long as we subconsciously have a “Plan B.” Whether it be a trade we can make a good living at, or family members who will take us in, or insurance, or whatever else we subconsciously go through life feeling like we can fall back upon should God ever test our faith the way He allowed Job’s to be tested. But faith in the valley is not like that. 

Faith in the valley means that you are surrounded by impossible mountains that rise up around you on every side. Faith in the valley means that you cannot see anything around you but your valley and those mountains— mountains that loom in your face, mocking any attempt you make to see past them. It’s just you,  the valley, the mountains, and no “Plan B.” And that is the place where faith is either proven or put to death. 

Jesus plainly instructs us, “Do not worry about your life…” but sometimes I do. There is a piece of me that has a bad habit of playing a mental chess game of practical survival, come worst-case-scenario. “What would I do if… “  I do this because my flesh likes anchors it can see and touch and hold onto with my hands, even though my spirit knows and understands that God is sovereign and trustworthy in all things. 

Oh Lord, expose the things in our lives we have placed our trust in other than You, so that we may walk in perfect obedience to Your instructions, “Do not worry about your life…” even in our darkest valley. Even when there’s no “Plan B.”

(Matt 6:25-33) Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?…will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?…Therefore do not be anxious,…your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

(1 Peter 5:7) Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

(Psalm 145:13-16) Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does. The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.