Prayerfully Re-Center Around God
1 Kings 19:3-4
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Pondering Point
This is hardly a model prayer, but its still one we can learn from. The bible says that Elijah was a man like us and points to God using him to first withhold rain and later bring it back through prayer. God utilized him in powerful ways.
Apparently Elijah is like us in other ways too, like undergoing some tough stretches in life. At least he took his issues to the right person: Our God. By the way, notice that God rebuffs this prayer request. He does not let him die. In fact, Elijah never died (see 2 Kings 2). Whoa! That’s him; back to us. Let’s review where we go when we experience tough spots in life:
Review
When things get difficult, do I play a blame game? Do I blame myself, others, or God? What are my escape habits and coping mechanisms? Do I seek God? Do I get stuck in a ‘victim’ mentality? Do I retreat into despair, depression, or self-loathing?
Repent (if necessary)
Areas to repent of can relate to unhealthy escapes/coping mechanisms (healthy coping skills that displace God can become unhealthy for you), to ungodly mental or emotional agreements (“it’ll never change,” I’ll always be this way”, etc.).
Return (as necessary)
If time permits, visit 1 Samuel 7 up to verse 12, where it reads “thus far has the Lord helped us.” Thank God for preserving you to this point and ask for direction regarding any critical change of heart, mind, soul, or spirit.
1 Samuel 7:1-12
1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. 2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time—twenty years in all.
Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah
Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord. 3 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.
5 Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.
10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”