STRIKE THE GROUND

Greetings, 

Elisha said to the King of Israel, "Get a bow and some arrows...and shoot the Lord’s arrow of victory over your enemy the Arameans...Now take the arrows and strike the ground." The King struck it three times and stopped.  Elisha was angry and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.” (2 Kings 13:15-19).

Based on the passage above, we are going to pray one doozy of a prayer.

Dear Lord, so many times we are like this King.  We pray a few times, but then we stop.  We quit. We give up.  We forfeit answers and victories because we cease “striking the ground.”  Elisha knew that however many times the King struck the ground would be the number of times victory would be granted over his enemies.  But it was up to the King, just like it's up to us, to keep striking. The King’s approach was lackluster and half-hearted.  So much was at stake.  You were willing to give so much – to send so much power – to grant complete victory – and it was a wasted opportunity.  Yes, You are good and will still answer us, but precious Lord, we want all the answers You are willing to give, not just some.  And we know that part of it has to do with us.  Will we pray? Will we hang in there?  Will we be persistent?  Will we persevere?  The King was given divine direction and should have kept at it until told to stop.  He forfeited complete victory, but we will not.  We want to receive all Your promises. Bless us today with the strength we need to keep going. In Jesus’ name, Amen!