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!

Don't Stop!

2 Kings 13:15-19 Elisha said to the King of Israel, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. 

“Take the bow in your hands. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”  Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped.  The man of God was angry with him 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.”

Greetings all you beautiful creatures! 

Based on the passage above, today we are going to pray one long prayer.

Ready?

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 so many answers and so many 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 is up to us, how often we will strike.  The king’s approach was lackluster and halfhearted.  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, or at least done it twice as much as he should have.  He forfeited complete victory, but we will not.  We will show you that we have the necessary gusto to receive all Your promises.  Bless us today, in Jesus’ name, and strengthen us to keep going.  Amen!

Outnumbered~

Outnumbered

The king of a nation called Aram was at war with Israel. He had a plan to set up camp at a strategic place where he could ambush the Israelites, but Elisha, who the Bible says was “a man of God,” warned the Israeli king. In fact, in verse 10 it says Elisha warned the Israeli king more than once about different plans of attack.

Eventually the king of Aram finds out what Elisha is up to, and he is furious. Verse 13: “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

The next morning Elisha’s servant wakes up and sees that “an army with horses and chariots has surrounded the city. And he utters a phrase that God is used to hearing a bazillion times a day, “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?”

The servant is asking Elisha, but aren’t we all very familiar with the panic in his voice? Haven’t we all been in a position where we feel there is no way out? No exit? No relief? Overwhelmed? Outnumbered? Powerless? No solution? Nothing, nada, goose egg, zippo, zilch?

Elisha answers with one of my favorite Bible verses of all time. A verse that I have held onto for dear life on more than once occasion: 2 Kings 6:16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Amen, Glory, Bless His name, Hallelujah, Mercy, Joy, and happy dance time!

Life happens and stuff comes at us, BUT those who are with you and me OUTNUMBER those who are against us.

Part two tomorrow~

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We have such peace knowing You and Your angels outnumber our enemies. No matter what surrounds us, we know we have You on our side. We will not be afraid. In Jesus’ name, AMEN~