To read more about Elisha, go to 1 Kings 19:19-21, 2 Kings 2:1-9:13, 2 Kings 13:14-21.
Elisha knew the Lord was calling Him "greater'. He knew he was about to switch from the fields of plowing to the field of the prophetic. It would seem a "no brainer" for him. The man of God shows up and of course you follow. However, we don't always have a prophet come and throw a mantle on us when God is calling us to "greater".
In 1999, my husband and I sensed the Lord calling us to move from Illinois to Tennessee. My husband, Chris, had a great job with a fortune 500 company and was on the fast track to "success" by the world's standards. My entire family lives in Illinois. A move meant quitting our jobs and leaving our family and friends to go to a new place.
Fear struck my heart as we made this decision.
What if we fail? What if this is a big mistake? What if we lose everything?
I remember laying prostrate on my bed crying before the Lord. Father, please give me peace...how do we know this is you? Please Lord, I need to know...I need You to speak to me.
Then, I opened my devotional hoping for a Word, hoping the Lord would speak. He did.
It was a devotional a friend had given me. It had been hers and she passed it on to me. I opened it to a page and on that page one sentence was underlined. (It was the ONLY sentence underlined in the whole book.) It is a sentence I will NEVER forget.
"Do not be afraid you will lose everything. God is your source, not the world."
Even now as I write this I am tearing up. Immediately I knew the Lord was speaking to me.
I won't say this word from the Lord necessarily made it easy to leave. However, it did make it clear this move was Him and that He was with us.
I am always wanting the booming voice from Heaven telling me exactly what to do, but lets face reality...even a booming voice doesn't always make it easy to follow the Lord.
Remember Moses? He had a burning bush! Even with a burning bush and the booming voice he wrestled with what God was calling him to do.
Following God may not always be easy, but it is always worth the cost. I would rather be uncomfortable and in His perfect will than comfortable outside of it.
The Lord will show you His will if you ask. He will reveal the next step to take. He won't leave you guessing.
We left Illinois thirteen years ago and it was definitely the Lord. I am amazed at all the Lord has done in these thirteen years. We didn't lose everything. God proved He is our source. He has done above and beyond anything we could ask or think!
We may not get a burning bush or a prophet throwing a mantle on us when God calls us to something greater (although that would be nice). However the Lord speaks, I pray that we would respond as Elisha responded. I pray we would take off running in the direction of the greater life God has planned for us!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Prov 3:5-6
Thank you for posting. Love the Proverbs 3:5-6 quote too! It just pulls it all back to God and show us that the message has been in the Bible all the time, we just have to listen to the words! Mary B (OBS group leader)
ReplyDeleteWe definitely have to have ears to hear! Great post!
ReplyDeleteGreat post for the Greater study and I can see you have a Greater life because of your faithfulness. Thank you for posting. I pray we will all be that faithful to run when He calls. Blessings. Debbie W. (OBS Leader)
ReplyDeleteWow, I loved your post Sue! When your struggling with the "surrender" it is wonderful to realize someone like Moses also struggled with it! Your post is a blessing to me! Lynda P (OBS Group Leader)
ReplyDeleteSue this is BRILLIANT! Much of your journey has matched mine. Oh yes, I know those tears "God is this really YOU?" And I know what it feels like to worry that you have done the 'wrong' thing by the world's standards. How often our friends and family have looked at us like we are crazy! And yet when it's God, He always comes through. I wish I'd had a booming voice/burning bush experience, but I think if I did, I'd be like Moses and still not believe it was actually God!
ReplyDeleteLove how you write.
God bless you and your family.
Nicki
And I'll put in my order here as well: I'll take an extra large burning bush and booming voice with a side order of prophet's mantle, please! I loved this post! Thanks so much for your encouragement!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone! Olivia, that cracks me up! Blessings to all of you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
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