Reflections

2 Kings 8:4
“Now the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please relate to me all the great things that Elisha has done.”

I remember hunting trips not just for the trophy bucks we harvested or freezing in the long mornings and evenings, but for the fireside chats.  We would always light a fire or sit around a table if we were in a house, and chat.  Mostly talking about hunting stories and making plans for the next hunt.  The most enjoyable times were when dad would tell one his hunting stories from his past;  some of those historical accounts Chuck and I were a part of. He loved talking about those times.  Hunting was not only about harvesting deer for the freezer, but about sharing stories and bonding. 

Jehoram, the king of Israel, was having Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, tell him of all the great things Elisha has done.  When this was happening, a women came in after a seven year journey to avoid a famine in the land of Israel. She planned on asking the king for all her property to be restored to her.  As soon as she came in, Gehazi was telling the story of how Elisha brought a women’s son back to life. The women who walks in asking for her property to be restored was that same women. Gehazi tells the kings in verse 5 “here is the women and here is her son.”  Jehoram, then restored all of the women’s possessions and gave her all the produce from her land for the past seven years. 

Jehoram was building his faith in the Lord by having Gehazi tell him all the great things Elisha had done.  Romans 10:17 tells us, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.” You may be in a long famine in your life.  For the past few weeks or years it seems as if all your effort has been spent just surviving.  Jehoram can teach us a great lesson here.  Overcoming your issue might just be as simple as remembering how the Lord has worked in your life in the past, i.e. your testimony.  Revelation 12:11 says ” And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

Today, take time to reflect on the past and ask the Lord to show you where He was and how He was moving in your life. 

The poem “Footprints” is one of my favorites. Here is it below:

“One night a man had a dream.

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:
one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

“Lord, You said that once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.

I don’t understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me.”

The Lord replied,
“My son, My precious child, I love you and I would
never leave you. During your times of trial and
suffering, when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I Carried You.”

– Carolyn Carty, 1963

If I may drop a little wisdom about this poem it would be this: the tough times define our character and our resolve.  Lean of Christ during those tough times because the Lord is carrying you. Make it a regular thing to reflect on the blessings of God in your life.

Prayer: Father I thank you for all the wonderful blessings you have graciously given me. My family, my health, my resolve, and so much more. Thank you for carrying me in the tough times and being with me through everything. You Word tells us that you are with us always and will never leave us. Help my unbelief and strengthen my faith so I can see your mighty work around me. In Jesus name, amen.