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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him. 1 Kings 19:18

Read: 1 Kings 19:14-18

Listen: 1 Kings 19

TODAY’S MESSAGE

God graciously and compassionately lifts Elijah up just as he is ready to quit. But before God gives Elijah his next assignment, he helps him gain a new perspective. Elijah is not only tired—he feels alone and thinks everything is up to him. God knows better.

It is God’s plan to bring Israel back—not Elijah’s. God’s plan includes seven thousand other people. God would work through Elijah, but God would work way beyond him. God was at work before Elijah and will be long after. It is Elijah’s perspective that needs to change. He needs to recognize that God is in charge and God is at work beyond what he can see.

Our perspective can be just like Elijah’s. We run into difficult situations, get overwhelmed and want to give up. Maybe you have given up on a relationship, on serving, on going to church, on your family getting along, or on some other God-given task.

What if God wants us to realize that these problems are not on our shoulders alone? What if God is at work beyond what we can see? Maybe that frees us to be reassigned or re-engage, knowing we have just a role to play in what God is doing.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Grab your journal or mobile device. Spend a few minutes writing down a few things you have given up on and need to restart. Maybe you’ve given up on a relationship, your walk with God, serving others or something else. Wrap up this week asking God to help change your perspective and restart. Then write down 2–3 things you can do to make that happen.

Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.