READ: 2 Kings 4 (Focus vs. 31-35)
MEMORY VERSE
“Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room.” 2 Kings 4:35
BACKGROUND
I was stuck. I’d written half of a devotional article when my thoughts dried up. “God, what should I do?” I prayed.
Remembering research that found that our creative output is boosted by an average of 60 percent when we walk, I headed out to the trail behind my house and continued my conversation with God. Thirty minutes later I was refreshed. I returned to my keyboard and finished the entry.
In 2 Kings 4:18-35, we read that Elisha and his servant, Gehazi, responded to a Shunammite woman’s plea to help her dead son. At Elisha’s instruction (v. 29), Gehazi laid his staff on the child (v. 31).
Elisha prayed. Then he laid on top of the boy. At last, “Elisha . . . walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy . . . opened his eyes” (v. 35).
Scripture doesn’t tell us why Elisha “walked back and forth,” nor does it say what he was thinking. What we do know is that when Elisha’s prayers weren’t answered, he didn’t give up. It’s not difficult to picture him talking to God in this urgent situation.
What do you do when you’re stuck at a dead end and don’t know what to do? Perhaps a “prayer walk” is in order. Whether we head out to a trail for a walk or pace back and forth in our home, connecting to God when we’re in need brings answers that address our circumstances.
Elisa Morgan
INSIGHT
Elijah’s actions show the intensity of his prayer (2 Kings 4:33). Prayer is a spiritual activity that engages the human mind, heart, soul, and spirit.
Since we’ve been commanded to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 nkjv), we know that prayer can happen any place, at any time, under any condition.
The life of Jesus illustrates that the place and posture of prayer may vary. Mark 1:35 pictures an early-rising Jesus going to “a solitary place” to pray. The prelude to selecting the twelve apostles was an all-night prayer meeting on a mountain (see Luke 6:12).
When faced with the horrors of crucifixion, Christ prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. Matthew describes the back-and-forth movements of Jesus between His prayer spot and His weary disciples (26:36-46).
Even as He encouraged Peter, James, and John to watch and pray with Him, it’s likely that prayers to His Father continued to reverberate in His heart. Today, we can be assured that God hears our prayers and will help us.
Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
Where are you stuck? How might you communicate with God in this situation so that He can direct you?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“Prayer is a spiritual activity that engages the human mind, heart, soul, and spirit… connecting to God (through prayer) -when we’re in need – brings answers that address our circumstances.”
PR’s TAKE
Prayer doesn’t change ‘’things”. It changes us so we can change “things” pr
“Prayer honors God; Acknowledges His being; Exalts His power; Adores His providence, Secures His aid.” E.M. Bounds
PRAYER
“Dear God, when I find myself in stuck spots, please help me to walk with You.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING” Luke Bryan
Time is tight and money is short
River’s up and the weatherman
He’s calling for another storm
Pressure’s on, the margins thin
Gotta figure out a fix for this awful fix I’m in
Oh mama, what am I gonna do?
She said, “Child there’s only one thing you can do”
Don’t worry ’bout nothing
Let it go, see what tomorrow brings
Don’t worry ’bout nothing
Pray about everything, pray about everything
Love is blind, fate don’t care
Lose your grip,
And your balloons go sailing off into the air
Oh mama, what am I gonna do?
She said, “Child there’s only one thing you can do”
Don’t worry ’bout nothing
Let it go, see what tomorrow brings
Don’t worry ’bout nothing
Pray about everything, yeah, pray about everything
Yeah, take a walk, take a breath, oh, give it all a rest
Take a cane pole to the fishing hole,
And catch a couple of fish
And just like that, toss ’em back and make a little wish
Yeah, yeah
Don’t worry ’bout nothing
Let it go, see what tomorrow brings
Don’t worry ’bout it
Stress ’bout it, fret ’bout it
Don’t worry ’bout nothing
Let it go, see what tomorrow brings
Don’t worry ’bout nothing
Pray about everything, yeah,
Pray about everything
