1st Kings 16-18
SO, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT YOUR FAITH?
Me too, actually. In fact, even though I tried to make sure we kept God apart of our lives yesterday, I'll admit it. I'll just come out and say that I made it sound really easy. It's SO not. I try to make Him apart of my day, and yes, praying helps... but it's tough.
There are always those people who doubt your faith. Sometimes WE even doubt our faith. I'll be the first to say that I have troubles. It's a weird concept to grasp, right? Some guy being raised from the dead? And it's not like crazy miracles are being done by people, either. When's the last time YOU saw your doctor heal leprosy?
But when I read today's reading, I was changed. If you haven't read already, PLEASE read three short chapters of the Bible, (1st Kings 16-18) at http://www.bible.com/ or with the BIBLE READER to the left of this post.
First of all, we got to read about people that were struggling to keep God in their heads, too. Israel kept sinning, so a King was set over the land, then HE sinned, then they needed a new King, who ALSO sinned, and the list goes on and on.
Finally, God sent a prophet to tell the King that after all of the trouble he caused, God would send a drought and it wouldn't rain for a very long time.
So, it did't. And the prophet (afraid to be blamed for the drought) fled the area for a while. When God thought the people had learned their lesson, he sent the prophet (Elijah) back to Israel to tell the King.
While there was a drought, instead of people realizing their need for God, they turned away from Him. We all do that every once in a while, right? I know I do. When something goes wrong, instead of realizing our need for God, we turn our back to Him and ignore Him.
That's what Israel did, and when Elijah came back to the land, he discovered everyone there had started worshipping another God, who by the way... wasn't the real God at all.
All the people had been so used to worshipping this "god" they saw no use for God (the real one.) So naturally, when Elijah came, they didn't believe that God would deliver them from the drought.
Here comes my favorite part. It's almost like Elijah challenged the Israelites to a "God war" or something. Elijah was like "Fine! You don't believe me, then let's put some dead bulls on an altar. I'll tell my God to make mine catch on fire, you ask your 'god' to catch yours on fire."
The Israelites, (even though they had no proof that their "god" existed,) agreed to the "God war" and both Elijah and the Israelites set up altars. Elijah even poured WATER on his, and after the Israelites epically failed... GOD'S ALTAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. Sweet, right?
There WILL be times when your faith will be little. Maybe you haven't even come to know Him yet, which is okay, too. You might even doubt even more than the majority of us.
But after reading TRUE occurrences of God doing miracles, even when put to a test, there shouldn't be much doubt left in your mind. Doubt in your faith can be overcome by praying, too. There's no wrong way to pray, and He will always listen to you.
Start today. Stop doubting. There's evidence of God doing miracles in the Bible, and they're all around you today, too! Keep your eyes and ears open. Got it? Email me with questions at carlygaile@yahoo.com and have a wonderful day! I'll be here tomorrow.
Peace out.
SO, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT YOUR FAITH?
Me too, actually. In fact, even though I tried to make sure we kept God apart of our lives yesterday, I'll admit it. I'll just come out and say that I made it sound really easy. It's SO not. I try to make Him apart of my day, and yes, praying helps... but it's tough.
There are always those people who doubt your faith. Sometimes WE even doubt our faith. I'll be the first to say that I have troubles. It's a weird concept to grasp, right? Some guy being raised from the dead? And it's not like crazy miracles are being done by people, either. When's the last time YOU saw your doctor heal leprosy?
But when I read today's reading, I was changed. If you haven't read already, PLEASE read three short chapters of the Bible, (1st Kings 16-18) at http://www.bible.com/ or with the BIBLE READER to the left of this post.
First of all, we got to read about people that were struggling to keep God in their heads, too. Israel kept sinning, so a King was set over the land, then HE sinned, then they needed a new King, who ALSO sinned, and the list goes on and on.
Finally, God sent a prophet to tell the King that after all of the trouble he caused, God would send a drought and it wouldn't rain for a very long time.
So, it did't. And the prophet (afraid to be blamed for the drought) fled the area for a while. When God thought the people had learned their lesson, he sent the prophet (Elijah) back to Israel to tell the King.
While there was a drought, instead of people realizing their need for God, they turned away from Him. We all do that every once in a while, right? I know I do. When something goes wrong, instead of realizing our need for God, we turn our back to Him and ignore Him.
That's what Israel did, and when Elijah came back to the land, he discovered everyone there had started worshipping another God, who by the way... wasn't the real God at all.
All the people had been so used to worshipping this "god" they saw no use for God (the real one.) So naturally, when Elijah came, they didn't believe that God would deliver them from the drought.
Here comes my favorite part. It's almost like Elijah challenged the Israelites to a "God war" or something. Elijah was like "Fine! You don't believe me, then let's put some dead bulls on an altar. I'll tell my God to make mine catch on fire, you ask your 'god' to catch yours on fire."
The Israelites, (even though they had no proof that their "god" existed,) agreed to the "God war" and both Elijah and the Israelites set up altars. Elijah even poured WATER on his, and after the Israelites epically failed... GOD'S ALTAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. Sweet, right?
There WILL be times when your faith will be little. Maybe you haven't even come to know Him yet, which is okay, too. You might even doubt even more than the majority of us.
But after reading TRUE occurrences of God doing miracles, even when put to a test, there shouldn't be much doubt left in your mind. Doubt in your faith can be overcome by praying, too. There's no wrong way to pray, and He will always listen to you.
Start today. Stop doubting. There's evidence of God doing miracles in the Bible, and they're all around you today, too! Keep your eyes and ears open. Got it? Email me with questions at carlygaile@yahoo.com and have a wonderful day! I'll be here tomorrow.
Peace out.
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