Have you ever felt you were in a good place physically, emotionally, and spiritually then all of a sudden hell breaks loose? Things were running well and out of nowhere, you find yourself running for your life. You are not alone. Elijah and Peter were men called by God with purpose but were processed through pain. They learned what it meant to have peace from within when everything around them was a whirlwind.
When Jezebel threatened to kill and quiet the prophet Elijah, he feared and RAN for his life (1 Kings 19:1-9). He hid in a cave and was so tired, he wanted to die. Hiding hindered his progress and purpose. The enemy’s goal is to intimidate you into shutting down (emotionally) to prevent God’s showdown (spiritually) against the false Gods they have established. “Resist the devil and he will FLEE FROM YOU!” (James 4:7)
BE STILL
In Psalms 46:5 it says, “God is within her, she will not fall.” Who is the “she” in this verse? “She” is the city of Jerusalem which was being attacked by the Assyrians.
When God says “Be Still” in Psalms 46:10, he wants Jerusalem to stop running from their enemies and run to Him instead. God says, Remain Focused on ME and not THEM!
In 2 Kings 19:14-19 Hezekiah received a demanding letter from the Assyrian king. Hezekiah spread the letter on the altar and prayed to God. How is this relevant for us today? When we feel threatened or demands are placed on us unjustly, present the matter to God in prayer. The enemy wants an ALTERCATION but God says, bring it to the ALTAR!
Elijah had just won a victory, and suddenly Jezebel’s threat to kill him came out of left field (1 Kings 18:16-39). Do not allow someone’s words to deter you from God’s purpose in your life. In the stillness, allow God’s VOICE to be louder than the enemy’s VENGEANCES.
Jezebel tried to stop Elijah from prophesying (speaking). The enemy is after your voice (purpose). The enemy will try to us use fear to stop you (fear of man). The Spirit of Jezebel is a controlling spirit that uses fear and intimidation. God allowed it to show Elijah to run to him (in prayer) rather than running away in a cave (in fear).
Peter walked on the water, but he began to focus on the storm instead of the word given to him by Jesus when he said: “come” in Matthew 14:29. The storm distracted and detoured Peter from walking on water and caused him to sink. The enemy was after Peter’s faith. But it was Jesus who told Peter to come. God was allowing the storm to strengthen his faith.
Jesus did not let Peter down (drown in the storm), he was letting Peter learn (walk by faith).
Be Still & Know
What did God want Elijah and Peter to know?
God was with them in the storm and in the cave.
God was teaching them through the test (Opposition) To Trust HIM when things are threatening their peace.
God was for them! God is on their side. Jesus told Peter to get out of the boat and walk on the water. God told Elijah to prophesy, anoint and speak with authority. WHEN GOD CALLS YOU, HE COVERS YOU!
Peace Be Still
Mark 4:39 “And he (Jesus) arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
In the midst of your storm and opposing situations, God wants you to run to him and use the authority he has given you to tell the winds, BE STILL!
Rise up as Jesus did and SPEAK to yourself, to those opposing voices and say: “Peace, Be Still!”
Question: When you feel your character, career, or calling by God is attacked, how do you respond? Do you fight, run, or surrender? Do you run to your room in isolation and ignore everyone to prevent confrontation? What is your usual response and what do you need to change?
© Copyright, 2023, by Cynthia Rodriguez
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