Devotion
Do not go! I will not leave you
David Jacobs
Dealing with death is difficult. It may sound trivial, but I used to have a pet rabbit that I truly loved. It was the first rabbit I had ever been around. I knew nothing about rabbits but quickly learned that they are gentle and loving creatures that make good pets. My rabbit was healthy, happy, and middle-aged when he ate something and died within minutes. I was heartbroken, unable to grasp how quickly my cute rabbit was now just an empty carcass. It was hard to let go.
Elisha was a tenacious prophet of God and loyal friend of Elijah. Elisha knows that Elijah will soon join God in Heaven, but he refuses to leave his side. He stays with Elijah as if they are attached at the hip, hoping that what he knows will happen does not happen. Elijah comforts him by asking what he can do for Elisha, to which Elisha replies, asking for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. There seems to be an assumed "passing of the torch," from Elijah to Elisha, and a few verses later, Elijah is taken by God. Elisha is distraught, but soon realizes that he must let go and that he has a duty, just like Elijah, to continue on his journey.
Elisha lost Elijah; I lost my rabbit. Obviously one pales in comparison to the other, but letting go is never easy. Do not dwell on missing the person or thing that you have lost; instead, be thankful for the time that you had. I can never forget the day I lost my rabbit, and Elisha won't forget losing Elijah. Elisha goes from that day, remembering Elijah, and taking the good from their relationship. I am not trying to compare my loss with his, but whenever I see a rabbit, I think about my pet and am also reminded of the good times. "It is not goodbye, it is see you later."
Prayer
Almighty God, the alpha and omega, you give and you take away. I pray that you let me have the wisdom to trust your choices, my Lord, not to presume that I know better than you. All I have needed, your hand has provided. My faith is strong in you, and I pray that you strengthen it whenever I am in a state of loss or mourning, as I mourned the passing of your son, Jesus Christ, who died for my sins. Amen.
Devotion
Pray for Leaders
Frances Taylor
How often do you or I pray for government leaders? Paul doesn't say to pray just for the leaders we like, either. If we do want a tranquil and quiet life, we need all leaders to turn to God and work for justice for all their citizens. It's probably even more important to pray and intercede for those leaders who work against justice, than for those who are already doing the right thing. For those who are already on God's side, we should give thanks to God that they stay in leadership and continue to do God's will. The same goes for city, state, and even church leaders as well as our national and international leaders. Good leaders should be supported and others need to be held to account for their behavior. Obviously different countries have different forms of leadership, but that shouldn't stop us from praying for them. God does listen even if the answer doesn't come as quickly as we might like. In the case of democracies, we sometimes need a bad ...
Morning Prayer
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Inspiration
We cannot allow ourselves envy, for it corrodes not only our relationships with others but also the things we already have. The end result is that we neglect to value and appreciate things already in our possession, and thus in turn, being ungrateful to the Lord himself for what he has provided. Rather, our energy would be better placed to focus on giving thanks to the Lord and his gifts, here and now.
Prayer
To my Lord above, my Creator and Heavenly Father, by your grace do I come to thank you for all I have. Teach me not to covet others and their lot, but grant me instead the ability to Love and see the blessings you have already bestowed upon me. In return for your grace, I thus offer up to you my humblest of gifts, my Lord -my heart in obedience, is yours. Amen.
