Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: A life of service”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life … He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough Lord, take my life …” 1 Kings 19:3; 4 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “Take a nap.”

 

I’ve always found the story of Elijah’s struggles, as recorded in 1 Kings Chapters 18 and 19, to be instructive and helpful. Elijah was a prophet of God and he was committed to a life of service. Like so many who are passionate about their life of ministry, he had a tendency to overdo it. That then led him to become physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. He then had a tendency to become maybe just a little melodramatic, “I have had enough Lord, take my life …”

 

Uh huh, I can relate. In Elijah’s case he had just engaged in a mighty spiritual battle with King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. Empowered by the Spirit of God, he won a great victory. But as is so often the case after a prolonged time of intense ministry activities, he was exhausted.

 

Long story short, Queen Jezebel made some threatening remarks about Elijah, Elijah got scared, and he ran away into the wilderness. Then he sat down in a sulk and said the words we just read. God responded by sending an angel to minister to Elijah. Elijah took a nap, had a meal, received some spiritual nurture, and he was good-to-go again.

 

Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to take a nap! Seriously, sometimes we just need to rest. Unfortunately, like Elijah, many of us are not good at that. Some of us (ok, I’m talking about me) act as if the work of the kingdom of God on earth will come to a halt without our direct continuous involvement. We (I) seem to think people can’t continue with their own lives without us (me) constantly hovering and watching to make sure they’re ok.

 

And so we (me) end up like Elijah – overly tired, a little bit melodramatic, and maybe a little sulky. The solution? Take a nap! Get some rest! Sometimes it’s the most spiritual thing a person can do.

 

This morning I begin two weeks of vacation. I may sleep for the whole thing (just kidding), but I do plan to rest, and I am anticipating some long motorcycle rides on winding country roads.

 

I’ll probably still send a devotional message each morning because writing them is a joy for me and it’s also somewhat therapeutic (I just spilled my guts in this one). But if I happen to sleep-in and miss a morning or two, please forgive me. The last thing any of us needs is a sulky and melodramatic devotional writer.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim