Memory Verse: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

Song of The Day: I Believe by Shenica Graham

TODAY’s DEVOTIONAL

By faith, a widow gathered vessels of oil and sold them – not a few. She was able to save her family from poverty and certain starvation (II Kings 4:1-7).

By faith we are saved and by faith we know that we have the petitions we ask of God. Yet I heard a wise man say, we receive not because we are “Out of Service.” People are made to serve God, and not God made to serve mankind, though God is often found so doing.

The widow woman asked for a blessing, but she was given a task to complete. Had she  not been diligent about that task, she would have lost her family to poverty. She would not have prospered had she let her faith be without works.

The Shunamite woman was blessed with a child despite her previous barrenness and her husband’s old age; but first she fulfilled a work for the man of God. It was in her heart to make a place of rest for him, and she did see to that task by faith. Sure enough, there came a day when the prophet Elisha came and rested there. A work had already gone forth before Elisha asked what blessing should be for that woman. Had she not done what was in her heart to do in the way of service, she would not have found favor with the servant of God. When the Shunamite woman’s son later fell ill and died, Elisha returned and prayed for the child, who was raised again to life.

By faith Elisha did other miracles in the power of God. He was a man of service to the Most High. Had he turned from working in God’s vineyard, he would not have had access to the power.

The man Naaman almost missed his blessing by not heeding the word of God’s prophet Elisha – who told him to dip seven times in the river and be cleansed of his leprosy. When we overthink salvation, rather than taking God at his word, we become as the leper Naaman, who was given a simple way to be cleansed, but thought himself of some higher reputation and had there a stumbling block before his blessing.

When we receive God’s words in faith, we shorten the distance between asking and receiving. This does not mean that the blessing will always be instant – as it was with the seventh dip in the Jordan for Naaman. It means that the victory will be sooner confirmed, allowing you to be steadfast with reason to do so – having already the evidence that those things unseen that shall appear are indeed in your favor, no matter how your situation looks right now.

Shenica Graham is the author of RMC online and the Seeds of Promise series. Read her devotionals and go behind the music at wiseeku.wordpress.com. Subscribe to her Examiner column on Spiritual Living. Download her music app. Become a sponsor.

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